Need of Architecture for Human Existence
Have you ever tasted ice cream without sugar or chicken without salt? Most probably something like this has happened to all human beings at least once in their life but surely no one liked it. A desired flavor and color is needed in each and everything for its betterment and architecture is one those required flavors in human life and its existence. But it is not as easy as adding sugar to ice cream. It’s a great challenge to provide a perfect solution at each step of human existence. All the time architecture may not be the solution to life but the solution to life must be architectural.
“As long as there are human beings and their challenges, there will be architecture” – Ole Bouman
Evolution of Architecture
Architecture has a long history with the first known civilization of Mesopotamia. Some certain characteristics of the civilization are; (1) population centers; (2) monumental architecture and unique styles; (3) shared communication strategies; (4) systems for administering territories; (5) a complex division of labor; (6) the division of people into social and economic classes. It could be said that architecture has a vast timeline from its evolution to the present scenario of human existence. The beginning of architecture can’t be ascertained or defined properly. Architecture is evolving with human existence itself and it is like salt that is added as per need in delicious dishes. Like the human need for shelter must be a reason to evolve a roof, wall, and opening concept that ranges from material leaves to concrete from ancient to the modern era for human living.
“Architecture has no history, architecture itself is a history that exists with human existence” – Author
Imaging Human Existence without Architecture
Just close your eyes, and start thinking about a big piece of land that may be a naturally green field that has no built structure, no heights, no shelter, only an even surface without any proper marked direction! What would you do now on that ground? No idea! But did you know, architecture starts from this point and moves in various directions for different ideas to achieve their vision for mankind? Now, go back to the early time with the same scenario, close your eyes, and imagine a world in that big green field again for survival! Can we exist? No, and it’s a tough situation for human survival. Somehow all human beings solve a problem of the world unknowingly or unknowingly by the means of architecture. That’s why it’s unimaginable human existence without architecture.
Hidden Aspect of Architecture in the World
It’s very challenging to have a world without architecture. The roofing system to habitat and human settlement system of urbanization is a mannered idea of architecture that is followed all over the world in different ways but with the same purpose of human existence. When people began to concentrate their dwellings in larger groupings, they no longer had to be entirely self-sufficient. People could go to the market and trade for things they couldn’t make or grow themselves, for instance a farmer could swap grain for milk and a herdsman could swap wool for new clay pots. But without this critical mass of residents living in one place, you couldn’t eke out a living by just making clay pots or just raising goats—you would need to grow your wheat and vegetables, make your clothes, and do everything else you need to survive by yourself.
When a place reaches a concentrated population, conditions become necessary for developing an organized government for the duties and rights of humans for their wellness. To develop an incubated path of life and common social areas for the interest of human existence through idea sharing. A secular and democratic development through the means of architectural ways deposited improved the way of livelihood. Proper citations of architectural laws may not bother human beings for the need for architecture and that’s a sad reality behind disregarding architectural values in society because it is not possible for everyone to feel architecture in their busy life.
Conclusion: Need of Architecture for Human Existence
Architecture is not only a problem-solving assignment through a pen-paper task. Architecture exists for human life and the world is unimaginable without architecture. Architecture is not a process of completing a five years bachelor’s course only. Someone who wants to adopt architecture as a career must be aware that they are going to be a person whose vision is not forwarded if they do not go into the depths of human existence for providing a sustainable and progressive solution to the world where challenges are undefined and situations are uncertain.
Architecture is not about only practicing on paper or developing soft wares, or skilling arts and graphics and not structural and applying mathematical calculations to make any structure stable. Architecture is a beauty that can be seen in the Taj-Mahal, it’s a detail that can be observed through the Pyramids, it’s a sound that can be mesmerizing through the falling water, and it’s a height that can be pronounced through Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur-Sikri. From the point of view of human existence and progression, visions of architecture must be sustainable and balanced with the different resources of nature. We must not think to take from nature all the time but provide nature also for human existence. Architecture is an identity of humans that can put humanity, science & art on the same plate to serve nature.
“It’s fictional to think of human existence without architecture” – Author
Reference list
education.nationalgeographic.org. (n.d.). Key Components of Civilization | National Geographic Society. [online] Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/key-components-civilization.
www.sciarc.edu. (n.d.). Can you imagine a world without architecture? – SCI-Arc. [online] Available at: https://www.sciarc.edu/news/2017/can-you-imagine-a-world-without-architecture.
www.mentalfloss.com. (2017). 7 Ingenious Ways Architecture Helped Humans Thrive. [online] Available at: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/94181/7-ingenious-ways-architecture-helped-humans-thrive.
ArchDaily. (2021). ‘As Long as There Are Human Beings and their Challenges, There Will Be Architecture’: In Conversation with Ole Bouman. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/959771/as-long-as-there-are-human-beings-and-their-challenges-there-will-be-architecture-in-conversation-with-ole-bouman.
www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Imagine A World Without Architecture. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c8FtVMxdaE&t=6s [Accessed 25 Sep. 2022].
Image list
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- Imaging a World without Architecture. https://pixabay.com/images/search/jupiter/
- Evolution of Architecture. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.comrtf-fresh-perspectivesa1423-evolution-of-architecture-connecting-dots-between-architectural-history-present-and-future
- Humanity and Architecture. https://www.archdaily.com975186architecture-is-human-but-beauty-is-found-everywhere
- Underrated Architecture in the World. Mohd Afzal Khan (2021)
