“We shape our structures and then our buildings shape us -Winston Churchill
Throughout history, architecture has functioned as a symbol of society, reflecting the ideals, triumphs, and ultimate destruction of civilisations. The monumental buildings, residences, and other buildings that make up the fabric of a city can teach us a lot about the people who lived there in the past. Driving through cities, we see facades that hide interiors with extremely diverse personalities and effects. Building exteriors are a barrier between indoor and outdoor spaces, connecting or separating public and private spaces and separating open areas from private retreats. Each can have beneficial and negative effects on an area, determined by its shape and design. However, despite the various political, social, and cultural characteristics that influence our critical thinking, perceptions, and actions, as well as our actions and reflections, it is clear that the built environment creates important, personally experienced sensory impressions for each person. The geometry and layout of our homes affect our happiness and well-being, and there is evidence that certain cells in the hippocampus region of our brains are attuned to these factors.
Understanding how people and space interact requires exploration and personal engagement. Flipping things around and looking at them from a different angle can help you interpret space in new ways. This shift in perspective helps architects recognise relevant topics and break conventions. Successful and significant architecture, regardless of architectural language, is characterised by its ability to win the acceptance of those who interact with it. Because it is people who live in that room, experience its atmosphere, and are enchanted and fascinated by it. Simply emphasising and articulating the nature and potential of spaces often enables architects to design future-oriented urban spaces for communities that people accept and value. For this reason, architects must consider the needs and desires of the people they are designing for. They must consider the cultural, social, and economic factors shaping community identity and aspirations. In this way, you can create spaces that reflect the values of your community and improve your quality of life. Architecture should be functional, aesthetically pleasing, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. We must maximise our potential to contribute to healthy and vibrant urban ecosystems while minimising our impact on the natural environment. Achieving these goals requires a deep understanding of both the physical and social contexts in which architecture operates. Architects need to work collaboratively with other professionals, stakeholders, and community members to ensure their designs are responsive to local needs and desires. After all, architectural success is about more than just creating beautiful buildings and spaces. It’s about creating a place where people can grow, connect and build a better future together.
Cognitive Architecture
This is how the solid structures that make up the mind, whether natural or man-made, work together with the knowledge and skills embedded in their architecture to enable intelligent behaviour in various complex environments. It’s a theory about what to pull out. The complexity of the cognitive and emotional processes involved in everyday experiences in planned environments has recently received increasing attention in architecture.
Human-centred architecture is not a fad, a style, or a methodology but a solution-based approach to strengthening the connection between people and structures to meet the community’s needs. This purpose-built building focuses on the needs, attitudes, behaviours, and emotions of the people who use the solutions to their problems and opportunities to create them.
Human-centered Architecture
Many designers and architects have long incorporated a human-centred approach into their work. Still, the term was first used by Irish engineer Mike Cooley in his 1987 publication Human-Centered was the System. Since then, people-first design and architecture have remained key pillars in promoting global equality by continuing to empower communities worldwide. But innovative architectural designs that improve the lives of communities are the result of intensive research and analysis, not just well-meaning ideas. The success of human-centred architectural design projects results from a thorough understanding of the target user and is grounded in concepts from ethnography, sociology, and cognitive psychology. The success of a human-centred building project depends not on its size or beauty but on its value in the daily lives of its users. So everything from state-of-the-art medical facilities to eco-toilets in remote greenfields can be good examples of human-centred design.
Community space
Peepal’s courtyard is a deeply rooted metaphor of unity, symbolising peace and a sense of oneness with people. The smooth atmosphere adds charm to the informality of the events held under the peepal. The growth of Design Ashram as a community center was organic and matched the talents of their guru.A yard full of happy minds and smiling faces is the liveliest place. The characteristic architectural style of Gujarati streets is a fusion of Kutch and Mapila styles. Mapila dominates the appearance of the street only because of its tree. Gujarat Highway has homes and a temple along the main road. In addition, other commercial activities take place here.
Six of the houses on Gujarat Street in the study area are privately owned, and the remaining properties are either owned by the temple or leased to non-Gujaratis.built with a hint of Gujarati design, like a street side gallery and aangan in a covered portico before entering the building. The essence of Gujarat Street was honoured when DAC Design Studio designed the adaptive reuse of this 100-year-old courtyard house.
