Humans and architecture have evolved over the years simultaneously as per the needs of the time. From living in cages to living in automated buildings, humans have always searched for comfort and usable space in their surroundings. Architecture makes humans and animals different; the need to have a defined and own space where he can develop himself. In the Indian context, Indian mythology also has strong references to planned settlements and beautiful architecture in their description. Imagine if no planned cities, monotonous houses, or haphazard buildings were constructed; what would this world look like?
Understanding of Architecture by Humans
Starting from the Neolithic era, when humans lived in caves and animal skin tents, the method of designing a building was always about creating shelter for religious purposes. The origin of architecture could be dated to this era when people stopped living in caves and started developing their own space as they wanted it to look and as per their functional space and materials available. As time passed, architecture reflected the culture in every society interacting closely with political, economic, historical, structural, and social features of human society. It also bridges the gap between past, present, and future generations carrying its value and knowledge. Looking at buildings made in different places at different times would help us understand the evolution of architecture and our past without any description. The architecture of other areas also helps us understand the requirements of that era and the lifestyle they wanted, creating an identity of that place.
Relevance to Humans today
After years of evolving and learning, present architecture is planned, art-driven, and experimented with new sustainable technologies and materials, human comfort. For generations, humans have desired to create buildings as Art pieces, symbols for political and social objectives. A few examples include the Taj Mahal (symbol of love), the Lotus temple as a symbol of reverence, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao as the art inside out, and many more where humans complement their existence with their surroundings. With evolution, Humans have designed buildings as per their geographical locations and functions. Still, gradually with modernization, the need for architecture has impacted people’s lives and human behaviour. Today, humans are attracted to living a lavish and comfortable lifestyle with little or no attention to any particular architectural style. After the novel coronavirus pandemic, humans are becoming more aware of the lifestyle and structures they are living in. Humans desire a sustainable space with a natural environment, essential sun, and wind coming inside their room which is only feasible using knowledge of architecture.
“If nature had been comfortable, mankind would have never intended architecture.” – Oscar Wilde.
World without architecture
The field of architecture ranges from creating urban spaces to constructing isolated dwellings or zoning the green spaces in the township to landscape design for a building or interior. Every element considered has a purpose and brings life to the space. Urban development can change the environment or ecosystem; for instance, developing cities without understanding the needs of urban dwellers will result in negative space. Humans need a holistic place to live where they can work, interact and rest, which helps their overall physical and emotional development. The lack of inadequate infrastructure and services, unsafe housing, and inadequate and poor health facilities can turn into natural hazards and disasters. Learning from recent incidents where an expansion of paved and impermeable areas has prevented rain from being absorbed by the soil, thereby increasing flood hazard. Encroachment of water bodies and construction of buildings in low-lying areas cause the depletion of natural resources and water contamination. Lack of access to safe housing with suitable provisions for water, sanitation, health care, and education affects the capacity of humans to recover. Building not designed per building codes and requirements will lead to congested living standards or too large space, creating a hostile and unusable space. When structures are designed close to each other, not leaving primary setbacks that block sun and wind making internal space uncomfortable with no natural light and ventilation. Humans living in a building that doesn’t have any context with the surrounding will affect their human health and state of mind.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Humans have come a long way in Architecture in terms of development and requirement. Humans look for spaces where they feel pleasant and connected with the surrounding, with a visual pleasing to their eyes and soothing music playing to their ears. This can happen when we have a systematic and envisioned development. Space design has physical and emotional considerations of one using it, but not planning accordingly will affect the human lifestyle differently. Today Architecture is not just a physical environment where humans live but also a representation of how we want to see ourselves and our world.
“We should attempt to bring nature, houses, and human beings together in a higher unity” – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
