“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.” Julia Morgan
Architecture has always been a projection of layered stories, constantly shaping and reshaping how people perceive their surroundings. From early childhood to old age, these stories—whether true or fictional—serve to inspire and unite people toward common goals, with Buildings acting as a physical embodiment of events across the timeline. These narratives have been humanity’s greatest tool for passing knowledge to the next generation. It’s imperative to recognize that architecture transcends the physical dimension, extending into the intertwined economic, social, political, and ecological spheres. Responsible architects are those who decipher the stories of the past and design holistic future narratives.
The Stories Built and Perceived.
Storytelling and Architecture are inseparable. Storytelling has always been deeply rooted in its context—whether social, economic, environmental, or physical. A consistent part of Stories has been the description of the surroundings around their subjects, from visualising locations with phrases like “In the hills of the Himalayas…” to projecting the economic conditions with lines such as “There once lived a poor man.” These aren’t just introductions; they’re narratives that help perceive the surroundings of the subject, the timelines, the societal structure, and the immediate architecture of the story’s setting.
Vernacular architecture, born from the daily activities and needs of the people, had captured the user’s social lives. Its characteristics, like the layout of rooms, the use of local materials, and the adaptation to the environment, reflect how people used to live, interact, and organise their communities. When studied critically, Architecture conveys the aspirations and values of the past generations. The transformation of The Hagia Sophia in Turkey from a church to a mosque, then a museum, and back to a mosque, shows how the same building can tell different stories over time. The addition of Minarets and a Mihrab weren’t merely physical alterations; they symbolised societal and political changes that continue to influence generations.
The Stories Being Built and Heard
Today architecture is a powerful tool for changing perceptions of cities and countries. Dubai is a prime example of this, a place that had been a fishing village for most of its existence was radically transformed by the construction of some of the most amazing architectural expeditions. This has reshaped how the world perceives Dubai. The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world is one such expedition, representing Dubai as a city where one can achieve the highest of aspirations. These buildings captivate global attention, inducing feelings of extraordinariness, and depict high economic achievements by echoing European skylines and ideals of development.
People are indeed awestruck by marvels like the Museum of the Future, The Dubai Frame, and The Burj al Arab. However, it’s the holistic understanding that provides us with a critical eye to look beyond the green-washed lens, into the damage done to the contextual identity of the place. Dubai’s image today is tall, glass, air-conditioned buildings that could exist anywhere in the world. In contrast, traditional elements like wind towers and window coverings once vividly reflected the cultural and climatic context of the region. Architecture is not merely about constructing buildings, a role which may be executed by a civil engineer, what sets architects apart is their ability and responsibility to look beyond the ‘Whats’, and focus more on the ‘Whys’ and ‘Hows’.An architectural understating shifts one perception of the built environment from “What is to be built” towards “Why does it need to be built in a certain way” and “How can be more responsive towards its cultural and climatic context?”
The Stories to be designed and told.
“We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.” — Winston Churchill
The future holds endless possibilities, but history shows that without reminders, humanity can stray from the values that honour the culture and climate of a place. Symbols have always served as reminders, embodying timeless values that must not be forgotten. Today, architects are the creators of such symbols for the future, and it’s their duty, that rather than rushing in pursuit of the unknown and losing sight of what’s important, they help preserve these values. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The choices made by architects now have the power to shape how future generations will perceive the world, for better or worse. While technology and AI continue to advance, architecture remains a physical expression of art, deeply connected to human emotions. These emotions will help sustain our core values by embedding them into the buildings we create.
To sum up, it is important to ensure that in the future, the built environment remains responsive to both climate and culture, via the democratisation of architectural wisdom. A collaborative ethos should replace the pursuit of stardom in architecture, prioritising the mission of being responsible architects and citizens striving to improve their surroundings. The architecture of the future should inspire and unite people toward common goals. The stories that architects are crafting today will be told to and judged by future generations. Therefore, architects must design holistically covering the intertwined physical, economic, social, political, and ecological spheres, while also ensuring that neither culture nor the earth is compromised!
