Architecture, the first things that come to mind are the buildings and the built environment, along with the aspects of planning and designing. But is it only that? It simply can not be. It is about the spaces, positives and negatives, the greens and the browns, colors, textures, light and shadow, people and their emotions, and people and art. A close relationship lies between humans and buildings. That is inconspicuous every day for different reasons, but that relationship intensifies with time.
The range of architecture can include museums and monuments to the most minor streets, like The Louvre to the streets of Varanasi. This range still has various users with different tastes and experiences; they resonate with the respective structures. The arc under which all of these experiences lie is Architecture.
Explaining what architecture is, becomes ineffable because it’s not just one thing; it is the amalgamation of art, science, and the psychology of the space and the people. This spectrum is quite vast, yet it comes down to how a space can make a person feel. When said that architecture is a connection between art and people, it can be explained by the following attributes:
- History
- Art.
- People
The interconnection with architecture is mentioned below:
History and Architecture:
Examples from the past include the 8,000-year-old Harappan Civilizations, when people created spaces for themselves to meet their fundamental requirements in addition to areas for their rituals. In that century, people thought about buildings and their segregation of spaces for a better living. This indicates that Architecture is a man-made phenomenon.
The thoughts from the imagination of spaces have been birthed into Architecture. The thoughts are laid out in the form of plans, elevations, sections, and views. The thoughts of yesterday have helped us build a future of tomorrow. Indians have and had a rich history and high moral values, which are reflected in the public structures. These examples showcase that the people are the ones who make the space that it needs to be. While designing buildings, parks, and urban pockets, attributes of design principles are given importance, but it is always people-centric.
The void between the past and the present is felt by architecture. Each of us has observed over the years that some buildings are still intact and functional, while others have been abandoned. The structures that have been since a long time have seen so many stories and those stories would be heard and will inspire many young architects to make something beautiful that would again carry its legacy. Without architecture, there wouldn’t be a way of living; The most basic need for shelter is supported by it.
Art and Architecture:
Art and architecture have a close intertwined relationship which is felt by people but is seen and planned by the architects. Art is something that is left to the people to interpret whereas, in architecture, spaces are planned for the people in a way that they feel comfortable and it brings ease to the diurnal activities. It is necessary to adjust to how various architectural styles can be interpreted as new technologies are developed. With advancement, the needs are changing and so is the perspective of the people. People are more aware of aesthetics and quite a lot of importance is given to it. Though they won’t understand how many details a plan has, if the structure looks good, it falls under the category of a good building for them. It’s a known fact that art and architecture can’t be separated and neither can there be focus only on one of these. The inclusion of art in the built form becomes essential, as said priorly, the relation is not visible but is only felt. Architecture is the art one can walk through and live in every day.
People and Architecture:
“Architecture can’t force people to connect; it can only plan the crossing points, remove barriers, and make the meeting places useful and attractive.” – Ar. Denise Scott Brown.
Since the beginning of time, the human mind is capable of having thoughts that can, have, and are turned into reality. One needs to understand that people make the place and vice versa. The social behavior of people is shaped by the places that they are associated with. People and architecture have a very strong and enduring bond that has existed since the dawn of time. The past can be connected through these civilizations but the future is looking into colonization on mars. This interrelation is understood, over time when old buildings are studied. It gives us scope to understand how people were, and how that can be improved or changed.
The one thing that is apparent is how someone interacts in a society surrounded by the built. If their body language and thought patterns are observed, a change is evident. For instance, the instant someone leaves their office cabin after a long, stressful day, their shoulders begin to relax, and they either sigh or take a big breath. These could seem psychological, but the change in the environment is what is causing everything to occur.
Conclusion
One can’t think of Architecture as only buildings. It was and will always be more than that. As young architects, we should not forget how the world is changing and advancing; but at the same time History, Art and People will always play an important role when it comes to architecture. There is no architecture without its inhabitants; there is no art if there isn’t anyone to interpret it, and there is no history if there aren’t any people to tell it.
