Human scale as a technical term does not have an axiomatic and unequivocal definition; it is used intuitively, predominantly to describe buildings which do not have it. As a feature, human scale has a positive connotation; it is usually associated with friendly design and it indicates its right proportions. This article presents a short overview of various definitions of human scale and an outline of development of the concept. Furthermore, the article presents some practical recommendations and advice which could prove useful in architectural design and describing architecture. The focal point of this paper is the psychological aspect of human scale i.e. the influence of the size of buildings and its parts on the human psyche in the setting of residential settlements.

Human scale as a technical term does not have an axiomatic and unequivocal definition; it is used intuitively, predominantly to describe buildings which do not have it. As a feature, human scale has a positive connotation; it is usually associated with friendly design and it indicates its right proportions. This article presents a short overview of various definitions of human scale and an outline of development of the concept. Furthermore, the article presents some practical recommendations and advice which could prove useful in architectural design and describing architecture. The focal point of this paper is the psychological aspect of human scale i.e. the influence of the size of buildings and its parts on the human psyche in the setting of residential settlements.