As human beings, we need places to belong, to feel that this entity needs my attention, time, and energy. We need communities of people who believe in us and support us as they know us. We need an understanding of why our actions are meaningful and worth it.

Architects have built their careers by creating environments for others to enjoy, but what most people don’t realize is that these spaces play an important role in shaping political ideologies.

Governments actively design public buildings, streets, and neighborhoods to promote a specific worldview. The way a building shapes your sense of space impacts how you perceive other things and yourself.

Certain styles emphasize unity and order, while others encourage diversity and conflict. Some use natural light, while others rely heavily on artificial illumination.

These small changes can influence how you view politics. For example, a heavy emphasis on using bright lights might create feelings of powerlessness or oppression. Natural light encourages relaxation and self-reflection, which could be seen as more democratic.

Here are some examples of architectural styles used for political purposes.

Affordable housing

One of the most important functions that architecture can perform is to help ensure adequate, accessible affordable housing for as many people as possible. While not every architect will work in this field directly, anyone with an MFA or BA can design houses!

This may seem like a trivial way to describe what architects do, but it’s anything but. We are talking about how we relate to each other, our communities, and the world at large. This is actually very significant because our society exists within a matrix of relationships that encompass generations, cultures, and ideologies.

These relationships determine who has access to things such as shelter, health care, education, employment, and more. They also determine whether or not people have somewhere they feel safe and comfortable being outside or if they have to worry about their safety inside or outside of their homes. In fact, studies show that mental health issues are linked to having nowhere to go during or after natural disasters.

There are currently one billion homeless individuals around the globe, which means there is no shortage of affordable housing. It is quite the opposite; we are experiencing a surplus. Over half of all millionaire households own just one house, while almost two-thirds of all wealthy families live in either a 1 bedroom apartment (1BA) or a 2 bedroom apartment (2BA). Only 5% live in a 3+ bedroom home.

Urban planning

Another way to identify political architecture is looking at how it shapes space in our cities. Buildings that are tall, with dramatic angles or roofs can totally change your perception of what part of the city you live in.

Landscape architect Joana Vaz da Costa explains this concept well. In her article, she mentions the famous Sears Tower in Chicago, which has a very sloping roofline. This shape gives people a sense of security because it creates an invisible barrier around protected areas like parking lots and stairways.

By altering the landscape in this way, politicians influence how safe people feel in their surroundings. It also changes how they perceive their home town — did you know for example that Berlin is considered the most beautiful city in Europe even though it’s surrounded by water?

This is due to its impressive skyline made up mostly of glass and steel buildings. All these structures create a strong feeling of confidence, says Da Costa.

Public transit

One of the most important components in an architect’s toolbox is public transportation. Most large cities have some sort of system that people use to get around, whether it’s buses, trains, or both.

Architects are trained in how to design buildings, but they also learn how to apply their skills to systems like this one.

The best architects not only understand the function of public transportation, but they actively promote it. This way, more people can access the service, which helps the organization succeed.

They also make sure the system runs easily and efficiently for users. For example, by making sure there are enough seats, keeping stations clean, and offering easy routes, people will use the bus/train more often!

Public transport is a powerful tool in any city’s arsenal, and talented professionals know how to maximize its potential. — Sarah McBride, The Politics of Architectural Progression

In her article, Sarah mentioned several examples of ways that architects can be political. She said that being pro-public transit is a good place to start because it benefits people directly.

Another option she described as “political” was advocating for renewable energy sources over fossil fuels. A third idea she discussed was supporting unions, even if you don’t agree with everything they stand for.

Sustainable design

Recent trends in architecture include concepts that strive to be more sustainable, eco-friendly buildings. These designs use less energy for construction and maintenance, reduce waste production, and emphasize renewable resources over non-renewable ones.

Sustainable architectural practices are very popular these days. Some of the most well known brands like Le Corbusier’s Unité d'habitation or Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater both have their own unique sustainability strategies.

