As Anton Chekhov rightly quoted, “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into perspective.” Therefore, Architecture holds the capability to manifest unidentified perceptions.
The theorizer inside me is enhancing its nerves as I climb more treads on a staircase of Architecture. So, let’s start by taking the first step out of the building. My brain says: “Count the no. of steps heading towards ground level, are they odd?” Meanwhile, while I am on my way, the Traffic Jam makes me question the road arboriculture & what we can do to improve it as well by just not thinking but penning it down & sharing with people, by spreading awareness among them. The point lies in the embarkation of the direction in which something is expounded.
Expression of Space
Space expresses both corporeal & intellectual repercussions on human perception. We use our senses to explore, with anonymous perceptions each time. Doesn’t it astonish how Greeks took perspective into notice at that time, while building Parthenon-octastyle peripheral? The arrangement of columns was scrutinized as per how a human mind perceives it.
Architecture made us realize the true aspect of human perception. For instance, long narrow corridors might seem scary but a wide lawn with open space divides our brain to focus on varied angles. Perception made Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper (2,723 ft) tall, into realism. But going deep into the sea of the reality of “Vertical Cities”, it’s not a boon entirely. Humans usually don’t attune themselves but aspire to alter the Environment. Skyscrapers paralleled development & the conviction was to bring people in unison as Social Media but caused dejection & lonesomeness among people. I reckon in considering more standpoints, both impressive and critical to devise better living conditions.
Temples, which were seen as the sacred place of worship now speak also about Vedic Science, about the grid or centralized planning; its elements making the aura of the space completely inviolable. Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, depicts beauty. Also signifies the role of symmetry, centralized form, vertical linear elements defining volume. World Heritage Sites, which were only tourist spots in childhood, conveys inheritance, principles, integrity & ideology of lineage.
Perception in views and vistas is heading higher years after years. A few days back, while I was working on my design, I somehow felt designing was discovering about myself & how I perceive form & spaces around. Building blocks speak, the environment yells, we have to take heed & further implement it. Young architects need to tighten their belts in moving forward in changing perception into reality.
The Vantage point on City Architecture
The idea is to make the city comprehensible, humane & habitable. Furthermore, the purpose of suburban design is to complement nature, to create key focal sites & to make the city harbor diverse. The miscellaneous aspects we ponder are composition, elegance, proportion, scale, color, daylight, artificial light, circulation, Infrastructure, the magnitude of activity.
The conceptual perception of Urban Design involves physical comfort, accessibility & circulation, transition & boundaries, detail, variety & complexity, and cohesiveness.
Prospecting Public Realm
A few months back, I went to a park with my younger brother. People of my age group must be feeling healthy by walking around on an attractive pathway integrated with short trees along. But my brother was wondering if any swings were there. This is vice-versa for old-age people as well. We shrug off their emotions easily by neglecting the fact that spaces invoke emotions.
The role of the public realm needs a rethinking by not limiting to harmonious use but also analyzing the area character & function. By serving people of all ages a healthy & active lifestyle. Space must have a strong sense of place.
“Awareness must be like the rays of the sun: extending everywhere, illuminating all.” Quoted by B.K.S. Iyengar explains the essence of an opinion. Considerations have changed civic spaces into public spaces, which are increasing healthy growth & measurable economic advantages as well. And perception will lead us towards a better living in the coming time.
Nature invokes echoes
Nature has its modes to stimulate counterclaims. For instance, change in the pattern of clouds on the sky, directions of winds, colors of flowers, textures of vegetation & how it shifts through the year by playing the designs of weather on them. From just being a nature lover to acknowledging its true essence in diverse forms, Architecture happens. The intention is to create, protect & restore nature. Moreover, blending built forms with nature & reinforcing it aesthetically.
I suppose we humans are the most self-concerned species but we disregarded the fact that nature will always lead us. Henceforth, numerous times our brain functions on the past experiences of insight. So, as Architects, we are blessed to be aware of and it’s our moral responsibility to enlighten the world & to make people break their normal limits of human perception.
So, let’s work together to shatter the boundaries of perception & build immeasurable certitude.
