"The numbers of the Modulor, which are chosen from an infinite number of possible values, are measures, which is to say real, bodily facts. To be sure, they belong to and have the advantages of the number system. But the constructions whose dimensions will be determined by these measures are containers or extensions of man [or woman]. [A machine, a piece of furniture, and a newspaper are extensions of human gestures]. We are more likely to choose the best measurements if we can see them, appraise them with outstretched hands, not merely imagine them (at least for measurements close to our own stature). The Modulor tape should thus lie on the architect's drafting board beside his [or her] compass so that, unrolled between his [or her] hands, it will offer him [or her] a direct view of the measures and, consequently, a concrete choice. Architecture (and, as previously mentioned, I apply the term to almost every human-made object) must appeal to our bodily senses as well as to our spirits and our minds."

Le Corbusier, The Modulor, p. 60

For this exercise, you are asked to design and construct a composite measuring staff with formal divisions that correspond to modular measurements of body (as discovered in the previous two exercises). Also, your staff should support/cradle one small object (maximum 6"x 6"x 6") that is personally significant to you, at the dimensional height of your head, hand, or heart. You should do more than just simply "notch" the wood to mark distinct places on your body. You are asked to create a sculptural solution that should include additive shapes, subtracted shapes, and subtracted volumes; forms can be rectangular, triangular, and curved. Your final measuring staff should have an interesting profile, that when compared to your body, indicated natural places of division. All shapes must be made from the wood pieces provided -- and you must try to use all the wood; the only unused material should the the material ground away by saw blades or drill bits and minimal sacrifice wood. The maximum size of your measuring staff should equal your body's height, width, and depth.

Some materials will be supplied in class, these include: tracing paper, balsa wood, a 2x2 piece of wood- 8'-0" in length, a 2x4 piece of wood- 8'-0" in length, and wood glue. For the beginning of this problem, you will need your drafting equipment (board, scale, T-square, triangles,compass, pencils, drafting tape/dots). The latter half of this problem will take place over at the Art and Architecture Workshop. After each step is completed, have your instructor review it for accuracy, completeness, and quality. If accuracy is acceptable and work is complete, you can move on to the next step. If accuracy is unacceptable or the step is incomplete, the instructor will ask you to redo the preceding step.

Step 1: You are asked to make a modular measuring staff from one 2 x2 and one 2x4 stud (8'-0") long (this is the maximum amount of material you can use, excluding any necessary sacrifice). Begin by SKETCHING various ideas/solutions for your measuring staff. A good place to begin would be to take the "printout" photograph of your body (front and profile), along with the knowledge of how you divided, measured, and physically modeled yourself from the previous two exercises, and begin developing your design with a series of sketched overlays (also, you may choose to make a simple scale mockup model from balsa wood -- some will be available). You will be able to use wood working tools that can make straight, square cuts, angled cuts, notches, curved cuts, and drilled holes. Your palette of forms includes, rectangular, angular, and curvilinear forms. Remember, your staff should support/cradle one small object (maximum 6"x 6"x 6") that is personally significant to you, at the dimensional height of your head, hand, or heart.
Step 2: DRAW, with the precision of drafting, your final design in orthographic views (top and two different sides) on tracing paper to the scale of 3"-1'-0". Include final measurements; since this drawing will become the working drawing that you will build from.
Step 3: In the Art and Architecture Workshop, we will CUT, DRILL, SAND, ASSEMBLE and GLUE your measuring staff together. INSERT your small object.

INSTRUCTOR-SUPPLIED QUESTIONS
1. Compare your measuring staff to your body double -- describe their differences -- can you still see the human figure in the design of your measuring staff?
2. Describe your experience with the wood working tools. What tools did you feel most comfortable using? What woodworking tool was the most useful to your design?
3. Find a minimum five examples in culture, art, and architecture that represent the human body -- things like totem poles, sculptures, building columns, measuring devices (like a tape measure or the Brannock Device --
), and such.
4. Explain the difference between forming a volume from surfaces (as in Problem #2) and shaping a volume from a solid.

DUE DATE
By the end of class Thursday. Be sure to have your Drafting implements available in class the beginning of this week; the latter half of the week will be spent in the Art and Architecture Workshop!

Le Corbusier, above, various images of The Modulor -- right, a piece of Le Corbusier's Modular Tape