“Importance of a good toilet design.” was the primary topic of dialogue on my first day at Architecture College. The term toilet design shocked me because it was the primary time I heard about it. The number of technical terms that were thrown on during the orientation went over my head.
Days passed and my vocabulary of architectural terms improved day by day. My observation skills also improved. A little room was not too small, and an outsized one might not be spacious enough if not utilized properly. The regular walks on the road weren’t the same anymore. From the curb of the footpath to the peak of the structure, it all started making sense.
Architecture is a social act and the material theatre of human activity – Spiro Kostof.
Architecture changed my perception of life. The sensation of Empathy has brought a drastic change in design outlook. Design for all has acted as a catalyst in changing the purpose of view. The responsibility that has been entrusted to us to create the habitat for day-to-day life holds us in charge of the betterment of lifestyle and user experience. We all agree that a patient needs a doctor more than a gorgeous hospital, a student needs an educator more than a desirable classroom but a well connected, properly designed, and effectively functioning structure would enhance not only their experience but also mobility.
Architecture has been a representation of society, reflecting the culture, successes, and final downfall of the past civilizations from time to time. It’s played a key role in the development of people since prehistoric times. It provides us with information about our ancestors, their lifestyle, practices, beliefs, customs, and religion. It exists not only to make a built environment in which people can live but also includes urban infrastructure, which plays an important role in the development of the town and country. Hence, it’s considered an ideal blend of art and science, intertwined with psychology, socioeconomics, politics, and more.
Architecture can’t be understood without some knowledge of the society it serves. – Hugh Casson
It’s a general perception that architecture is all about the four walls and roofs. People get surprised when they come to know about specializations in fields such as Urban, Landscape, Sustainable Design, etc. In the book Analyzing Architecture, the author Simon Unwin beautifully states the reason why individuals create a built environment and the way they organize these spaces in correlation with their beliefs, aspirations, and worldview. The worldview keeps changing because of several factors such as environmental conditions, culture, social economics, and personal choices. Perhaps this is the reason why user analysis plays a major role in designing a built space.
The buildings and the infrastructure are built based on the needs and the requirements of the society. Their location, height, capacity, and form all play a critical role in the betterment of society. Buildings are produced by society at the same time; it is these buildings that help in maintaining the social forms of the society. Old buildings either get renewed or modified to fulfil the different functions of society.
Murray Krelstein, in his paper “Have You Ever Felt Awe and Wonder?” suggested that “awe reduces the prevalence and severity of mood disorders. Meaning that beautiful and awe-inspiring architecture has the potential to create a calmer, happier environment.” Uninteresting buildings and enormous dull landscapes are found together as the explanations behind higher levels of stress.
People generally have certain misconceptions about architects and architecture. Tons of individuals think that it’s a glamorous job which could only be true for the famous architects who created a number of the foremost inventive structures. People also tend to confuse architects with builders. Architects design the buildings; they are not going to build them. The buildings are developed with the support of the designs of the architects. Architects can suggest which materials are best fitted to the planning and maybe mention a possible source of such material to the builders. The two share a close relationship in building a structure, but their work profile is sort of different.
It would be quite biased to say that architecture only has a positive impact on the development of society. Cutting the green belt for construction would never have a positive impact on society regardless of how aesthetic the structure would end up being. The harm caused to the environment would be irreversible. It’s also been noted that places, where the windows and courtyards aren’t located or designed properly and don’t have the right provision of natural light and ventilation may cause negative effects on the behaviour of the users.
The architecture features a huge impact on enhancing and improving the prevailing urban fabric of our society. It’s always played a fundamental role in the development and evolution of human life. The impact might not be directly visible but is felt in our daily lives, whether positive or negative.
References:
- Helena L. Jubany (2011). The Social Responsibility of Architects. [online]. (Last updated 29 June 2011). Available at: https://www.di.net/articles/the_social_responsibility_architects/ [Accessed 19 June 2021].
- Ghinita, Ana-Maria (2016). How buildings influence society and how society is influenced by buildings – an introduction. Written 8 June 2016. Available from:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-buildings-influence-society-influenced-ana-maria-ghinita [Accessed 19 June 2021].
- Bee Breeders. The Role of Architecture in Shaping Communities. [online]. Available at: https://architecturecompetitions.com/the-role-of-architecture-in-shaping-communities [Accessed 19 June 2021].
- Quote Master. Quotes about Architecture and Society. [online]. Available at: https://www.quotemaster.org/architecture+and+society [Accessed 19 June 2021].
