essay about an architect

What to write in an architecture essay

What to write in an architecture essay guide, Architect student tips, Permanent online education advice

What you should and shouldn’t write in an architecture essay

15 Jun 2021

Architecture majors deal with various tasks like plan structures, create layouts for homes and office buildings. You have to learn the theory and history of design, math, physics and other disciplines while getting knowledge and skills in your future profession. On the one hand, you should be as precise as possible but architects without creativity just can’t succeed. That’s why your professors may also assign you tasks like essay writing.

These papers can be very tricky to navigate, and that’s why many students are wondering: “should I hire someone who will Write My Essay for me?” It is a good idea when you’re struggling with looming deadlines and piles of homework. At the same time, it would be a winning strategy to nail the art of writing and impress professors with your essays.

What should you write in an architecture essay?

It is a no-brainer that the structure and content of your architecture essay will depend on the assignment’s type and its topic. For example, if you’re writing a paper about Danish architecture, it won’t look the same as if you write an admission essay for an architecture school. So, there are some versatile tips that you should try.

Your personal perspective

Whatever your topic is, include your personal analysis and reflection. For example, if it is an admission paper, you can include your memories about the time you firstly decided to be an architect and connect them with your thoughts in real life. When your professor wants you to analyze some style or epoche, use your theoretical knowledge but add something from yourself: your feelings, impressions, etc. Essay is not a research paper or a dissertation, you have a platform for self-expression, so use it.

Emotive images

Just like any other kind of art, architecture is aimed to conjure some pictures in the mind of the people. If you’re able to succeed with this task in your papers, you’ll be better at creative planning, visualisation, and other projects’ stages. Your language should be highly evocative, use adjectives, metaphors, similes. Develop your building with the words, just as you feel it — words like “dancing”, “held captive”, “tumbling”, etc. will make your text more dynamic.

Rhetorical questions and quotes.

Writing a college essay, your task is to get your readers involved, to make them interested in your paper, in the story that you’re telling. How do most popular journalists and writers nail this goal? The answer is right here — they ask questions. It can be a question like this, with a hint in your own text. Or it can be a rhetorical question when the answer is not needed. It is intended to make people think about something, to delve deeper into your topic. The next good strategy is to kick your audience off with the quote — depending on the focus of your essay, you can find a quote by someone who is significant in this specific sphere.

What You Shouldn’t Write in an Architecture Essay?

Lengthy reflexions.

Though we have mentioned that an architecture essay is your platform for self-expression, you shouldn’t think it is your personal diary. Always remember about your target audience and about their expectations of your paper. Do your readers open your essay with a desire to learn about some architecture style? Yes, your opinion matters but only as long as it contributes to the general idea of the text. The same works for admission papers, e.g. while you’re writing about your career goals and aspirations, don’t remember to mention how will this specific school benefit from you? Whatever your topic is, share your thoughts briefly and clearly.

Professional jargon (until it is required)

If you’re writing for a wide audience of other students with different majors, or for people who are just interested in architecture, you have to customize your essay according to their backgrounds. Most majority of your readers never had the chance to discover words like “Diagrammatic”, “Flâneur”, “Stylobate”, “Pastiche”, and so on. There are also many obscure words that your colleagues overuse, e.g. “Kitsch”, “Curate”, “Zeitgeist”, “Penetrate”, etc. So, proofread your papers with the eyes of a regular reader and get rid of professional jargon that is too complicated to explain. It doesn’t mean that your paper shouldn’t sound like an architecture paper, just ensure it is understandable.

Plagiarism in any sense of the word

While your professors surely appreciate a clear structure, expressive vocabulary, theory knowledge when writing about architecture, there is also a strong point in favor of powerful ideas. Don’t read someone else’s samples if you want to come up with a creative essay, and don’t copy ideas when you can generate your own ones. Whether you want to be a good essay writer or a good architect, you have to look for inspiration just around you — in people, buildings, art pieces, nature, and so on. Don’t copy, create, and one day you’ll create something that is really great.

Comments on this guide to What to write in an architecture essay article are welcome.

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How to Write an Ideal Architecture Essay

Composing a strong essay on architecture is far from easy. You will probably not have to write an essay of this type unless you are an architecture student, and when you do, you might find it hard to get your hands on relevant guidelines even if you’d like to  buy essay online . That is precisely the gap this article aims to fill.

