What makes architecture interesting in particular lies in the scope of its application – the experience of life in the built environment is something that people must invariably take for granted. Our minds are heavily conditioned and circumscribed by the disguised and fixed nature of the built forms around us.
Most architects become architects with an implicit underlying desire to work in ways that would leave something tangible in their path in life. Only once they begin their journey in the discipline, the built forms – hiding in plain sight – start to make sense and reshape their perspectives way beyond this inceptive desire.
Architectural theory
The curiosity an architecture student initially has in man-made environments substantially evolves during their undergraduate course. An impactful catalyst that fuels this curiosity is the availability of literary works by the likes of Adolf Loos, Jahani Pallasma and Jun’ichirō Tanizaki.
One such remarkable work is the essay by Juhani Pallasma ‘The Eyes of the Skin’ that leaves a significant impact on its readers’ perspective and makes them question every design from not merely a visual standpoint but rather the spatial experience it offers. It builds a case against the imbalanced dominance of vision over touch, hearing, smell and taste – calling the bais, “Ocularcentrism”.
The essay compels its reader to begin comprehending the built forms not just as objects they inhabit, but as an extension of their overall sensory experience that responds. ‘In Praise of Shadow’ by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki is yet another noteworthy essay that gradually reshapes its readers’ perspectives to visualize the importance of light and materials in architecture.
Architectural process
Sketching and architecture go side by side. It marks the beginning of every design. The fact of drawing a conscious manual resolution for a design problem out of the multiple probable choices one can think of aids one to conceptualise the project functionality and user flow by recognizing and eliminating initial doubts. As vital as it is to explore and assimilate new ideas; an architect must know to communicate their own.
The medium to do so in architecture disciple is not merely limited to verbal discourse but also graphical and physical models. Drawing and modelling are fundamental tools for the definition, reflection and communication of designs.
Sketching enables one to understand textures, materials, light, building details, various perspectives and the core of their project at large. It is one of the key points to begin any project that maps out the process into smaller executable steps. This process of drawing immensely influences the way one perceives different kinds of spaces – public, private, community, etc. – because every line type, shadow, colour and texture have their meaning.
Architectural practice
There is always an ever-evolving exchange between built forms and their surrounding. With a foot in the disciple, one can notice this exchange in every sphere of their life – reshaping and changing their perspectives. Architecture is not just limited to buildings, urban design, interiors, or landscape. It is a continuous dialogue between various subjects ranging from science and psychology, economics and sociology to documentation and history. With advancements in technological interventions today, much is achievable and new solutions to old problems are possible.
For example, a focus on the efficient usage of energy in Denmark has fast developed the idea of smart-grids, where volumes of renewable energy are generated through the interconnectivity of its electrical, gas and heating systems. This massive shift is an imperative need due to the unfavourable climate change and has thus also changed the conventional architectural designs. Usage of materials, building services, exchange of energies – all require revisions to meet this shift.
Architectural education and further practice can dramatically shape one’s formal perspectives on life itself. The way of perceiving surroundings, environments, cultures, traditions, societies and people in general. One can never view a public park and not wonder why people use some benches more often than others or why the concept of building some of the highest skyscrapers began or why temples have such symmetry. It becomes a perpetual dialogue with the surroundings.
Nevertheless, it also has a history of fostering positive social change with environmental sustainability and political and communal participation.
Throughout history, architecture has been a reflection of the civilizations – their society, values, economies, culture and eventual downfall. It stands as a representation of how a community sees itself. The urban fabric mirrors the way people live their lives and in turn, has a deep impact on them.
It would not be wrong to spot the problems hence a community faces in their built environments due to numerous factors such as the growing difference between economically divergent communities in a country or immediate need for a response to refugee needs or efficient design ideas to combat climate change. This multi-faceted perspective of viewing the built environment eventually reshapes an architect’s outlook towards life—from acquiring theoretical knowledge along the way to practice and everyday experience.
