What is Architecture? The Nature of Architecture

Welcome to the first of six topics we will be diving into in attempting to answer the question "What is Architecture?"

The What is Architecture? series breaks down the concept of architecture - whether we're talking about physical architecture like houses or buildings, or conceptual architecture like business processes or software applications - so that we can start with its essential elements and philosophies, and build foundational architect thinking.

This LinkedIn article introduces the topics that will be covered by What Is Architecture? followed by the first topic, The Nature of Architecture.

What is Architecture?

Serving as both the opening and title track of the series, this is my attempt to provide a fundamental and foundational understanding of what architecture is, what architecture does, and how architecture impacts our daily lives.

What is Architecture? breaks down architecture, what we are defining as the art and science of designing and implementing structures and flows, into six distinct sections:

1. The Nature of Architecture
2. The Types of Architecture
3. The Art and Science of Architecture
4. The Purpose of Architecture
5. The Intent of Architecture
6. The Applications of Architecture

Each section will be presented as its own written narrative and a video. All content is published to Topalovich.com prior to being included in this newsletter.

The Nature of Architecture (full narrative follows)

We start with the intrinsic characteristics of architecture, its universal qualities, and what makes architecture…architecture.

We also discuss how architecture can be both a process as well as the tangible output of that process.

The full narrative for The Nature of Architecture is included below.

The Types of Architecture

We will define three types of architecture: physical, conceptual, and logical. We’ll talk about how each follows common thought processes.

The Art and Science of Architecture

When we talk about “art” and “science,” we will touch on concepts such as the multifaceted nature of architecture, how architecture is both creative and technical, and the balance between aesthetics and engineering principles.

The Purpose of Architecture

What is the purpose of architecture? Why does architecture even matter?

This section addresses the fundamental reasons behind architecture, the “why” behind designs and structures, and recognizing its far-reaching impact, from the functionality of a complex system to the basic functioning of society itself.

The Intent of Architecture

What are we trying to achieve with architecture?

This section explores the goals and objectives that drive architectural design and implementation.

Applications of Architecture

Where theory meets practical reality, we talk about the different ways in which architecture can be applied, highlighting its importance across different contexts and environments.

The Nature of Architecture (Full Narrative)

Architecture is more than just building new structures; it is about uncovering and understanding the designs inherent within our world and how we interact with them.

By exploring the very essence of architecture, we examine its core elements, principles, and even philosophical concepts and how they shape our environments.

Architecture stands at the intersection of art and science, turning ideas into concrete and tangible realities.

It reflects our values and cultural identities, while having a profound and ongoing impact on our daily lives.

We will discuss the “Nature” of architecture, regardless of physical or conceptual form, its intrinsic characteristics, universal qualities, and how it can be perceived as both a process, and a tangible output of that process.

The Essence of Architecture

The essence of architecture is found in its fundamental elements and universal principles, reflecting human values and cultural identities, and shaping both the physical and conceptual spaces where interactions happen.

Fundamental Elements of Architecture

Architecture begins with basic elements such as space, form, function, and components.

Space defines how areas are organized and how entities interact within them.

Form is the shape and configuration of structures that give them their distinct identities.

Function refers to the purpose and utility of a structure or space.

Components are the foundational elements or technologies used in the implementation of physical or conceptual structures.

Universal Principles of Architecture

Architecture includes universal principles like consistency, harmony, unity, balance, proportion and scale, among others.

Consistency creates uniformity and enables predictability within an architecture.

Harmony ensures all elements of an architecture work together cohesively.

Unity ensures all components of an architecture work together as a whole.

Balance distributes elements evenly to achieve stability and equilibrium within an architecture.

Proportion relates to the parts of an architecture relative to the whole.

Scale addresses the size or impact of elements in relation to each other within an architecture.

Philosophical Perspectives on Architecture

Architecture is not only technical in nature, but also philosophical to the degree that architecture is deeply intertwined with human values and cultural identities.

Being aware of the philosophical perspectives on architecture enables us to gain a deeper understanding of how architecture goes beyond the balance of form and function to serve as a reflection of our own collective human experience.

