As human beings, we need places to belong, to feel that there is someone out there who shares important parts of you – your culture, beliefs, traditions, and so on. We come from tribes; we are shaped by our cultures.

Architects are also people, and they want to belong to something — their profession, their community, even their industry or sub-sector within the architecture field.

They want to keep learning and growing as professionals, but it can get tough when other architects don’t seem to agree with them about what styles are “in” right now or which projects deserve attention.

It is very easy for non-architects to assume that an architect’s style choice is motivated only by money, but this assumption misses the most significant reason why some architects choose certain styles over others.

It could be because they grow up in homes where design was integral to everyday life, and therefore adopt this mentality as adults (think Frank Lloyd Wright), or maybe because they studied art at university and apply these concepts to building aesthetics (like Mies van der Rohe).

Whatever the motivation, whether practical or artistic, if you are looking to join an organization that values inclusivity then consider becoming an architectural professional.

Here are eight reasons why being an architect is inherently political.

The role of government in architecture

As discussed earlier, there are three main roles that governments play in how they organize their environment. These include governing who has access to things like education, health care, and shelter; ensuring that public facilities such as parks, libraries, and hospitals are accessible to everyone; and investing in infrastructure projects that help make life more comfortable (or at least safe) for people living in the area.

All these things influence how people feel about their surroundings and whether or not they perceive themselves to be living in a civilized place. They also affect what kind of lifestyle people desire and are able to afford.

Governments spend money very strategically, so it makes sense to consider how much money is spent on each one of these areas in order to determine if those resources are well invested or if something less expensive could do just as good a job.

The influence of the media

Recent debates about whether or not architecture is political are really just debates about how much power the media has over our perceptions of what makes an architect important.

Architects today have to deal with more than their fair share of press coverage that depicts them as big, rich, powerful people who enjoy luxury lifestyles.

This perception has been perpetuated by the media’s frequent use of architects in stories about opulence and excess.

Such narratives help create a false sense of importance for architects because they see them as wealthy and influential — two qualities most humans associate with importance.

But while it’s true that some architects are very affluent, this doesn’t make them significant figures. In fact, many would argue that being wealthy is totally unrelated to one’s significance as a person.

Moreover, although there are examples where an individual architect’s wealth can positively affect the community around him/her, this too does not necessarily make someone important.

Importance is not determined by one’s status but rather by how well you perform your job and how effectively you contribute to society.

The use of symbolism

In architecture, there are many types of symbols that play important roles in shaping how people perceive space, including colors, shapes, materials, and decorations. These symbolic elements contribute to establishing moods or giving messages.

For example, consider the way bright red lines look like they go everywhere and take over the entire screen. This influence is powerful because it subconsciously makes you feel safe, protected, and even excited to visit this location.

A similar effect happens when looking at buildings with large windows. They create an impression of openness and accessibility, which can make people want to come inside and explore the area.

By using these concepts as political tools, architects convey a message about where society should be heading. For instance, big glass windows indicate a desire for open communication and access to everything.

Furthermore, strong colors such as red and black add emphasis to what lies beyond the window. It communicates “We are here and we are not hiding anything!” and also gives off a sense of power.

The word politics comes from the Greek words polemos, meaning struggle, contest, or conflict, and politikós, meaning pertaining to citizenship or participation in government.

Architecture is inherently linked to politics due to its use of symbolism. An architect uses their craft to express their ideas and beliefs about our world and community.

Overall, architectural styles signify who the designer is politically and what ideologies they believe in.

The use of location

As architects, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to make spaces work for people – how to organize space, what functions those spaces should have, etc. But sometimes we forget that our buildings actually have a larger political agenda.

The uses of a building are always influenced by the politics of the society it exists in. For example, wealthy corporations often hire large architectural firms to construct meeting rooms or corporate headquarters with an interior shopping center or restaurant.

This is because companies want to promote an image of success and prestige through their employees. Or perhaps they just want to reward themselves for having enough money to afford your services!

Architects must be careful not to contribute to this negative perception of business — even if it’s for your own company.

It can also be seen as propaganda, designed to inspire workers and keep them motivated. A study conducted during World War II found that workplace environments shaped employee productivity and engagement, and thus affected overall production.

The use of trends

Another way to identify politics in architecture is by looking at what styles are popular and why. Popular styles include anything that is overused, repetitive or too ubiquitous.

There are many reasons as to why certain styles become popular. Some believe it is because people want to mimic the rich or powerful, others think it is due to fad culture, where people get into and out of trends quickly, and some feel it is just plain beauty!

Some examples of this are the Neoclassical style which was very popular during the Enlightenment period when society became more equal, democratic and humanitarian. Or Modernism which grew in popularity after World War II when technology advanced rapidly and buildings looked modern and bold.

What about Gothic? It went out of fashion shortly after its peak in the 1500s but now has returned as an influence on other architectural styles. This will be discussed later in this article.

Other famous styles such as Romanesque and Oriental look good on paper but do not match any true definition of those terms, so they fail to stick. Others like Postmodern design seem to have no defining features beyond being different and funky, making them less interesting than say Neoromantic or Deconstructivist.

This article will discuss how using trends for political purposes can be done effectively and intelligently.

The use of culture

A lot of people refer to architecture as a form of art, but this is not entirely correct. While some buildings are quite beautiful, most are not.

Most buildings look like they were designed and built by someone who was very passionate about roofs or windows or whatever else mattered to them in their life at that time.

They were not trying to convey a message, nor did they have any inspiration from other works like messages were integral parts of what they wanted to express.

This lack of importance to content makes many buildings feel empty, detached, even meaningless. They work well as objects, but nothing more.

Architects must learn how to design buildings with messages or purposes behind them. This can be done through artistic styles, colors, shapes, etc.

The use of religion

Religion is an integral part of many cultures, which means that it play a significant role in shaping people’s perception of politics. Some politicians even make references to God or Jesus during speeches! There are even some theories suggesting that religious fervour can motivate individuals to action and help them achieve their goals.

For example, after the September 11 attacks, several leaders made reference to God while talking about the motivation for the terrorist acts. This inspired others to do similar things so that they would not be forgotten once the spirit of worship had been spent.

Furthermore, religions teach us about ethics; how we should live our lives. Many governments use this knowledge to inspire citizens by telling them what types of behaviours are moral and what ones are immoral. For instance, most major religions disapprove of killing other human beings, so nations with values that promote violence will be seen as morally questionable.

Religion also plays a big part in political ideologies. Certain groups of people attach themselves to certain beliefs based on faith rather than fact. These false faiths may influence how they perceive politics and politicians, creating more polarized views.

There you have it! By exploring how architecture is influenced by ideology and politics, your sense of aesthetics and understanding of buildings will grow. Keep looking into interesting topics related to these two concepts and you’ll definitely progress in your studies.

The use of science

In our constantly evolving global society, architecture is clearly influenced by politics. Buildings are designed to evoke certain emotions, messages, or thoughts, which influence how people interact with them.

Architects use scientific principles to determine what qualities an architectural feature should have so that it elicits a positive response. For example, straight lines are powerful geometric shapes that signify strength and authority.

The roofs of most high-rise buildings are lined with a patterned sheet metal called solar panels. This is because well-designed rooftops work as a form of free energy generation — they soak up sun light during the day and then store this energy for use at night.

This article will discuss some examples of how architects use political concepts in their designs. You will also learn about five major styles of building that emerge out of different ideologies.