“Architecture is life, and architecture is a mirror of life” – I.M. Pei
One of the most necessities of every living thing is shelter. Nature, in its unique manner, provided refuge for creatures such as insects, animals, and humans, as well as the means to produce them. A caterpillar, for instance, makes a cocoon for itself to survive the external environment and grow into a beautiful butterfly.
Similarly, birds make nests out of twigs and stems of trees. Since the primordial era – the stone age – the desire for shelter has led to the invention of dens, caverns, and so on. As humanity progressed and gained more knowledge, we developed castles and small-story buildings like those found in Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations. Architecture isn’t just a way of providing shelter, but it is a mirror of life that also has psychological and emotional effects on humans.
We are like vessels brimming with emotions, and architecture impacts those emotions in numerous ways. According to a study, persons who live in metropolitan areas with less vegetation are more likely to be stressed and tense than people who live in less populated, suburban areas with homes and offices that incorporate landscaping. Human emotion is also channeled through the design of a house or office. People who work in well-designed workplaces have been demonstrated to take fewer sick days, are more focused, and contribute more to their firm overall.
Looking at the bigger picture of how architecture expresses emotions, we can see that when we gaze at beautiful monuments, they not only add to the beauty of a location but also add to its culture. The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s tallest wrought iron structures, astounds people with its construction style and now contributes to the culture of Paris with the Arc De Trompe L’oeil.
When it comes to monuments and culture, we look upon Indian monuments as symbols of history and mythology. Each monument in India is linked to a lovely narrative that either celebrates the triumph of the love of the monarch who ruled the region at the time. Many Indian forts, such as Chittorgarh, Golconda, and Red Fort, were built as a symbol of triumph as well as to protect the monarch from his enemies. Monuments represented not just triumph, but also serenity and melancholy. Mosques, temples, churches, tombs, and cemeteries were built by mankind to reflect life’s two most significant emotions. To find peace, we knew the almighty’s doors, such as the golden temple, Jama masjid, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, and to mourn, we erected memorials and tombs, such as Humayun’s tomb, India Gate, and Bibi ka Maqbara, to remember our loved ones for all eternity.
Architecture in society also facilitates the building of more important aspects like banks, schools, hospitals, courts, markets, etc for a smooth running of a community. a functional and creative design of school leads to more enhancement of a child’s brain than a monotonous concrete structure. And this also encourages them towards creativity and makes them capable enough to be independent and disciplined in their life. Similarly, when we talk about hospitals the planning in hospitals is done in such a manner that in one ward many patients can be treated, and each patient can motivate others towards taking the medication seriously. Whereas kid’s wards are planned to take into consideration the psychology of a child, the room would be cheerful so that it doesn’t become monotonous for the juvenile patient. As of now architecture plays a huge role in altering our emotions and is more psychology driven but this is also a means to boom an economy of a country.
The development of architecture, as well as the construction of buildings and infrastructure, is a technique to ensure the smooth flow of the economy in a contemporary economic system. Construction is one of the most successful enterprises in today’s globe, benefiting both individuals and governments. Furthermore, affluent nations invest in underdeveloped or emerging countries’ architecture and infrastructure. This also demonstrates the positive political relations that exist between nations, as well as their commerce activities.
Another essential element that really has kept architecture alive across the globe and the center of travelers’ attention is its role in tourism. Aside from scenic beauty, architecture is another component that is considered while evaluating attractive tourist destinations. As a result, governments invest a significant amount of money in rehabilitating and preserving historical landmarks. The Taj Mahal, Roman Coliseum, Royal Palaces, ancient Pyramids, high-rise sky castles in leading cities around the world, Eiffel Tower, and other major tourist attractions Because of their unique architecture and fame, these locations are frequently visited by tourists.
The major use of architecture is to revolutionize the world by providing humans with pleasant lives through the application of current technologies. During difficult periods such as pandemics, architects were particularly pushed to create a limited outdoor environment, and designers were requested to build furniture and room interiors in such a manner that the Covid -19 virus could not spread. People were exhausted with the stuff they kept in the area after being under lockdown for six months and quarantined for many months. Even the wall colors bored them, and though many of us were working or studying, the one thing we all desired was solitude, which was impossible to come by at home when café bars and restaurants were closed. And in a nation like India, where the population is overburdened, the requirement for an extra room and bathroom if one is infected with the virus has become the most complex problem. We humans, as social bees, wanted to go outside, but the presence of something far more powerful and microscopic that rattled the entire world made us fear even the necessities to go outside.
We architects, on the other hand, are trying to improve the quality of people’s lives and make them more useful with the assistance of science. We have developed hospitals and refuge sites in a very short period using modern technologies to efficiently cater to the population. Seating arrangements in restaurants and bus stops are designed to preserve social distance, while tiny housing designs are made with prefabricated materials to bring the most benefit to humanity. The interiors are designed with the idea of avoiding dullness in view. Interiors are either reversible or the procedures are simple enough that no professional is necessary, allowing people to spend their time constructing their new environment.
Hence The relevance of architecture in today’s environment can’t be overstated. Architecture is a mirror of life that means even more to the architect, designer, and the user when it’s emotionally, psychologically, socially engaging and would always be a focal point towards the prosperity of a nation.
References:
- https://hmcarchitects.com/news/how-does-architecture-impact-society-a-high-level-look-2019-10-18/
- https://impoff.com/importance-of-architecture/
- https://www.newyorker.com/culture/dept-of-design/how-the-coronavirus-will-reshape-architecture
- https://inspirationtuts.com/how-does-architecture-affect-society/
