For some people, architecture just might mean a roof over their head. But for the people who are somehow related to architecture, it means more than that. Architecture holds the power to express anything, and that is why we can distinguish between a commercial building and a residential building. This is what makes us able to differentiate between a shopping complex and a hospital. Buildings communicate too, they communicate through their shapes, sizes, layouts, and even materials.
Buildings with their shapes can convey the simplicity or the complexity behind their designs. Complex designs incorporate twisted concepts while simple designs have a minimalistic approach. Minimalistic designs are soothing and pleasing, while the complex designs are much more appealing and they easily stand out in the crowd (or in the case of buildings, a cluster) of buildings.
The simplicity or the complexity of the design is subjected to the taste of the user or the client. Architecture is full of shapes and patterns too which are a treat to the viewers’ eyes.
Buildings of larger sizes convey the feeling of dominance, power, and authority. This is the reason behind the humongous size of the forts and castles of the kings during ancient times. Skyscrapers have become quite common these days and hence they contrast and compliment the comparatively smaller buildings. Smaller buildings are much more welcoming.
During these modern days, people are more into smaller buildings which are functionally fulfilling. People are going for function over form and this because people have become more sensitive towards the places they call their ‘home’. The idea of tiny homes was born from this. Tiny homes acquire a comparatively small area and are enough for a small family; hence they are the go-to options for people in many of the western countries.
Layouts of buildings are vital. The layout and orientation of a building can help in tackling the forces of weather, and also helps in making the structure more accessible. Public places or common spaces have a more open layout, while private places or residential places have a more confined layout. The proper placement of openings makes the circulation and ventilation easy. Buildings can control our circulation. The placement of the doors and the flights of stairs are responsible for our movement and are essential in ways we can’t imagine.
Community areas are meant for bringing people together at a single place, while dedicated or private spaces are meant for a particular group of people. The building when seen along with its background can produce highly artistic and creative experiences. Buildings are meant to be artworks and architecture is meant to be art. Architects are artists, who produce some great art, which is of huge scale and can be seen as great resources.
Materials used in a building can say a lot about that building. Materials like glass and marble are more likely to be used in buildings with higher construction costs and the low-budget buildings are more likely to use the regular materials we see commonly. Materials like glass, marble, or granite are quite expensive and also they give the structure a rich and perfect look, whereas common materials such as tiles, timber, stones, etc. are widely used and usually cover their purpose. The colours used to portray a building can tell a lot about it both visually and emotionally.
Buildings have emotions. Buildings are talking to us. They are guiding us. Buildings are communicating to us. They are maintaining our social status, economic status and they are an important part of our life. We can imagine why a person who has lived in an apartment for a year or two feels the pain of separation while he or she has to move out of that flat. It is due to the sentimental feelings we eventually develop for a place called home. This can happen in the case of office cabins where someone has worked for a long time or parks in which people have related attachments or memories and even in the case of a subway which a person uses every day to get to work or to get back home. Structures are connected to us through emotions.
Skyscrapers amaze you, a public place makes you realize how much you are surrounded by people, and community areas bring all the love out of your closed ones. You will always remember your first house. You will always remember the school you graduated from. This is all because, when humans are exposed to their surroundings regularly, they tend to create a certain emotion towards their surroundings and this leaves them with the safe and homely feeling we are used to.
Places which we call ours are quite important to us and hence we are more concerned and informed about them. This gives us a new perspective on our surroundings and architecture. We develop an attachment or a feeling of belonging towards these places. We tend to make these spaces a part of our life.
