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1.05
Architecture as an art
No doubt, architecture
is an art. In the following list of art subjects, you will find it interesting
to note that architecture exists as one of the arts in today's modern
society. In his book, "The arts and their interrelations"
published in the year 1951, the Philosopher writer, Thomas Munroin has
enlisted the following subjects of art. Surprisingly during the last
40 years nothing has changed much except the use of computers and its
related influences in art. The basic structure of art is still unchanged
- Sculpture.
- Painting.
- Graphic arts; drawing; typography; commercial art.
- Architecture.
- Garden art; Landscape architecture; horticulture.
- City planning; community planning; regional planning; urban design.
- Industrial design; utilitarian visual design.
- transportation design.
- Furniture design
- Utensils design.
- Weapon design.
- Book design.
- Clothing or costume design.
- Textile design; cloth or fabric design.
- Ceramics; pottery and porcelain.
- Interior design.
- Music
- Literature: prose, verse, poetry
- Dancing and ballet; acting
- Drama and Theater
- Motion pictures; cinema; film; animated cartoons.
- Radio and television
- Mobile color; fireworks; lumia; the clavilux.
He further
defines an architecture is as follows:
Architecture is the art of designing and guiding the construction of
buildings, so as to make them visually satisfying as well as suitable
or their intended use. Buildings are three-dimensional forms, usually
enclosing or partly enclosing an interior space large enough for persons
or animals to enter and carry on activities within it. They can present
a visual design or a series of designs on the exterior, interior, or
both. Many types of structures are distinguished on the basis of their
function and their related form as follows: dwelling-houses (of many
varieties from palaces to hotels and apartment houses), temples, churches,
monasteries, forts and fortified towns, bridges, dams, theatres, amphitheatres,
light-houses, public baths, some kinds of monument, libraries, store
and office buildings, factories, warehouses, railroad stations, and
airplane hangars. The typical materials used are wood, brick, stone,
tile, plaster, steel, and concrete; the typical structural methods are
the post and lintel, the wooden truss, the masonry arch and vault, and
the steel skeleton. Architecture often incorporates or provides a setting
for the products of the other arts, such as sculpture, stained glass,
furniture, and interior design; hence it can be regarded as a combined
art. It often cooperates with landscape design and city planning. Among
Principal Western styles are the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine,
Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo; distinctive styles
were also produced by the chief oriental civilizations.
I would like to
draw attention to the word, "visually satisfying" and "
suitable for their intended uses". An architect has to certainly
perform his duty as an artist, to make the building look "visually
satisfying". No doubt "suitability for intended uses"
deals with functional aspects of building design. Which is of course,
not part of the subject of basic design. Certainly the architect is
responsible to design the building "visually" and "functionally".
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