Human evolution itself was a very simple yet very complex process. For a Human being, the necessities of life were shelter and food and Shelter is an important necessity, it was also under evolution over the years as a human being evolved. Shelter evolved as the necessities changed to comfortable indoors and a comfortable setting.
As humans evolved into civilised beings, their lifestyles changed, and the quality of life changed along with changing the necessities of the built environment to carry out the necessary activities of day-to-day life.
Thus, Human evolution and architecture are deeply connected, starting with the caves, the earliest form of Architecture, the ‘so-called home for a caveman’.
The birth of Architecture has been through a Human being, for a human being and as stated best by Oscar Wilde, ‘If Nature had been comfortable, mankind would never have invented architecture.’
Through the ages, mankind changed forms of architecture according to necessity and climate. For instance, the stone caves in the globe’s central part differed from the igloos at the poles. Through the years, the climate and nature inspired man to develop shelters, look into different aspects of Nature, and incorporate them into Architecture; one such example could be the adaptation of the golden ratio.
As decades elapsed, Civilizations developed, Architecture became profound, and neighbourhoods developed. The story of the Harappan and mohenjo daro civilisations came into existence, and many other such civilisations, such as the Mycenaean civilisation, which gave birth to Parthenon.
Architecture made the life of a man vibrant and colourful. It changed how humans perceived spaces—from residential to working spaces and spaces for hanging out together.
The perspective of Architecture to be reluctant enough for the change in the way of living for a person says a lot about how far architecture evolution has come.
Life would tend to be a misery if, at any time, Architecture until now had to put itself into reverse gear, just like sitting inside a time machine and returning to the stone ages.
The beauty architecture has achieved over the years in different parts of the world would leave misery hovering if it had to vanish one day. Therefore, Architecture now is remarkably an intriguing part for human beings, as it has a role to play in the co-existence and is deeply rooted in the ecosystem where human beings today are still evolving.
An intertwined emotional concord
The evolution of a human being is based on the growth and development of the brain. A human being is a highly emotional and intelligent being.
Architecture has not only contributed to a shelter but has always served as a space for emotional sharing, Emotional growth and vice versa.
Therefore Buildings and Built spaces have always proved to relate to a Human being’s emotional state.
The contrasting image shows the perplexity it can create for the users. Architecture is known to have the immense capacity to create an emotional state, be it happiness or sadness, based on its Buildout. Just like an attractive building or space can create a good mood, an unattractive space can create a mere despair.
For example, according to many people in Venice, Venice is the most beautiful Urban tapestry in the world. The way the spaces in Venice are used for Social Gatherings.
All human beings are affected by their surroundings. Therefore, architecture has an extensive role to play.
The capabilities of today’s structure of cities and towns to create a state of mind talk a lot about how deep the correspondence has been. As for relevance, when we are in a space which is not comfortable or dark, stated as not well designed, we might not feel physical pain but we might have emotional confusion and unease enclosed in the space.(Bottom, 2007)
Therefore a good space is always considered a space that can satisfy a person’s need and generate a good ambience. (Bottom, 2007).
Space can generate stimulus and, in turn, produce emotions. (Brandle, 2023).
Elements of which provide an experience to all senses present in the human body. Architecture reciprocates human emotion, and inversely so is true.
Looking at spaces and how it could have a huge emotional impact could be felt by just the imagination of probably a holocaust chamber, dark and stingy to a peaceful and spacious home in a peaceful neighbourhood, Probably Norway.
Through the ages, we as humans have modified Architecture to our advantage and needs. Be it any type of space. And these spaces reciprocated us with emotions we felt through them.
Since we as humans perceive our environment through emotional sensibility, therefore, Through ages and for ages to come, we will always be connected and remain stimulated by the change in our surroundings and, most importantly, by the changing architecture around us.
Books
Botton, A. d., 2007. Architecture of Happiness. London: Penguin Books.
Brandle, K., 2023. Emotion and Reason in Architecture. Ann Arbor: University Of Michigan.
Dissertations
Hernandez, A. J. U., 2019. Architecture and emotion, Leeds.: Leeds Beckett University.
Images/visual mediums
© Biblewalks.com
- Showing Kebara prehistoric caves ,The cave was discovered in 1929 by Moshe Stekelis while working to dry out the Kebara wetlands in the coast line west of the cliffs. Prof. Stekelis, an archaeologist specialising in prehistory, later led expeditions to research the cave (1951-1957, 1964-6565)
2.© Pinterest
Showing The Fibonacci golden ratio of our brain is the pineal gland
- © Getty Images
Showing Parthenon in Athens, Greece
For the past 230 years or so, the story that was sculpted into the frieze of the Parthenon, the most influential building in the western world, has seemed fairly straight-forward, depicting a civic parade that honoured — as did the Parthenon itself — the Greek goddess Athena.
4.© The decor Journal
Showing Pruitt-Igoe housing complex, St Louis
An architectural blunder Pruitt-Igoe housing complex in St Louis, Missouri designed in the 1950s by Minoru Yamasaki could be an appropriate example to analyse the importance of keeping in mind the user needs and priorities and the design impact on the psyche. This housing complex became notorious for its crime and social dysfunctional activities.
- © Studio Dreyer Hensley
Showing a contrasting image of a luxury bedroom in Norway Facing the Fjords.
6.© Politico
Showing Prisoners in Auschwitz-Birkenau, showing the sleeping conditions. A Stingy space for sleeping in Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland established by Nazi Germany.
- © Adobe Stock
Showing a Boy who sits alone in his room on the bed and looks at the bright big city through
a large window, Showing transition of perspective of spaces.
