Architecture: A Beautiful Mix of Art and Science
We have been walking in and out of buildings our whole lives. And with something so common, it’s easy to overlook the details of how these buildings came to be. The initial stages of any building, large or small, are the architectural designs.
There are a lot of factors that need to be considered when planning out the architectural structure of a building — the eventual use, the amount of space to be covered on the ground as well as in the sky, and the environmental conditions that could affect the integrity of the building.
Nashville architecture firms working in both the commercial and residential fields undergo a massive amount of training. This is because this job is incredibly important for the safety of everyone in the community.
With that in mind, we’d like to discuss the basics of architecture so we can better understand how marvelous the buildings we walking into every day actually are.
What is Architecture?
To put it simply, architecture refers to the planning, designing, and construction of a building. This term can be used for a similar process for any structure. It can also be used to reference the structure itself.
This process is often utilitarian in nature — there is a specific purpose for the building and it is designed to best fit that purpose. However, there are countless examples of artistic considerations factored into architectural designs.
Contact Southeast Venture to work with one of Nashville’s top architecture firms.
Regional Architecture
The artistic nature of architecture is most easily showcased by the differences in designs throughout various locations and time periods. You’ve most likely noticed different styles even if you didn’t explicitly recognize the fact that they are relegated to certain places.
For instance, the shapes and colors used for St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow is very recognizable. The structure itself consists of frequently-used attributes, but the completed product is very unique. The onion-like domes, frequently colorful or golden, are a frequent characteristic of this style of architecture.
Chinese architecture, on the other hand, looks completely different. The roots of this style go back thousands of years. Bilateral symmetry is very important to traditional Chinese architecture because it represents balance.
The Russian cathedral and Chinese temple both serve similar purposes in society, but look completely different depending on their region. This is a great example of the differences in regional architecture and the possibilities of what can be accomplished with artistic design.
The Science Behind Architecture
Although artistic elements are often present, architecture is as much a science as an art. There are a lot of factors to consider when putting together the plans for a building.
Earthquakes, excessive wind, frequent rainfall — all of these things can have drastic effects on a building. Any environmental possibilities are taken into account when designing a building. The goal is to create a functional space that will withstand any possible conditions for a long period of time.
For instance, One World Trade Center stands just under 1,800 feet tall. Stabilizing a structure this large takes a lot of planning. There is absolutely no room for guesswork. Structural reinforcements needed to be proposed, tested, and found to guarantee the stability of the tower before moving forward in the very early stages of design.
But beyond the grand safety considerations are the everyday usability factors that we might not think about when we enter a building. These factors affect how we feel while we’re there. These details might seem mundane but they are taken into account when putting together the plans for a building.
Ceiling height can affect the way we feel in a room. This is one of those factors that isn’t apparent until it’s mentioned, and then you start to think about it all the time.
Have you ever had a bad view out of a window? Perhaps you see the brick wall of the next building and nothing else. Avoiding this when possible is another consideration of the architectural plans.
There are countless other examples but the basic idea is that the user experience is a major consideration. Architects want people to enjoy being in the buildings. This is important for office buildings, homes, retail locations, and every other structure where people spend time.
Southeast Venture: Nashville’s Architectural Firm
Nashville architecture firms need to be flexible. There are numerous types of structures that need to be designed and built. Southeast Venture possesses expertise in design, development, and filtering those through market understanding.