Getting started on your essay

Being unable to find a head-start is one of the most common difficulties a writer faces when it comes to devising an essay. Brainstorming ideas for choosing a topic is pressure in itself. If you get overwhelmed just by the thought of it, you are not alone. When it comes to essays about architecture, the field is undoubtedly broad and requires you to narrow down the scope of your focus. This is the first step you need to nail in order to come up with a good essay. You can put in all the effort, but it will go all in vain if the basic idea that you started with was not as impactful. You should check out Edu Jungles to find some high-level essays to get inspiration from. For this purpose, you need to zero in on a subject that can be broken down based on time period, geographical location, and style. This will provide you with the much-needed structure of your essay. Once you have it a decent idea about the direction you need your ship needs to be steered in, try shortlisting smaller topics in the subcategory. Depending on your interest, previous knowledge, and availability of sources decide a topic for crafting your essay.

Now that you would have a decent idea about the topic you are interested in, it is time to research.  Dive into the journals, encyclopedias and articles that you can find. It can be from your college’s library or a reliable source on the internet. Any source would do as long as it has credibility and quality. Do not forget to keep switching between the research work and the architecture thesis statement that you settled on in the previous step.This will prevent you from getting sidetracked. For example, you are writing on a specific architectural structure or maybe describing the works of a famous architect in history. You may include the description of the aesthetics of a famous building and start building your essay from there. Once satisfied with your research proficiency, move to the planning of the structure of your essay. Needless to say, it will depend on the audience of your work. So keep in mind the requirements and expectations of the evaluator before starting working on your masterpiece.  You have to be strategical and tactical when it comes to choosing the style. Mostly, you will be asked to follow an analytical style.

Tap into Creative Writing Skills

While crafting this type of essay, you need to be proficient with relevant vocabulary and describing words. It is the demand of an architecture paper, and there is no way around it. Now think about this, you are describing a future project to your professor or employer. You must be in the position and have the skillset to convey the vision to them just like you have in your mind. It is the way you will be pitching your idea. Unlike other types of essays, you must learn using adjectives effectively. You need to present visual imagery in such a way that the listener or reader lives vicariously through your beautifully woven words. It is an art form that not everybody can master but if you are here taking the initiative, consider it half the battle won. If you find yourself weak in this department, take support and get pre-written essays and learn to master the art of essay writing.

Writing an introduction

When you start building an essay, the first thing that needs to be perfected will be your introductory paragraph.  Try to encapsulate the essential idea of the essay in no more than five sentences. However, you need to ensure that these statements are compelling enough to get the reader engrossed and convinced to read till the end. Here you will also have to include your thesis statement. Let us take a look at a few persuasive architecture thesis statement examples.

“Cities should allow for open spaces and structures that go well with surroundings” or maybe something along the lines of explaining the structure of a building and the reason for its prominence. Ensure that whatever you decide to go with has a debatable element. The reader does not want you to parrot back to them. Instead, they want your take on the subject.

  The body of the essay

These paragraphs should aim to concisely articulate one fact at the least, with having enough evidence to support your thesis. Now that you are learning ways of crafting essay effectively, it is highly encouraged to add your original thoughts.  This will help your work stand out and bring an element of uniqueness to it. You have to convey your ability to produce academically coherent and sharp content through the main sections of this essay. You can always start from a draft and work your way up to a well-thought-out essay. Do not lose the focus of the paper; this is where the planning helps.

Concluding paragraph

Lastly, conclude your architecture-based essay in such a way that it recapitulates the idea behind it.  This section is just as significant as the others and needs your attention to detail for perfecting it. It aims to stress your point one last time to leave a lasting impact on the reader. Summarize the highlights of your essay in one final paragraph and write it in a thought-provoking and persuasive manner. Try not to elongate this to prevent losing effectiveness. Now that you are done with it, did you think you could submit it already? -Absolutely not. Even the experts emphasize on the significance of proofreading. Go through your essay multiple times to catch any possible mistakes and check for coherence while you are at it. You can even ask a reliable person to do it for you for an unbiased review.

With these steps followed, you are surely going to entice the evaluator. You will be able to write an essay that would linger in their heads for quite a while. With that said, nothing can be perfected without patience and hard work. Start practicing and see yourself emerge as an excellent future architect.

Hire an Expert:

Essay writing is a very daunting and time taking task, specially for those students who are not from English background or doing part-time jobs. In such a situation, it is always advisable to take help from an expert. There are many expert  UK essay writers  online and provide top essay writing services, which can provide you with high-quality and error-free essays.

