Architecture plays a major role in modeling human life because it is life itself. As man begins to grow he passes through different stages of life; Man is born, man learns how to walk, man learns how to eat and communicate, man begins to socialize, begins to worship a supreme being, begins to learn new habits etc. the quest for the accommodation of this societal needs begin to show which then leads to the design of this spaces to man and his needs.
As humans began to exist so did Architecture, as its history can be dated back to the Neolithic period, around 10,000 BC, where humans made geometric forms through the use of stones and earthen mounds to form a shelter, Egyptians constructed their houses, temples, and tombs with the use of sun-baked mud, granite and limestone for shelter, to worship their gods and bury their leaders, the Greek, and Romans constructing their buildings that were symmetrical, proportional and ornamental to depicts aesthetics and not just for shelter down to the Byzantine and Baroque Architecture that explored the use of rounded domes and arches with the extensive use of glass mosaics.
How Architecture Has Evolved Through Human Existence.
Human Existence is said to have existed for over 2.5 million years. The Prehistoric age is recorded as when human life began before records of human activity began. In this era, pre-historic times were categorically generalized into stone, bronze, and iron age. The Stone Age is characterized by humans who were first hunters and gatherers, their structures were characterized by animal and plant features such as bones, shells, animal skins, and temporary as they often lived nomadically. Climate change began to set in and there was a cause for man to migrate and settle in the plains by tilling their lands and going into farming and food production. Here, Human Habitat evolved from living in caves to a more permanent settlement.
The Bronze Age era was an era where Man began to familiarize himself with his environment and start the forming of permanent settlements and villages. Structures during this time were rounded and circular with a thatched and turf roof. Also, fireplaces were situated in the middle to provide more warmth to them. More villages and cities began to form as there were more responsibilities and a dwelling could not be adequate anymore.
The Ice age saw more advancement in Architecture, homes were divided into spaces with an addition of stables for animals. One of the changes in the Iron Age area was the emergence of Hill forts; these were characterized by round houses and roads that were densely populated and surrounded by ditches which acted as a defense against enemies. Royal palaces and religious structures such as temples were beginning to be thought of and constructed. Cities began to emerge and planning took place, where homes were separated by paved or cobblestone streets. (Kennedy, 2019)
The architecture of today continues to evolve as man becomes more familiar and close-knit with his environment. The architecture of today allows for more freedom, openness, and visual connection to the surrounding environment as compared to the rigid style of design of prehistoric and classical eras. Here, the Architects interpret the site, and its environment before coming up with a design the saying goes “Form follows Function ”. This explains that a building’s purpose should be the start of its design. “Architects—such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe—believed that buildings should be designed to be functional and efficient and that it should reflect the modern world,” (Gould, 2023)
The Influence of Architecture on Human Existence.
Architecture is not just all about designing buildings that are aesthetically pleasing but is about designing buildings that are functional and solve issues relating to our environment and well-being. It encompasses a lot of factors that affect the way humans exist, some of these factors are;
Utilization of Space: the utilization of space can determine how people react to others and their environment. From the prehistoric era of human existence, it is seen that gradually Man began to see a need for more space in his home to satisfy his needs.
Accessibility: Architecture plays a role in providing accessibility from one point to another. When a city isn’t planned it is difficult for men to interact and socialize easily. This boils down to the design of space for the physically challenged; if the accessibility of spaces is properly designed, they can be navigated easily regardless of physical inabilities.
Lightning and colors: The choice of colors and lightning has been known to affect the moods and emotions of man. Certain colors promote excitement, calmness, relaxation, etc., thereby revoking psychological impacts on man and his overall well-being.
Layout: When Architecture is involved in the layout of sites or building designs there is an influence of the movement of patterns and social interaction between humans, be it in an outdoor or indoor space. Also, environmental factors such as noise, and air pollution are taken into consideration when designing.
Apart from these factors that affect the way humans exist, the influence of Architecture on human existence informs us about our history, materials used to build, and the origins of designs, and educates us on reasons why a particular style of Architecture exists.
Human existence without Architecture will lead to a lot of chaos, if spaces are not laid out or utilized, there will be less interaction between man and his environment. If there is no accessibility from one space to another, there will be less socialization and people who are physically challenged will not be able to access spaces like lifts, escalators, etc. If buildings do not have good lighting and good color spaces, this affects the mood of man negatively. Also, without Architecture Man will not be able to protect himself from adverse climatic and weather conditions such as heavy rainfall, extreme temperatures, high winds such as cyclones, and droughts.
Reference list:
Gould, W.R. (2023) What is modern architecture? here’s a rundown, Real Simple. Available at: https://www.realsimple.com/what-is-modern-architecture-7567851 (Accessed: 02 January 2024).
Kennedy, L. (2019) The prehistoric ages: How humans lived before written records, History.com. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/prehistoric-ages-timeline (Accessed: 02 January 2024).
The relationship between architecture, human behavior and construction (no date) Utilities One. Available at: https://utilitiesone.com/the-relationship-between-architecture-human-behavior-and-construction (Accessed: 02 January 2024).
Timeline of the history of Architecture (2023) Urban Design lab. Available at: https://urbandesignlab.in/timeline-of-the-history-of-architecture/ (Accessed: 02 January 2024).
