Perspective Shift – The study of architecture through all its advantages and disadvantages has a lot to offer but the most remarkable thing about it is that it contributes greatly to changing the perspective of an individual, tapping into a new horizon of the understanding of the world.
Studying architecture is a dynamic experience and therefore it introduces one to knowledge and theories from a wide range of fields and encourages one to have a diverse set of knowledge and skills. Ranging from art, technology, environment, social work, philosophy, history and economics there are several subjects that one is either introduced to or is required to understand to come up with progressive, innovative designs and solutions that could act towards making the world a better place and also to communicate the same to the world.
The knowledge of so many varied areas is what helps a person in the architecture fraternity to observe on a much deeper level, tracing a problem if there is any and in general coming up with ways to make better spaces. Like, for instance, before being a part of the architecture, a public square may just seem like a public square to a person, a space to gather, but after analyzing the way pursuing architecture makes one analyze the effect a functioning public space can have on the mindset of a person, one could understand the importance of having public spaces. On a closer look, public squares such as the Piazza San Marco of Venice and Grand Place of Brussels are like the outdoor living room of the city. They act as the catalyst in encouraging community engagement being the center point of the social and cultural life of the town. They play a vital role by being a space that can be a setting for the civic building, host ceremonies, and act as spaces for entertainment and cafes, pedestrian circulation, and a standstill between the forever moving urban traffic.
Years of understanding of architecture would also make an individual observe that an encounter with a square is also an emotional experience with the surrounding buildings, the sky above and the open area hosting people engaging in various activities, sometimes as regular as passing through the pedestrian market and as poetic as dancing in Piazza San Marco to the sound of a music street performance.
Architecture as a field functions on such variable scales that no scale is too big or too small, be it the painting of the living room or the urban fabric of the city, architecture requires one to pay attention to each aspect. The same is with the subjects, it requires one to understand art and strive for innovation, the creative realm of an architect is just as important as the technically sound problem solver and critique.
Arriving on one of the most important aspects that architecture instills in individuals which plays a vital role in the shift of perspective is that it can make people more empathetic. Architecture has an agenda, which is that architecture is for the people. A field that addresses people of every identity and class and requires one to cater to the needs of the public. It is important to understand that any space created is going to be used by a certain set of individuals and is going to have a significant effect on their mental and physical well being. This basic understanding makes architects function thoughtfully. Empathy is not only limited to humans but also extends to greater concerns such as taking care of the environment and coming up with sustainable solutions to reduce the harmful impact on the environment.
Architecture also instills the knowledge of art in an individual. The various art movements that have existed in the world and the effect it has had on individuals and the world are also taught during architecture school. Since architecture is both a technical and an artistic field, information about and exposure to art is crucial for a designer. Working on creating better aesthetics is an important aspect of architecture and the knowledge of art makes a designer more understanding of aesthetics. But apart from that, in a cognitive manner, the understanding of art makes an individual more empathetic which is a good quality to have as a designer. The knowledge of art makes architects create meaningful aesthetics.
Architecture, on the whole, deepens the perspective shift of the individual towards the world and the people that possess it. It can be the tool for social change that inspires people to take steps to uplift the community, it always has the motive to make things better and more convenient, be it as small as providing a comfortable staircase for an elderly woman or as big as an intersection in the city that provides makes the daily commute more interesting for thousands of people.
Citations for images | Perspective Shift
- Available at: https://www.introducingvenice.com/piazza-san-marco (Accessed October 18, 2022)
- Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Place#/media/File:Grand-Place,_Brussels_-_panorama,_June_2018.jpg (Accessed October 18, 2022)
- Mogyorósy M. Available at: https://www.avontuura.com/barcelona-from-above-by-marton-mogyorosy/ (Accessed October 18, 2022)
