Architecture has certainly changed my outlook, or still better, it has added a creative lens on how I used to look around the buildings, public spaces, or heritage buildings. Throughout the study, it has helped me to broaden my spectrum of knowledge on how and what goes behind the creative process. Back in the days before joining architecture, I would perceive the space or building in a very limited manner, like its aesthetic or ambience. Now with a thorough understanding of the subject, the way of perception has changed. Perception of space is very subjective for each individual and often is persistent to changes as well. For example, the same place visited multiple times can also change the way we look at the buildings.
People studying or professionals in this field have fostered a certain level of forte in perceiving space and buildings. They have a knack for reading between the lines. For instance, while observing the buildings, out of many articulations, it can be observed whether it is symmetric, axial, or radial or it can also be looked at for their rhythm, harmony, proportions, and scale. These articulations tend to create a visual perception of any model or building being described.
Architecture and its spatial cognition have been changing and evolving through time, and one can see the paradigm shift, from its basic necessity to aesthetic, from its architectural styles to building typologies, and from its material creativity to building technologies. Narratives or storytelling enters architecture in many ways, and every factor is perceived differently by each individual, from the conceptual message it is made to stand for to the illustration of a design through models, drawings, and other representational forms. These dynamics help the viewers to connect with the buildings.
Further elaborating on the subject, let’s throw some light on a few projects to better understand the architect’s perspective- and the notion it has brought:
Skyscraper
Someone looking into the below picture for the first will perceive the building as an architectural marvel and aesthetically pleasing because of the glass façade and its dynamic shape. One can also be amused by how these skyscrapers can create the city’s skyline and, at times, are landmarks in the urban context.
However, with the lens of architecture, one can observe is its scale and proportion with respect to the context and its rhythmic flow on the façade of the building and the overall dimensional composition. What architects would be more fascinated about would be its building materials and the technologies used behind the process. Another approach to look at it would be how the Swiss tower is responding to its context. The traditional buildings in the front and the glass façade of the Swiss tower in the back create a dynamic juxtaposition in the frame and bring diversity in the uniformity.
Religious heritage buildings
Chiefly, the purpose of the religious buildings is used as a place of worship and sometimes to give shelter to the people in need. However, in today’s times, when we are constantly negotiating with the past and the present, a person does not know the cultural and historical significance of the structure. These structures are usually quite impressive and may differ in scale and proportion, and the attitude to embellish the structure with intricate carvings and symbolism was a very important expression in the past.
These buildings can tell stories of their era. Their social connotations and religious beliefs defined their traditional communities, giving the city its distinctive identity. ‘In the end, the character of the civilization is encased in its structure’ – quoted by Frank O. Gehry.
The Swaminarayan Temple of Ahmedabad city is shown in the below image where one can see details of its structure. The jharokhas, ornamentation, and symmetrical rhythms flow in the perfect balance with its scale. The homogeneity in columns and the brackets with the cornice make the structure more fascinating.
And the second example, shown here is Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges church in Pondicherry. The symmetricity in the structure can be seen in the limestone mixed with the egg white to create a mixture that gives it a marble appearance.
Public / Institutional buildings
Public or institutional buildings are usually seen as operative and functional spaces and rather perceived as monotonous in nature. There are certain impressions of the kind of government buildings that would be in people’s minds. However, Krushi Bhawan, the government office has a very different notion and has brought a new lens to look at the government buildings in India. The building is well-lit and has tend to use local materials. The most striking feature is its incorporation of regional art-Ikat- a patterned textile-dyeing technique is demonstrated on its façade, the expression of how art and architecture can create a symbiotic relationship.
From the wide spectrum of architecture, few are the above-mentioned projects and examples that show how architecture can change one’s perspective and how it can be articulated in certain ways. The study will certainly help to add a new tangent to the person’s understanding, and it is persistent to change with time. Nevertheless, to my understanding- Architecture is not only about the finished building but also about the intentions behind it.
References:
- Architecture Form Space and Order- by Frank Ching
- Architecture & Narrative- by Sophia Psarra
- https://www.gujarattourism.com/central-zone/ahmedabad/swaminarayan-temple.html
- https://www.archdaily.com/928285/30-st-mary-axe-tower-foster-plus-partners
- https://casualwalker.com/french-colony-in-pondicherry-best-place-for-french-culture-architecture-the-little-french-town-in-india-visit-travel-guide/
- https://studiolotus.in/showcase/krushi-bhawan/115
