What is Architecture?

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Contrary to widespread belief, architecture is all about decorating a box inside and out, but that does not mean that architecture itself is about decorating boxes.

So, what is architecture besides a beautiful box?

Architecture is not primarily about the material stuff of a building, it is more accurately about its ‘lack of stuff.’ Some would say the lack of humanities, 6 years of studies and 1 year of working experience taught me that architecture is a form of masturbation. Masturbation with a capital B.

I’ve come to realize that architects tend to design buildings for architects, and not so much for the person that intend to inhabit that building, the aim of each project is to have it published in the latest Architecture Journals and win awards, that is all that matters, nothing else. Isn’t it about time awards are given based on the satisfaction of the occupants? rather than relying on some artist impression and a smooth cock talking architect?

There are basically two types of architecture – Architecture for humanities and architecture for masturbation.

- END -

Almost every night I’ll dream of something weird, usually it is about the future, about what life would be, most of the time it is about death. Don’t you find it weird that when you’re able to dream of the future? Some say it is because the person thinks too much, causing a so called ‘self brainwashing’ thus causing him to act according to the dream, but what if you dream of something beyond your control? say, something to do with a group of people and their activities or a person’s action? How is it possible that by constantly dreaming of it, one is able to influence these large groups of people and their actions?

It was 13 years ago that a dream of mine changes the way I look at the world forever.

Last month, I had this weird dream and everything appears according to the dream, I can’t control what my lecturer’s thoughts? or his every actions? I know, it is hard to imagine that the future is predictable, rest assure, it is.

- END -

I love the internet, love computers and gadgets, web coding, the in and outs of computers, basically everything electronic, but not architecture. Yes, I love arts and design but not much of architecture.

A number of my friends asked me why architecture and not computers, and I said I have no idea, the truth is, I am lying.

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Author: Ngan Tengyuen. This entry is filed under Life Log and was updated on May 19, 2012.

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Citations And Footnotes:

^ Architecture - Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.
^ Architect - An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.
^ Pritzker Architecture Prize - The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honour "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture".
^ - Le Corbusier, Towards a New Architecture, Dover Publications(1985). ISBN 0-486-25023-7
^ - Rondanini, Nunzia Architecture and Social Change Heresies II, Vol. 3, No.

Comments:

yp
1
No wonder ppl work so hard and doesn’t mind gaining little pay. Because architecture is masturbation~!!!
This is the most creative one I ever heard and it comes to live!
Barnastil
2
“I’ve come to realize that architects tend to design buildings for architects, and not so much for the person that intend to inhabit that building”
Bad architects design this way. A good architect is a collaborator with his clients helping them to figure out which would be the most comfortable and psychologically fitting building for them and what they want to feel while at that building. You wouldn´t design a country summer home with the same materials and layout as a city home because they have different functions, the feeling of a wood building is not the same as concrete, etc. but the common person on the street doesn´t know why they like buildings they just know they do. They don´t know why a hallway makes them want to go through or not, etc. A good architect translates this for them.
philly
3
i guess many of us find out we dun fit in after long years of studies……
Esther
4
My sister has a favorite quote that goes like this.
“Procrastination is like masturbation, it feels good at first but in the end you’re only f@ *%ing yourself.”
The comparison using masturbation is easily understood there, but I fail to see how you can link it with architecture. First and foremost architecture is in service of the people. We should aim not to focus on other’s motives but our own. If your architecture serves the people well recognition will come… eventually.
Maki
5
“..Don’t over do it! it’s like masturbation, you are only enjoying it by yourself and at the end of the day you’ll get yourself tired..”
My professor told me this when I told him that i was enjoying studying architecture.
vir
6
I find myself in the same dilemma. Do I love architecture? The things they teach in school. It’s definitely not architecture for the humanities. But isn’t it too ironic. Isn’t architecture fundamentally about building for people?