If you do not have enough knowledge, architecture can be seen as a profession limited to designing buildings only. In fact, architectural education contains a very wide information world that has the power to deeply affect people’s view of life, lifestyle and way of thinking.
To begin with, it should be known that architecture requires problem-solving skills. Each design actually ends with solving the problems encountered on the way to the user’s wishes. These problems can sometimes be solved simply, and sometimes they require complex solutions and serious detailed investigations. At this point, the brain, which was able to produce superficial solutions before, has to adapt to problem-solving in a more detailed and inclusive way. This new way of thinking causes you to realize the problems related to the built environment around you and to seek solutions on your own without being aware of them over time. Sometimes, while passing through a well-designed park, instead of admiring the nature around you, you may find yourself thinking about how to make pedestrian paths shorter and more accessible. Or, when passing by a skyscraper, instead of thinking about how high the building is, you may find yourself examining the steel structure and joint details.
When you make a design as an architect, it is necessary to be aware of how it has the power to affect the users and the environment. For example, one of the ways to change urban areas that are idle and want to participate in tourism by being revitalized is to construct an attractively designed landmark building. In fact, if this building was designed by a famous or iconic architect, it is usual to attract the attention of local and foreign tourists. With the increase in tourism, the number of commercial spaces in the region increases, the welfare level of the people living in the region increases, and perhaps the region gains a new identity by entering into urban transformation. All of this starts with a well-designed structure in the designated area. When you recognise this power, you realize how important every detail, every idea and every solution in the buildings you use or observe is really important.
Let’s take a look at Biomuseo in Panama. This building is an important building that can be considered iconic for Panama. Designed on what was once a peninsula occupied by a US military base, the museum now houses a design that represents Panama’s colourful, diverse and vibrant culture. The colourful canopy design, designed as a precaution against the frequent rains in the region, is one of the important elements that make it stand out. It is also said that this colourful approach represents the diverse state of the Panamanian people. “This project is a very personal one for me,” says Frank Gehry, the architect of the building. Because while creating the design idea, he wanted to experience Panama himself, and thanks to this structure, he had the opportunity to establish close relations with the people of Panamanian culture. This example proves that a building design does not only serve its purpose but can contain a lot of subtexts when viewed from an architectural perspective. Now, if this information is evaluated from an architectural perspective, the design of the museum has given the area an image that did not exist before and gave the region a touristic identity. With the explanation of biodiversity in Panama, one of the important problems of today was highlighted and contributed to raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity. From an architect’s point of view, it has created a unique opportunity to get to know the region, climate, topography, culture and people. It also allowed the architect to personally contribute to the issue of biodiversity. While designing, the architect created a unique design by reflecting on his experiences with the environment and people. When viewed in this way, it can be seen that it means more than just being a museum. And this is the power of architecture.
They say architecture is knowing a little bit of everything. If you have to design a hospital, you have to know how the hospital system works, and what happens in invisible areas, such as operating rooms. Or if you are designing a primary school, you need to be aware of the fact that organic design or angular designs create different psychological effects on children. It is important to know that in a shopping mall design, in order to increase profits, users are expected not to notice the time they spend in the space, and for this reason, lighting is important. In other words, in each new building design, you have to have knowledge of many different subjects, which is a unique opportunity that allows unlimited learning. This architectural perspective that you have gained throughout time pushes you to think and learn more deeply in all areas of life.