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Architecture Essay Examples

20 Must-Read Architecture Essay Examples for Students

Published on: May 5, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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Are you a student struggling with writing an architecture essay? Perhaps you are looking for inspiration, or maybe you need guidance on how to develop your argument. 

Whatever the reason may be, you have come to the right place!

In this blog, we provide a range of architecture essay examples covering different styles, time periods, and topics. From modernist to postmodernist architecture, we offer examples that will help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject.

So, let's take a journey through the world of architecture essay examples together!

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What Is Architecture Essay 

An architecture essay is a type of academic writing that explores the design, construction, and history of buildings, structures, and spaces.  It requires technical knowledge and creative thinking to analyze and interpret architectural theories, and practices.

Let’s take a look at a short essay on architecture:

Architecture College Essay Examples 

Let's take a look at some examples of compelling architecture college essays that demonstrate creativity and critical thinking skills.

The Influence of Cultural Heritage on Architectural Design

The Importance of Aesthetics in Architecture

Scholarship Essay Examples For Architecture

These scholarship essay examples for architecture demonstrate the writers' devotion to excellence and creativity. Let’s check them out!

From Blueprint to Reality: The Importance of Detail in Architecture

The Intersection of Technology and Artistry in Architecture

Common Architecture Essay Examples

Let's take a look at some common architecture essay pdf examples that students often encounter in their academic writing.

History of Architecture Essay Examples

The Evolution of Egyptian Architecture

The Influence of Islamic Architecture

Gothic Architecture Essay Examples 

The Key Characteristics of Gothic Style Architecture

The Role of Gothic Architecture in Medieval Europe

Modern Architecture Essay Examples 

The Development of Modernist Architecture

The Influence of Postmodern Architecture

Cornell Architecture Essay Examples 

The Legacy of Cornell Architecture

Innovative Design Approaches in Cornell Architecture

Types of Architectural Essay 

Here are some potential sample papers for each type of architectural essay:

• Historical Analysis

The Effect of Ancient Greece Architecture on Contemporary Design

• Critical Analysis

The Role of Materiality in Herzog and de Meuron's Tate Modern

• Comparative Analysis

A Comparison of Modernist and Postmodernist Approaches to Design

Additional Architecture Essay Examples

Architecture essays cover a broad range of topics and styles. Here are some additional architecture essay prompts to help you get started.

Essay on Architecture As A Profession

Essay About Architecture As Art

Architecture Essay Question Examples

How To Write An Architecture Essay 

To write a successful architecture essay, follow these steps:

Step#1 Understand the assignment 

Read the assignment prompt carefully to understand what the essay requires.

Step#2 Research 

Conduct thorough research on the topic using reliable sources such as books, journals, and academic databases.

Step#3 Develop a thesis 

Based on your research, develop a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the main argument of your essay.

Step#4 Outline 

Create an outline to organize your ideas and ensure that your essay flows logically and coherently.

Step#5 Write the essay 

Start writing your essay according to your outline:

Introduction:

• Begin with a hook that grabs the reader's attention.
• Provide background information on the topic.
• End with a clear thesis statement.

Architecture Essay Introduction

• Use evidence to support your arguments.
• Organize your ideas logically with clear transitions.
• Address counterarguments.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points and restate the thesis.
• Provide final thoughts and consider broader implications.
• End with a memorable closing statement.

Architecture Essay Conclusion

Step#6 Edit and proofread 

Review your essay for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Make sure that your ideas are expressed clearly and concisely.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

History of Architecture Essay Topics

• The Impact of Ancient Greek Architecture on Modern Building Design in the United States
• The Development of Gothic Architecture as an Architectural Movement in Medieval Europe
• A Case Study of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie Style Architecture and its Influence on American Home Design
• The Rise of Skyscrapers in the United States. A Look at the History and Impact of Tall Buildings on People Living and Working in Cities
• The Origins of Modernism in Architecture: Tracing the Roots of this Architectural Movement from Europe to the United States
• A Comparative Analysis of Chinese and Japanese Traditional Architecture: Exploring the Differences and Similarities of These Two Styles Originated from Asia
• The Influence of Islamic Architecture on the Development of Spanish Colonial Architecture in the United States
• A Case Study of Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye: Analyzing the Characteristics of This Architectural Movement and Its Influence on Modern Architecture
• The Evolution of Green Architecture: Examining the History of Sustainable Building Design and Its Impact on People Living and the Environment
• The Revival of Art Deco Architecture. Tracing the Return of This Style Originated in the 1920s and 1930s in the United States.

