Introducing Architecture

Now, I know you feel I'm not particularly the best teacher you got, but hey... I'm doing the best I can. Appreciation is hard to come by these days...

Anyway... Since I see that you are now... interested... in reading my blog (which I have for months been telling you to do but you don't) Here's a copy of the upcoming lesson (that I wish to avoid spoonfeeding you with)

Remember that I am no Caregiver to do these things for you. Pff... 4th years...



Humanities 101
An Introduction to a Basic Understanding of Architecture
Architecture, in its purest sense, is always meant for making shelters against nature’s elements. But the architecture itself must also be able to balance the diversity of natural surroundings and of those living within a man-made structure, less both sides may perish if one overcomes the other.
Environmental Issue
Before any architecture is raised, concerns about the environment are usually put in mind. All of us are always involved with environmental issues. And each one of us may respond in one of the following ways:
a. Individual or Family Economizing
- This uses immediate, small-scale solutions.
o Water thriftiness
o Less electricity consumption
o House-cleaning
o Basic waste segregation management

b. Abandonment, Denial, and Escalation
- All three is a cause of a person’s belief that everything will work itself out and nothing can ever go wrong. This eventually leads to increased pollution.
o Excessive consumption of water and electricity
o Leaving litter to be cleaned by “neighbor”
o Community service dependency

c. Social and Professional Role
- Our own professional and social rank can actually help in preserving ecology, no matter what line of work or status you are in.
o Cooks = biodegradable waste segregation management
o Tourist Guides = Ecology information drive or eco-tourism
o Doctors = Health and environmental issues
o Janitors = Waste management and recycling





The Four Basic Areas of Concern
These are the four things one must also put into mind in doing architecture. Balancing all four requires a certain skill, but the rewards are astounding.
A. Information
- Availability of environmental, commercial information must be first given a priority. This is to ensure the success of an establishment. If the desired architecture doesn’t meet the criteria needed in a particular location, no structure must be erected.

B. Economics
- The danger of not being able to balance the other areas may lead to economical danger. Economics pertains to the affordability of materials needed for construction and energy consumption.

C. Materials
- Simply put, all materials must always suit the environment.

D. Energy
- It can be of two types, natural and artificial. Natural like water and solar energy, or artificial as that of electricity coming from either a power plant or a nuclear source. If either natural or artificial is too much, ecological and economical imbalance occurs.
Architecture in Humanities
Since all we are after are the aesthetic and environmental appeal, we veer away from too much technicality that makes up the whole study of architectural design. Instead, what is left for us is the exploration of the output of all efforts done in creating an artistic structure. It is therefore necessary that architecture must be experienced by all the senses and not just something to be viewed.
Environment and architecture is also often designed specifically for a given site and a local context. It should be closely and contextually related to terrain, local materials, landscape, and the microclimate.
Two Kinds of Sensitivity
A. Kinesthetic Sensitivity
- It concerns the awareness towards the body position and movement in relation to a given space.

B. Intuitive Sensibility
- It is of how we response “psychologically” towards a space in architecture.
The following talk in particular of the different sense attributes one experiences in an architecture.
1. Light – A correct manipulation can emit a desired mood. These can also be done by way of the direction of the light source. Light can either be produced by the following.

o Time – bound
 Affected by weather and time
 Natural light such as sunlight, fire, and moon light can have levels of warmth and coldness.
o Simulated
 Fixtures and other types may or may not give exact desired effect as that of natural light.

2. Tactile Sense – Buildings and their materials evoke different feelings when touched. Certain materials, however, may also be affected by changing climate.

3. Quality of Taste and Smell – There is a strong physiological and psychological connection between taste and smell and so locations inside the architecture can affect both. Of all our senses, smell gives us a direct link with the environment of the architecture.

4. Response to Space – Our bodies react to changes of space whether small or big. Our sense of hearing also helps us to understand spaces and the environment.






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