Looking at old buildings is an interesting way to explore architecture. They are our legacy, what remains of who and what made their influence before we as architects got here. Buildings that have stood the test of time are important pieces of art, solid examples of successful craftsmanship, and powerful statements about whoever built them.

Old buildings also tell us something about older generations, how they wanted to show off their wealth, create beautiful spaces for entertaining or working, and emphasize spirituality through space and nature.

This article will talk more in depth about some famous landmarks and how much age has helped shape their style.

History of architecture

Like any other field, architects are not neutral entities that design buildings. They have an ideology or body of work they strive to promote. Some do it through use of very expensive materials, while others focus more on keeping costs down by using less flashy ones.

Some make designs that people call beautiful, while others argue that their styles are too specific or unique. This is what makes architectural style so interesting!

Architectural styles come and go just like anything else, but there are some major eras in building design we can identify. These periods typically occur when significant changes are made in how most people build homes and/or office spaces.

Many believe this change happened around the turn of the 20th century with the rise of the skyscraper and the functionalist movement. During this time, architects focused on creating structures that were efficient, practical, and powerful.

Other important styles include neoclassicism (which features classical columns and geometry), art deco (modernistic shapes used heavily in decorations and furniture), and futurism (geometric patterns designed for comfort).

These different styles all emphasize clean lines, proportion, and functionality, which goes hand-in-hand with the idea of the modern architect. Today, you will probably find a mix of all these styles in many new projects.

The importance of having an understanding of architectural history cannot be stressed enough. It gives us insight into the development of our home environments and concepts of good interior design.

Important architects in history

Many would argue that some of architecture’s biggest names are too familiar to get a true sense of just how important they were. People recognize their work, so we take it for granted, but sometimes you have to look beyond what makes the headlines to truly understand a style or artist’s influence.

Some examples? The great Italian architect Giorgio Vasari is often overlooked because his most well-known works (the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Palazzo Pitti in Florence) are not really considered masterpieces. However, he was one of the first people to bring together both artistic skill and an understanding of historical context when designing new buildings, which set him apart from earlier generations.

Another example is the English neoclassical architect Robert Adam. While his famous clients included the British royal family and other wealthy individuals, very few people know about his lesser known contemporaries like Thomas Jefferson, who commissioned him to design several buildings in America.

With these two as our examples, let us now discuss the career of another important figure in architectural history – Leonardo Da Vinci.

Famous buildings

Many people are familiar with some of the world’s most famous architectural wonders, but how old they are is sometimes up for debate. This article will take you through several examples to show you just how young or older architecture is depending on who you ask!

The Taj Mahal was built between 1632 and 3160 AD (approximate dates) and so it can be considered a modern style building. The word ‘modern’ comes from the Latin modus which means ‘methodical way of doing things’.

So, by this definition, the Taj Mahal is contemporary or at least in the early modern period. It took around 20 years to complete making it quite an impressive feat.

However, due to its popularity and status as one of the great monuments of the world, the Taj Mahl has been attributed with many different styles including Gothic, Renaissance, Chinoiserie and even Art Deco! All these describe shapes that were popular during various periods in history, so defining the exact era of the Taj Mahal can be tricky.

This article will not go into detail about all of these theories, but it will talk about what we know about when it was designed and time frames within those parameters.

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Historical buildings

There are many types of historical architecture, but not all buildings from past eras qualify as architectural. An architect is usually considered to be someone with at least an undergraduate degree who practices designing structures or renovations and/or additions to current buildings or new construction. However, there are some fields that don’t require an advanced degree for practice. For instance, anyone can put up their own business sign or label themselves an interior designer even if they have no formal training in it.

However, defining what makes something historic and whether or not it counts as architecture is tricky! This article will discuss how to identify historical buildings, what styles are, and why certain styles are considered more “architectural” than others. Fun fact: while this may sound like a scary topic, most people can tell the difference between classic cars and rocket ships once they see them!

History comes in all shapes and sizes, so here we’ll focus mostly on large monuments and structures such as churches, museums, and castles. These types of buildings typically use well-defined styles which help set them apart (keep reading for examples!).

Contemporary buildings

Modern architecture is often characterized as being very sleek, flashy, or dramatic. These are all good descriptors for how some buildings look. However, this isn’t always the case. Some believe that modern styles are too simple and clean to be considered architectural.

Modern architects like to describe their style as “functionalism with decoration”. This means that the shape of the building is what matters most, not its appearance. For example, a house with an attached garage is more functional than looking nice.

Some argue that even though these decorations are sometimes pretty, they are not important because they can be removed or changed easily. This goes against the definition of architecture which says it is the design and construction of structures!

Another way many consider contemporary designs to lack true inspiration from art is by comparing them to other forms of media. A painting may influence the style but nothing about the structure is inspired by sculpture or drawing.

Future of architecture

Recent trends in architectural theory emphasize connectivity, systems thinking, and immersion into complex environments. These concepts can be applied to all areas of design, not just buildings, but also spaces like homes or shopping malls.

Architects have always designed beautiful structures that fit well with their surrounding area. Using these new theories, we can look at different types of buildings and determine what internal functions they fulfill and how they influence the space around them.

New theories such as connective mapping, system integration, and immersive analysis can help you understand why some designs work and others do not. They are all related to each other, making it easy to see the connections.

This article will talk about three of these theories and how they relate to the future of architecture.

What is modern architecture?

Modern architectural styles are not to be confused with classic or neoclassical buildings. These are all characterized by their use of materials, but aside from that they look very different!

Modernism was a style that flourished in the early twentieth century. It originated in Europe and made its way into America through artists and designers who were inspired by the shapes used in nature and how materiality influenced perception.

These architects would often choose unconventional materials like plastic, glass, or steel instead of traditional ones such as stone or wood. They also experimented with new ways to design spaces; for example, by using diagonal lines or what we call “Mood boards” which are color schemes designed to inspire emotions.

Since most people today live an online life, social media played a big part in shaping the way we perceive space. Companies make use of this by designing offices, apartment living, and even shopping malls using layouts and features drawn from computer software.

This influence can still be seen in many skyscraper designs.

What is street architecture?

There are two main types of buildings that make up what we recognize as “architecture” — structures such as towers or spires, and urban architecture.

The first type is called [*street architecture*] or [*urban architecture*]. This includes skyscrapers, which are very tall buildings with roofs that disappear into the sky. The _Chicago Tribune_ Tower in Chicago is an example of this.

Skyscraper design typically focuses on maximizing the building’s footprint to achieve maximum floor area for rent. An additional goal is to create dramatic views from outside the building. These designs sometimes include open-air lobbies and terraces where tenants can sit and look out at the city.

Urban architects also aim to maximize green space within walking distance of the building, so that people will spend time outdoors instead of inside. They may even build above rail lines to offer pedestrians unobstructed routes to parks and other destinations.

There are some exceptions to these rules, however. As mentioned before, not all parts of a skyscraper have to be visible, and there are times when practicality outweighs aesthetics.

Street architecture is much less common than skyscraper design because it is more difficult to find large plots of land close to major roads. Also, most people prefer having windows rather than empty walls, so vertical shapes like a tower are more popular.

But if you take a step back and think about it, this makes sense.