In summary!

We hope the examples we've provided have sparked your imagination and given you the inspiration you need to craft your essay. Writing about architecture requires good skills, and your essay is an opportunity to showcase your unique ideas in the field.

Remember, even the greatest architects started somewhere, and the key to success is practice. But if you're feeling stuck and need a little help bringing your vision to life, don't worry! 

At CollegeEssay.org , our expert writers are here to provide you with top-quality essay writing service that will impress even the toughest critics.

Whether you need help finding the right words or want assistance with organizing your ideas, our AI essay generator can guide you every step of the way. 

So why wait? Contact our architecture essay writing service today and take the first step toward building your dream career in architecture!

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How to Write an Essay on Architecture

• by illustrarch Editorial Team
• 4 September 2023

Architecture goes beyond laying bricks and beams. Instead, it refers to any structure created by humans to fill a space. The ancient practice has undergone several changes through the centuries. They include Renaissance art , ancient and modern building styles. Budding architects immerse themselves in the captivating world, learning ways to convey thoughts. One such medium is architecture essay. Like a canvas, students learn to articulate the balance between form, function, and aesthetics. As a result, drafting a paper on the subject is often cumbersome. But with the right approach or guidance, you will create impressive essays. That is why we have compiled expert tips on how to write like an architect.

Writing Essay on Architecture Topic

What type of writing do architects do? Everything – from academic papers to dissertations and more. But essays differ from other academic works. So what is architecture essay? The article discusses various architectural aspects. They require different structures, compositions, and perspectives. Students analyze specific styles, criticize famous buildings, or discuss historical structural significance. The goal is to present arguments in a clear, organized, and persuasive manner.  However, the paper represents a fraction of the academic requirements. They learn everything about drawings, calculations, and more.

The most straightforward way to write an architectural essay is to ask a writer or someone else to assist you. It could be a friend, supervisor, or colleague in the field. When there are no classmates or the teacher is busy, you can get custom essay at Edusson from subject-matter experts. Professional assignment writers draft high-quality argumentative papers on various topics. They pass written works through diverse checks to ensure 100% unique and error-free content. Requesting help allows students to focus on other vital tasks and achieve balance. Likewise, samples by professional authors provide insights into formatting requirements.

The Difficulties Students Face When Formatting an Essay

College students encounter various challenges when crafting a text. More so since architecture is a vast field. Some common issues you’ll face include:

• Technical language usage and terminologies
• Interdisciplinary information integration
• Complex theories, design, and historical concepts
• Research depth
• Time management
• Originality
• Structuring and organization
• Citation and referencing
• Critique and self-critique

Tips for Crafting a Paper on an Architectural Topic

Writing about architecture is daunting, especially when you don’t have sufficient knowledge. But students can mitigate the challenges with dedication, practice, and a willingness to learn. That said, follow these strategies to write a mind-blowing essay.

Choose a Topic

The best way to get the most from your project is to divide it into three phases:

Topic selection is the first thing to do in the planning stages. Most times, lecturers assign subjects. Choose a theme yourself if there is no requirement. Architecture is a vast discipline. It includes design, buildings, and landscapes. Pick a topic within the broad field relating to any idea. Then streamline it to allow more focus and intensity. For example, kinetic architecture , artificial intelligence in buildings, and more. Narrow subjects are easier to research and discuss. Select a theme the readers will find interesting or something unique.

Create a Thesis Statement

The architecture thesis statement presents the main points you will address in the paper. It captures the main idea and gives the article direction. Apart from this, it allows you to tailor your study with precision.

Research is fundamental to any academic piece. So, investigate various sources before you commence drafting. Examples include books, academic writings, and reputable websites. Take notes to grasp concepts, terminologies, and contexts. Likewise, gather supporting data, visuals, and examples.

Draft an Outline

An outline wraps around the final planning face. It saves time by allowing you to present arguments in a logical and organized flow. A typical structure includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

• Use the intro to provide background information on the topic. Start with something interesting to engage the reader’s interest and set the article’s tone. Then, present the thesis statement and ease into the main content.
• Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or supporting subtopic. Introduce ideas and back them with examples, analysis, and evidence. Utilize transition words to flow from one section to another. Analyze elements, principles, and factors relevant to the topic.
• Wrap the essay by summarizing the main ideas and restating the thesis. Avoid introducing new information. Instead, give a perspective on the study’s significance.

