Role of Architecture in the Progress of Society

Architecture as a Reflection of Society

Architecture can be defined as "the masterly, correct and magnificent play of masses seen in light" (Conway and Roenisch 9). In other words, it is an experience that is both emotional and artistic. Some people agree that architecture is the amalgamation of building and art, though many do not share this opinion (Conway and Roenisch 9). According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, architecture is "the art and technique of designing and building," whose practice "is employed to fulfill both practical and expressive requirements, and thus it serves both utilitarian and aesthetic ends" ("architecture"). Every society therefore has a spatial connection to the natural world, and the sort of architecture a society produces—along with its built structures—reflects that society's history, culture, environment, traditions, ceremonies, customs, and artistic sensibility ("architecture").

Buildings keep people warm and dry and are directly involved in the reasonableness and feasibility of living. At the same time, architecture carries an artistic element at all times. Archaeologists are particularly interested in buildings because they reflect so many aspects of life, people, and society (Ballantyne 2).

How Buildings Reveal Social Values

The way buildings are planned, organized, and structured reveals the way people interact within them. Moreover, the materials used in construction—and the manner in which those materials are handled—uncover a great deal about a society. For instance, if stone is used in a building, it suggests that an efficient transport system was employed to carry the stone, or that the stone was rare enough to be brought from distant places. Buildings with a steel frame, on the other hand, signify that they belong to the modern age, since there was no concept of using steel in construction in ancient times (Ballantyne 2).

Buildings also tell a great deal about what took place in ancient societies and reveal what a society truly cares about in the present. If a society permits the construction of motorways across the countryside, it clearly signifies that people value their convenience in travelling more than they value the countryside itself—though individuals may hold differing opinions (Ballantyne 3).

The role of architecture is a significant one in the progress and development of society, as architects "design buildings with an eye not only to their practical utility, but also with an eye to their cultural value, trying to give them a shape that is in some way appropriate" (Ballantyne 22). However, what constitutes appropriateness differs across circumstances. The suitability of a building also depends on the surrounding structures, the method of construction, and its intended function. A particular type of building might suit the suburbs but would not be appropriate for a city centre (Ballantyne 22).

Architecture's Social Responsibility

Architecture and architects therefore carry a social responsibility to the community when they design and construct. The contemporary age demands sustainable designs to reduce or eliminate the negative environmental impact of the built environment and to connect communities with the natural world. Architecture is significant for society not only because it creates better places, but because it plays a major role in making a place cultured, elegant, and urbane—contributing to a society that is more fit for human habitation.