Technology has played a huge role in shaping the current society and its surroundings. It offers affected every aspects of human life and one of these is space in the field of architecture and interior design. As technology changes, so will the practice of architecture and home design. Previously, with no technology, the value of architecture is based on the process of crafting experience in a space. But, nowadays, with the technology, the worthiness has became privileging the visual aesthetics of the space or referred to as visual architecture. Therefore, this article aims to investigate the current aftereffect of technology in architecture and home design. As well concerning argue that the existing visual structures has decreased the worthiness of architecture.
INTRODUCTION
Technology opens the door to the future. It is one of the main essences that form and change just how population behaves, as well as transcends the encompassing to suit just how culture lives. Nowadays, the result of technology has reached almost every level of the culture, and one of them is modern building technology. It includes great implication in the creation of space in both structures and home design. Since the start, structures is one of the main needs of man. It provides space to have and works, an environment for interaction and provoking feelings, and a realm where activities and memories are manufactured. Feelings and emotions are evoked by the form and shape, the layout of varieties and by romantic relationships that space attracts with the surroundings. It affects all of human senses. As technology developed, the meaning of architecture started to adapt consequently.
Formerly, with regular building building technology such as wood-framed, stone-stacking and dirt bricks buildings, the shape and form of structures that might be achieved was only a simple and real form. It led to a style of homogeneous building, which made structures looks similar with its surroundings. As a result of this restriction, architects and designers became more sensitive and focused on crafting experiences in a space. These encounters then become recollections that'll be remembered by the visitor and elements that differentiate one building from another. As this continues, as a result of limitation on the materials, building's visual aesthetic is gradually decreasing. Presently, with the creation and development of new building materials and solutions, the innovations of cutting-edge and futuristic looking varieties and patterns are possible. New materials and set ups are improved and manufactured all over the place. These progress have made architects hoping to work out and explore the opportunity of how these new materials may be used to elaborate and create new structures for buildings. Unintentionally, these advancements in addition has made them became so attached to visual appearance. And therefore most them concentrate on using technology to discover new varieties and designs for architecture in order to reflect the theory for which it was designed. The design of the building that focused on visual appearance has led to a trend of fabricating a form that appears good rather than space that feels good.
With this pattern continuing, it seems that the role of visual sense has being privileged in comparison with other real human senses. The impact of the trend causes the look of the existing architecture being reduced and restricted into aesthetic senses. Along with the lack of other senses, the strength of interaction between our bodies and a space is being diminished. It is because real human experience space and environment through all their senses, not only through the aesthetic. The trend also suggests that the inclination in structures of image somewhat than architecture of experience is increasing. The merchandise of architecture of image will only offer visual use which won't create long lasting impressions that all the architects shoot for. It will only turn into a attractive postcard of visually impressive building.
Hence, the article aims to confirm that the current use of technology in architecture is only getting used to achieve visible looks and has reduced the value of structures. The essay will also claim that technology to attain powerful or aesthetically satisfying form to the eyesight needs to be able to grow hand in hand with other individual senses, to be able to produce valuable experience and ram in a space. Only then, the worthiness of structures can be pushed to a complete potential.
Architecture of Experience alternatively than Visual
"Instead of experiencing our being on the globe, we behold it from external as spectators of images projected on the surface of the retina. "
Pallasmaa, J, 2005, p. 47
Before we can progress to the key concern, to question the result of technology towards current structures, it's important to look and understand briefly what is the nature and value of architecture since the start it was created. Throughout the history, despite of a big number of explanations which have been suggested by numerous architects, the answer to the type and value of architecture has never come to a finish. Maybe for the reason that there are diverse ways to formulate an answer to this. Davies (2008) noted that one of the numerous definitions of architecture that can be within dictionaries, make reference to the meaning of, a method or style of building. It seems that this definition brings about a diminishing understanding that building is merely an subject of visual visual. Some even make comparison of architecture with other form of arts which is sculpture. For instance, Santiago Calatrava, a world-renowned Santiago Calatrava:
Sculpture into Structures,
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spanish architects that combined sculpture and painting with structures. He is claimed as a building sculptor and possessed a world-wide exhibition of his works. Wayne Gardner (2005, "The Art Behind the Architect", The NY Sunlight newspaper) mentioned that there surely is no clear line whether Calatrava is a sculptor that design buildings or an architect which makes sculptures. And whether his works are sculptures that are in a form of architecture or a combo of both fine art and architecture. So is architecture is just a method of applying looks consideration to the form of buildings? Or it is just an art of making buildings beautiful? This notion of definition seems to have skipped a central primary of the type and value of architecture.
