To understand the impacts of architecture, one must first understand what architecture is.
Architecture is a form of art that uses technology to enhance lives. The purpose of architecture is to improve human life and benefit society. Architecture always represents the society and culture that created it. Beyond providing shelter, architecture defines our lives through its setting and context. Architecture is everywhere in our daily life ranging from products we use to places we visit. Architecture is not just for architects; it is for humankind. Architecture has created a long-lasting effect on the environment. The impact of architecture on society is extremely high when compared to occupants in personal ways.
When we walk down a street, do we observe the buildings, landscapes, or other features? Not as a backdrop for selfies or portraits but as an element that creates a character to a place, probably the answer will be NO!!
Can we imagine a world without architecture?
Architecture serves as an iconic element of any country. The country’s architectural features such as the skyline, monuments, and historical landscapes reveal something about the history and style of its people. Through the visual image of the architectural features, a person could connect the country of origin. Architecture tells the culture of the region. Culture shapes values, values determine the future of the country. Our culture and subcultures are defined by our values, providing a long-term support system for cultural replication.
If we did not have architecture, every place looks identical, with no place for individuality, diversity, and homogeneity. It will be a world of bare ground surrounded by vegetation that provides habitat for wildlife, diverse flora, and fauna. What would a human do? It will be a land without purpose, identity, culture, and humanity; A world without architecture is highly unimaginable. Architecture brings people together by creating spatial boundaries and various typologies like residences, commercial, institution, industrial, and a lot more based on our needs; that makes our life organized. Human life is related to architecture in many ways. Architecture beautifies the Earth, integrates with nature, shapes us, gives us spaces to live, study, play, work, invent, experiment, and enjoy. Draws boundaries and makes a routine in our life. Without architecture, there is no fun in our life!
“Individuals are intrinsic to design, the portrayal of life is set up in architecture; to be considered, create, support is a building perception” It begins with evacuation to nothing and has a plan in a chance to show up at satisfaction.
Architecture influences human behaviors and performance
The role of architecture is multifaceted: safety, functionality, aesthetics, and emotion. At its core, architecture is an emotional experience. As architects, we are responsible for creating spaces that improve the way we live, psychological states, moods, behavior, performance, make the place more comfortable to live in, enhance the way we feel, and even our physiological condition. Beyond providing the functionality that end-users expect, good architecture will improve occupants’ quality of life with the blend of aesthetics, design, technology, and construction methods and materials.
Human psychology has been incredibly impacted by architecture. Visual, auditory, and sensory stimulation stimulates the nervous system. An efficient built environment can enhance self-esteem, raise human mood, and promote optimism. Building layout, color scheme, spatial arrangement affect our perception. Spaces have unique characters based on the tasks the user in a particular place carries out. For example, people who work at higher ceiling heights feel liberated, which promotes a cheerful, enthusiastic attitude, which is better suited to creative people. Likewise, people who work at lower ceiling heights feel constrained, forced, focused on activities, which is better for analytical people. Color schemes play a vital role in the human mood. They could either enhance or diminish our perception of space. In the beginning, we shape the buildings, then those buildings mold us.
Good architectural design anticipates the emotional and mental well-being of the person, rather than merely considering practicality and function. In other words, architecture is an instrument used for social control.
Architecture influences on the Social and Physical Environment
Society is a place where people get together, sharing the spatial territory and being governed by the same system. Many things can affect society, one of them being architecture. Buildings are essentially cultural and social products; their design and form are shaped by the ideas, values, beliefs, activities, relationships, and forms of the social organizations they support. Even though buildings do not create a society, they maintain many of their social forms.
Societies were historically represented through architecture. They reflect the values, successes, and eventual collapse of their civilizations. Monumental structures, residences, and other buildings of a city’s fabric reveal about its occupants long before we arrived. As more research is conducted on psychology and the environment in combination with the built environment of the past, understanding of architecture is evolving.
Architecture is about experiences, not only visibly but also through touch and feel. Architecture impacts society by promoting sustainability through innovation, social interaction, tourism, and public health. It plays a vital role in disaster management and also in reducing social discrimination. The elements of architecture are ideological in the way they promote societal ideals and positions. We design our homes to inspire people. Except for some current trends, the environment has mostly been the same.
Plans for the cities of tomorrow!
The population in metropolitan areas continues to rise around the globe. Architecture helps to create a sense of community. So, city planners and architects must consider the possible ways to integrate the environment with the ever-changing landscape of older and newer structures. In particular, how it affects the occupants of the new space. Urban spaces should focus on the psychological effects of green spaces, parks, and building designs. It promotes a high quality of life, sustainability, and positive emotions.
Architectural evolution is an inevitable change and unstoppable, as the needs and conditions of humankind change. Buildings and construction styles can impact our lives in a way that is directly related to our surroundings and requirements. In recent days, architecture has become a mix & match game that combines our roots with the upgrading technologies. Architecture must reconcile the perceived needs of the moment with an unknowable future demand to produce something that will last for generations. The architecture will exist as long as human beings do, so make the best use of it.
And next time when you visit a place, observe the features and details of the space. Details tell us what a building is! They are fundamental to life and reveal the personality of a place. In our busy lives, it may not be easy. But try, it will enhance our perception of our life and the environment.
“It’s a simple approach. It is possible to predict the sustainable future of architecture by using evidence from the past”
Architecture can be constructive or destructive based on the creators and users. There are countless ways in which architecture can evolve the changing needs of our society. We need to intensify the challenge, believing that we are capable of it. Since we all live in a constructed environment, we should be grateful to architecture.
Reference
- Andrea de Paiva (2018). Neuroscience for Architecture: How Building Design Can Influence Behaviors and Performance. Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 12(2).
- Libeskind, D. (2017). Daniel Libeskind: The emotional impact of architecture. [online] CNN Style. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/daniel-libeskind-architecture-emotions/index.html
- Vangelatos, G. (2019). How Does Architecture Impact Society? A High-Level Look | Thought Leadership. [online] HMC Architects. Available at: https://hmcarchitects.com/news/how-does-architecture-impact-society-a-high-level-look-2019-10-18/.
- www.youtube.com. (n.d.). How Architecture Affects our Daily Lives | Ignacio Hui | TEDxYouth@THS. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgvbffkN90E.
