By Robert Mechielsen, founder of Studio-RMA 

   A Very Unusual Design Commission

The invitation to design a ‘hechal’ and ‘tebah’ for a Synagogue in Beverly Hills was absolutely unexpected.  I am not Jewish, nor part of any organized religion. The idea of doing any religious work had actually never entered my mind. 

             Yet,  my interest was peaked once I was told the design was to be based on the 1675 Esnoga Design in Amsterdam.   I immediately saw an opportunity to explore the Pythagorean Geometrics that underlay that specific design. 

The proportionality of the Golden Ratio 

Phi is a unique number, found in art, architecture, and throughout nature. It is the basis for the Golden section (also called the golden mean or ratio). It is named for the Greek letter used as its symbol:

Phi= 1.618033988749895...

Here's where the story starts:

After a project meeting one of my commercial developer clients asked me how it is I can sketch up a renovation to a building so rapidly and create such quick consensus with it.   Answering him, I explained that, in my mind’s eye, I always look for the geometry in the design, find the golden mean, then adjust and work the design rapidly towards that geometry. 

The underlying, sometimes called, “Sacred geometry”, has it roots really in the works of Pythagoras.  Mathematical harmonics govern our sense of beauty for music, color and form, as well as the proportions of our bone structure, the way the trees grow and the way the planets align. 

If one designs with these principles in mind, one actually designs with the 'Mathematical Building Blocks of Life' itself.   Hence, one augments the alignment between people.   We are all built from the same 'blocks'. 

I continued explaining to him how I am applying these principles in a modern version with the Amsterdam Opera House renovations.  When he told me how much he loves the Esnoga Synagogue,  we clicked.   The Esnoga is virtually next door to the Amsterdam Opera House.  The next week I was off to Amsterdam and started my exploration.

 The Esnoga in Amsterdam 

Both Leonardo Di Vinci as well as Michelangelo did extensive work on this subject.

Leonardo's drawing of the Vitruvian Man, as depicted above, is perhaps the most well-known at this time. 

Yet, many samples in the work of the ancients remain  un-discussed in our current culture. 

I have always been interested in Mathematics, Cosmology and History.  I know the Golden Ratio is key to the Concept of Beauty and Harmony.  The Pythagorean Geometrics were re-discovered in the early Renaissance, a period in time, I truly love.  Currently we live in an Age where all Beauty is deemed Subjective.    But is that really true?

I urge you to fold your left hand's index finger and look at it.  You will find that the proportions of your bone structure  follow the Golden Rule.  One of the reasons for this is that  Phi is the proportion that creates the maximum physical engineering strength.  In evolution, all successful life forms have adapted this geometry. 

The Golden Mean

Robert Mechielsen is working on a book and more articles that identify the underlying principles of design and creation.

In life, organisms have an evolutionary choice     -     They Succeed, or they Demise. 

For humans, Beauty is perhaps a key to success.    The very infusion of musical harmonic sounds, it's mathematics also defined by Pythagoras,  seems to uplift us to spiritual heights. 

In Design the Golden Mean and it's associated geometries can be laid out over, and guide a composition, as seen below      

                           Geometry Studio-RMA's Design for the Hechal

Geometry of the Pantheon, 53 BC, Rome

The Esnoga Design

80% reduction  

The Final Rendering

After studying both the Esnoga and diving deep back into my knowledge of Pythagoras it was time to produce the final rendering.  This endeavor is being supported by fund-raisers, so a large rendering was required.

The actual rendering is 24" x 36".   The reduced copy on the bottom left does it little justice,  adding some of the details reduced to 80% give a clearer view.

The use of the Golden Mean in the molding details is illustrated in blue below.

Currently the Studio is working on the final details and assembling molding elements.  In the detailing, it will be essential  to keep the design consistent with the geometry it  was designed with.

Reduced image of the 24" x 36" Rendering