Reflecting Human Values

Architecture embodies the ideals and aspirations of humans. It is a mirror to what we value and how we prioritize what matters to us, from innovation and enabling our potential to preserving tradition and beauty.

Cultural Identities

Different cultures - whether societal, corporate, or something altogether - influence architectural styles and practices. The diversity in both physical and conceptual architectural designs across the globe showcases the impact unique of cultural identities and historical contexts on organizations, communities, and societies.

Impact on Experiences

Architecture shapes the spaces where entities exist and interact. The design of spaces and structures affects our behaviors, feelings, and interactions, highlighting the profound but sometimes hidden impact both physical and conceptual architectures have on our daily lives.

Architecture as Tangible Reality

Architecture can be thought of as both a process of creating new structures, as well as the observation and analysis of existing ones.

This dual perspective can show us how architecture both shapes and is shaped by the environment interacts with.

By understanding architecture as a tangible reality, both through the lens of observation and physical construction, we can gain visibility into the underlying principles that govern the built environment and how it interacts with the world around it.

Observable Architecture

Architecture isn’t always about building something new from the ground up. Sometimes it’s about discovering and describing the design inherent within existing structures and flows.

Observable architecture involves studying and understanding structures that already exist in natural, built, or digital environments.

In many cases, architectures have emerged organically and evolved over time that may not have been intended...or even known.

By decomposing existing structures, the core design principles, purpose, and intent of the architecture can be inferred and documented.

Analyzing the underlying components and the ways in which they are interconnected will reveal critical patterns, dependencies, and feedback loops.

Physical Structures

In its most concrete form, architecture refers to the physical structures and buildings that are designed and constructed.

This can include many things from houses and skyscrapers, to bridges and monuments.

Beyond individual buildings, architecture also encompasses the entire built environment, from urban design, to infrastructure systems, to landscape architecture.

These physical entities can be seen, touched, used, and occupied, shaping the spaces in which we live, work, learn, and play.

Architecture as Conceptual Representation

Sure, architecture can be something tangible that we can see or touch for ourselves.

But it can also be about the ideas, plans, designs, visualizations, and other representations that guide the creation of structures.

These conceptual representations could include drawings, models, diagrams, or specifications that capture the design intent of the architecture, enabling the translation of ideas into reality.

Drawings could be informal, such as white board or flip chart drawings, or they could be more formal in the form of blueprints or CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawings.

Models could be multi-demensional physical or digital representations of the architecture and its design.

Diagrams provide a way to logically represent a design in a manner that best describes the interaction between the structures and the flows that are supported by the arrangement and functioning of the underlying components of an architecture.

Specifications detail the constraints, functional and nonfunctional requirements, standards, patterns, methods, and other considerations to be applied to the implementation of the architecture and its design.

Architecture as Design Process

You don’t magically jump from planning to having fully implemented structures.

There is a dynamic and iterative multi-stage process to go from conceptualization to realization.

By understanding architecture as a design process, we can start to understand the complexity, creativity, and collaboration involved in transforming ideas and high-level concepts into tangible and usable structures.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

There are both artistic and scientific elements to the design process - what we refer to as the “Art and Science of Architecture.”

Design often times requires collaboration across multiple disciplines, balancing the aesthetics and visual impact of architecture with the technical, engineering, organizational, and scientific aspects.

And beyond the art and science, design requires collaboration among the stakeholders with a vested interest in the resulting architecture.

This could include multiple organizations, domains, departments, functions, or teams.

Iterative Nature

A key aspect of a design process is that it is iterative in nature, involving feedback, revisions, and refinements to ensure all requirements of the architecture are met.

There is no direct path from concept to implementation.

Progress is incremental. Sometimes it takes many iterations to get a design right.

Sometimes plans and designs are based on assumptions that turn out to be incorrect.

Sometimes plans and designs can change based on unexpected results or critical feedback.

Sometimes you discover new and better ways of doing things along the way.

No matter the reason, design will always be iterative, and it will always take exactly as long as it needs to take.

There are no shortcuts. Good architectural design takes time, patience, and discipline.

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