Architecture is the art of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures. Architecture is as old as human history because it is the basic need of a human being. The architecture symbolizes the nation’s history, culture, traditions, technology, and climate. In primitive times, man was used to living in caves, but over time trends changed. As “necessity is the mother of invention” the human being began to build stone houses to protect themselves from extreme weather conditions and also from wild animals. New innovations and new trends were imposed and the human being began to make houses with bricks made of mud, then began to bake these bricks to make them much stronger to protect themselves from other natural disasters.
Until now, many of the great artists and philosophers have defined architecture but it does not have a static definition. It is the art that directly concerns all human beings because a man, rich or poor, tall or short, or may live anywhere in the world, has to face architecture in his life. It can’t be helped, whether we like it or not. William Morris defined architecture as “shaping and altering the human needs of the very face of the earth.” According to John Rustin, learning is everyone’s art because everyone cares. It is affected by climate, culture, technology and the needs of society. The architecture of a nation largely represents the taste of its people. Architecture is also considered as frozen music. Sir Henry Watson says that architecture is comfort, firmness and delight.
Greek architecture is considered to be the most primitive and durable architecture as well. Greek architecture includes mainly the Parthenon (Athens Parthenon) and temples. This is also considered as one of the wonders of the world. The Greeks mainly used stone carvings and the philosophy behind all their architecture is to make a place for worship. The ancient architecture mainly includes stone carving, wood carving and most of the construction work is done by human hand which makes it so unique. Most of the buildings are symmetrical where you can see the repetition of designs and patterns. Similarly, Roman, Gothic, Egyptian and Indian architecture is an elegant example of ancient architecture. He tells us all about the culture, climate and traditions of these civilizations. It seems that a lot of work and struggle has gone into building these buildings. The materials used in these buildings are mostly natural like stone, marble, sand, wood, etc. The repetition of ideas and materials could be seen in ancient architecture due to the lack of technology.
With the passage of time new inventions are made in the field of technology, chemistry and many other scientific fields. Many of the new materials have been introduced by architects and artificially produced chemists at low cost. Today’s architecture is a mixture of structuralism, formalism, high technology, expressionism and neo-expressionism. Fast-growing industries and professionalism give rise to modern architecture that is simple, less ornamental but maximally people-oriented. Modern architecture is rich in inspiration and abstract ideas behind it. With the increasing complexity of the architecture, it is divided into several branches. Environmental hazards are the hottest topic today, which is why architects are trying to create designs that are friendly to the environment. Many of the architects emphasized sustainable green building designs, with Sim Van der Ryn (1960), Ian Mc Harg (1970) from the UK, and Brenda and Robert Vale from the UK and New Zealand being the most famous. Architects are now designing buildings that are self-sufficient in all energy demands. Dynamic Towers is the famous modern building that is a good example of sustainable architecture that will be powered by water turbines and solar panels to meet its energy requirements.
In short, architecture, whether good or bad, has a great impact on our lives. It is the symbol of the nation’s strength and progress, but the architecture must be aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly to save our planet earth and shape its face beautifully. Many trends have passed and many will come but its sole purpose is to shelter human beings and create the world where they can live in peace and tranquility.