Citations and References

The final drafting step is to include sources used in the research. The essence is to prevent plagiarism. Follow a consistent citation style as required by the guidelines to avoid penalties. For example, APA, Chicago, or MLA.

Editing and Proofreading

After creating the text, spend enough time editing it to improve its appearance. Architecture topics contain specific terminology, names, dates, and measurements. Cross-check to ensure you did not mess them up. Likewise, refine punctuation, style, and grammar. Beyond manual reading, use online assistants to catch elusive errors.

Final Review and Submission

Give the text to an intelligent friend or supervisor to read, and ask for constructive criticism. Incorporate feedback into the text and read through it one final time. Submit when you are satisfied with the quality.

The points above summarize what goes into drafting a paper. While they seem like common knowledge, many students flunk the process. Pay attention to these pointers to further make the essay about architecture stand out:

• Comprehend the assignment requirements before starting
• Start on time to meet deadlines
• Add visuals to complement the text
• Start with a compelling introduction
• Stick to the main points and avoid irrelevant discussions
• Use clear and concise language
• Pay attention to formatting guidelines
• Present unique perspectives

Creating Papers on Architecture Topic

Essays are among the best pieces for introducing a topic. But many students don’t know how to make the text captivating for readers. Unknown to most undergraduates, it all starts from the topic. Choose a perfect theme and spend enough time researching it. Lay arguments in sequence and employ storytelling to carry the audience along. Add visuals, examples, and evidence to strengthen points. Likewise, write in simple language and avoid jargon. Edit the work using manual and online efforts, and let someone else do the same. In the end, submit it in the required format before the deadline. We recommend you practice writing essays about architecture regularly to hone your skills over time.

illustrarch Editorial Team

illustrarch is your daily dose of #architecture. Leading community designed for all lovers of #illustration and #drawing. Free eBooks & Contents: https://illustrarch.gumroad.com/

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Privacy Overview

The Profession of an Architect

Introduction.

As far as architectural education provides a large amount of knowledge and skills, an architect can design various objects, from apartment buildings and cottages to hotels, schools, and urban spaces. The architects, along with other representatives of creative professions, create timeless works of art. Their responsibilities include creating the idea of the building and visualizing the project in the form of a layout, combining engineering, creativity, and management (Thompson 12). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the architects’ special worldview and how it affects the way they solve problems with design solutions and make the best real estate projects.

Architects, as well as sculptors or other creative professions, pay attention to the details that elude the eyes of other people. Unlike artists, who create an abstract picture of a real object, architects embody an abstract idea into reality. They are people with an unusual way of perceiving space, which helps them build their careers and develop professional skills. Architects see the world as a three-dimensional space and have increased awareness of the surroundings which is reflected in the way they see the spatial environment (Thompson 28). When asked to describe a place or an object, an architect will talk about the paths around the object and its boundaries. Therefore, increased attention to the surroundings seems to have a profound effect on how architects perceive and represent space.

Special skills and space perception help architects solve various problems with design solutions. This process includes understanding the problem, brainstorming and generating ideas, design and modeling, selection of the ideas and concepts, and the implementation of the design. First, they determine the underlying problem, then consider many options for solving it and choose the most suitable one. This process is called design thinking, which requires a creative approach to the implementation of tasks (Thompson 8). Professional architects carefully analyze each stage and create its visual embodiment, which remains a reliable assistant throughout the work on the project. This approach allows them to find the optimal balance between functionality and aesthetics (Thompson 7). Good architects also have to consider the end-user at every stage of their work. This principle should form the basis of each step, from the development of documentation and a functional diagram to the determination of structural basis and composition.

Architects acquire knowledge not only in the field of architectural composition but also in the production of structures, engineering infrastructure of buildings, ventilation, and much more. This allows them to study the nature of technological processes and constantly seek the best combination of functional and architectural solutions. For this reason, the architects become the best real estate developers since they know structural mechanics, materials science, as well as the methods of calculating building structures from various materials (Thompson 15). They design residential buildings, industrial enterprises, and social facilities, thus forming the appearance of cities and towns. They are environmental technologists, whose main task is to develop new and optimize the existing space-planning solutions of the environment.

