Scale and Size

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There is something about size that intrigues us. As

VG much as some of us try to deny it, size does matter. But beyond the Freudian thought that the saying “size matters” provokes, size goes far beyond.

Perhaps it is a reflection of our own insignificance within the scale of our world around us. The urge to leave our mark on the world. The urge to make sure that ours is larger than our neighbors. The urge to impress. Even if we can’t put our finger on exactly what drives our sense of awe at something so large, it is certainly there and we all feel it.

When you walk into the main hall of Grand Central Station in New York City, the first thing you are drawn to is the grand ceiling. The ornaments, materials and color, as great as they are, are not what really makes our jaws drop; it is the sheer scale and size of the hall.

The skyscraper race of the 20th century was another example of our fixation with bigness. Building taller and taller, always wanting to outdo your competition. This fixation goes beyond built structures however, even beyond our world. Perhaps Lovecraftian in nature, it is the realization of our own insignificance that gives us such a sense of awe – and fear when viewing the size of everything outside of our planet. We understand what we can control and fear what we cannot.

Most structures are governed similarly. However, when a structure becomes so large, it creates its own autonomy. Both on the outside and inside. One wing acts separately from another wing.

Governing such a body has its challenges. One cannot overlook every aspect once a certain size threshold is reached. Governance becomes more symbolic, as autonomy takes over. This leads to a certain mystery surrounding it and in turn an appeal.