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Architecture
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'''Architecture''' is a communicative art that situates human activity within a horizon of possibilities – the
art and
science of
design designing buildings. A wider definition would include within its scope the design of the total built environment, from the macrolevel of
urban planning,
urban design, and
landscape architecture to the microlevel of
furniture and
product design.
{{portal|Architecture}}
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:''The following article focuses on
built environment, the architecture of spaces designed for human habitation. To immediately skip to other specialised uses of the term "architecture" see
architecture (disambiguation).''
{{portal}}
Image:Ac.parthenon5.jpg Parthenon.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|300px|The [[Parthenon on top of the
Acropolis,
Athens,
Greece.html" title="Meaning of 300px|The [[Parthenon">thumb|300px|The [[Parthenon on top of the
Acropolis,
Athens,
Greece">300px|The [[Parthenon">thumb|300px|The [[Parthenon on top of the
Acropolis,
Athens,
Greece '''Architecture''' (from
Latin language Latin, ''architectura'' and ultimately from
Greek language Greek, ''αÏ?χιτεκτων'', "a master builder", from ''αÏ?χι-'' "chief, leader" and ''τεκτων'', "builder, carpenter"){{ref|etymology}} is the
art and
science of
design designing buildings and
structures. A wider definition would include within its scope the design of the total built environment, from the macrolevel of
town planning,
urban design, and
landscape architecture to the microlevel of creating
furniture. Architectural design usually must address both feasibility and
cost for the
Construction builder, and function and
aesthetics for the
wiktionary:user user.
In modern usage, architecture is the
art and
discipline of creating an actual, or inferring an implied or apparent plan of any complex
object or
system. The term can be used to connote the ''implied architecture'' of abstract things such as
music or
mathematics, the ''apparent architecture'' of natural things, such as
geology geological formations or the
structural biology structure of biological cells, or explicitly ''planned architectures'' of human-made things such as
software,
computers,
enterprises, and
databases, in addition to buildings. In every usage, an architecture may be seen as a ''subjective
Map (mathematics) mapping'' from a human perspective (that of the ''user'' in the case of abstract or physical artifacts) to the
Element (mathematics) elements or
components of some kind of
structure or system, which preserves the relationships among the elements or components.
Planned architecture often
manipulation manipulates space,
volume,
texture,
light,
shadow, or abstract elements in order to achieve pleasing
aesthetics. This distinguishes it from
applied science or
engineering, which usually concentrate more on the functional and feasibility aspects of the design of constructions or structures.
In the field of building architecture, the skills demanded of an architect range from the more complex, such as for a
hospital or a
stadium, to the apparently simpler, such as planning
residential houses. Many architectural works may be seen also as cultural and political
symbols, and/or works of art. The role of the architect, though changing, has been central to the successful (and sometimes less than successful) design and implementation of pleasingly built environments in which people live.
Image:Table of architecture, Cyclopaedia, 1728, volume 1.jpg Cyclopaedia.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|right|160px|Table of architecture, ''[[Cyclopaedia'', 1728.html" title="Meaning of right|160px|Table of architecture, ''[[Cyclopaedia">thumb|right|160px|Table of architecture, ''[[Cyclopaedia'', 1728">right|160px|Table of architecture, ''[[Cyclopaedia">thumb|right|160px|Table of architecture, ''[[Cyclopaedia'', 1728
Scope and intentions
According to the very earliest surviving work on the subject,
Vitruvius'
De architectura, good buildings satisfy three core principles: ''Firmness'', ''Commodity'', and ''Delight''{{ref|elements}}; architecture can be said to be a balance and coordination among these three elements, with none overpowering the others. A modern day definition sees architecture as addressing aesthetic, structural and functional considerations. However, looked at another way, function itself is seen as encompassing all criteria, including aesthetic and psychological ones.
Architecture is an
Interdisciplinarity interdisciplinary field, drawing upon
mathematics,
science,
art,
technology,
social sciences,
politics,
history, and
philosophy. Vitruvius states: ''"Architecture is a science, arising out of many other sciences, and adorned with much and varied learning: by the help of which a judgement is formed of those works which are the result of other arts."'' He adds that an architect should be well versed in fields such as
music and
astronomy.
Philosophy is a particular favourite; in fact the approach of an
architect to their subject is often called their philosophy.
Rationalism,
empiricism,
structuralism,
poststructuralism, and
phenomenology are some topics from philosophy that have influenced architecture.
Image:Colosseum-2003-07-09.jpg Colosseum.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|left|250px|The [[Colosseum,
Rome,
Italy is an example of Roman architecture..html" title="Meaning of left|250px|The [[Colosseum">thumb|left|250px|The [[Colosseum,
Rome,
Italy is an example of Roman architecture.">left|250px|The [[Colosseum">thumb|left|250px|The [[Colosseum,
Rome,
Italy is an example of Roman architecture.