Previously, in the prehistoric time where architecture had not been even blessed yet, human resided in a nomadic way. They changed from one location to another. When nights came, they stopped and lighted a fire to warm themselves up. In so doing, they started to determine a "place". And if indeed they intend to stay there much longer, they started to define a location to sleep, a spot to shelter them from the rainwater, a place to gather and store food, a location where they could defend themselves from threat, etc. Off their chosen site, experience of their surrounding, before organization of their place, this causes an progression from a destination to architecture. Predicated on that, you can say that the type and value of architecture is in the sense of a location that is created by the business between buildings with the surrounding and framework itself. Thus, structures relates to the way people live, it changes and evolves based on the environments, experiences and needs.
As time goes on, places that individuals used have became more diverse, advanced and sophisticated which made structures regularly changing as well. Starting from the prehistoric period where individual dwells in occasional caves to stone-stacking shelters. Then evolves to temporal tents make by frame-wood structures and into circular houses that made of mud bricks. And as human being becomes more civilized, the needs of place for different functions emerged too. From a destination to worship gods, a destination to trade things, a place for entertainment and so much more. These places will keep on broadening to meet different needs of man. Moreover, tools to generate and carry materials, such as tires or pulleys, have advanced and are still growing to make construction process becomes better. So, not only materials have developed, functions and tools to make each building have advanced as well. From the early civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Roman Empire and the East, the development in architecture to create complexes for different purposes have greatly mixed. Egypt's Pyramids, Greek's Temples, and Roman's Amphitheatres are just few illustrations of varied functions that might be found internationally.
The forms, materials, tools and functions of the structures evolve as a result of resources that exist in the surroundings. The needs for better materials to make shelter and suited types of materials to create the atmosphere for different functions have pressed the tool and building technology to an advanced level too. With the use of the advanced materials and technology, humans have the ability to generate unique experience which would enrich the physical and mental health experience in structures.
In enough time where modern building technology had not been developed yet, there is a restriction in the creation of architectural form. Architects and technical engineers were only in a position to create certain sorts of form because of the restriction of the materials and tools at that time. Considering this constraints, the target of architecture at this time is in the creation of experience, which is the nature and value of structures since the early days. People resided through experiencing the world with body senses. One sense interacts with other senses to have the ability to let human being integrate with the surrounding and the planet. Because of this, architecture is the merchandise of this regular interaction between people who have their encompassing and the earth. Architecture provides areas where people could do their day to day activities, go through the environment, feel safe with it and generate impactful thoughts through these relationships. The interaction that occurs can be either simple or intricate. This means that the space within the structures can connect to at least one or all of the body senses. This is credited to, as individual we have desires and needs, beliefs and aspirations, as well as visual sensibility that are affected by warmth, touch, odour, sound and aesthetic stimuli. Every connection that occurs will be experienced by your body. And if the experience through the area is strong enough, it will formulate an impactful storage to the user's mind. And when this is successful, the long lasting impression that each architects strive for will be performed. That's the reason structures should be made with a considered multi-sensory experience inside the area.
