First and foremost is the question of how and where the first architectural inspiration came from, and the answer to this is straightforward: Nature, when man realized that they needed a shelter for themselves. Despite the functional complexity, material ecology, scale and usage, the man simultaneously played all three roles of being an architect, client and builder.
There is architecture everywhere, and each building has a distinct function, and this refers to man’s existence and existential space and how they are inextricably linked. It is crucial that these buildings and the environments they create, as well as the neighborhoods and cities they are a part of, are designed to be the best possible buildings for their specific context, purpose, and users. The world always shows the spatiality of the space that belongs to it, as Heidegger so eloquently put it. Every action suggests the need “to be somewhere.” So what does “being somewhere” actually mean? Being in an existential space is all it entails (Norberg-Schulz, 2021).
The harmonious relationship between place, place of dwelling (Live), place of employment (Work), and site of activity (Play) has existed throughout history, from civilisations to agricultural societies to the industrial revolution and finally to the technological world we live in today.
The Concurrence of Human Challenges and Architecture
Providing permanent shelter for all people remains one of the biggest humanitarian challenges we face today. We must pay close attention to the ethos of understanding the crisis of evicted and displaced people, their living conditions, and the problem of homelessness caused by insurmountable reasons.
While commonly described as a ‘mirror’ or ‘reflection’ of society, architecture goes far beyond that and is a constitutive and transformative medium through which human existence has evolved. Architecture detects the rise and fall of various cultures and civilisations, thereby describing the evolution of human lifestyle throughout history.
Architects have argued for centuries whether a building should be a practical expression of its era, an attempt to recreate the past, or a display of nostalgia. They have discussed the need for well-built structures and a single building to serve multiple uses and individuals in specific ways. Renzo Piano was adamant that “…there is also a quality of magic” and that is what sets good architecture apart from traditional buildings. A good building serves a purpose. It has an impact on the inhabitants and users as well as the soul of humankind.
From a Sociological Perspective
Even though some concepts may seem utopian, exquisite architecture has the power to affect people profoundly. This quality, which transcends mere functionality and nevertheless manages to be very exceptional, cannot be explained or measured in scientific terms but is something we can all sense when we come across a good structure or space.
Ole Bouman has reflected throughout his works on “Architecture, not so much as the art or technique of making buildings, but architecture as the intelligent way to organize our lives on Earth, and infuse it with purpose” (Harrouk, 2021). One can imagine architecture as humanity’s most respectable vehicle, as reflected in some of the cornerstones of human motivational history – tributes to our ancestors, celebrations of glory, manifestations of ingenuity, pursuits of enlightenment, and trumpeting emancipation.
Multilayered Dimensions of Architecture
In an era when it is common to assert that architecture incorporates all facets of philosophy, physics, psychology, economics, politics, and sociology, it is essential to remember that architecture is fundamentally an artistic endeavor that involves constructing the actual surroundings in which we live. Architecture is a prism through which civilization views itself, the built environment, nature, and the entire globe because it reflects society’s advancements in every way conceivable.
Architecture can act as a historical time capsule. It displays human values, beliefs, and thoughts, as well as our worries and fears. The tremendous work of art in front of us can mirror all human emotions and thoughts while we stand still in wonderment. The architecture depicts our culture, identity, and social standing and is a lasting manifestation of the values, aspirations, thoughts, ideologies, and many other things of a particular time in society.
Architecture as Creation of Value
The word “Humanness” has a collective connotation in architecture, which refers to a broader whole, represents civic solidarity, and has a significant association with people and their emotions. Architecture is a human endeavor, as we can observe in any infant’s first attempts to make a place. Over time, it has become clear that there are “hidden dimensions” to how people relate to and interact with the space around them, and this demonstrates how spatial behavior changes.
Humanity is in a near- perpetual struggle for survival. We are mortal, but we want to be immortal, and culture is the key to our victory in this battle. Culture enables us to assert our existence to the point where we are not only ‘now’ but are, in essence, eternal. When discussing India, the land of cultures, traditions, and values, there is a confident attitude towards religion, which has resulted in contemporary modern India coexisting with mythological India. Our measure of time is accelerating, and events are now coupled with rapid change and uncertainty. The relationship of man with build form has become transitory, and identity has become synonymous with quick, result-oriented action (Doshi, 2019).
Closing Remarks
Architecture is not something that appears; it is not a process of nature like a tree growing or the oceans moving; instead, it starts with the mind conceiving a question, rationalizing the context, understanding the ethic, and culminating in the imagining of a solution. Thus, in its most basic form, architecture is the real-world result of our creative imagination as it interacts with our daily life. Because architecture is a part of us and not something separate from us, it must endure as monuments so that future generations can learn from and comprehend it.
If asked to imagine a world without aesthetics, humanity, elevation, determination, immortality, vision, and fascination, the answer is simple: a world without architecture!
References and Citations
- Books
Doshi, Balkrishna. (2019). Universe of an Architect-Planner: Indian Cases. Ahmedabad: Vastu – Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design.
Doshi, Balkrishna. (2019). Give Time A Break. Ahmedabad: Vastu – Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design.
- Articles
Delitz, H. (2017) “Architectural modes of collective existence: Architectural sociology as a comparative social theory,” Cultural Sociology, 12(1), pp. 37–57. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1749975517718435.
Architecture, A.A. (2018) What is architecture? Medium. Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@AAA_Publication/what-is-architecture-1b52f5339c2a (Accessed: April 13, 2023).
- Online sources
Harrouk, C. (2021) “as long as there are human beings and their challenges, there will be architecture”: In conversation with Ole Bouman, ArchDaily. ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/959771/as-long-as-there-are-human-beings-and-their-challenges-there-will-be-architecture-in-conversation-with-ole-bouman (Accessed: April 9, 2023).
Norberg-Schulz, C. (2021) Existence, Space & Architecture, bookm. Studio Vista Ltd. Available at: https://www.bookm-ark.fi/product/existence-space-architecture/ (Accessed: April 10, 2023).
Can you imagine a world without architecture? – sci-arc (2017) SCI-Arc. Available at: https://www.sciarc.edu/news/2017/can-you-imagine-a-world-without-architecture (Accessed: April 10, 2023).
Admin (2021) Importance of architecture for society and in Modern World, IMPOFF. Available at: https://impoff.com/importance-of-architecture/ (Accessed: April 12, 2023).
DL, D.V.S.M.B.E. (2015) The role of architecture in humanity’s story, Thought Economics. Thought Economics. Available at: https://thoughteconomics.com/the-role-of-architecture-in-humanitys-story/ (Accessed: April 10, 2023).
- Images/visual mediums
Upadhyaya, A.N. (2023) 8 architectural drawings offering new way of looking at familiar places around the globe – architizer journal, Journal. Available at: https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/architectural-drawings-new-ways-to-see-familiar-places/ (Accessed: April 14, 2023).
Spacek, D. (no date) Welcome to the city of memories, Behance. Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/57817467/Welcome-to-the-City-of-Memories (Accessed: April 14, 2023).
Yousaf, R. (no date) One drawing challenge 2022: Send us a drawing. tell us a story. win $3,000, Architizer – A global drawing competition brought to you by Architizer and the A+Awards. Available at: https://onedrawingchallenge.secure-platform.com/a/gallery/rounds/6/details/4809 (Accessed: April 18, 2023).
- Other source types
