What is architecture? That’s a great question! Depending on who you ask, they may use different definitions. Some say it's the art of creating spaces, while others define it as the science or study of good design.

But none of these definitions really do justice to what architects are paid to do: create beautiful buildings that integrate well with their environments and convey an idea or message.

These days, anyone can pick up a book about designing houses, but very few people get trained in architectural style and concepts. This is where things become tricky for most non-designers.

It's hard to tell if what we're looking at was designed by someone with a degree or not, even if they call themselves an architect. It could have been done years ago and then redone recently without any formal training.

Conversely, there are lots of artists who also take cues from other styles, so being able to recognize them is kind of important. In those cases, when they're doing something new, they might not refer to the original source to ensure quality, which makes it harder to identify whether or not they had training.

Overall, this lack of identification leaves us with a confusing picture. Technically, some pretty amazing professionals out there don't have a college degree, but hardly anybody knows what they actually do.

History of architecture

Like most things, humans have been designing buildings for well over 5,000 years! Early civilizations built simple structures such as pyramids or temples that were dedicated to either gods or leaders. It is thought that early architects designed these structures using geometrical shapes, proportion, and balance.

Architecture was an integral part of culture and civilization in many nations. Buildings served both practical purposes (for shelter, work spaces, etc.) and symbolic ones (to show power, wealth, etc.). As technology advanced, architects experimented with new styles and concepts that are still used today.

The history of architectural style is quite diverse, however three major categories emerge: Neoclassical, Gothic, and Romanticism. These styles all share similar characteristics, making it easy to identify which one you look like.

Neo-classicism is typically characterized by large columns and roofs that resemble those of ancient Greece. The word neo comes from the Greek words naos (temple) and klassis (of). This style made its appearance around the 18th century and remains popular to this day. Architectural studios often use Neo-Classicism as their starting point because it encourages symmetry and order.

Gothic style originated in Medieval Europe. Structures such as cathedrals and castles feature heavy use of stone and brick, along with arches and vaults. This influence can be seen in current trends such as Art Deco.

Different types of architectures

So what is architecture? That’s a good question! Many people refer to it as ‘the art of designing buildings,’ but that isn't quite right.

Architecture is much more than just building designs; it's a way of thinking about how to organize and structure things.

It looks at issues like efficiency, function, and beauty in order to determine the best ways to design something -- from an individual object or space to larger systems of structures or even entire cities.

This process is called architectural planning.

Power of architecture

A beautifully designed building or space is thought to have powerful effects on those who enter it, and on people outside of it.

This effect can be in the form of changing emotions (for example, creating joy), empowering perceptions or beliefs (think about how some buildings seem to inspire confidence) or direct influence through socialization (looking at the walls and decorations of a room, for instance).

Many consider beautiful spaces to have universal appeal because they feel good to look at – something that goes beyond physical aesthetics.

It is this more profound effect that many consider to be the true power of architectural beauty.

Architectural beauty can amplify positive emotional states and influence perception and behavior. It can promote societal ideals and values, and create feelings of comfort or even inspiration.

Furthermore, architects themselves say that their field cultivates an appreciation of nature’s fundamental geometric structures, which then get reinterpreted in human environments.

These natural forms become sources of inspiration for new patterns and shapes — so there are still benefits in educating others on the importance of beauty in shaping our environment.

Significance of architecture

A little reminder: before we discuss what makes up an architectural style, what does it mean to say that architecture is important?

It’s not enough to claim that you are an architect or that architects are smart people – that doesn’t make your work meaningful.

Architecture is more than just a pretty way to structure space – it is a tool for shaping our perceptions of reality.

It affects how we perceive time because spaces with temporal markers like doors and windows give us a sense of direction. It shapes how we understand cause and effect due to spatial relationships in the environment.

And it teaches us about physics and mathematics, concepts which underlie much else that comes after.

Take away any one of these lessons and you lose part of the importance of what being an architect means.

Definition of a building

A building is an enclosed structure with a roof that contains specific functions or areas to be used for certain things. Buildings are typically longer lasting than structures, which will usually stand for one season at most.

A house is a very common type of building. Houses have roofs and contain space for living in them. They also often include spaces like a dining room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Many people feel connected to their homes because they associate it with shelter, safety, and love.

Other types of buildings include museums, theaters, churches, and office complexes. Office complexes almost always consist of multiple floors built around a central area.

Architecture has many different branches that focus on designing particular kinds of buildings. Some examples are interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning, and furniture design. People who practice these fields all study how to enhance the function of a building while still keeping up its aesthetic appeal.

What is a structure?

So what are buildings, structures and architectures then? That’s a pretty broad term so let’s break down those three pieces slightly more precisely to get better insights into what each one means.

A building is anything that contains space for people to live in or work in. A house is always considered a building as is an office building.

A structure is something that serves a specific function and is built with this goal in mind. An airplane wing is a very well known structure because of how it functions to help propel an object through air.

An architecture is someone who practices the theory or study of designing structures or buildings.

So why do we care about all these different terms if they mean the same thing? It’s important to understand the definitions of these terms not only individually but also as a whole because they all relate to each other.

As students of design, we are constantly looking at things and thinking about ways to improve upon them or apply what we have learned to create new designs.

What is a site?

That’s a great question!

A site is defined as any piece of real estate that contains or leads to content designed to draw in visitors, market your products, and build trust and rapport. It can be an article, a page, or even an entire website with more than one goal.

The word “site” comes from the Latin for “something that looks like this.” A site is typically made up of three major components: domain name, web hosting, and WordPress software.

Your domain identifies your online presence (think google.com vs. secondguessmerchant.net). Web hosting allows you to create websites and blogs on a specific platform. And WordPress — which we will talk about later — offers users a very intuitive way to pick up the tools to make their own sites.

There are many ways to achieve success with a website, but most start off by choosing a niche and then marketing it heavily. Finding a good niche and investing in SEO (search engine optimization) and SEM (social media advertising and engagement) is how you grow your audience and eventually get new traffic coming into your site.

But designing and building a strong site starts with defining what kind of site you want to have.

Basic design principles

One of the most important things to recognize as an architecture student is that every building or structure you will work with has a purpose. What I mean by this is, everything from your house, to a skyscraper, to a restaurant, has a function or use.

This may sound very obvious, but it can be hard to apply in practice. After all, looking at a lot without thinking about what you could do with it is pretty boring!

As students we need to learn how to look beyond the simple beauty of something to determine what it is used for. This applies not just to buildings, but also people.

We must ask ourselves why someone would want to interact with this person or group of people. Is it because they like their looks? Or are they trying to promote a product or service?

It takes more than just having a good eye for aesthetics to be an architect.