Some types of ideal architecture that illustrates significant historical properties with good space design will be the Colleseum in Rome, The Louvre in France, and Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca. For the first one which is The Flavian Amphitheatre or well known as The Colosseum at Rome. The reason why that it's one of significant historical buildings with good space design sits within the successful success of the monumental and grandeur size, practicality, efficiency for managing the crowd and the most crucial is its capacity to radiate the crowds and spectators pleasure and experience throughout the complete space experience at that time. The hugely impressive vast ellipse form that is filled up with tiers of seating was made to attack awe into anyone who observed this great monumental building. It had been symbolic of the glorious electric power and cruelty of Rome and its emperors. Its traditional design features, similar to classical Greek structures is the quintessential symbols of Roman cultures and was designed to express that Rome was a great, mighty wealthy, and civilised region. The Colleseum's design was closely inspired by concrete and vault arches which are two of their biggest inventions. Plus the construction approach that the Romans used is the standardised parts system so that the components are compatible which similar to the current modular system. This standardised system allowed some the different parts of the building such as stairs and seating to be built off-site and then brought to the amphitheatre to be fitted in to their specific location. Combined with the standardised parts system, there were also a wide array of entrances and exits being built throughout the amphitheatre. These entrances and exits were vital to the amphitheatre in order to ensure the audience to be seated quickly and successfully. Every one of the design and system of The Colleseum has been used as the basic for the architects and designers to create and construct the current stadiums globally. The design and form in the Colosseum's breath-taking structures was consequently of the needs of major requirements as a theater or industry for staging various varieties of entertainment to the Romans. As well as, it is a result of the consideration towards the pleasure that the designers wished the spectators to feel. And even today, The Colosseum is still one of the hugely impressive skyscrapers and the stories of how Roman's culture, sociable and life was like before can still be felt through discovering and experiencing the interior of computer.
Another significant historical architecture with good spatial attributes may be the Louvre in France. Presently, it is one of biggest skill museums on the globe. Built in the 12th century, it was designed with a cut rock bearing masonry system and previously it was work as some kind of royal or protective fortress against invasion until the late 18th hundred years where it was initially open to the public to display the royal's collection such as paintings and sculptures. The reason why which the Louvre is recognized as significant historical building that has good spatial design is based on the strong sense of the country's cultural knowledge that the building displays and can be recognized through its architectural quality. EVEN THOUGH Louvre has a history of the ever-changing function of the structures, started out from a fortress to a palace and eventually becomes one of the world's greatest museums, no matter what it always endure and also have its original personality, background and culture of that time it was built. It is as a result of consideration for the identity, history and culture aspects at heart that the artist had the thought of the form of the architecture and was able to craft the experience inside the space in order to display and showcase those aspects through the test of time.
And the third structures that illustrates significant historical structures with good spatial design is Masjid Al-Haram which is situated at Mecca. It's the largest and considered as the holiest mosque on the planet. The current architecture of the mosque is not what it was like since it was first built-in the 7th century. There have been major rebuilt, modifications and expansions on its structures and because of these expansions it includes became the most significant mosque on the globe. The expansion occurred in order to support the increasing range of the pilgrims. Because the past, mosque has been regarded as a medium for communication; either it is just a communication between God and pilgrims or between fellow pilgrims. This notion of the mosque that it is built as a centre for interpersonal interaction rather than building only for ritual or worshipping has been plainly shown and believed in the architecture of Masjid Al-Haram. For good examples the existence of the courtyard surrounds the Kaaba or the greyish square house which is designed or placed there with the purpose of providing the best meditative and interactive atmosphere for the performance of prayer and community interacting experience to happen inside. Along with the placement of the minarets or the tall free position towers is based on the topography of the site in order to generate harmonious balance with the Kaaba. These concerns into the pilgrims experience and this is for every placement or form that is established has made Masjid Al-Haram or The Holy Mosque a substantial historical building with good spatial design. These 3 architectures above show that planning through paying factors towards the experience and behavior of the tourists or occupants would create prolonged impression that could stands the test of time.
Nevertheless, through this time around, as a result of limitation on the materials and tools that they may be functioned or used, architects and technicians were only able to build certain types of forms which made them unsatisfied with the visible aesthetic of the building. With this sense of unsatisfactory as the main force that drives architects and designers to defeat this issue, which in turn becomes one of the primary factors of the emerging trend of visual architecture or an structures that the visual aesthetic considerations is being privileged or have dominated the designer's thoughts rather than the experiential value. It is until the later 18th century, in the industrial revolution age, when cast iron can be stated in a large statistics and cheaply enough and has opportunities in creating new forms. This is when architects and designers started to notice the glorious potential of cast iron used in architecture. Among the first architectural jobs that are completely made from cast iron may be the Flat iron Bridge in Shropshire (Potter, D, 2006). And this signifies the dawn of Modern building technology.
