Influence of Environment on Architect - Assignment Example

Environment and Architecture Environment and architecture Introduction Brooker & Stone (2008) illuminate that the study of environment and architecture has become complimentary and companions in nature. Architectures cannot design buildings or structures without incorporating their comprehension of the relationship between the architectural work and the natural system. Human intervention positive and negatively impact on the natural environment and humans have begun to become conscious or rather recognize the interdependence between the environment and the architecture. When an architect commences to make a structure or a building, the architect has an obligation of knowing the culture of the individuals that surround them, as well as the environment in which the structure is to be laid. It aids in the successful production of buildings for both the behavioral and mental activities. In addition, if an engineer is designing, for an instant, a bridge or even a machine, he/she makes drawings where every line results into great integration of principles and laws from various mechanical sciences. The machines or the structures are designed in a manner that they bear some level strain or perform a particular function (Gissen, 2009). This is quite similar to architectural work where when an architect is designing a structure or a town each minute detail is reliant on the application of set of laws (mechanical). In addition to these laws, they also integrate set of other science principles whose scopes may not be vividly defined such as those that relate human beings with the environment. These sciences such as the climatology and economics among others are as vital as the mechanical sciences. This is to ensure that the structure constituted by the architect protects the various elements that surfaces or are bound to surface due to the structures to be established (Pastor & Molina, 2007). Influence of environment on architect The machines are usually less or not entirely affected by the environment. Moreover, climate has little impact on the machines. However, humans being constantly interact with the environment by either changing it or being changed by the environment. In turn the environment affects buildings and structures (Bergmann, 2009). For example, the climate or microclimate of a particular area or locality and the structures surrounding the building usually mold that particular building in such a way that the shape and the design of the structure may be influenced by the factors highlighted. There are some effects of climate that can be observed on various forms of architectural works. For an instant, the ration of the area of the window to that of the area of the wall lessens when the structure is towards the equator in comparison to when moving away from the equator. In the hot or warm areas, individuals tend to avoid the heat and the sun’s glare. Perhaps this is demonstrated by the decreasing size of the windows as one approaches the equator. Moreover, in the tropical and subtropical areas, changes that are distinct in the form of architecture are bound to surface in a bid to provide solution to the extreme temperature or heat conditions (Smith, 2011). In a country such as India, the architectural forms of buildings are characterized by loggias that are deep, balconies that are projected, and overhangs aimed at long shadow casting at the building’s walls. Marbles or woods are latticed to fill the openings that are perceived to be large with the aim of preventing or minimizing the glaring of the sun besides providing permeability to breeze in these structures. These arrangements are evident or features of architectural forms of areas or zones that are hot. It not only promotes comfort but also the beauty (aesthetic) satisfaction. However, in the contemporary architecture, numerous devices such as brise-soleil or the sun breakers have been incorporated into features of architecture in the hot regions. On the other hand, the regions that receive little rainfall or precipitations are characterized by buildings with roofs that are gabled that have pitches that are minimized or decreased. For example, countries in the North of Europe which are usually subjected to heavy precipitation such as heavy snow usually have their structures with roof gables that are relatively steep in comparison to those in the tropics where as noted earlier are usually steep. This phenomenon is similar to the south of Africa where the roofs are also steeper to in the attempt of providing protection from heavy precipitation that characterize the zone. However, in the north of Africa especially the coastal regions, the roofs are usually relatively flat compared to those in Northern Europe and south of Africa. The advancement of architectural designs such as the use of cemented block in construction alongside the roofs that are gabled coupled with corrugated iron sheets have resulted into extreme unbearable temperatures of the houses in the tropics (Steemers, International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference & PLEA 2000, 2000). The other environmental factor emanates from the fact that the equipment and techniques of the contemporary architecture are usually constraint free in terms of material. When architects are constructing structures and buildings, they are conscious to the fact that they are introducing some new elements which did not exist in the environment thus affecting the equilibrium (EAI2N 2010, Bernus, Doumeingts, Fox & IFIP World Computer Congress, 2010). If the architect is either not conscious to the responsibilities or is negligent of the environmental conditions while building, then they are committing crime not only against the civilization but also against architecture. The environment of a building encompasses everything that surrounds it either on the earth’s surface such as the landscape or above