Architecture is usually defined as the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. It is the built realization of a particular idea or concept. The concept could be about construction, how people utilize the building, or even how the building fits into a social or physical landscape. Architecture also has the power to delight and inspire, as it can improve everyday experiences. The holistically creative manipulation of space usually drives architectural design, volume, mass, texture, materials, light, shadow, program, and other realistic elements like the cost, construction and technology to achieve an aesthetic end product that is pleasing, functional and often artistic.
Great architecture is born when artistic sensibility and scientific methodology collaborate equally. It takes imagination, the ability to develop ideas and communicate them succinctly and creatively with a keen interest in human behavior, habitat, and natural environment and problem-solving skills. Architecture is a form of art that provide us with the physical environment we live in and a state of visual art that creates irrevocable works. Furthermore, it is a profound expression of human civilization in a particular era. Humans value this art because it is a permanent expression of society’s values, ways of thinking, desires, ideology and many other matters at a fixed point in time.
Architecture as Art
Architecture isn’t just about creating four walls; it is more than that. Architecture is art in many ways, as in addition to functioning as an occupiable space, it needs to inspire and make an emotional impact on people. It is one of the classical forms of art because there is a strong association between them while creating a beautiful structure, from the initial design phase to the development and building construction. When art and architecture combine, spaces offer a sense of community in addition to function and technique. The three branches of visual arts are sculpture, painting and architecture.
Art and architecture are designed with the same organizational principles, aesthetically based elements, and perceptual interaction. They are simultaneously expressive and emotive. Architecture and art often collaborate in a complementary manner. Buildings were adorned with floral patterns and scrolled columns in early Roman times and continued throughout the Art Nouveau architectural style with ornate and organic characteristics. Creating spaces that optimize the way people integrate into the environment is an art form on its own.
Psychological Impact of Architecture
An average human being spends about 80-90% of the time in architecture and the remaining time almost entirely in its immediate proximity. Hence, space, lighting, acoustics, color and aesthetics play a huge role in the behavioral psychology of people. Ill-conceived and inferior architecture can promote stress, exhaustion, and physical discomfort. The reverse conclusion is that spaces can also support healing processes and promote well-being
Humans have holistic perception: our senses influence our thinking, actions, feelings, and, therefore, our entire body. Structures are also associated with security and safety issues. Some buildings can thus attract crime or vandalism, but they also help to improve and provide security. Architecture has to consider human factors, while psychology is the science of human experience and behavior. The psychology of colors also plays a vital role in arousing user emotions. Architecture is for the people, and therefore it has its own culture and traditions of knowledge about human nature. Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards, our buildings shape us.”. It is the buildings that affect the way we live, function and behaves within them.
Interior design and Architecture
When architecture considers how a building interacts with the world, the interior design turns the focus inward, carving out a given space to accommodate the specific needs of its occupants. Architects believe that designing interiors fall under their responsibilities since they are qualified by education and experience. Meanwhile, the set of skills published in the interior design field is insufficient in providing proper guidance on the territories between architecture and interior design. Architects creatively design interior and exterior structure design while interior designers focus on space functionality and aesthetics.
Both interior designers and architects are qualified to solve space-related problems, and interior design and architecture are considered art and science. Creativity and artistic skills are necessary for both fields. Architects can design interiors like interior designers, mostly with exposure to explicit interior works and by working alongside interior designers.
Architecture for the people
Architecture has stood as a representation of society, reflecting civilizations’ successes, values and eventual downfall over time. Architecture exists to create the physical environment in which human life, but it is more than just a built environment; it is also a part of our culture. It stands as a representation of how we see ourselves, as well as how we view the world. Buildings were initially shaped by the climate of a particular location, readily available materials, and the values of the society building them. Everything from the layout of the space to the material finishes impacts the occupant’s health, mood and productivity.
The shelter was merely a safe space for people to live in. Today, architecture elevated the ‘shelter’ experience to another level considering many more aspects of human experience. As the famous architect, Alvar Aalto once said, “The ultimate goal of the architect is to create a paradise. Every house, every product of architecture should be a fruit of our endeavor to build and an earthly paradise for people.”
Cultural Impact of Architecture
From Rome‘s Colosseum and the Greek Parthenon, architecture has contributed to cultures around the world. When it wasn’t easy to travel between countries, every country had a unique architectural style that reflected their culture, for example, the sturdy columns of Greek and Rome, the Pagoda of China, the Federal type of America etc. Some classes have tied into a culture so strongly that they have become landmarks. As globalization has created significant changes worldwide, individual cultures have made less of an impression on architecture, as a more modern and contemporary look is the goal of new designs. Modern civilization has united the world beyond cultural ties more than ever, blurring the lines in the world of architecture. However, even in modern countries, architecture and culture continue to be intertwined.
Citations
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