“Architecture is not life. Architecture is background. Everything else is not architecture” – Hermann Czech, 1971
Architecture is the aesthetic manifestation of our passions and visions, a divine expression of the human spirit. The art of creating structures and spaces inspires awe and wonder, elevating us to new heights of creativity and ingenuity. Architecture is the fabric of human existence, reflecting our collective identity and beliefs. It is a testament to the boundless potential of the human mind, a reminder of our inherent humanity and boundless capacity for greatness. Whether a towering skyscraper or a humble dwelling, architecture celebrates our faith in the future and our unyielding desire to build a better world.
Tracing the Roots
Architecture has been influenced by need, cooperation, and coercion throughout history. People didn’t always live in the same types of societies that we do today. So, was architecture merely a result of humans deciding to settle down and develop it via trial and error? As one might anticipate, the history of architecture spans nearly the whole history of humanity. Humans created constructions, such as Stonehenge, that continue to baffle people today before written history began. There are buildings built into cliffs in the Americas, megaliths, earthen mounds, and other prehistoric architecture that can be seen all over the planet.
When asked when architecture began, one may also wonder what a world without architecture would have looked like. The prospect that humans would not exist without architecture might not have been considered since humans are believed to be superior to other species. Some people might worry whether human existence and civilisation as we know it will still survive if man-made architecture is eliminated due to the deliberate nonchalance toward this eventuality.
The Building Blocks of Infrastructure
“The function of architecture is to shelter and enhance man’s life on earth and to fulfil his belief in the nobility of his existence.” – Eero Saarinen
Architecture plays a crucial role in shaping civilisation by providing the physical infrastructure and public spaces necessary for a society to function and thrive and helping to organise and connect people within a civilisation. It also reflects a civilisation’s values, culture, and history, providing a tangible representation of its identity and achievements. Without the ability to build shelters, humans may have been more focused on basic survival rather than the development of complex cultures. This greatly limited their ability to create and organise communities, leading to a more isolated and fragmented society.
With the knowledge and expertise of architects, it is likely that there would have been the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modelling (BIM), to create efficient, sustainable, resilient structures.
A Thing of Beauty
“Aesthetic considerations are fundamental to the art of architecture.” – Norman Foster
In its most basic sense, architecture is a form of artistic expression, using the built environment as a canvas to express ideas and emotions. A building or space’s aesthetic qualities are a harmonious combination of form, colour, and light elements. Aesthetics and beauty have been a source of feelings of joy and awe and emotional and psychological well-being. Without architecture, this would have affected how people experience and understand their surroundings, changing how people perceive and interact with the world and making them feel disoriented and disconnected from their environment.
The world would be much less exciting and dynamic, lacking the diversity and creativity that architecture brings.
Without famous buildings and monuments, such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Parthenon, and the Taj Mahal, cities would be vastly different and potentially unrecognisable. Their absence would result in a lack of visual interest and focal points in the city, leading to a less dynamic and engaging urban environment and potentially less appealing to residents and visitors.
A Cultural Cornerstone
“The art of architecture has always been the art of building a human community – of giving tangible, enduring form to the collective dreams and aspirations of a culture.” – Arata Isozaki
Architecture plays a crucial role in forming complex cultures by providing a physical structure for human societies, allowing individuals to live and work together in organised communities. Religious buildings such as temples and churches reflect the spiritual beliefs of a culture, while public buildings such as courthouses and museums reflect a culture’s commitment to justice and knowledge. The development of complex architectural forms, such as skyscrapers and large public spaces, can signify a culture’s technological and social progress. We still draw from ancient cultures and are constantly learning. Old and new architecture coexist in many cities, and it’s common to see a hip, contemporary coffee shop on one corner and a historic church or temple on another.
Human societies would likely have remained small and less complex without these institutions. This could have led to the development of more nomadic cultures, with people moving from place to place in search of resources. Without the ability to build complex structures, cultures would have focused more on developing other forms of art and expression, such as music, dance, and storytelling. These alternate forms of civilisation would have played a significant role in shaping human history.
Evolutionary Edifices
“Architecture is not an isolated art form, but a product of the social, economic, and cultural conditions of a given time and place.” – Roger Scruton
Through architecture, the history and culture of civilisation are preserved and passed down to future generations. Architecture has often catalysed social and technological advancement, providing a space for people to gather and exchange ideas, and inspiring new ways of thinking and doing. Architecture drives social and technological progress within a civilisation, so human progress and innovation would likely have been slower and less significant without architecture. It is difficult to say whether humans would be considered an intelligent species if there was no architecture in the world, as the development of architecture has likely played a role in human intelligence and the advancement of human societies.
Conclusion
Without architecture, the world might have evolved into a chaotic mess of troglodytes huddled together in dark, dingy caves, constantly getting lost because there would be no roads or buildings to navigate by. There would be nowhere to hang and observe ground-breaking works of art, nowhere to store libraries and volumes of the recorded ideas shaping humankind, and no structures in which to worship a higher power. It would be like a never-ending game of hide and seek, but with much less hiding and more seeking. It would be like a never-ending game of “The Floor is Lava,” where only the most robust and resourceful survive.
References List:
- Jenkins, P. and Forsyth, L., 2009. Architecture, participation and society. Routledge.
- Baydar, G., 2004. The cultural burden of architecture. Journal of architectural education, 57(4), pp.19-27.
- Johnson, K., 2013. Place and public health: the impact of architecture on wellbeing. The Gaurdian, p.11.
- Roth, L.M., 2018. Understanding architecture: Its elements, history, and meaning. Routledge.
