An overview
Trying to scrutinize whether architecture is being whirled by a person’s life and culture or vice versa. Because like architecture no other profession can change a person’s perspective completely, be it related to profession or personal life. Before engulfing the world of architecture, a designer’s thought process will be straight and not rational. To make it even simpler, before buildings seemed to be a bundle of bricks and cement but now learned to categorize them as public spaces, community areas, etc. Architecture educated us on the significance of a single line, or curve and looked at the details that a common man fails to discern. It also taught me how environmental and psychological aspects are important more than form while designing. “Believe that the way people live can be directed a little by architecture. – Tadao Ando“
From drawing to drafting, colouring to sketching
Let’s begin from the basics with how the perception of drawing changed. Starting from the varieties of free-hand sketching (scribbling, stippling, hatching, etc) to scaled drawing (drafting). From blunt 2Ds to an array of perspectives and proportions. That is how architecture commenced into a designer’s life. It builds the perfectionist character within us as soon as a person steps into this field and eventually, designers insist the same in their personal life too. “Life is architecture and architecture is the mirror of life. – I.M. Pei“
From wondering to defining
Looking back as a novice, buildings were all about the different forms, aesthetics, grandeur, and utmost wondering how they might have built it. Once inheriting the knowledge, the approach towards analyzing things took a preeminent turn. Lately, as a common man, a designer would have praised the Taj Mahal or any other palace for its magnificence. But architecture taught me to adore mud buildings as well. Because the details and techniques can be learned anywhere. Not only the grandeur is considered architecture, but it also prevails wherever artistry lies.
With this growing perspective, we started scrutinizing the details of a building, its form, the ideology behind it, the materials used, and the way that space defines itself. Fundamentally, critiquing and probing the faults of the space. And deliberately involving ourselves to find out how better the design could be and how it could be improved further. Moreover, we have begun to contemplate the environmental and psychological aspects which could affect a building space.
As stated above, each space and building will define itself. Each space spawns different perspectives within a person. Each space has a unique style and objective. Ultimately, it all depends on how vice is that space for the user. We will discuss this further by how architecture enhanced the designer’s perception of different spaces.
Religious buildings
Beginning with the highly influential space which is rich in culture, heritage, and custom. To be more precise, religious buildings are the identity of that particular society. A common man would have seen it only as a place to worship, attain peace, and demand needs. But this structure serves as a house, a bridge that connects us with history. We think skyscrapers are the wonders that happened in the world. But religious buildings have already paved the path in the field of architecture, skyscrapers are nothing but the inspiration for it. “The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own, we have no soul of our civilization – F. L. Wright“
Institutional buildings
A space that is as significant as a religious building. I believe that human evolution and nature are directly proportional. So, this place should be closely related to the outer environment more than a cluster of classrooms to score grades. Let’s take the academy for international cooperation building as an example.
Image 4_Academy for international cooperation _ ©Thilo Ross Photography
An institutional building should be designed in a way that boosts curiosity among students. The openness in the design should create an urge for constant searching when we look around in every direction. This should be the symbol of the learning process.
Public spaces
Public space appears to be only an entertainment area before. The awareness about the significance of an open space especially in an urban area was taught by architecture. Apart from social and sports activities, public open space connects humans and nature. It is a preliminary element that acts sensible toward the physical and psychological factors of that particular city’s population. To simplify, open space is the lung of a city.
Architecture is all about the journey from marveling at huge forts to pondering tiny residences. We couldn’t overlook that every individual has a different perspective especially when it comes to art and architecture. But irrespective of different opinions among us we also couldn’t disagree that architecture is the personification of the past, present, and future. “As an architect, you design for the present with an awareness of the past for a future which is essentially unknown. – Norman Foster”
