How to appreciate architecture

[caption id="attachment_714" align="alignright" width="300"] Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright[/caption]

Appreciating architecture is a very fulfilling trait to learn, whether you are new to the field of architecture, or maybe you are taking a trip to a foreign city, or you just want to appreciate your local buildings. Understanding buildings is much like understanding artwork, some people might see it differently, but those who see it, get it. Architecture can introduce you to more than just the building. It can help you understand a culture, their history and its inhabitants.

Architecture, like artwork may seem hard to understand because of all that goes into it, but if broken down to it's various pieces it can be understood on so many different levels. All it takes to understand architecture is to have an interest in it. Buildings are everywhere and are fairly accessible. Unlike a lot of artwork where you have to go to special galleries of museums to see it, architecture is everywhere and you can usually walk right up and touch it.
Understand the historical context
Every building has a story to tell and in order to appreciate it, you must do some research on the architecture's history. From European monasteries, to Southwest US cliff dwellings, all buildings were built for a purpose and held an important place in the current time frame. Make an effort to do some internet searches to find out more about the building, go to the local library, or better yet find a nearby university that has an Architecture program as they will have a lot of information.

What you are looking for in this historical context is not just facts about the building itself, but what was going on in the area at the time it was built and occupied. This is where you will find the true stories behind the architecture. For example, in order to appreciate early modern architecture, you have to understand that a lot of it was in reaction to the highly ornate buildings that were happening at the time, and their response was to become efficient and only include what was necessary. During housing shortages it was necessary to put together simple and efficient buildings, so they had to design houses that were simple. Or understand that some incredibly ornate churches were built at a time that most citizens were poor and uneducated and these churches were symbols used by the clergy to attract congregants.
Appreciate the Innovators
While understanding the historical context of the time the buildings were built, it is important to appreciate the rebels that bucked the trend and set new standards. If it weren't for these innovators, we wouldn't have the buildings we have today. Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright showed what was possible with large concrete cantilevers, the Wainwright Building by Louis Sullivan brought a steel structure inside, hanging the walls on the outside, allowing for the future introduction of modern office buildings and skyscrapers.
Get a sense of scale
It is important to understand how scale can influence our psychology. Very tall and large buildings can produce a sense of awe and evoke a sense of importance. That is why you see a lot of classical cities where the church or landmark are the most visible and can be seen from throughout the city. This showcases the importance of that structure and puts it on top of the city hierarchy. The same holds true for the components of the buildings themselves. Architects put intention into what aspects of the building they want to get a feel for. Public buildings might have a large, grand entrance, while individual offices will have a smaller scale.
Get a sense of space
A building isn't just about the solid walls that hold the roof up, it is really about the void in between the walls. This is what we refer to as the space, an intangible concept of each separate area in the building. Spaces can be designed to evoke certain emotions and produce specific results. Large open areas that give a feel of grandeur can invite people to come in and congregate, while a small space can provide a sense of comfort and invite individual use. Colors can evoke emotions as well, where warm, bright colors can give people a sense of energy and excitement, cool colors can give a feeling of calm and comfort. Lighting adds to the sense of space as well, as harsh down lighting evokes the opposite feeling of cool ambient lighting. The materials used in the space can influence the same emotions and also help to control sound as well. Empty concrete buildings will echo and feel cold, while a wood and stone wall will feel comforting and warm.
Get into the details
Once you get an overall feel for the building and its history, start looking closer and take a look at the details that go into making it work. The greatest architecture in the world is appreciated mostly for the details. Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe once famously quipped, “God is in the detail”, and this was clearly evident in his work. There is an anecdotal story that goes around that during the construction of his Barcelona Pavilion, Mies would go though to ensure that every screw head lined up perfectly. It was this attention to detail that made the man so famous. Most people won't notice the details, and just have a good feeling about the space, but if they looked a little deeper it might be because of all the details. Having great details is what makes architecture great because it shows that the Architect is able to produce a great piece of art, from the building all the way down to the screws.
Take Away
Appreciating architecture is more than just looking at the building, it is about understanding the meanings behind the design and the emotions it evokes. It is about understanding the building in relationship to society as a whole as well as the details within. This is what makes being an Architect so great, being able to be a part of all this and knowing you can affect so many aspects of a person's life. How do you appreciate architecture? Go out in your town and pick any building to study. Think about the time it was built, why it was built and what particular details went into creating the emotions it evokes.

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