#architecturefacts

#interestingfacts 100

Everyone has a different perspective about architecture.  Some may consider architecture very valuable, while others don’t give it that much attention.  Many important structures from the past have been restored over the years in order to be protected and well maintained, just because of their great value.  These buildings are not just pieces of rock put together, but symbols that hold our history and culture.

There are many buildings and sites in the world that are iconic and important for some people.  These places are considered UNESCO World Heritage sites, and some of the famous ones are Stonehenge, The Pantheon, Notre Dame Cathedral, and many others.  These sites are so important that they’re being protected because they are symbolisms of the history and culture of where they were built.  Some of these places are very simple, like for example, Stonehenge.  Others are more complex, like The Parthenon.  Big or small, simple or complex, these structures represent something important about their surroundings.

There are many people that are dedicated to restoring some of these sites.  Some of them have been very challenging.  The Parthenon, in Greece, for example, has been a very difficult structure to restore.  All its columns are slightly inclined, and all its pieces are different, despite being equal for the human eye.  The Notre Dame Cathedral, in France, is another famous structure that have been through the process of restoration.  It took five years to restore this important cathedral that was damaged in a fire. 

Every architectural structure has value, even if some people don’t admire them.  Thousands of structures around the world are very important, making these buildings accumulate value.  This is why we have the job of protecting and maintaining them.  We have to protect those buildings that keep our history and culture alive.

Space and environment are some of the most important things architects must consider.  It is necessary to think about the architectural space surrounding us, and also discover the messages or soul of the architecture itself.  Just as we understand space and architecture, we must understand the importance of the environment surrounding us.  By taking these factors into consideration, we might help build a better and healthier environment.

          Architecture is not just about space-making or designing a building or a house, but also about shaping meaningful spaces or structures that make us connect with a certain surrounding.  A great example for this is the Thermal Vals, by architect Peter Zumthor.  These thermal baths are located in Switzerland, and the way they were constructed makes the structure connect with nature.  Architecture is not just about addition, but also about subtraction, so for this structure, the architect decided to excavate and build these thermal baths half buried into the hillside.  Peter Zumthor believes that a good building must have a soul.  Another example for this is the Centre Georges Pompidou located in France.  This building was designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, and they came up with a design that could maximize the interior space without interruptions.  In order to do that, they designed a building in which its infrastructure or skeleton is exposed.  This helps them maximize the space inside and it’s a very useful and wise way to economize space and also show everyone that architecture doesn’t have to be beautiful in order to be functional.

          The environment is something everyone must protect and take into consideration, no matter the job they have.  Architects must be very aware of the environment and the ways in which to protect it as they decide on where and how to design a building.  “Wind, rain and sun are enemies to some architects’ minds”, while Ken Yeang, a Malaysian architect and ecologist, thought the opposite and believed that the urban environment itself could become a living breathing organism.  He thought that a building should not only benefit humans, but also plants and animals. He designed a building that would have less electrical and air conditioning consumption.  For example, the escalators in the building stop automatically if there’s no one on them and start again when someone approaches them.  That way, they save a lot of energy.  Also, to reduce the artificial lighting, he designed big windows which let natural light into the offices in the building, and when the sun is too direct, automatic blinds come down, so the environment can be comfortable for the people throughout the day.  This building also has a ventilation shaft in between.  It has a non-air-conditioned space which increases the surface area of the building and also helps to cool it down.  This helps to reduce the energy required for air conditioning the building.  There are also fourteen gardens spread out within the building, which helps maintain nature.  It's important architects consider green buildings as the future, in that way, we would have less environmental problems.  They need to understand that every building is connected to nature and climate, and that they have to complement or harmonize with each other in order to create a sustainable and better environment.

          Every building has a soul, and that soul has to connect with nature as much as with humans. Shaping a building and designing spaces for it has a lot of importance when giving it a meaning and trying to find its soul.  Conserving and maintaining the environment is important.  We can protect nature by designing a building that helps reduce the consumption of electricity and energy, or a green building that complements nature.  These are some of the perfect ways to protect the environment and make every architecture complement humans and nature.