People are not born architects; they are educated to be them. A chosen profession may form the worldview and affect the way the brain functions. The architect’s goal is to create a well-balanced living environment and design a project taking into account human needs. To achieve this, the architects have to rely on their perception of space, as well as on the knowledge of construction, economics, design, engineering, materials science, social practices, and many other fields. Moreover, the architects possess a fundamental feeling of space, and this unusual quality helps them solve various problems with design solutions and become the best real estate developers.

Thompson, James. Narratives of Architectural Education: From Student to Architect. Routledge, 2019.

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• What Is Architecture: What to Cover in a Student's Short Ess...
• What Is Architecture: What to Cover in a Student's Short Essay?

The word "architecture" may conjure up ideas for a person of a massive building with many floors and an impressive appearance. In actuality, architecture is so much more than that. If you are interested in learning about architecture, consider attending college and pursuing a degree in architecture, or you can buy architecture essays.

It is the art and science of creating buildings. The Greeks and Romans perfected this art form over thousands of years. Through their toil, architecture can be considered one of the most enduring arts practiced by humanity.

• Architecture

It is the art and science of designing buildings, structures, and spaces that meet the needs of people using them. Architecture originates from the Greek arkhitekton, or "master builder."

Architecture has been defined in different ways throughout history. It is a broad field of study that involves concepts such as engineering, aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. Alternatively, architecture has been defined as the art and science of thinking about space, form, and scale to create functional structures within our environment.

Additionally, it can be described as a design, planning, and construction process that shapes our built environment to make it functional and beautiful while providing shelter against hazards such as weather or fire. For example, Luxury architecture is more than just a building. It's a lifestyle, a statement, and an experience.

In recent years there has been a shift in focus away from aesthetics toward sustainability. It is now widely accepted that buildings should be designed to meet aesthetic standards and promote good health for those who occupy them through passive heating and cooling strategies.

Architecture is a multi-faceted discipline with various sub-fields, including urban planning, interior design, industrial design, civil engineering, and environmental engineering. Moreover, it also includes construction management, landscape architecture, historic preservation, urban design, and structural dynamics.

Various Types of Architecture

Architecture is a broad discipline that can be divided into categories based on structure, location, or use. These include residential architecture, commercial architecture, industrial architecture, and many more.

1.   Domestic Architecture

This type of architecture is the one that we use in our homes, offices, and other public places. The primary purpose of this type of architecture is to make our lives comfortable.

2.   Vernacular" Architecture

The term vernacular refers to an area's native or indigenous style, often associated with rural regions or minority groups within a country. This architecture is not meant for people with high income but is made so that they can live comfortably with their family members and friends in their own house.

3.   Religious Architecture

Religious architecture is the art and craft of designing places of worship such as churches, synagogues, or mosques; any structure is intended to perform religious rituals and ceremonies.

It includes all types of buildings like temples, mosques, etc., where people pray or meditate on religious matters with their friends once a week or once a month, depending on their religious beliefs (Islam, Christianity, etc.).

4.   Black House

Blackhouse architecture is a design concept that has been stirring up interest in architecture. It's an unconventional building style that aims to use a space's natural elements, such as light and wind, to create an interactive environment.

How Architecture Is A Combination Of Science And Art?

Architecture is a combination of science and art. Architecture is a science because it relies on the laws of physics and mathematics to create structures. It is also an art because it involves creativity in form and function.

Architecture has been around for thousands of years and has evolved from simple structures to complex buildings. Civil Engineering is all about mathematics and physics, so it makes sense that engineers are good architects.

It takes a lot of skill to draw up plans for buildings that will last for centuries, but there's also a lot of creativity involved. You have to imagine how people will use your facility and what they want from it – this is where your imagination comes into play!

Architects don't just design buildings: they design entire cities! Cities need roads, public transport systems, parks, and other green spaces for people to enjoy leisure activities. They also need housing for everyone (who wants to live there).

To understand architecture, it is essential to know what it is not. Architecture is not just buildings or structures like bridges or dams but also includes infrastructure such as roadways and tunnels that support human activities. It also has landscape architecture which deals with outdoor spaces like parks and gardens and indoor areas like lobbies or waiting rooms.

Architecture Can Mean Different Things to Different People

Architecture can mean different things to different people. To some, it's a great way to express themselves and be creative. For others, it's an outlet for their passion for art and design. And then some see architecture as a means of making money!