the earth’s surface such as the atmosphere. The atmosphere contains humidity which living organisms are dependent on. Moreover, the composition of the ozone and oxygen vary in terms of their concentration. This in turn influences the amount of radiation reaching the surface of the earth. Some of the materials are opaque while others are transparent hence architectural works should not interfere with the balance by not selecting appropriate materials while modeling structures (Assia & Pardalos, 2012). There is an emerging trend especially in major cities of the world where structures designed by architects are similar to greenhouse structure. In addition, in areas that are prone to volcanic activities and earthquakes, the architectural designs are molded in such a way that they are likely to prevent extreme destruction or damages. For an instant, building in areas that are characterized with strong winds are made with mass dumber with the aim that dumber is likely to minimized the effects of the forced oscillatory motion by the winds. Environmental diversity has enriched the field of architecture (Siegesmund, 2011). The diversity can be faceted into two parts namely the temporal and spatial diversity. Spatial diversity in this case refers to those environmental conditions that are structured formally as sequence of parts. On the other hand, temporal diversity encompasses places that are specific, either urban or interior and its changes with time (Gauzin-Müller & Favet, 2002). More often, the technical experts have been mandated with the responsibility of not only defining but also achieving building or structure and comfort while the architects have the responsibility of delivering structures that are both spatial and aesthetic in design. Thermal comfort is one of the vital elements that are usually incorporated in the architectural work. The conditions for the comfort are normally sketched by ensuring that the range of the air temperature coupled with the relative humidity condition or level are within the comfort of human existence. An example of such a chart that aids in the determination of the above is the Olgyay’s bio-climate chart. However, acclimatization or adaptation to environmental conditions (physiological adjustment) may consequently change the definition of comfort and discomfort. For example, when the environment is altered and the anticipated discomfort may result into tolerance to the variation of temperature (Pastor & Molina, 2007). These thermal conditions, as well as the their fluctuations are as a result of direct influence of the architectural space and the architectural materials depending of the orientation of the sun, the direction of the wind, and the response to the fluctuation to the diurnal temperatures (Dunn, 2007). The configurations and forms of openings in the structures determine the patterns of the movement of air and sunlight. Furthermore, the nature of the materials used either the structure or the building will in turn have an impact on the patterns of the temperature. The aural environmental conditions also play a crucial role in the field in discussion (Teyssot, 2004). Conclusion The environment is an important facet of architecture besides other factors. Architects are compelled to conform to the environmental aspects while designing buildings and structures. Failure to comply or conform to the environmental standards often results into heavy penalties and may be considered a crime against both the environmental practices and the architectural practices as well. One of the environmental segments that greatly affect architectural works and designs is the climate. The climatic zones or patterns of a region determine the forms of architectural designs to be employed in those areas. For an instant, as illuminated earlier, the roofing of houses in the tropics and subtropics tend to different as the designs tend to align or conform to the climatic conditions of the regions in order to ensure humans are comfortable and the structures too are suitable for the prevailing conditions. The converse is also true for the cold regions such as European countries especially during winter. References: Gissen, D. (2009). Subnature: Architectures other environments : atmospheres, matter, life. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. Brooker, G., & Stone, S. (2008). Context and environment. Lausanne: AVA Academia. Pastor, O., & Molina, J. C. (2007). Model-driven architecture in practice: A software production environment based on conceptual modeling. Berlin: Springer. Bergmann, S. (2009). Theology in built environments: Exploring religion, architecture, and design. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers. Smith, D. L. (2011). Environmental Issues for Architecture. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Steemers, K., International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference, & PLEA 2000. (2000). Architecture, city, environment: Proceedings of PLEA 2000, Juli 2000, Cambridge, United Kingdom. London: James & James. Assia, S. T., & Pardalos, P. M. (2012). Sustainable environmental design in architecture: Impacts on health. New York, NY: Springer. Teyssot, G. (2004). Prosthetic architecture: an environment for the techno-body ; [ein Vortrag für die HfbK Hamburg, April 2002]. Hamburg: Material-Verl. Gauzin-Müller, D., & Favet, N. (2002). Sustainable architecture and urbanism: Concepts, technologies, examples. (963985841.) Basel: Birkhäuser. Siegesmund, S. (2011). Stone in architecture: Properties, durability. Berlin: Springer. Dunn, N. (2007). The ecology of the architectural model. Oxford: Peter Lang. EAI2N 2010, Bernus, P., Doumeingts, G., Fox, M., & IFIP World Computer Congress. (2010). Enterprise architecture, integration and interoperability: IFIP TC 5 International Conference, EAI2N 2010, held as part of WCC 2010, Brisbane, Australia, September 20-23, 2010 proceedings. Berlin: Springer. Read More