From the very beginning, architecture has contributed to the development of society. The structures built and spaces designed have created city skylines and given them their identities. With our great historical monuments to the new wonders of the modern world like FL Wright’s Falling waters, architecture has proved its excellence and innovation. It is a lot more than constructing buildings and designing spaces. It is focusing on intangible things along with tangible ones. Every community space is designed with the motive of bringing society together and adding value to people’s lives.
Whether it is an urban City level design or a personal home decorating, architecture has focused on numerous different aspects giving them equal importance, resulting in a very functional and adaptable end model. For example, to design a children’s park, architects focus not only on the kids playing but also on the parents waiting with them, on traffic movements, surrounding complexes, and safety. Along with that, architects work on the psychological factor to make space more connected to users.
To make designs efficient, they should be explored from various perspectives. So, what are the various angles that architecture explores and works on to contribute to a functional design?
Architecture and Usability
The primary focus of every architect is to understand usability and function. Looking from that perspective, Architects create the spaces according to the various activities that need to be carried out by different users, focusing on maximum usage and avoiding wastage of spaces.
For eg, the usability differs with different age groups. For toddlers, architects use bright and various colors, making the space more fun and attractive. The students and working groups are full of motivation. For them, it is more about the proper use of every inch of the space. They’ll prefer multi-use furniture, lots of storage spaces, light, and calming colors, and more interactive areas. While for senior citizens, the spaces are more designed considering the ease of moment and calming the atmosphere from anxiety and fear.
Allocating space for each activity is very essential and that needs to be considered. For eg., A separate room for leisure activities while a different one for work. Creating such divisions and giving particular space for that specific activity helps in developing good habits. For eg. A well-designed, attractive library may arouse an urge to read a good book. A well-equipped proper work desk makes our work easier.
Architecture and an Intangible factor
After the skeleton of the structure is ready, Architects focus on adding life to the space. Every space provokes a different emotion and the spaces should be designed considering the psychology of the user. Along with physical development, it should contribute to the mental growth of the individual.
The colors are used by understanding the emotion they portray. Blue leads to calmness while white adds peace. Purple is royal while orange makes it playful.
Take for e.g., Nandanam school of Auroville. It has various shapes carved on the walls of the school. It makes children aware of various shapes and sizes and gives them a sense of proportion in a fun way. The other essential factor that affects making space lively is nature. The space should be well-ventilated with a good amount of sunlight. Using trees and merging indoor with outdoor areas makes users active and positive, relieving stress and fear.
Architecture and Aesthetics
Aesthetics is an essential perception of Architecture. A space awakening all five human senses is not only aesthetically pleasant but also lively. Using various colors makes the space visually appealing. Different textures, patterns, and materials activate our touch sensation. Adding a beautiful centerpiece with a pleasing sound when wind clashes or a water fountain with a sound of water creates a relaxing sound. The smell of fragrant flowers and aromas proves to be a cherry on top. Exploring this angle and working on it truly adds value to the design.
Architecture and its Impact on Surrounding Location
Along with designing a perfect structure, it’s the responsibility of Architects to make sure it fits properly in the surroundings. Architects get into the role of researchers and study the history, culture of people, and environment which makes the design more adaptable and functional. It is very essential to design considering all these factors. The structure should signify the lifestyle of people and promote their history. It surely leads to people feeling belonged and connected to space.
Solutions to Current Problems Faced
Architecture is constantly evolving by analyzing the problems faced by society and implementing a beneficial solutions. The population rise gave a solution of going vertical and boosted skyscrapers. With issues like temperature rise and limited resources, architects adapted new techniques of sustainability, green facades, energy-efficient buildings, and proper use of various materials.
Architecture and Vision for Future
Expanding in various fields, architecture has opened its arms to new technology. Technology like AI and VR have been proven to be fruitful for visualization, construction, and experimentation.
To conclude, space is designed or a structure is constructed by exploring many such angles and looking from many different perspectives. It’s architecture that has changed the perspective of society by taking into consideration all these factors and is leading towards a path of growth and success for the whole community.
