What is Architecture and why is it so important?

Have you ever wondered why somebody would design a room in a certain way? Why would anybody care so much about how a room might look? Architecture is the technique of designing buildings, but it’s also about art, science, and shaping how people think of a room in which they live, work, and interact. Architecture also reflects culture, identity, and progress. An example could be the Egyptian pyramids; the architecture of the pyramids told a story of human innovation over time. It influenced cities that have grown in different parts of the world; the innovation in the pyramids showed how we as a society have grown. Architecture is more than just building new structures; it’s about reflecting human values and cultural identities by shaping the physical space of the building.

Architecture is crucial when it comes to creating environments; the environment is an invisible hand that shapes human behavior. An example of this could be when Annie Thorndike, a primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, believed that she could improve the eating habits of thousands of hospital staff and visitors by altering the choice of architecture of the hospital cafeteria. They started by changing how drinks were arranged in the room, like adding water as an option in refrigerators and placing baskets of bottled water next to the food stations throughout the room. Over the next three months, the sales of bottled water increased by 25.8 percent. They made similar adjustments and saw similar results; people often chose products not because of what they are, but because of where they are. 

Now I know what you must be wondering: “What does this have to do with architecture?” Well, architecture provides a sense of place and support of human activity; it helps fit in with the environment of living aesthetically, creating habits, and one’s artistic sensibility. Architecture changes the environment, which changes the way people behave. As shown, a small change in what you see can lead to a big shift in what you do, as we’ve seen in the example. Before Annie Thorndike altered the architecture of the hospital cafeteria, people were buying anything other than water because they didn’t see water as an option. Once she made water visible, it reminded people that the healthier option of a drink was available which led to people choosing bottled water. Architecture has the same idea; when you walk into a room, the first thing that you see are the colour, the window placement, how the ceiling is shaped, and where other rooms are. They shape what people think or do, which is why architecture plays such an important role in people’s lives. 

The most frequently asked question on this topic is “What is the difference between architecture and engineering?” The characteristics that distinguish architecture are how suitable the building is to be used by humans, the stability of the construction work, whether the building can last in the weather/condition of the environment, and the communication of experience and ideas through the building’s form. Engineering, on the other hand, is the creative application of scientific design to developing structures, machines, or manufacturing. More people think that engineering is all about science and math, but that’s not entirely true; it’s better to think of it more as using science and math as a tool that engineers use to perform their unique duties. Math is the core of engineering, but what’s more important are the ideas and the applications engineers use to help us in our everyday lives. In summary, the similarities between architects and architectural engineers is that they focus on the design and performance of buildings; they both ensure the safety of buildings, meet clients needs/wants, create environmentally responsible design strategies, and collaborate with construction managers, contractors, and clients. The difference between architecture and architectural engineering is that architects specialize in the visual design of the building and consider how people interact with the space; they make decisions that influence the building’s look and atmosphere. Architectural engineers are primarily concerned with the function of the buildings; their work integrates structural systems, mechanical and electrical systems, and energy efficiency strategies.

The basic elements of architecture are space, form, colour and texture, and function. The space is how areas are organized, which shapes the overall experience of the building; the form is the shape of structures and the proportions of the building; the colour and texture are the elements that affect the perception of the building; and the function is the purpose of a structure/space. Architecture is a universal language, like math but in the form of art and design. Architecture speaks through the form, texture, and space of a building, such as the curve of a bridge, the layout of a park, the structure and design of an opera house, or the roof of your house. 

Examples of this could be the Louvre Museum in Paris, France and the Lotus Temple in Kalkaji, Delhi. The Lotus Temple shows the culture and shape in architecture; its shape resembles a lotus flower that symbolizes purity and spiritual awakening. This building not only brings different faiths together, but it also mixes culture and poetic-ness, which is what makes this building so fascinating. The Louvre Museum shows the innovative use of space and the mix of different styles from the past. This museum’s architecture also shows the evolution of French architectural practices, like the elegance of the Renaissance and classical designs and the glass pyramid of modern innovation in France. This makes the Louvre Museum and the Lotus Temple great examples of architecture, since they have strong elements of architecture, which is what makes them known worldwide.