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What Is Architecture?

The document discusses the question "What is architecture?" and provides several definitions and perspectives on architecture from different sources. Architecture is described as the design of buildings and structures that takes both aesthetic and practical factors into account. It aims to provide firmness, commodity, and delight. Architecture affects outcomes through how it relates people, supports communities, and impacts health and crime. It is both an art and a science that inspires and enhances experiences through creative manipulation of elements like mass, space, and materials.

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Novie Viernes
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54 views

What Is Architecture?

The document discusses the question "What is architecture?" and provides several definitions and perspectives on architecture from different sources. Architecture is described as the design of buildings and structures that takes both aesthetic and practical factors into account. It aims to provide firmness, commodity, and delight. Architecture affects outcomes through how it relates people, supports communities, and impacts health and crime. It is both an art and a science that inspires and enhances experiences through creative manipulation of elements like mass, space, and materials.

Uploaded by

Novie Viernes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The question “what is architecture?

” is one of the most basic but


also one of the most challenging stuff architects ask themselves. It
is a philosophical question that repels a complete answer yet
incites an intellectual examination. Architect’s answers to this
question help outline their designs.

WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE? is also a question that is particularly


important for students who are looking for different perspectives
on architecture as they come to form their own definitions.

While artists work from real to the abstract, architects must work
from the abstract to the real. Architecture, beneath all its
limitations of engineering, safety, function, climate and economy,
arouse us with designs in space and light achieved in the abstract.

The profession of designing buildings, open areas,


communities, and other artificial constructions and
environments, usually with some regard to
aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design
or selection of furnishings and decorations,
supervision of construction work, and the
examination, restoration, or remodelling of existing
buildings.
Architecture is a passion, a vocation, a calling — as well as a
science and a business. It has been described as a social art and
also an artful science. Architecture must be of the highest quality
of design. Architecture provides, in the words of Marcus
Vitruvius, the great Roman architect and historian, “firmness,
commodity and delight.

NOTE 1st Century BC Roman Architect Vitruvius is the author of


the treatise De architectura. The work is divided into 10 books
dealing with city planning and architecture in general; building
materials; temple construction; public buildings; private
buildings; clocks; hydraulics; and civil and military engines. His
work was used as a classic text book from ancient Roman times
to the Renaissance. Firmness refers to structural integrity and
durability; Commodity refers to spatial functionality or in
other words, “serving its purpose” and fulfilling the function for
which the building was constructed; Delight means that the
building is not only aesthetically and visually pleasing, but also
lifts the spirits and stimulates the senses.

The art or practice of designing and constructing


buildings.

Architecture is everywhere. Each and every building: home,


school, office, hospital and supermarket were designed for their
particular purpose. It is of vital importance that these buildings,
and in turn the environments they form and the neighbourhoods
and cities they are a part of, are designed to be the best possible
buildings for their specific context, use and the people who use
them.

The complex or carefully designed structure of


something.

Architecture has the ability to materially affect outcomes: it can


affect the way we relate to each other, increase business
productivity, support communities and neighbourhoods,
improve health, and even decrease crime.

Architecture: “The art or science of building; esp.


the art or practice of designing and building
edifices for human use, taking both aesthetic and
practical factors into account.”

Architecture also has the power to inspire and delight — it can


enhance everyday experiences.

What is Architecture all about?


Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and
other physical structures. A wider definition often includes the
design of the total built environment from the macro level of
town planning, urban design, and landscape architecture to the
micro level of construction details and, sometimes, furniture. The
term “Architecture” is also used for the profession of providing
architectural services.

Architectural design is primarily driven by the holistically creative


manipulation of mass, space, volume, texture, light, shadow,
materials, program, and Realistic elements such as cost,
construction and technology, in order to achieve an end which is
aesthetic, functional and often artistic. This distinguishes
Architecture from engineering design, which is usually driven
primarily by the creative application of mathematical and
scientific principles.

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