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Do you think that architecture reflects society? If yes, how?

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Question added by Deleted user
Date Posted: 2017/06/12
Reham AlQasem
by Reham AlQasem , Junior Architect , IMAR trading & contracting

a very important question!

 

but before answering, knowing first what architecture or an architect is, is a must.

architecture is a major where it connects engineering, art, design, planning, science, history, psychology, health, environment, technology, sustainability...etc in neerly each project to give the right design and results for the comfort of the users, and the community. works on different scales, architectural and urban.

therefor, and specially due to the scales. architecture is for sure an effective element in the society, but how?

if a conservative family -for example- wants a house design, we should consider the

  • height of the outdoor wall fence
  • the coverrage and privacy of the landscape spaces
  • privacy of rooms by decreasing sizes of windows and working on orientation with respect to the surrounding buildings

...etc

number of techniques and considerations were taken to work along with the client's needs. how could we reach that? we couldve reached that only by knowing their traditions, culture...etc

Now, by having a conservative community, all their needs will be the same. same standards above will be taken under consideraition.

Which means a whole city was designed in terms of the culture of the community ending with a beautiful urban space that is reflecting its users. 

this allows me to walk in the streets, reed the facades and figure out the culture of the community, and by the beautiful islamic arches, decorations i can tell the history of architecture of this society.

this as an example that can be based on any other case with different cultures, needs and requires.

 

what if it wasnt inspired by the community?

of couse we can design without inspiring from the community, also can design in the opposite way of their traditions and culture!

but, the results will be a failure project where it isnt accepted by the community and cant offer the right comfort.

therefore, unique and different buildings cant be but museums, exhibitions, special and iconic building. but cant be neither generalized, nor as an identity to the community.

 

in the end, no doubt... Architecture is the mirror of civilization

Engshams Civil
by Engshams Civil , مهندس مدني عام , مكتب هندسي

Thank you for the invitation

To answer this question, we need a great time and explanation

 

Role of architecture in society

 

Says the mark Ibn Khaldun "in the construction industry":

This industry is the first and oldest urban construction works and it is the knowledge of work in taking houses, houses for shelter, and shelter for urban buildings. And that the human because of the mountain of thought in the consequences of its conditions must think about what is paid for the harm of heat and cold, such as taking houses roofed walls and walls from all other destinations .....

Introduction Ibn Khaldun p. 406

The UAE community is experiencing social and cultural changes that have arisen as a result of the economic boom and the emergence of oil in economic quantities in the 1970s. These changes affect all aspects of life, especially the urban environment. As economic capacity increased, the needs and requirements of the individual and society changed. At the community level as a whole, the needs of a simple urban environment spread across the country have changed to large urban communities with large roads, public buildings, government buildings, commercial markets and the like. At the individual and family level, the need for traditional homes built with the building materials and primitive technology available in the area has changed to sophisticated residential styles such as palaces, villas and residential communities. The modern construction methods, materials and materials that have greatly influenced the architectural design have been created, resulting in a completely different urban environment than the traditional urban environment.

Architect and community

The nature of the work of the architect and his participation in the design of the various components of the urban environment of housing, schools, factories, hotels, hospitals, commercial markets and all the needs of the urban environment at different levels and forms make it in a distinct position that sees direct personal experience the practical and social consequences of government programs and private investments and their impact on the standard of living and quality . Therefore, architects are always the first to point out the existence of social problems and the importance and how to treat them. Examples of this are the architects' reference to city center problems, rapid urban development, problems of suburban isolation and problems of public housing. And the architect as a member of the community is affected by what is happening around him in the community and reflected on his work and values ​​and aspirations. The architect does not adequately review his work, his relationship, and his suitability for the surrounding community. The architect believes that the mere fact that he is a member of the community makes him able to reflect the wishes and aspirations of the surrounding society.

Some architects believe that their role is to express the general culture and philosophy prevalent in their community through their architectural works and buildings. In the era of modernity and the control of the machine in all aspects of life, the architect of the World of Lobrozios proposed to consider the dwelling as a dwelling machine. "The House is a MACHINE to Live in" - a look that reflects machine control and excellence in industry and technology and reflects it on all aspects of life. The famous Miss van deruu is "Less is More" which expresses the abstract direction of civilization, its speed and its lack of additions. The architecture of modernity reflected the prevailing modes of thinking at the time, as architecture was and will always reflect the conditions of society.

Tasks of the architect

The traditional tasks of the architect include working with the client to understand the needs of the projects and programs required for them, design the projects and achieve the required design through the project drawings. The architect is often asked to participate in the identification of the project program, the examination of contractors' tenders, project implementation management, cost estimation, contractor selection, project evaluation after use and building maintenance. The architect contributes to all of these works in an advisory capacity, where many individuals or entities directly involved in the project, whether in terms of utilization, financing or execution, intervene in decision making.

