Introduction
A world without architecture is incomprehensible to society. Human existence has come so far that it almost solely depends on architecture without even realising it. It may seem as simple as living without houses, but it goes much deeper than that; any technological advancement humans have achieved after all these years would be relinquished. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it would end humanity; perhaps society would thrive, and nature could flourish again. If all architecture was gone with a snap of a finger, would they panic and destroy each other, or come together and finally be at peace?
What Defines Architecture?
Many people believe architecture is a form of art, while others perceive it as plain construction that provides shelter. The Cambridge Dictionary defines architecture as ‘the art and science of designing and making buildings, or the style of a building’ (Cambridge Dictionary, 2024). This definition still leaves a string of questions: is a tent considered architecture? Is a canopy architecture? Perhaps materiality determines what counts as architecture, and people must build it with conventional building materials. This ruling could potentially mean that igloos are exempt, as well as other organic materials, such as mycelium, which is ‘an intricate network of fungal threads’ (Christian Nathler, 2023) often used to form bricks.
The closest example of living with little to no architecture would be the world’s most isolated tribe – the Sentinelese. The Sentinelese live on their own minute island called North Sentinel (figure 1), among a collection of isolated islands that hold other tribes that are all considered part of India. The Indian government declared It illegal ‘under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation Act, 1956, for anybody to go within five kilometres of North Sentinel Island’ (Antony Pinol, 2022). Since India made this law, many people have still illegally attempted to approach the island but have died trying.
This tribe has never conversed with anyone from society; therefore, they have never witnessed the technological advancements of architecture. Their homes are the closest current case study to caveman times. People believe they have large huts and temporary shelters with no walls (Survival International, 2024), which is the simplest form of construction we can comprehend. This tribe has never even heard of the concept of architecture; consequently, their form of shelter cannot be considered architecture.
What Does Architecture Provide?
In a straightforward explanation, architecture provides shelter and security to its occupants, but this answer would not be fair. Without architecture, society would have never been industrialised as no laboratories or factories would exist. There would be no prisons, police stations, or parliament houses, which would probably mean no politics or laws. Travelling would be almost non-existent, and culture would be harshly divided and never appreciated by others. Social gatherings and entertainment would be scarce, and the likelihood is that people would only socialise with relatives. Arguably, the most critical loss would be hospitals and the advancement in medicine. The Earth would be far less polluted, creating better air quality, but diseases and viruses would still exist, and there would be no advanced medicine or surgery to cure them. Architecture doesn’t just provide four walls and a roof; it also includes everything that happens under that roof, and it’s hard to believe that everything else would have progressed without it.
What Might the Earth Look Like Without Architecture?
Undoubtedly, all-natural landscapes on Earth would flourish without constant architectural imposing. With such a dramatically rising population, humans are constantly building more homes all over the world every day, and it is taking over nature rapidly. For example, the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast are swarming with hotels and restaurants hanging off the rocks, but if they can erase these buildings, the natural beauty of this coastal gem will finally be restored. Thriving biodiversity across the globe would be re-established if tourism and fine dining disappeared; humans could be satisfied with the bare minimum without the need to hunt for rare tuna or caviar. It’s reasonable to assume that there would be no social media through the domino effect of having no architecture.Social media controls society in the 21st century. Many people only buy something or visit somewhere to take a picture and show It off; without that motivation, people may be happier with the simpler things in life.
Imagine the deepest blues and shimmering turquoise oceans, the fiery red and orange deserts and canyons, and the boldest green jungles full of luminous multicolour plants – this could be what defines Earth. If it is still unimaginable to picture what Earth might look like without architecture, there are examples of the most untouched corners of the Earth. Without travel and tourism, a large percentage of the Earth could remain an untouched haven. One almost entirely untouched spot is La Fortuna (figure 2), a stunning waterfall surrounded by a rich,dense jungle with natural hot springs in front of Costa Rica’s most undisturbed volcano. To some people, this image is far more important than an impressive skyline with its natural beauty. It seems so peaceful that it would be hard not to get excited by the opportunity of a world overflowing with this quality of nature. Another example of Earth’s natural potential is the electric environment of the Rock Islands in Palau (figure 3). This sum of 300 islands is considered so extraordinary that it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 (Gabriella Chaudhri, 2019) to protect it.
These two sites give a little snippet of what mother nature can truly achieve if humans just leave her alone. Without architecture, humans would return to a tranquil lifestyle where they would only interrupt nature by simply hiking their local mountain or swimming in their local waters. When people return to only exploring what is in their direct vicinity, exploring will no longer pose a threat to landscapes as it would be on such a smaller scale that nature can breathe again. If humans had never known what technology and cities they could have had, they would most likely have flourished in this environment, and natural order would finally be restored to the planet.
References:
Cambridge Dictionary. (2024). Architecture. [online]. Available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org [Accessed 27 March 2024]
Chaudhri, G. (2019). These are the most beautiful untouched places on Earth. [online]. Available at: https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/beautiful-places-earth-untouched-humans/ [Accessed 28 March 2024]
Nathler, C. (2023). Will Buildings in the Future Be Built From Mushrooms? [online]. Available at: https://en.reset.org/mycelium-construction-material-benefit/ [Accessed 28 March 2024]
Pinol, A. (2022). Why This Indian Island and Its Tribe Are Illegal To Visit. [online]. Available at: https://medium.com/illumination/why-this-indian-island-and-its-tribe-are-illegal-to-visit-e02085427e7a [Accessed 27 March 2024]
Survival. (2024). The Sentinelese: How the Sentinelese Live. [online]. Available at: https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/sentinelese# [ Accessed 25 March 2024]
Images
Figure 1. Aerial View of North Sentinel [Photograph]. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/why-does-indias-north-sentinel-island-stay-closed-for-outsiders/articleshow/92839882.cms
Figure 2. La Fortuna Waterfalls, Costa Rica. [Photograph]. Available at: https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/beautiful-places-earth-untouched-humans/
Figure 3. Rock Islands, Palau. [Photograph]. Available at: https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/beautiful-places-earth-untouched-humans/
