The design of buildings is often considered an expression or representation of what goes into their construction, how they are organized and which styles appeal to you as someone looking at them.

Architecture has always been tied closely to society. Buildings not only tell us about who built them and why, but also give insight into various concepts that we as humans have.

For example, during the Greek Golden Age, architects designed beautiful temples in the shape of tall, thin pillars. This style was inspired by the pillar-like structure of the god Thor’s palace.

The pillars symbolized strength and stability, just like powerful gods do. In our culture today, this classic pillar style is one of the most common types of architecture. It is easy to see the influence of this temple-style building here!

Other examples include the Parthenon, a large monument in Greece that housed the goddess Athena. She had many roles, including wisdom, so it can be said that its design reflects the need for knowledge.

You may know of another style influenced by the Parthenon – the famous spiral staircase. These staircases were very popular because they radiate energy, drawing people up towards the next level.

This link between space and energy is something we still feel today. For instance, when you enter a new room, your body automatically adjusts to create more space around you.

Classical architecture

One of the most well-known types of architectural styles is called classical or neoclassical. This style was very popular in many countries at some point, but has mostly been eclipsed today.

Many people associate this style with buildings such as the Parthenon in Greece or the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Both are impressive structures that stick out even now, more than 2,000 years later.

They both have something in common though – they emphasize structure and proportion over decoration. That’s not to say there aren’t decorations, but instead of being flashy like curtains or flowers, they are often geometric or floristic.

The classic look is usually characterized by vertical lines (like pillars) and horizontal ones (like walls). Buildings in this style also typically feature lots of white marble or limestone. These colors work well together due to their similarity in color.

Another defining element is the use of large windows which allow light into the interior space and signify openness.

Modern architecture

Contemporary architectural styles are constantly changing and evolving. New trends come and go, some sticking around for longer periods of time. Some say that we are in an era of Post-Modernism, but I disagree.

Post-modernism is too self-referential to be considered a legitimate style. A style that critiques other styles as “fake” or “bad” art can never truly achieve true popularity. A style that encourages comparisons with past architectures will always lose momentum.

We now find ourselves in an era where Architecture Has Reclaimed its Place As An Expression Of Culture.

Architecture has become more socially conscious as it addresses issues surrounding poverty, homelessness, health care, and community development. It also calls attention to itself through use of bold colors and shapes, large scale designs, and interesting asymmetrical layouts.

Many believe that our society becomes increasingly unequal as it is wealth concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. In response, architects design buildings that emphasize unity, equality, and social cohesion. They strive to bring about change by shaping how people interact with each other and their environment.

This article will discuss ten examples of this theory. These include both modern and contemporary architectural styles.

Popular architecture

There have been many different types of buildings constructed around the world, some popular, some not. Some are clearly better than others though, they stand the test of time and use!

Many famous structures are designed to appeal to the eye immediately. They may be beautiful in design or feature cleverly integrated decorations and features. Others are bold and striking, making a statement about who built it and what they stood for.

Some even make you feel good when you look at them! These sorts of buildings increase your sense of well-being by giving you a feeling of confidence, pride, or happiness.

There is one type of building that I would like to discuss in this article – the ones that seem to go out of their way to gain attention. You know the kind I mean, they stick out from the rest and get lots of comments and praise.

I will talk about these types of buildings in more detail later on in this article.

Contemporary architecture

Recent architectural styles are not as outwardly symbolic of an ideology or worldview as classical styles were. This is due to two reasons. First, most modern buildings no longer have identifiable symbolism. Second, many newer designs resemble each other more than they do traditional styles.

Modern architects seem to enjoy using very simple shapes and materials that look similar to one another. This effect was made possible by advances in manufacturing technology that allowed for cost-effective production of identical looking components.

This article will discuss some examples of contemporary architectural styles and what symbols they contain. These include styles such Asymmetrical Neoclassical, Postmodernism, Minimalist, and Futuristic. All of these can be identified by certain features including use of geometry, proportion, and material choice.

Geometry

All of these styles feature geometric forms heavily. Cubic geometries like squares and cubes are used frequently. Rhomboids and trapezoids also play important roles in shaping space.

Proportion

These styles tend to focus on emphasizing proportions over size. For example, instead of making the building tall, they make it wide. Or, they make the width much larger than the length.