Architecture and buildings
The difference between architecture and building is a subject matter that has engaged the attention of many. According to
Nikolaus Pevsner,
European historian of the early twentieth century, "A bicycle shed is a building,
Lincoln Cathedral is a piece of architecture." This distinction, however, is not a clear one, and contemporary scholarship is showing that all buildings, cathedrals and bicycle sheds alike, are part of a single continuum that characterizes the built world.
Architecture is also the art of designing the human built environment. Buildings, landscaping, and street designs may be used to impart both functional as well as aesthetic character to a project. Siding and roofing materials and colors may be used to enhance or blend buildings with the environment. Building features such as cornices, gables, entrances, window treatments and borders may be used to soften or enhance portions of a building. Landscaping may be used to create privacy and block direct views from or to a site and enhance buildings with colorful plants and trees. Street side features such as decorative lighting, benches, meandering walkways, and
bicycle lanes may enhance a site for passersby, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Architectural history
Image:Hampi1.JPG Hampi thumb|[[Hampi|Virupaksha Temple,
Hampi,
India.html" title="Meaning of Virupaksha_Temple.html" title="Meaning of thumb|[[Hampi|Virupaksha Temple">thumb|[[Hampi|Virupaksha Temple,
Hampi,
India">Virupaksha_Temple.html" title="Meaning of thumb|[[Hampi|Virupaksha Temple">thumb|[[Hampi|Virupaksha Temple,
Hampi,
India
{{main|Architectural history}}
Architecture first
evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available
building materials and attendant skills). Prehistoric and primitive architecture constitute this early stage. As humans progressed and knowledge began to be formalised through oral traditions and practices, architecture evolved into a
craft. Here there is first a process of trial and error, and later improvisation or replication of a successful trial. What is termed
Vernacular architecture continues to be produced in many parts of the world. Indeed, vernacular buildings make up most of the built world that people experience every day.
Early human settlements were essentially
rural. As surplus of production began to occur, rural societies transformed into
urban area urban ones and cities began to evolve. In many ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians' and Mesopotamians' architecture and urbanism reflected the constant engagement with the divine and the
supernatural, while in other ancient cultures such as
Iran architecture and
urban planning was used to exemplify the power of the state. However, the architecture and urbanism of the Classical civilisations such as the
Ancient Greece Greek and the
Ancient Rome Roman evolved from more civic ideas and new building types emerged. Architectural styles developed and texts on architecture began to be written. These became canons to be followed in important works, especially religious architecture. Some examples of canons are the works of Vitruvius, the Kaogongji of ancient
China and
Vaastu Shastra in ancient
India. In
Europe in the
Classical antiquity Classical and
Medieval periods, buildings were not attributed to specific individual architects who remained anonymous.
Guilds were formed by craftsmen to organise their trade. Over time the complexity of buildings and their types increased. General civil construction such as roads and bridges began to be built. Many new building types such as schools, hospitals, and recreational facilities emerged.
Islamic architecture has a long and complex history beginning in the seventh century
Common Era CE. Examples can be found throughout the countries that are, or were, Islamic - from
Morocco and
Spain to
Iranian architecture Iran, and
Indonesia. Other examples can be found in areas where Muslims are a minority. Islamic architecture includes mosques, madrasas, caravansarais, palaces, and mausolea of this large region.
With the
Renaissance and its emphasis on the individual and humanity rather than religion, and with all its attendant progress and achievements, a new chapter began. Buildings were ascribed to specific architects -
Michaelangelo,
Brunelleschi,
Leonardo da Vinci - and the cult of the individual had begun. But there was no dividing line between
artist,
architect and
engineer, or any of the related vocations. At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved were within the scope of the generalist.
With the consolidation of knowledge in scientific fields such as
engineering and the rise of new materials and technology, the architect began to lose ground on the technical aspects of building. He therefore cornered for himself another playing field - that of
aesthetics. There was the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes. In the 19th century
Ecole des Beaux Arts in
France, the training was toward producing quick sketch schemes involving beautiful drawings without much emphasis on context.
Image:Chryslerbldg.jpg Chrysler_building.html" title="Meaning of thumbnail thumbnail|100px|[[Chrysler building,
New York City,
USA.html" title="Meaning of 100px|[[Chrysler building">thumbnail|100px|[[Chrysler building,
New York City,
USA">100px|[[Chrysler building">thumbnail|100px|[[Chrysler building,
New York City,
USA
Meanwhile, the
Industrial Revolution laid open the door for mass consumption and aesthetics started becoming a criterion even for the middle class as ornamented products, once within the province of expensive craftmanship, became cheaper under machine production.