As technology has advanced towards a new stage, which is the modern building technology, the nature and value of structures started to switch and modify as well. The birth of modern tools is as the result of architects using experimental knowledge and engineering theory and tools to inform the proper execution and construction of their buildings. Which recently form and constructions of properties were relied strongly on the data of the craftsman or constructor. This development has started to revolutionize architecture into an completely new route. Through this modern building technology, architects and designers are provided with a new selection of materials and tools to accomplish and fulfill their cravings for food for more advanced forms. Recently, the architectural form of every location has their own characteristics. It is because with their environment would only have the ability to produce certain varieties of materials. Due to this constraint, architects and designers experienced lesser alternatives of resources that were available. This resulted in vernacular architecture of that area which supposed that the materials and building tool that they used to construct buildings in a location would have a far more deeply grounded so this means with the framework of the building and in a way was more solely defined with the initial representative form of that certain location. For example, the Pyramid in Egypt that is made from stone is totally different from the Temple in China which is manufactured out of wood. But since the developed world's industrialisation pattern has expanded internationally across the world. This has inspired the neighborhood architects and designers attempting to follow the international architectural styles style and has become another factor that added in the emerging trend of visual structures.
With modern building technology, transport of materials in one location to another location has became possible, the power of mass production has lowered the cost of construction, and computer software has accelerated enough time to complete the drawing or design of a building. These trends have made the procedure of realizing architecture become more reliable and effective in every layer, either it's the span of time to complete, the engineering, the look of the project, the creation of the building's form or even the advancement of new and better materials is continually increasing. The development of materials has played out a big role in the creation of advanced architectural form. It really is one of the aspects that started the trend of "architecture of image". Starting by looking into the original materials that contain been used because the prehistoric times, which is hardwood. This materials could be considered as the forefather of all current materials. In the first days, prehistoric people used these to build tents as their shelters from sun and rain. By building tree trunks or branches collectively creating the condition of an inverted V-shape, placing some support to carry it firm on the ground and protected with leaves. This creates the easiest foundation of architecture form. As real human improved so did materials for shelter. Moving from lumber to stone, as a stronger material, the form of the shelter started to become tent-like house by stacking different stones together.
As human progresses to the times of early on civilizations, the needs, desires, and values have been greatly varied too. This contributes to the creation of places of worships, sacrifices, monuments, and government authorities. Predicated on this, the form of the structures started to goes vertically higher and bigger. At this time, pillar, column, beam, arch and dome has began to be built to fulfil the functions of the structures. Moving on from the prehistoric times into the middle age, at the moment, castles are becoming common forms of architecture atlanta divorce attorneys part of European countries. So that it moves with the Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism and Gothic revival, from 15th century to 18th century, architects and designers feel that every architectures in their own location has viewed similar as a result of limitation of technology and materials provided in those days and that location.
Until early 19th century, when modern building technology was learned. This technology allowed iron to be used in architecture because it has became relatively cheaper while previously it was regarded as an extremely expensive material. Flat iron is architecturally unique because of being relatively lightweight and malleable as well as strong. Furthermore, because of its properties, it could be used for free-form designs. In this period, glass has also been trusted and available. Glass is widely used for its optimal balance between aesthetics, functions and its own ability to generate effects that can change experience. Associated with because glass gets the property which allows light to transmits in and by it, the architects or designers gets the power to settings light which creates an illusion that the building have the ability to change, move and create certain atmosphere. As well as for architect light is one of the powerful tools in crafting experience in structures. One of the architecture that shows a building of high technology in this period is the Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace of the fantastic Exhibition. Built in 1851 in London, this building was manufactured from modular cast flat iron and a glass which symbolized the industrial, technological and economical superiority of the present day building technology. Progressing to the overdue 19th century, which strengthened concrete is created. At this time, concrete is being reinforced with flat iron or steel to be able to boost the strength of anxiety in concrete to minimize cracking problem. By doing so, this strengthened concrete have special properties that happen to be more durable to thermal development, provides strength to boost building structures and it has the ability to bend and can be produced into any condition or size for architectural purpose. Due to these special properties, reinforced concrete continues to be one of the very most popular materials that are being used for development purposes as yet. And in 20th century, plastics became well known and popular as well. For the reason that plastics are lightweight, resilient, generally repellent to corrosion and dampness, and can be moulded and produced into complex patterns. And because it is the one man-made material, this allowed it to be developed even more in the future. This development in modern building technology has exposed the entranceway for architects and designers to realize all the unrealized ideas that that they had in mind. And with this the notion of "architecture of image" is little by little becoming a pattern.
