What one could say though, is that architecture has a very wide scope and that it comes in as many forms as there are world cultures; each one with structures specific to their lifestyle. Even within these these cultures though, is an appreciation for something built with precision, care, order and rigor, within each is an appreciation for their own brand of architecture.
In a world that keeps getting smaller and smaller with the advent of globalization, where the U.S. imports zhu zhu pets from China (and from most accounts at least, this one isn't hazardous) and China imports Hellboy from the U.S., where all you have to do to appreciate the Eiffel Tower is go to Google Earth (or Las Vegas for that matter), our sense of place may be disappearing. Instead of cultures unique to place, there is now a growing "world culture". And perhaps the only nontransferable items are a culture's architecture simply because of the vastly varying climates occurring through our planet, but I best not speak too quickly, because by the time I finish this entry some business tycoon in Japan may decide to build a replica of William Lethaby's All Saints' Church over there!
click on link...
http://www.brockhampton.com/japan.htm
I would say, architecture is becoming a thing of convenience, but that's not unlike everything else in, as you put it "..a world that keeps getting smaller..." Convenience is the cause of globalization. It seems, the more convenient something is, the better it is. Why else has Walmart done so well!?
ReplyDeleteI checked out the link to the church in Japan, and was surprised. First of all, I think it's pretty cool that they built a replica of this church on the 22nd floor of a tower block! Secondly, it confirms the fact that things are built out of convenience. The people didn't want to travel, so they built something closer to home.
So, maybe that's what architecture is in the future, a thing of convenience. I mean, it's already heading that way. But I think the important thing for us students to realize, is that just because something needs to be convenient, doesn't mean it can't be beautiful. For instance, just because the church was built in the 22nd floor of a tower block, doesn't mean that it isn't beautiful. How else would the owner attract brides and grooms if it wasn't beautiful. Architecture can't just be Walmarts and shopping strips. Just because they're convenient, doesn't mean they're beautiful architecture. I do not think I've ever met a person who enjoys walking through a Walmart for it's beauty. Most people I've met hate walking into a Walmart. The only reason they do so is because it's convenient. So, I think that we as architects need to make convenience a thing of beauty. Simple, minimalistic forms can beautiful, and designed for convenience, it's something that must be thought out when a program is taken on.