Creating an architecture that builds a strong entity of you
By: Noor Hafez
Introduction
As it’s well known, architecture is rapidly growing everywhere in the world reaching many different aspects, if not all of them, in a human’s life and affecting him directly as a separate entity. It’s impacting peoples’ thoughts, emotions, behaviors and attitudes. Also, it is considered a changing factor in their physical, psychological, spiritual, social and financial lives. So, since architecture has these important effects and reflections, it’s crucially to raise this question: How to create good and effective architecture to build a strong entity of you?
This paper argues the best approach in the architectural design creation and its impact on the human structure and his surrounding environment by framing out some main integrated principles and factors that should be applied in the architectural design process with some examples showing various applications and analyzing them critically introducing their effects on the users.
Thesis statement
The most effective way to design in architecture is to follow a well comprehensive primary certain principles and factors that will have a direct impact on humans as a whole structure and their surroundings, building stronger entities and eventually better societies.
Body
There are some Main Integrated Principles and Factors that should be considered and applied in each Architectural Design
It’s important to be well aware of the human needs before framing out the main principles and factors that should be considered while designing and creating architecture.
1. safety and security shape the number one key factor and principle in architectural design. They affect users in many different ways controlling the way they respond and interact with themselves and their surrounding environment including their societies. By knowing that, the level of consciousness of each architect will be escalated to guarantee the safety and security of his client in the required design project. Therefore, some applications should be adopted in each architectural design and according to its type it varies. If we take residential buildings as an
example, the key factor of security is very high in comparison to recreational projects. The applications are exemplified in the creation of the form in relation directly to the functions and program as well as in the size of openings and structural materials.
2.Privacy, as a fundamental human need, plays a great role in maintaining a well-balanced life for the user. Privacy and security are closely related and coherently connected. Keeping the user’s privacy at the top edge while designing spaces for his occupancy, protects his inner peace and regulates his internal disturbance. The applications are commonly shared among people in the emphasis on the shaping of the internal functions according to the occupants’ desires and needs. Also, creating a reasonable sense of exposure to the user through openings is of an equal importance with choosing carefully the materials used and utilizing their characteristics wisely.
An exemplary case of maintaining security and privacy for the user is the old school of architecture such as: the Brodokemerc hotel complex in Haludovo, Yugoslavia, designed by Boris Magas, where you can find large development of villas and apartments grouped around a 5-star hotel with a well-defined units’ shapes and drawing an eye of each entrance privately with creating specific orientations towards the main pedestrian and horizontal circulation nourishing the residents with a pleasant experience. The structural material used is concrete which significantly enhances both security and privacy through elements like solid walls, raised platforms and retaining walls.
3.Integration with the surroundings is considered an integrated key factor when utilizing the site’s forces including the positive exposure of the surrounding views. Creating a well-balanced integration with the built environment and nature providing a sense of rhythm and harmony strengthens the chakras and aura of the human body and their extension to the universe However, this integration should be related directly to the public functions of the program keeping the private sections in a separate bubble.
Consider the design of the Atami water/glass residence in Japan by Kengo kuma. This building stands on a cliff overlooking the waterfront creating a space that takes on the character of a dynamic image It frames nature by being united with it in a homogeneous manner. The structural materials used, which are the steel frame, pure glass and bamboo verandas, complement the integration with the surrounding environment. In this project, the location, topography and slope, create the crucial point for the formation of the design as a whole.
4.Sustainability prioritizes healthy indoor and outdoor environments by ensuring good air quality, natural lighting, and thermal comfort. By using non-toxic materials and improving
ventilation, buildings reduce the risk of diseases and contribute to better physical and mental health to the users. However, sustainability has a wider means while communicating in an architectural design. It should be suitable for the human scale, transmitting and reflecting positive frequences from the universe and engaging positive exposure from nature. A sustainable project imitates the human entity.
For instance, the Genzyme Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, designed by Behnisch Architekten. The design of this building is vibrant and calls to mind a small town, with squares, gardens and varied paths. It has a series of 18 garden terraces that border an inner courtyard and offer vegetated spaces with daylight that filled communal areas which serve as alternative work areas. To ensure an even distribution of light, a series of heliostats mounted on the roof, track the sun’s movement and reflect light down to light refractor mirrors suspended throughout the space. The stack effect created by atrium volume helps to ventilate the building naturally by exhausting warm air through the roof via an operable skylight. This significantly provides comfortable atmosphere for building occupants. The exterior envelope is comprised of a high performance curtain-wall glazing system and a double-walled façade.
5.Keeping visual connections is an important integrated principle and factor in any design that has a strong impact on building strong pedestrian networks and creating a balanced urban fabric with coherent connection between the built environment and nature. By keeping visual connections, the user is experiencing a high quality social life and a revival of his well-being.
As an example from the old school of architecture, village equestre de pompadour in France, designed by Noelle Janet and Christian Demonchy. This village accommodates 400 persons and reflects the architectural style of the area. It is composed of houses that are arranged in balance with visual paths connection in between and leading to general recreational facilities. This design restores the urban tissue of the area in the continuous linkage between the buildings and the surroundings.
Conclusion
Creating a good and effective architecture should be based on following a comprehensive approach of an integrated principles and factors that are essential to be applied in any architectural design. They can be summarized as the following:
1. Safety and Security
Privacy
3. Integration with the surroundings
4. Sustainability
5. Keeping visual connections
Adopting this approach of creating good architecture will result in building better and stronger individuals and forming effectively all the different aspects of their lives. Therefore, architecture and human entities are tangibly related to each other. And as we need to have advanced core countries, we need to embrace the human-centered design.
References
• Fred Lawson, Hotels, Motels and Condominiums: Design, Planning and Maintenance (London: The Architectural Press, 1976), 2.
• Fred Lawson, Hotels, Motels and Condominiums: Design, Planning and Maintenance (London: The Architectural Press, 1976), 13.
• Peter Hyatt, Great Glass Buildings (Australia: The Images Publishing Group Pty Ltd, 2004), 17.
• John Riordan and Kristen Becker, The Good Office: Green Design on the Cutting Edge (New York: Grayson Publishing, LLC and Collins Design, 2008), 18