“The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own, we have no soul of our own civilization.”
–Frank Lloyd Wright
What is Architecture? The dictionary defines architecture as “the art or practises of designing and constructing buildings.” But in a real sense, architecture is much more than just this. It is a vast field of pleasure and celebration. It is a colourful blend of nature, art, history, culture, human emotions, science, engineering and technology. It is an inseparable part of society. It is a blissful experience to observe and understand the numerous efforts that go behind creating a built environment. The beauty of architecture is its timelessness.
Perceptions In Architecture
How has architecture evolved with time? From the time of ancient civilization, architecture grew out of basic necessity for a shelter under which people could share their emotions, bonding and relations. It was a symbol of the culture, practices, beliefs, and status of a particular region. Over time, this perception has taken a significant shift. Today, architecture has emerged as a lifestyle, a trend, a dream and a passion for celebrating life every day. There is a strong emotional connection between the users, their experiences and the built spaces.
Impacts Of Architecture In Our Lives
A built environment can have an everlasting effect on an individual and, in turn, on society. From the colours, materials- their finishes, lighting, user flexibilities and user experiences to the spatial arrangements and their surroundings, everything can influence human psychology. They can have a significant impact on the mental health, well-being and productivity of their users. This impact can be either positive or negative, depending on how the space is sensed, experienced and perceived by the user. It varies among different users, sometimes based on their age groups, likes and dislikes.
The criterion that matters the most when a built space- be it a market, a monument or a sky-scraper is viewed and used is the user experience. It can leave an irreplaceable impact on the perceptions and mindset of the users. The space could be an awe-inspiration for many, while at the same time, it could just be a piece of land for many others.
Architects, however, have the edge over this, as they can observe, think, and analyze the reasons as to ‘why’ that space has certain impacts. It also becomes a part of their research and practical knowledge. The observations made by an architect are far more intense than the ones made by a common man. From the spatial arrangements, patterns, the flow in design, light, and materials used to the concepts and construction technologies used, everything is well observed by him. To the users, it may be a space that caters to their different needs, but, for an architect, it is a celebration of learning. Here they play an important role. By observing the user experiences and understanding their necessities, an architect can think of all the possibilities to turn that space into a great one. With every built space comes a story of its own. An architect can decipher this through his knowledge and experience.
For example, The Taj Mahal in Agra is one of the world’s seven wonders. What a masterpiece! Common visitors undoubtedly observe the symbol of timeless love it portrays (may have differing perceptions), the beauty and the massiveness brought in by it. They enjoy the physical (external) existence of the monument, not getting deep into it. While an architect, wonderstruck, absorb the depth of the design, and the meanings unfolded in every element used in creating the marvellous structure. The user experience, right from the contours and levels in the site, the entrance of the campus, the feel it gives as the building is approached, the vastness, the composition, the different perspective views, the perception of design at every angle, the essence of simplicity and purity, its timelessness, the play of light and shadow, the symmetry, the balance, the harmony, the rhythm, the colours used, the amount and types of materials used, the design intentions, the efforts and mindset of the labourers, the time taken in bringing up this huge structure, the history and the culture of the period during which this was built, the flow in patterns, the story behind every brick laid, the technologies and engineering used then, anthropometry and the monumental scale, the different architecture styles used, their history, the surroundings of the building, to the impact of it on its visitors; is all grasped, analyzed, well comprehended and celebrated by an architect/designer.
This way, what and how an architect interprets a space, irrespective of its scale, can be significantly different from what a common man would interpret from the same space.
Impacts Of Architecture On Nature
Alongside the extra-ordinary user experiences brought out by architecture, it is important to understand the impacts on the environment/nature caused in the name of architecture, design and development. Is it a true necessity to have huge built spaces, which can have negative effects on nature when a better solution can be executed? Nature is God’s gift to mankind. We must give it the highest priority. Nature cannot be exploited to satisfy the never-ending human greed. It is, therefore, the role of an architect to make sure that every design is sustainable in its terms.
For example, in recent times, high rise buildings/sky-scrapers have gained heavy demand in the market. Be it apartments, schools, hospitals, banks, MNCs or any place of work for that matter, they all prioritize having high-rise building designs. But, how far are they effective and sustainable? Are they not exploiting nature? How do they impact our surroundings and the air we breathe? Do they create good user experiences? Do they give a sense of all required comfort? These are some of the questions that we are answerable to. Sky-scrapers are undoubtedly some amazing pieces of art to watch and enjoy. But, in the long run, the negative impacts they have on our environment- like their carbon footprint, the pollution they cause, their total energy consumption, their effects on reducing citizen access to fresh air and light, etc. should not be left unseen. Architects/designers have an important role to play in these cases. They have the power to create better spaces that can avoid the negative impacts into positive, effective and healthier ones by bringing in open courtyards with simple nature-driven ideas. This would also heal the mental health and, in turn, increase the productivity and work efficiency of the users, creating an overwhelming user experience while also reducing the exploitation and negative burdens on nature.
Architecture, thus, has empowered us with opportunities to enhance and conserve the beauty of nature while designing and re-interpreting the existing built spaces. Architecture also plays an equal role in human psychology. It is an art that gives us a lifetime of unforgettable experiences and lets us connect to the beautiful soul of nature, heal it and celebrate every moment with joy and appreciation. So, let us all contribute towards conserving, enhancing sustainability and making Earth a better place to live on.
