Looking at architecture is very different from looking at, for example, paintings or sculptures. When you look at an architect’s work, there isn’t typically anything telling you what the artist was trying to say.

There are no metaphors, allegories, or symbolism in the form of shapes, colors, or materials used. There are only pictures that tell a story, but those stories don’t always relate to your own.

That doesn’t mean that reading architectural books and studying theory is not important, though! Having a fundamental understanding of how architects think about space, proportion, and material use is crucial to being able to evaluate their work.

It also helps you understand why they designed certain things the way they did, particularly if you want to create design projects yourself.

Look at different styles

Looking at architecture is not about looking at pictures of buildings, it is not about studying silhouettes or shapes, and it is definitely not about trying to identify which architects did what. All of these are important parts of learning how to look at architecture, but they all focus more on the surface features of a building, rather than its internal structure.

What really matters in understanding why an architectural style looks the way that it does is to think about the function of the building.

Does the building do something practical? For example, does it serve as a house, a workplace, or a theatre? Or perhaps it serves as display space for someone’s product or brand.

By thinking about the functional nature of a building, your ideas will be sparked to other possible uses for similar structures. This could mean creating new architectures yourself, or figuring out ways to apply the concepts in this article to existing designs.

Look at different shapes

Looking at architecture is not just about looking at pictures of buildings, it is also studying how structures look in three dimensions as you move around them.

You can do this by actually walking around a building or structure and thinking about its shape, what lines it has, whether there are curves or angles, and how these relate to each other.

There are many ways to study architectural form. You could use proportion as your framework for understanding spatial relationships. Proportion refers to the relative size of parts of an object compared to one another. For example, if part of a house is longer than it is wide, then that part gets more attention because people perceive it to be bigger than it is tall.

Thinking about proportions helps us understand how space is organized within a room or area, or between rooms or areas. Proportions also help tell us who designed the building or space. If the proportions seem familiar, like those of a well-known person or thing, then we have their design work inscribed into our mind and brain, making it easy to recognize later versions of that style.

Another way to learn about architectural forms is through contour lines. These are boundaries or limits that something has, such as a roof, a floor, or a wall. An interesting pattern or collection of contours can make a beautiful picture or sculpture, so learning where these limit things is important.

Look at different colors

As we discussed, color can have an effect on you and your mood. Certain shades can make you feel good or bad, happy or depressed.

Some people are very sensitive to colors, which makes it easy for them to recognize a certain hue or pattern. This is not only because they are trained to see colors in beauty, but also due to their instinctual understanding of colors.

Other individuals cannot tell one color from another unless they are trained in it. This does not matter if they never use colors as a source of inspiration or motivation!

By educating yourself about all shades of red, green, blue and yellow, you will be able to apply this knowledge to other types of design. For example, studying how bright shades of red look like will help you create vibrant logos or designs.

There are many free resources available online that contain information about basic color theory. You do not need to spend money on expensive courses or materials to learn something new.

Look at different materials

A good architect will use many different types of material in his designs. These include glass, metal, wood, concrete, and more!

As you learn how to look at architecture, try looking at as many materials as possible. What are they used for? How do they relate to each other?

Take your dog outside for a minute during this period and see what colors she looks at. You might be surprised by all the shapes that she observes.

Architecture is similarly made up of different shapes such as windows, doors, arches, etc.

These shapes and patterns add an element of interest to the design. Try studying some examples of beautiful buildings and see if you can identify their main features.

Google “famous skyscraper” or “beautiful church building�” to get lots of great pictures and information.

Learn to identify important design features

One of the most fundamental things you can do as an architecture fan is learn how to recognize key architectural features. You should know what shapes are considered classic, popular, or unique in the field, what materials are used to create spaces, and which styles are seen more frequently.

There are many great resources available to teach you about architectural style, material, and shape. Many use diagrams, pictures, and descriptions to help explain everything from floor plans to basic concepts like proportion.

Some even have interactive tools that let you practice drawing designs and patterns! While not strictly categorized as “architecture” sites, looking into things like interior decor, furniture, or color theory can give you new insights into how architects structure space and apply shades.

Learn some basic architectural terms

The term “architecture” can be tricky, so it is important to know what the word actually means before you apply it to anything.

When people talk about architecture they usually mean design, but that isn’t quite right. A building with windows is designed, but not necessarily an architect.

A person who designs buildings is called an architect, or sometimes a structural designer. Structural designers don’t typically do interior decoration, however! That job belongs to someone else.

That other person is called an artist/designer, like myself. I am trained as both, and I love doing both! So when people say they want something beautiful, they should probably ask themselves if they want an architect or a artist/designer to create it first.

Become familiar with famous architects

Famous architects have designed buildings that left an impact on people, and you can learn some of their secrets by looking into them. They are always in-demand because of their incredible talent, so studying their work is a great way to get inspired.

Some of the most well known architects include Pablo Picasso, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Claude Monet, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Edvard Munch. All of these artists had unique styles that made them stand out from others, and you can find similarities in their work.

All of these masters knew how to use proportion, color, and shape effectively to convey their message or express themselves. When designing our own homes or offices, we can draw inspiration from this to help us come up with creative ideas.

There are many ways to study architectural design, such as by exploring different types of styles, reading books and magazines about it, or even taking courses on it. By being familiar with the basics, you’ll know what to look for and what concepts apply to real life.

Analyze your favorite buildings

A good way to look at architecture is by analyzing its different components, shapes, colors, textures, patterns, and even materials used.

Many people admire certain designs so much because of their beautiful shapes or decorations. For example, the Parthenon in Greece has very elaborate decorative features that most people enjoy looking at for this reason.

Other reasons are the beautifully designed roofs or arches, which create an aesthetically pleasing shape. Or how some structures use really rich materials like marble or bronze to enhance the beauty of the building.

You can also study how well the architects organized space in the building, how they balanced it, and whether they included unique features such as windows or sculptures.