In establishing the term architecture it is worth viewing from different
contexts. In terms of a city, the Architecture is described as everything that
is built that defines the character of the place. Even though much of the built
form may not have been designed and supervised by Architects. In terms of the
process of Architecture it is about making interventions into the living fabric
of the city.
In production terms, it is considered differently. For some it is about
the process of making buildings, in this context the expertise of architects
becomes marginalized, landscape architecture deals with everything that is
outside of the building, engineering disciplines assume that they have
priority, over building elements such as structural, mechanical, electrical,
façade engineering and so on, architecture becomes dominated by issues
associated with coordination, and managing the process.
Taking a step back however, in building terms without the architecture
there is no engineering. Procurement processes can significantly influence the
amount of control that the Architect has over the process. In many cases the
concept design and production are divorced from one another, creating a
disconnection between what is intended and what is built.
For some it is a question of scale, on large projects all disciplines
fall under the umbrella of Architecture, it is architecture that sets the
program for a development, and in this context urban design, master planning,
landscape design form part of the Architecture. In this context it is not only
the process, but forms the framework allows all the elements to interact with
each other to create a unified whole.
To Be continued...
