architecture

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define architecture
• Describe the types of architecture
• Describe architectural planning
• Describe importance of architecture

Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. The practice of architecture is employed to fulfill both expressive and practical requirements and therefore it serves both aesthetic and utilitarian ends. An architect is a person who designs building and offer advice in their construction.

Characteristics that distinguish a work of architecture from other built structures are;

• The stability and permanence of the works construction.
• The communication of experience and ideas through its form.
• The suitability of the work to use by human beings in general and the adaptability of it to particular human activities.

All the above conditions should be met in architecture.

If the function is chiefly utilitarian, for example, a factory, communication is of less importance and if the function is completely expressive, for example, a monumental tomb, utility is a minor concern. In other places like city halls and churches, utility and communication may be of equal importance.

Types of architecture are established not by architects but by society, according to the need of different institutions. The society sets the goals and assigns them to architects who are tasked with the job of finding the best means of achieving them.

TYPES OF ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is created to fulfill the specifications of an individual or group. The types of architecture depend upon social formations and maybe classified according to the role of the leader in the community.

• Domestic architecture

It is produced for the social unit: the individual, family, human and animal. The basic requirements of domestic architecture include; a place to sleep, prepare food, and eat, and a place of work. It has some light and is protected from the weather. These are the basic, everything else is luxury. This can be as simple as a traditional hut.

• Power architecture

It is a special type of domestic building caused by increase in wealth and expressive functions. In most societies some of the members are given the power to utilize the resources of the community in the construction of palaces, homes and places of recreation. Therefore, they are able to enjoy an infinite variety of domestic activities connected with mores of their position in the community for example, the palace of Versailles, a whole city in itself, provided luxuries for a lot people from all classes and was also the center of government for the empire of Louis XIV.

• Group housing

It is familiar through the widespread development of mass housing in the modern world where most people find living space either in multiple dwelling or in single units produced in quantity. It is produced in many kinds of cultures; by tyrants to assure a docile labor force, by feudal system to bring together member of a class. An example of this is a multi-family apartment.

• Religious Architecture

The history of architecture is concerned more with religious buildings as in the past cultures the universal and exalted appeal of religion made the temple and the church the most expressive and the most influential building in almost all the communities. The typology of religious architecture is complex because the functions of any one religion involve many different kinds of activity, all of which change with the evolution of cultural patterns. This involves religious buildings such as mosques and churches.

• Governmental Architecture

Architectural needs differ according to the nature of the relationship between the governing and the governed for example democratic governments have the responsibility of expressing in their architecture the aims of the community itself. This involves government buildings like parliament building, state house, and senate building.

• Recreational Architecture

 Recreation centers provide for both active and passive participation therefore, architectural form should be designed in the favor of the two. These are buildings built for purposes of recreation practices such as libraries and museums.

ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING

Once a site, type and cost of a building have been determined, an architect begins his work.

PLANNING THE ENVIRONMENT

Planning is the process of particularizing and, ultimately, of harmonizing the demands of environmental, economy, and use. Therefore, to make the buildings habitable and comfortable, the architect must control the effects of light, heat and foresee destructive potentialities as earthquakes, floods and diseases. Below are the fundamental elements in the aesthetics of architecture:

1. Orientation. This is the arrangement of the axis of a building. This is done to control the effects of rainfall, wind, and sun. Orientation can control circulation of air, and prevent disadvantages caused by wind, snow and rain.
2. Architectural forms. The architectural form of a building is dependent of its environment. For example, a building in areas that get snow would have a roof that allows snow to be shed.
3. Color. Color is a factor in the absorption and reflection of solar rays. Dark colors absorb heat, and bright colors reflect it.
4. Materials. Architecture has the need to determine the types of materials to use in his building. Depending on the availability of the materials for example stones, wood, bricks, iron and steel, concrete.
5. Techniques. This is simply the methods by which structures are formed from particular materials. These methods are influences by the availability and character of materials also the total technological development of society. Architecture depends on organized labor and the existence of the tools and skills necessary to secure, manufacture and workable durable materials. The ultimate purpose of building techniques is to create a stable structure.
6. Facilitation. This involves things like convenience of movement in the site, and labor force. These are example of things that play a role in facilitating the construction of a building.

IMPORTANCE OF ARCHITECTURE

• Architecture exists to create the physical environment in which people live in.
• It is also a part of our culture.
• It stands as a representation of how we see ourselves, as well as how we view the world.
• Architecture has also been viewed as a course and pursued as a career and many people venture in to fulfill their passion in the course.

Architecture not only affects society on a high level but also on a more personal level, it can have a profound impact on its occupants. Everything from the layout of the space to the material finishes can contribute towards the occupant's health, mood, and productivity. Plain, concrete buildings increase stress, but in contrast, designing beautiful, awe-inspiring buildings that create a mindful connection to nature helps humans to feel more relaxed, happy, and engaged.

However there are limitations of architecture as becoming an architect is long, competitive and expensive also, the architectural field is subject to the up and downs of the economy.

SUMMARY

We've learnt that;

• Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building as distinguished from the skills associated with construction.
• An architect is a person who designs building and offer advice in their construction.
• Architecture is created to fulfill the specifications of an individual or group.