The
80/20 rule asserts that approximately 80% of the effects generated by any large system are caused by 20% of the variables in that system. The 80/20 rule is observed in all large systems, including those in economics, management, interface design, engineeing, etc. (often the the proportion varies between 10% and 30%).
- 80% town's traffic is on 20% of its roads
- 80% of a company's revenue comes from 20 percent of its products
- 80% of a product's usage involves 20 percent of its features
- 80% of income in Italy went to 20% of the population (the original observation of Vilfredo Pareto, in 1906)
Can you apply the Pareto's principle also to architecture? Do 20% of design decision affect 80% the building's quality? Like the "strong formal distinctions between served spaces and servant spaces" - as Louis Kahn proposed? Maybe then it's only worth watching 20% of a masterpiece.
The 80/20 rule asserts that approximately 80% of the effects generated by any large system are caused by 20% of the variables in that system. The 80/20 rule is observed in all large systems, including those in economics, management, interface design, engineeing, etc. (often the the proportion varies between 10% and 30%).