Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Architecture - Essay Example The basic architectural context constitutes of the external and internal circumstances that entail the setting for a statement, event or idea in the terms which it can be assessed and understood (Fritsch 11). From a utilitarian point of view, buildings are a product of the social political, religious and economic needs of a society and their attributes range from size, material and design are a reflection of the prevailing temporal and special environments. Throughout human history and contemporary times the architects have always responded to the climate and physical environment or cultural beliefs or intellectualism and popular ideologies. Therefore, modern designers are obligated to take careful consideration of the temporal context as they create new architectural designs because architects that disregard this concept ultimately risk making culturally irreverent and inferior designs. In this essay this position is primarily defended by and introspection of retrospective architect ural designs that have cemented their place in culture and history of their retrospective as well as some of the cultural factors that should be considered when architect are trying to design cultural strong and consistently relevant structures. A generic example of this is the pyramids of Giza and Memphis; their intricate geometrical design can be attributed to the prevailing temporal developments in mathematics since the ancient Egyptians were among the first people to develop a several mathematical concepts. That the pyramids are some of the vastest works or architecture bespeaks the fact that they had a lot of space in which to build them. Outside the silt rich Nile valley, and there was very little arable land therefore unlike other cultures; the Egyptians could afford to build on huge tracts without compromising grazing of farm (Barta 178). The pyramids despite their sheer size and potential for occupancy were never meant for the living but only the dead kings and their servan ts (also dead). From a western point of view, and this may have been seen as an extremely wasteful and impractical; however, to the Egyptians it was the natural thing to do based on the their deep seated beliefs in the divinity of their rulers and life after death. These structures are also a reflection of the economic prowess of the Egyptian civilization and they have been used just as the romans were to later use the coliseum to symbolize their power. The particular use of the Egyptian pyramids is based on the act that they embody many of the contextual dimensions that this paper shall base its arguments on in supporting the thesis. In a study dedicated to the â€Å"Ethno archaeological Study of Vernacular Architecture in Tigray, Ethiopia†, Diane Lyon examines the various temporal and special dimensions and considerations that inspire and construed indigenous and modern architecture in Ethiopia over the course of the last two centuries. This particular article is inclined t owards the temporal aspects of architecture as it seeks to investigate the cultural significance of architecture within the time in which it is restricted. By examining vernacular architecture described as an indigenous and none-elite domestic practice of construing domestic habitation, he intends to compare the social and political significance that came with specific architectural designs (Lyon 184). The Tigrayan rural houses were viewed both as political and local prerequisites which were instrumental and reflective of all social political and economic action throughout the spectrum. One of the themes in the Tigryan architecture than emerges prominently is the usage of wood specifically to decorate the interiors of houses more so the roofs of the traditional house made from mud