If you’ve ever been in awe of a building, you might have wondered, “What is architecture?” Architecture is the art and technique of designing buildings. It’s distinct from the art of construction, which focuses on the creation of buildings. Architecture involves more than just designing; it’s also a creative process.
Structures express ideas
Structures express ideas in architecture in many different ways. The term “structure” is used to refer to a general built output; it is also used as a historical reference. A more ambitious proposition is to recognize that architectural objects can express ideas and concepts. In other words, structures are not just buildings; they can be any structure that is used to express a particular idea or concept.
The notion of architecture as language dates to antiquity. Its historical development stretches from the Vitruvian suggestion of order through Alberti’s rhetorical model of architecture. Later, Renaissance and early modern authors began to compare the rules of architecture to those of Latin language. This thesis was further developed by Quatremere de Quincy, who saw classical orders as primitive forms with grammatical functions.
Some architects have taken a pluralist view of architecture, and see architectural objects as composed of materials, aesthetic ideas, and plans. This approach is consistent with the pluralist view of ontology, which accommodates multiples as well as multiples of the same type. But the pluralist approach to architecture is far from the only way to approach the problem.
Objects create a particular experience
The experience of an architectural object involves cognitive, sensual, and emotive faculties. Although abstractists may claim that the experience of architectural objects is exclusively intellectual, anti-abstractist formalists will argue that an architectural experience must include a sensory component. As such, accounts of the experience of architecture generally focus on several content modalities. For example, Sauchelli (2012) argues that a central aspect of the architectural experience involves the user’s ability to grasp pleasure. Other aspects of the experience include attention to details and understanding of the architectural object.
The experience of an architectural object typically involves aesthetic and utilitarian concerns, engaging the individual’s perspective, reasoning, and reflection. Other factors that contribute to the experience include social framing, environmental psychological factors, and the intense public nature of architecture. These factors are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary.
A third approach is based in semiotics and emphasizes the role of architectural objects as signs. These signs can indicate aspects of themselves and function, and are taken to function like a communicative system. The postmodernist architecture movement embraced this approach. This approach is not limited to the construction of buildings, but extends to the conception of the built environment and its users.
Objects are symbolic
The use of symbols in architecture has become an important practice, since architects need to convey a message through their creations. They use symbols to change the context of a structure or design, and to convey ideas to the public. This practice is known as signification, and it plays a vital role in the process of design. It forces the viewer to rethink everything around them and to consider the meaning of a particular object or piece of architecture.
The symbolic structure of buildings varies based on design philosophy. The Modernist style, for example, was characterized by featureless concrete blocks that were meant to emphasize efficiency and practicality. The Postmodernist movement, on the other hand, emphasized playfulness, visual impact, and emotion, saying that architecture should convey something other than soulless function. Consequently, architecture has been caught in the middle of the conflict between beauty and utility. Today, even the last-minute exterior styling can greatly influence the symbolic power of a structure.
Symbolic architecture has been in use since antiquity. It has been used to transmit sacred information and cultural meaning. Objects can have multiple meanings: for example, white signifies peace, while a rose represents romance. The use of symbolic architecture reflects the context of a building as well as cultural identity.
Buildings command human respect and represent a significant investment. As such, they serve as natural backdrops for symbolic meaning. For example, the White House, for example, broadcasts the purpose of its occupants, while the Westminster Cathedral is clearly a place of worship. The use of symbols in architecture can also express the owner’s class or status, and their taste.
Objects are constructed
Objects are constructed in architecture by a combination of fundamental design elements. These elements can be combined according to rules to express meaning. These elements are also subject to relational and contextual constraints. This makes them analogous to language. However, there are a few differences between language and architecture.
One key difference between architecture and other arts is the way they communicate with the viewer. Among art forms, architecture is unique for its ability to communicate narratives. Architectural objects are able to communicate the sequence of events through their design and the movement of their inhabitants. They also function as a medium for artistic expression.
The outputs of architecture range from models and sketches to building plans. Not all of these are primary objects, but they all constitute a part of an architectural project. Moreover, architecture’s focus is not on building structures as a whole, but on the parts and how they are integrated into a wider context.
A third approach, based on semiotics, emphasizes the role of architectural objects as signs. In other words, architectural objects serve as signs that communicate a message about their function and identity. The postmodernist movement in architecture embraced this approach. However, the distinctions between the two approaches are not clear.
An architectural experience is a complex social process that likely involves multiple cognitive, emotional, and sensual faculties. While some abstractists argue that architectural experience is solely intellectual, anti-abstractists argue that this experience must also be a sensory experience for people to fully appreciate the concrete shapes. As such, most accounts of the experience of an architectural object focus on multiple content modalities. For example, Sauchelli (2012) proposes that the primary feature of the architectural experience is the use of cognitive processes to grasp pleasure and understand the architectural object.
