Did you know how the earliest architects expanded their horizons? Well, read on to find out.
By visiting Rome to explore architecture, legendary architects like Leonardo, Palladio, and Michaelangelo enhanced their expertise. Florence‘s cultural elites came to understand that beauty could be created by humans and divinely bestowed as they searched the past for alternative guidelines in art and architecture.
In the eighteenth century, England prioritised a good education on the “Grand Tour.” Through this practical understanding, architects like Sir John Soane, Robert Adam, and Inigo Jones, among others, aimed to expand their comprehension of architecture by visiting historical sites and reinterpreting them for their own time—a necessary step in becoming “modern.” Later, the English founded several institutions for studying architecture and art in Rome.
The École des Beaux-Arts, formerly the Académie des Beaux-Arts, was established in Paris in 1648, formalising these studies and trips as a component of the architect’s education. Here, architects examined the Italian ancient ruins carefully and meticulously recreated them in watercolour drawings that were often a dozen feet long. Only then were they permitted to speculate on how a particular edifice may have been built in its day. For the next several generations, the architect’s unique contemporary creations would be crafted using this blend of science, art, and creativity.
Travelling: An Experience
We immerse ourselves in the perspectives of individuals who not only imagined the buildings we see but also lived by creating them, as we take inspiration from these historical teachings. Theories and their medium of expression are one. These structures also serve as a reflection of the cultural values and ideals of the people that inhabit them, as well as how they view their institutions, political structures, and spirituality.
Many would contend that illustrations and the internet may give people a perspective on the world. However, sketching a building from reality differs from viewing one via a picture. It’s a question of capture vs reaction. When we see a composition in person, we may start to see the relationships between the various parts of the structure. We can observe light hitting a wall, light refracting in a shadow, light changing as it travels through broken glass, and material textures.
However, it goes beyond that. A building’s vicinity, the scent, and moisture in the air, the sound of footfall reverberating through its rooms, the feeling of warmth as you move through the building—all of this creates a sense of belonging for the building. You see how people respond to the structure. Do they disappear without a trace? Do they persist, sit in its shade, and feel the textures left by those who carved its stone with their fingertips as they walk around its walls? We start to see unseen phenomena. We experience it. All of our senses are stimulated throughout the translation process, creating a lasting recollection. It’s an abstract exchange that registers, becomes ingrained in us, and moulds our fantasies; eventually, this frequently manifests as an idea.
Travelling: A prospect of education
Buildings are works of artistic expression. Additionally, a place’s architecture may reveal information about its social, cultural, and historical milieu. Travelling allows one to explore the local architecture. People learn about the numerous possible rulers, the socioeconomic backgrounds, and the social strata that exist in the city via this experience. The festivities and celebrations held in the city are also discussed. A city’s historical evolution may also be deeply understood through its architecture. The majority of civilizations arose from a natural water supply. However, an architectural interface was crucial to honour the dawn of civilization. similar to the many temples found by most Indian rivers. Even without the use of sophisticated equipment, our ancestors’ remarkable engineering skills can be seen in these temples, which provide a window into their brilliant minds. Al Travel was the only way to experience this. Packing your luggage and heading out for a week or two is hardly the traveller’s way of doing things. Walking around the historic section of a town, where much of the social and cultural establishment gained momentum may be a simple way to go. This little trip counts as much as a chapter in a history book.
Travelling: An opportunity to communicate
Travelling allows us to see into the thoughts of the different individuals who use the areas as intended. It is possible to do this by interacting with the locals. A crucial component of design is case studies, which are often conducted online and through books. However, without user communication, it is incomplete. A user’s perspective on a planned place is ideal since they draw on their own experiences to highlight areas for improvement. We become aware of the breadth of the professional spectrum as we travel and interact with individuals from various backgrounds, occupations, and cultures. Additionally, networking and communication are excellent means of self-promotion.
Architects learn via observation and comprehension on the road. We operate as architects on a continuum of architectural expression, some rather accidental and innovative, and some classic and prescriptive. Architecture has always been a tool to convey location, culture, and time. We relate to architecture through travel and experience in response to these significant influences, and we continuously adapt those experiences to our ideas. The basis for the architect’s response and expression is laid by these factual observations.
“Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world” – Flaubert
Citation:
Contents, W. (2018) Relevance of travel in Architecture, World Architecture Community. Available at: https://worldarchitecture.org/articles/cvnnm/relevance_of_travel_in_architecture.html (Accessed: 22 June 2024).
Imber, M.G. (2023) Why travel is essential to the art of architecture, House & Garden. Available at: https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/why-travel-is-important-for-architects#:~:text=Architecture%20has%20always%20been%20an,towards%20ideas%20of%20our%20own. (Accessed: 22 June 2024).
Qadir, A. and Kamal, M.A. (2022) Role of travelling in architectural education: Visual impact and experiential learning, American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture. Available at: https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajcea/10/1/4/index.html (Accessed: 22 June 2024).
ThemeMascot (no date) The power of travel in architecture and planning, WOARCHITECT. Available at: https://www.woarchitect.com/the-power-of-travel-in-architecture-and-planning (Accessed: 22 June 2024).