The history and development of the profession indicate that the architect has lost control over the carrying of many of these responsibilities. In the pre-industrial era, the architect had a greater role and full control over the construction process. The role of the architect included identifying needs, designing projects, supervising the implementation of construction and sometimes carrying out some work on its own. The role of the architect began to change from about 300 years ago with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution as a result of the development of industry, technology, financing methods and construction systems.

Architect and client

The architect's relationship with the client is influenced by the mutual interests between them. While the interest of the architect in the design of the project and supervision of the implementation in the best possible form, the interest of the client in the implementation of the project and to make use of it at the lowest possible cost. One of the most important problems facing the architect is the lack of general appreciation of the effort, cost, time required to design the project, the work of the preliminary drawings, the executive drawings and the tender documents, where the percentage required to complete the work is 2 to 10% sometimes while there is no product that the customer feels its value.

The architect had full control over the construction process. Today, the construction process involves many disciplines, fields and works. Feasibility studies and needs identification are controlled by planners and sociologists. The implementation involves the financier and the contractor. The design is still a field architect. The problem is the conflict between the interests of the sources of those decisions. Cost is reduced at the expense of convenience and efficiency, often at the expense of the end user of the building.

The future of the architect

A new method of architectural work should be contemplated so that the architect can deal with it

Arvind Arya
by Arvind Arya , Additional Chief Engineer , Ajmer Development Authority

If you are visiting an unknown place the first thing which can correlate you with the place is the surroundings. Just by looking at the Architecture of buildings, roads, and infrastructure we can have a good idea about the place and the society. Architecture is one of the main factors which reflect society.

If we see any historical city like Roam, the architecture of old monuments clearly speaks about the rich culture, knowledge of that society. We can very well say that Architecture is the mirror of a society.

yacoub sanad
by yacoub sanad , Manufacturing Operations And Supply Planning Specialist , BHC

in deed.... in artchitectural design there is always somthing tells you about either a location from which design came from, or a period of time or a situation in addition to the level of scintifical background of the designers. take permides of egypt as an example and you will see that the socity that time with high level of education. the shape itself its an engineering shape but the first thing comes to your mind is that a part of old egyptian socity.

Ahmed Karawia
by Ahmed Karawia , Site Engineer , Karawia for Construction

Architectures reflect their own Society , Culture , Landscape , People , needs , And other Society charactaristics , althogh they Are nearly Use their informations  to Satisfy People , And help them to live easly and more comfortable . Every one with his vision and his Side of View , And his society ( comfortable defenition ) . 

deny albatrossa
by deny albatrossa , Head of Engineering Department , Tzen Plantation Ltd.

Architecture will be reflect society automatcically, because people will create house/building as their way of living

Prakash Joshi
by Prakash Joshi , Manager , KOC,GUJARAT REFINERY,O.N.G.C., CROMPTON GREAVES,TRANSPEK

Absolutely Yes. Because the rise of Architecture comply the needs of society. The design changes with respect to the change in needs of society. Foe example In olden days we prefer hoses with more no of rooms for two joint family, but now we prefer to have Duplexes for the same two joint family, this will serve both sharing & personal feeling needs of society.

abulfattah amerol
by abulfattah amerol , Site Architect , EGEC-QATAR

architecture are more reflects in society because of the arrangement of society, houses, building & industrial, the beautiful design of the building it's reflect for good society.building without architecture is like a music without sound.

jeyasakthi m
by jeyasakthi m , cad engineer , cad cae india pvt ltd

THE OUTSTANDING FEATURE OF EARTH IS ARCHITECTURE. GOD SCULPTURES MAN, MAN SCULPTURES WORLD WITH HIS IMPRINTS IN  THE NAME OF" ARCHITECTURE". ARCHITECTURE MAKES THE MAN TO EXECUTE HIS DREAM IMAGES AS LIVE...EVEN THE FORM OF SOCIETY IS THE BEAUTY OF ARCHITECTURE

Francisco  Benavides
by Francisco Benavides , Architect , Vértice: Architecture office

Of course! , ARCHITECTURE=CULTURE, the buildings and space is a refelction of the identity and traditions through time, such as textures, forms, colors, heigth, location, and many many aspects.

I think this is no optional, THIS MUST BE AN OBLIGATION FOR EVERY ARCHITECT

hisham abu dagga
by hisham abu dagga , Project Manager / مدير مشاريع , مؤسسة عبدالكريم العواض للمقاولات

Architecture reflects the culture and ambition of the community, as well as the identity and personality of the architect, in the sense that architectural works are the hallmarks of both the community and the architect. The international style has eroded this footprint, creating a cold barren architecture that lost personality and identity to the architects and society. The position was the emergence of postmodern architecture, which tried to address this negativity according to its philosophy, by infusing the architectural spaces and facades with architectural elements derived from the heritage architecture in order to draw closer to the citizens and warm their feelings by reminding them of the architecture of their ancestors and the greatness and depth of their history.

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