Material Choice

In addition to using geometric shapes, all of these styles emphasize natural materials over manufactured ones. Glass, stone, metal, and concrete are common materials used to create structures.

Popular culture and architecture

Recent trends in popular culture have influenced how people design buildings or redesign existing ones. Many building styles are now designed to mimic, influence, or parody certain themes and/or genres from our cultural landscape.

This is not new- it has been going on for years! For example, movie studios will use classic architectural styles such as Gothic or Neoclassical for major film productions such as The Hunger Games or Gone With The Wind.

In fact, some say that the very concept of the blockbuster movie was inspired by this practice where production companies would build large expensive theaters using beautiful architectures so that spectators would be impressed and take their business.

Another common style which has become ubiquitous in popular culture is the “hipster” look. This features heavily patterned wallpaper, brick walls, exposed ductwork and other industrial elements, and sometimes even fake graffiti.

Why do we love these types of looks? Because they evoke an element of mystery and intrigue, making us feel like we could discover something unexpected behind the wallpapers or layers.

Overall, these similarities between architecture and popular media show that both fields share similar fundamentals: importance of structure, proportion, and placement; emphasis on creativity and expression; and inspiration drawn from nature, math, and logic.

The future of architecture

In our current climate, where technology seems to have taken over every aspect of life, it is important to consider how technology will affect the future of architectural design.

Technology has already had an ever-mounting influence on our daily lives, and this influence is only growing as we see more and more devices being integrated into everything around us.

From smart homes that are able to monitor temperature and sleep patterns in order to ensure efficient energy usage, to software designed to predict traffic so you can plan your commute efficiently, technology is constantly shaping the way we live our lives.

And when most people think about designing buildings, they imagine something along the lines of skyscrapers or large residential complexes, but what if we shifted our focus? What if we considered small, private spaces?

Architectural theory suggests that there are certain shapes that invite interaction, while other shapes discourage it. It is possible to apply these concepts towards creating intimate settings that play off each other.

This article will discuss some examples of this and why limiting access to information may be leaving your loved ones with no connection.

Architectural styles

Certain building shapes and styles are prevalent throughout history. Some of these styles seem to come and go, while others remain popular for their prominence in the built environment. These designs represent not only individual architects’ talents, but also societal trends at various points in time.

The most well-known style is probably the “Romanesque” or Gothic Revival design. This was characterized by large arches with rounded tops and vertical columns that get thinner as they rise.

This style originated during the Christianization of Europe and it can be seen particularly in buildings and artifacts from Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and England. The influence of this style has been prominent in Western architecture since then!

Another common architectural theme is Neoclassicism. This style flourished after the Enlightenment in European countries such as Britain, France, and Russia. It typically features strong state leadership, dedication to education, and respect for knowledge and expertise.

Notable examples include the United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC, and many government offices around the world. General inspiration for Neoclassical styles comes from ancient Greece and Rome.

Other classic styles include Renaissance (Italy), Baroque (Spain and Portugal), and Classical (Greece and Rome). All three featured elaborate decorations and decoration patterns that emphasize symmetry.

These styles were heavily influenced by Ancient Greek and Roman culture and philosophy. What we now call “classical” art was inspired by these forms.

Sustainable architecture

Recent developments in architectural theory emphasize the importance of sustainability as an integral part of creating healthy environments for people to live in. Architects now have new tools to design spaces that are environmentally conscious, socially just, and economically efficient.

Sustainability is typically defined as something that cannot be depleted or consumed forever. It comes from the word “sustainable”, which was first used in 1834 to describe how well forests grow after being felled. The adjective form is sustainable – meaning consistent with its definition.

Architects today use concepts like green building, low-carbon buildings, renewable energy sources, recycled materials, water conservation, and urban farming to achieve sustainability. These practices reduce negative impacts on our environment such as air pollution, waste disposal, and consumption of non-renewable resources.

They also increase positive environmental benefits like reducing water usage and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. By using these strategies, you can make sure your house or office will not negatively impact the world around it for at least two generations.

However, there is no one right way to define what makes an area more sustainable. What matters most is whether you feel comfortable living in an environment that has a long lasting effect on the health and welfare of yourself and others.