With progression in modern building technology, materials and tools to create a building have greatly broadened. Back then, properties are limited with elevation. Mainly it is as a result of limitation of materials and tools that caused architects and designers to think and design horizontally. But with modern building technology, current complexes are able to go higher becoming a skyscraper or go deeper underground, maybe becoming an earth scraper, and not just heading vertically, it also allows the complexes to be built diagonally. From geometric to organic and natural form or from people to pixels, current technology makes everything possible. Furthermore, modern building technology has been used for visualizing and selling the ideas that the designers have to the clients too. For instance 3 dimensional simulation software that are able to produce photo sensible images of the building even though it has not being built yet. Architecture has entered into a realm of visual form which is nothing at all pretty much than the creation of building's tangible and obvious shapes.
Beekman Tower, Frank Gehry
New York
One example of a purely aesthetic architecture is the Beekman Tower in New York by Frank Gehry. It is a wondering fusion of public and private areas. The primary design feature is the organic form of the building's facade which is constructed of aluminium foil. The organic folds evoke the sense of normal water ripples. And the consequences of ripples are being enhanced more on the daytime as a result of day light. This building is surely an effective design and appealing to one of real human senses which is the aesthetic. But for the interior, everything inside the space is dully typical. The account towards other senses inside the space in order to see the area has been neglected.
Another you are the Orchard Central in Singapore by DP Architects. The main element design element of this shopping mall is on the facade of the mall which really is a 'faceted membrane' that may function as significant media wall membrane and is set to be an iconic feature at the junction of Orchard and Killiney streets. The thought of this is to include aural and visual vibrancy to the central stretch out of Orchard Highway. By doing so, the architectural facade of the building can generate visual reference to the general public. But the situation is the elimination of other senses and the dependency to the perspective has made the design of the area unattractive and struggling to create a connection with the tourists.
In addition to some other structures that illustrates solely visual architecture is The Central Plaza Shopping Mall by Manuelle Gautrand which is situated in Bangkok, Thailand. The design of the architecture relies intensely on the faade of the building while the interior is not greatly different from most other retail center in the city. The idea of the glowing red lines that simply clad or covered the facade of the building which is the key design factor of the structures is being conceived by the custom as tools that can send announcements of flow movements and fluidity to the site visitors. This perception demonstrates the look of the building is inspired by technology in support of focus on the visual appearance to resolve the issue of the space. And in so doing it weakens the architectural value of it and reduced the experiential value inside. Orchard Central, DP Architects
Singapore
Based on both of the truth studies above, it is fairly clear that the privileged of visible senses over other real human senses will create a feeling of detachment between your structures and the tourists. This is only because humans experience the world and their surroundings through their senses. For example, the does sound of steps, the light that penetrates through the space, the coldness of the concrete surfaces, scale and proportion are just few ways of how architecture interacts with the site visitors' senses. Such relationship is then strengthened and articulated through the intricate interaction of individuals senses and you will be perceived by the guests as an experience. With this two-way discussion between guests and architecture, it will lead to the creation of significant memory towards the area.
It is true that eyesight is the first interconnection between human being and the world. Most of us, whenever we are walking through an area or avenue, are affected in a single way or another by the looks of the complexes that we pass through, the positions of the items and the preparations inside the space. But in structures, the reliance in the sphere of perspective will only made the building existed merely over a surface level which is as an thing of visual appearance such as a postcard. Architecture can interact with every real human sense because it is a representation or appearance of human intellects. And the only way to talk to your brain is by exceptional world and bordering through the senses. That is when architecture has moved on to another level. So, by using the modern tools, not and then grasped the aesthetic appearance that has became a trends nowadays, but also to build the experience that has been the type and value of structures since the early days. This will impact the human actually and psychologically and can push the architecture fully potential.
Word Count
Word count 4885 (excluding Abstract, Stand of Material, Captions, and Works Cited)