Image:Bauhaus.JPG Bauhaus.html"_title="Meaning of thumb thumb|left|300px|[[Bauhaus_building,
Dessau,
Germany.html" title="Meaning of left|300px|[[Bauhaus">thumb|left|300px|[[Bauhaus building,
Dessau,
Germany">left|300px|[[Bauhaus">thumb|left|300px|[[Bauhaus building,
Dessau,
GermanyThe dissatisfaction with such a general situation at the turn of the twentieth century gave rise to many new lines of thought that in architecture served as precursors to
Modern Architecture. Notable among these is the
Deutscher Werkbund, formed in 1907 to produce better quality machine made objects. The rise of the profession of
industrial design is usually placed here. Following this lead, the
Bauhaus school, founded in
Germany in 1919, consciously rejected
history and looked at architecture as a synthesis of art, craft, and technology.
When Modern architecture first began to be practiced, it was an
avant-garde movement with moral, philosophical, and aesthetic underpinnings. Truth was sought by rejecting history and turning to function as the generator of form. Architects became prominent figures and were termed masters. Later modern architecture moved into the realm of mass production due to its simplicity and economy.
However, a reduction in quality of modern architecture was perceived by the general public from the 1960s. Some reasons cited for this are its lack of meaning, sterility, ugliness, uniformity, and psychological effects.
The architectural profession responded to this partly by attempting a more populist architecture at the visual level, even if at the expense of sacrificing depth for shallowness, a direction called
Postmodernism.
Robert Venturi's contention that a "decorated shed" (an ordinary building which is functionally designed inside and embellished on the outside) was better than a "duck" (a building in which the whole form and its function are considered together) gives an idea of this approach.
Image:Swissre.and.tower42.london.arp.jpg London.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|left|250px|Two of [[London's tallest buildings: the NatWest Tower and the Swiss Re tower (2005).html" title="Meaning of left|250px|Two of [[London">thumb|left|250px|Two of [[London's tallest buildings: the NatWest Tower and the Swiss Re tower (2005)">left|250px|Two of [[London">thumb|left|250px|Two of [[London's tallest buildings: the NatWest Tower and the Swiss Re tower (2005)Another part of the profession, and also some non-architects, responded by going to what they considered the root of the problem. They felt that architecture was not a personal philosophical or aesthetic pursuit by individualists; rather it had to consider everyday needs of people and use technology to give a livable environment. The
Design Methodology Movement involving people such as
Chris Jones(design) Chris Jones,
Christopher Alexander started searching for more people-orientated designs. Extensive studies on areas such as behavioural, environmental, and social sciences were done and started informing the design process.
As many other concerns began to be recognised and complexity of buildings began to increase in terms of aspects such as services, architecture started becoming more multi-disciplinary than ever. Architecture now required a team of professionals in its making, an architect being one among the many, sometimes the leader, sometimes not. This is the state of the profession today. However, individuality is still cherished and sought for in the design of buildings seen as cultural symbols - the museum or fine arts centre has become a showcase for new experiments in style: today
Deconstructivism, tomorrow maybe something else.
References
#{{note|etymology}} [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=architect Online Etymology of the term "architect"]
#{{note|elements}} Translation of ''firmitatis utilitatis venustatis'' [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/home.html] due to Henry Wotton, 1624 [http://www.gardenvisit.com/landscape/LIH/history/vitruvius.htm#ch1-3].
See also
{{commonscat|Architecture by country}}
{{Wikibookspar|Wikiversity|School of Architecture}}
image:architecture.swiss.re.arp.750pix.jpg London.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|right|300px|Four architectural styles in [[London,
England, including the
30 St Mary Axe Gherkin. In 2004 this building won the
Stirling Prize for its architects
Foster and Partners .html" title="Meaning of right|300px|Four architectural styles in [[London">thumb|right|300px|Four architectural styles in [[London,
England, including the
30 St Mary Axe Gherkin. In 2004 this building won the
Stirling Prize for its architects
Foster and Partners ">right|300px|Four architectural styles in [[London">thumb|right|300px|Four architectural styles in [[London,
England, including the
30 St Mary Axe Gherkin. In 2004 this building won the
Stirling Prize for its architects
Foster and Partners
Image:Wawka2.jpg Warsaw.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|300px|right|Modern architecture in [[Warsaw.html" title="Meaning of 300px|right|Modern architecture in [[Warsaw">thumb|300px|right|Modern architecture in [[Warsaw">300px|right|Modern architecture in [[Warsaw">thumb|300px|right|Modern architecture in [[Warsaw
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