Culture and Society
We know that while culture refers to a group’s ethos, society refers to the people who exhibit the same behaviours. If neither one existed, there would be neither society nor culture. Humanity has left imprints on the world throughout history through language, art, knowledge, and architecture. These traces are not only historical; they are fundamental to the period and define our current culture, supporting our very sense of humanity. Being crucial, given that humanity is in a tight battle for survival. We can build our humanity through culture to the point where we are actually “eternal” and not just “in the present”.
Culture is not just a collection of traditions and customs but a dynamic force that shapes our identity and way of life. Through culture, we express ourselves, connect with others and create meaning. Culture permeates every aspect of our existence, from the music we listen to, to the food and clothes we wear. It reflects our values, beliefs, and aspirations as a society. Without culture, we would be lost in a sea of insignificance and despair. Therefore, we must continue to value and celebrate our cultural heritage while embracing new forms of expression and creativity. By doing this, we can ensure that humanity will remain viable and sustainable for generations. Kerala architecture is distinctive and stands in sharp contrast to the Dravidian style of architecture commonly found in other southern regions. Kerala temples are built using two construction theories, Thantra-Samuchayam and Sliparatnam, which allow positive energy to flow into the temple and contain no negative energy. Kerala architecture is heavily based on and influenced by architectural sciences like Vastu Shastra. Any residential or religious central structure usually consists of a rectangular or cylindrical base and roofs that slope at the top.
perspectives, experiences, and usage of urban public areas by natives.
The survey results show that residents see their “neighbourhood” as the area around their home where they interact with their neighbours and get to know each other. Near the home are well-organized green areas, parks with trees that offer space for many activities, streets covered with trees, green areas connected to the system, the presence of those surfaces for leisure and sport, and street furniture to rest. Playing factors that make people feel satisfied with their neighbourhood.
The survey results show that residents see their “neighbourhood” as the area around their home where they interact with their neighbours and get to know each other. Near the home are well-organized green areas, parks with trees that offer space for many activities, streets covered with trees, green areas connected to the system, the presence of those surfaces for leisure and sport, and street furniture to rest. they were playing factors that make people feel satisfied with their neighbourhood. The availability and size of green spaces are the only factors in providing quality open spaces. In addition, to ease of use for residents and other users, creating and maintaining these spaces is important. The availability, quality, and accessibility of space are just some factors that influence the popularity of green spaces and other open spaces among the general public.
Before planning and implementing changes, it is important to collect qualitative information about potential users and understand how they use and interact with open urban spaces. It is advisable to involve residents in regional planning from the beginning actively. This helps to avoid the frequent disputes between planners of local and larger development projects in residential areas over the provision of open public space. How can the project better meet the needs and demands of the residents? Understanding how they use green and open spaces and what is important to them is important. In this way, the project can better meet the needs of the residents and offer spaces that improve their quality of life. One solution to this question is thorough research and analysis at an early stage of development. This may include surveys, focus groups, and community engagement initiatives to gather feedback from residents and understand their preferences for open public space. Using this approach, planners gain valuable information about community needs and demands, which can be incorporated into development project planning. This can create a more harmonious relationship between residents and planners and ensure that the project meets the needs of the people living in the area. Finally, by prioritising community input and participation in the design process, developers can create neighbourhoods that are not only functional but also improve the quality of life for all residents.
References:
JURKOVIČ, Nataša BRATINA. “Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighborhoods.” 2013, p. 19. Accessed 17 06 2023.
Ashram, D. (no date) design ashram, Design ashram. Available at: https://www.designashram.org/home (Accessed: 24 June 2023).
LeadingLearner, P. by (2019) Cognitive load theory updated; 20 years on – our cognitive architecture, @LeadingLearner. Available at: https://leadinglearner.me/2019/02/07/cognitive-load-theory-updated-20-years-on-our-cognitive-architecture/ (Accessed: 24 June 2023).
Parekh, T. (no date) The Study of a hundred year old Gujarati settlement in Calicut. Dissertation.
Vangelatos, G. (2019) How does architecture impact society? A high-level look: Ideas, HMC Architects. Available at: https://hmcarchitects.com/news/how-does-architecture-impact-society-a-high-level-look-2019-10-18/ (Accessed: 24 June 2023).
