What is Architecture?

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...