Author: Ar. Grace George, Assistant Professor, DC School of Architecture and Design, Vagamon.
A well-designed building speaks a lot to us. It always amazes us with its form, structural marvel, materials, and how it seamlessly blends into the surroundings, and how it efficiently responds to its context. Moreover, it speaks volumes about the culture, people, lifestyle, ideologies, beliefs, crafts, and creativity of the time it was built. They stand as icons of different eras. Studying about these buildings becomes a crucial part of architecture as it influences and inspires to create buildings that can stand the test of time. It helps students of architecture to observe and be sensitive to the context and the people. Buildings have the ability to absorb the culture around them and preserve it for ages to come, and that is what the new architects should try to bring in through their works. They learn it through studying about ancient civilizations, forts, religious buildings, old cities, and their planning etc.
While studying history in an architecture course, a student learns about the different roles buildings played in different aspects of people’s lives in different eras. They understand why different styles evolved in different regions and why different modifications are done in different topographies. They learn about how a building effectively responds to the context and how it plays a crucial role in shaping the lifestyle of the people around it. History also sparks innovative ideas and acts as an inspiration and references for the young architects.
Children who wish to study architecture must have a keen eye for observation and must be enthusiastic to visit and study the wonders that famous architects have created over time. This builds an interest in the history of architecture and equips them to have respect for the past, and helps them design buildings that are thoughtful, expressive, and preserve traditions.
