An Introduction to Architecture

This article will give a brief introduction to architecture,its origins and a look at how important it is in the world today and in thepast. It was produced to help people understand and uptake the career path and become architects in Nottingham.

Architecture is the practice of design buildings and otherphysical structures. It is often considered a form of art and science due tothe massive amount of technical knowledge required to implement a design thathas been created from nothing.

Architects have many factors to consider when constructing abuilding such as mass, texture, materials, light/shadow, cost, construction andtechnology. All of these factors are manipulated in order to create an enddesign that appears both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

A very important part of modern architecture is that it isnot merely a visual art form. Complete architecture takes into account all ofthe human senses as well as the environment around the structure, andmanagement of power, water and other utilities. There is also a common conceptamong architects that the art cannot exist in a vacuum and that it must havecontext, surroundings and contrasts to be complete.

Although architecture is not widely recognised as animportant and popular profession it is in fact one of the most influentialand widely recognised jobs throughout history. Almost everything we know aboutancient civilisation is based upon what we have found in and about itsarchitecture and there are countless political and cultural symbols knownprimarily for their structural achievements such as the Pyramids of Egypt andthe Roman Coliseum. Even modern cities and locations are both visited and knownby architectural landmarks such as the Opera House of Sydney and the Empire Statebuilding of New York.

The history of architecture is also extremely interesting,as human technology and scientific and mathematical understanding increases, soto did our ability to build wonderful buildings. Architecture was born out of acombination of needs, such as shelter, security and worship and means, mainlythe local building materials and physical ability. Early architecture wasmainly vernacular architecture, a special type of architecture which is basedaround local needs and means. As it evolved the classic civilisations were bornand great time and effort put into crafting areas of religious or politicalsignificance and even back in these times architecture was more than just avisual product. The roman Coliseum was designed so that all of the thousands ofcrowd members could see and hear the action at the centre and the way itamplifies sound was no accident.

As time passed architecture developed more and more withmedieval structures like the castle and fort proving architecture had a placeon the battle field as w ell as he city floor. During this period architects,especially in Europe, began to form guilds (asmany craftsman did then). These guilds were design to help architects worktogether and achieve more monumental things, a practice that is still insociety today in the form of architect partnerships.

In the renaissance architecture became a very personalaffair and moved quickly away from war and religion. Many famous architects arefrom this period as this marked the start of buildings recognising theirarchitects with individuals such as Palladio and Brunelleschi going down inhistory.

Today architecture is everywhere, almost any public buildingis professional designed and many compete for recognition inside theirrespective cities. There is massive emphasis on certain elements such as energyefficiency, environmental blending and the use of environmentally friendlyconstruction materials. Design is also becoming increasingly advanced withsuperstructures like the Burj Al Arab 7 star hotel.