Architecture: Its Forms and Functions

Architecture is the art or science of planning, building and struc­tures. Without consideration of structural principles, materials, so­cial and economic requirements a building cannot take form. But without aesthetical quality inherent in its form *a building cannot be considered as a work of architecture as well.

From the very beginning of construction in human history lots of architectural skills, systems and theories have been evolved for the construction of the buildings, which have housed nations and gener­ations of people in any kind of their activity. Writings on architec­ture are almost as old as writing itself. Books on the theory of archi­tecture, on the art of buildings, and on the aesthetical view of build­ings exist in great number. The oldest book, which sets forth the principles, upon which buildings should be designed and which aim is to guide the architect, is the work of Markus Vitruvius Pollio writ­ten *in the first century B. C.

Architecture is an art. Its nowadays expression should be cre­ative and consequently new. The heritage of the past cannot be ig­nored, but it must be expressed in modern terms. There exists an evident paradox in the coexistence of change and survival in every period of human civilization. This paradox of change and repetition is clearly illustrated in any architectural style.

Architecture is also the style or manner of building in a particu­lar country or period of history. There are widely known examples of Gothic architecture all round the globe. During many centuries mankind admires the architecture of ancient Greece or Roman Em­pire as well.

Nearly two thousand years ago the Roman architect Vitruvius listed three basic factors in architecture. They are convenience, strength and beauty. These three factors have been present and are always interrelated in the best constructions till the 21st century. *No true architect could think of any of them without almost auto­matically considering the other two as well. Thus, architectural de­sign entails not only the necessity to study various solutions for con­venience, structure, and appearance as three separate processes. Architectural design also includes the necessity to keep in mind the constant interaction of these factors. It's impossible for an architect first plan a building from the point of view of convenience, and then make the design of a strong construction around his plan to shelter it. Then, as a final touch, try to adjust and decorate the whole to make it pretty. Any design evolving from such kind of work will produce only a confused, incoherent, and unsatisfactory building. When speaking about any truly great building we cannot but say that every element in it has a triple implication or significance.

This triple nature of architectural design is one of the reasons why architecture is a difficult art. *It needs some unique type of imagination as well as long years of training and experience to make a designer capable of getting requite in the light of these three factors—use, construction, and aesthetic effect—simultaneously. The designer must have a good knowledge as of engineering so of building materials. This knowledge will enable him to create eco­nomically strong and practical construction. The designer, in addi­tion, must possess the creative imagination, which will enable him to integrate the plan and the construction into the harmonious whole. The architect's feeling of satisfaction in achieving such integration is one of his/her (their) greatest rewards.

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