These types of structures rely heavily on natural light, use materials that can be recycled, and conserve water to name a few. The architects also typically aim to create spaces that are socially cohesive, which can sometimes mean making sure there is an easy way for people to come together.

Overall, these features help make the building more environmentally friendly. It is important to note that not every architect uses sustainable practices so it is best to look into a project before giving up your hard earned money.

Social justice

As mentioned before, architecture is a form of art that shapes space through its use of materials and decorations as well as pictures or sculptures. These decorations are not only aesthetically pleasing but also tell a story.

Architects often use metaphors in their work to convey messages about social issues such as capitalism, communism, imperialism, or racism. For example, architects may use very expensive materials to create an interior design that seems almost perfect, highlighting the luxury of the product.

Such designs send a subtle message about how wealthy people are, creating a perception that money is what matters most. An additional layer of decoration can be found with logos and fonts that signify something about the company that produced them- sometimes it’s just for recognition purposes, like a famous brand name.

The term “architecture” comes from the Ancient Greece word arkhitektó, which means builder or maker of plans. In ancient Athens, where many architectural styles originated, political structures were built using beautiful designs and layouts. This influenced later architects to use this style when designing buildings.

The government influences the built environment

We as humans develop relationships with our surroundings, we shape what we surround ourselves with, and this goes beyond just buying a new house or giving yourself an extra paid day at work.

Your job may very well influence how you feel about your community and the world around you. Your employer’s leadership, culture, and mission can have a significant effect on yours.

As employers increase their use of automation and robotics in production facilities, they close the door to opportunities for employment that exist due to automation. At the same time, they create more jobs requiring skill sets like software engineering and networking.

These shifts occur because automated equipment is designed to do a specific task efficiently, so there are not many possibilities to improve its efficiency unless someone makes changes. This happens quite frequently, which means there is a need for professionals in those areas to keep up with it.

The availability of these services and skills creates additional opportunities for people with them. It also helps solidify the communities where these services are located by creating jobs for locals. These impacts aren’t always positive, but they’re important to consider when talking about politics and the workplace.

Politics includes concerns for social justice, equality, and fairness towards individuals and groups. When employees are allowed to perform their jobs without unnecessary constraints, then it lessens the risk of having to address issues related to those things.

We should all be an architect

As human beings, we need to recognize our existence as political. If you are not actively participating in creating spaces for others to exist, if you are not putting effort into making sure that those around you have what they need to thrive, then you are being politically inactive.

This is very serious business. Being involved in politics is one of the most important things you can do as a person. You are investing your time and energy into something that has real lasting effects.

We live in a world where everything is connected. Technology makes it possible for this connection to go beyond just people talking to each other. Now anyone with access to media or the internet can spread their message to millions instantly.

This means that everyone’s opinion matters more than ever before. Your opinions matter.

Your views will make a difference. Whether yours turn out to be the right ones or wrong ones, your beliefs will influence others. This is why it is so important to consider how you spend your time — whether it’s reading books, listening to podcasts, watching TV shows, surfing the web, etc.

If you want to see positive change happen, you must be engaged in issues related to social justice. You must care about equality and fairness at least slightlymore than you already do.

Popular culture shapes our ideas about architecture

We develop concepts of what is popular and influential through exposure to it, whether we like it or not.

Architecture has long been influenced by other arts and disciplines, from classical motifs to references to current trends in design. Many architectural styles are identifiable as clearly having their roots in either painting, sculpture, or graphic art.

The use of proportion, for example, comes directly from visual aesthetics that have existed since ancient times. Even the proportions of the human body are derived from nature!

Artists have always looked at how well parts fit together and how effectively they work with each other — this applies to both practical uses and aesthetic appeal. A perfect circle, square, or triangle can be beautiful to look at, and efficient in how much space they take up.

These fundamentals apply to everything from windows to doors to sculptures and paintings. An architect must know them, if only so she can incorporate them into her designs.