For example, some architects focus on creating beautiful designs that look good from the outside, while others are more concerned with how well they work inside — how much light comes into rooms at certain times of the day or how easily disabled people can get around in them.

Architecture Is About Making Creative Choices within Limitations

The architect must determine the best way to meet the client's needs and desires within the physical constraints of the site and local building codes. For example, if a site has only 10 feet between two buildings, it won't be easy to accommodate an expansive courtyard or garden area.

Architects must also consider the materials available and how they will be used in a given project. If a client wants a house that looks like one made of stone but has no quarries nearby, then they will have to use other materials (such as concrete or stucco). The architect must make these decisions based on what is possible given their budget and time constraints.

The architect can also choose what style they want to use for a particular project. The chosen type will depend on whether the client prefers modern or traditional design elements. For example, some clients prefer sleek glass towers while others prefer more traditional styles such as colonial revival homes with white columns out the front glass.

Experiencing Architecture First-Hand

Experiencing architecture first-hand is an essential part of understanding the discipline. The best way to learn about architecture is to experience it by visiting an architectural landmark or exploring a new city. Even if you cannot travel, there are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the world.

By Liliana Alvarez

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Architecture Essays: The Latest Architecture and News

The paradox of sustainable architecture: durability and transience.

To convey the might and prestige of their empire, the Romans constructed enduring architecture as symbols of their long-lasting reign . Emperors employed grand public works as assertions of their status and reputation. Conversely, Japanese architecture has long embraced ideas of change and renewal, evident in the ritualistic rebuilding of Shinto shrines . A practice, known as shikinen sengu , is observed at Ise Jingu, where the shrine is purposefully dismantled and reconstructed every twenty years. Across the world, philosophies around permanence and impermanence pervaded architectural traditions. Amidst the climate crisis, how do these tenets apply to modern architectural design?

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The Impact of AI Tools on Architecture in 2024 (and Beyond)

In 2022, a wider audience gained access to unexpectedly powerful AI tools, including Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and DALL-E 2 for text-to-image generation, as well as the human-like chatbot OpenGPT.

One year later, pundits, organizations, and governments have stated these technologies will pose profound risks to society and humanity—from automation-spurred job loss to disrupting democratic processes to the automatization of weapons.

Architecture and Communication: Dissemination, Curators and Architecture News

In 1999, Birgit Lohmann and Massimo Mini co-founded designboom, self-proclaimed as the "first online architecture and design magazine." Seven years later, Facebook transitioned from Ivy League universities to massive audiences, while the first tweet was posted on formerly-known Twitter. Sixteen years have passed since these milestones.

While 16 years may be a short period in architecture, digital media and social networks are far from being considered emergent in the history of the internet. In fact, they form the core of the current Web 2.0 model, characterized by a dual interaction between content producers and consumers: sharing, liking, remixing, and reposting.

Indeed, the speed and magnitude of the transformations that digital media have undergone, and in turn, driven, provide the opportunity to begin documenting the history of the digital era and its impact on architecture.

Creating Architectural Value through Aesthetics

Humans try very hard to make the inexplicable understood. Our spirituality becomes religion. Fairness becomes law. And what delights us becomes aesthetics, and aesthetics are dumbed down to “style” in fine arts and architecture. The description, then definition, of aesthetics enables us to judge, and hopefully, control what thrills us: "Styles may change, details may come and go, but the broad demands of aesthetic judgement are permanent". -- Roger Scruton

But the instant delight we sometimes feel when we hear, taste, think or see parts of our experience is unreasoned in its apprehension. We try to create value in our outcomes by defining them beyond experience – that is aesthetics.

Copycat: Why Is Copying a Style Bad for Cities?

CopyCat is the act of emulating something that's already been created and using it in a different context. Copycats can exist in music, arts and design; but they are not exactly a design inspiration or a style reference, but rather a literal copy with almost no modification of the original work.

In architecture, it is as if you were inspired by an emblematic work from another space-time and placed it somewhere unconnected with the original roots of the work-style.

The Space Age Aesthetic: Influencing Architecture and Interiors

The dawn of nuclear power , dramatic advances in rocketry, and the desire to be the first to put men into space and on the moon, kick-started an era known as the ‘Space Age’ . Upon the closure of WW2, both the Soviets and the Allies found themselves in a state of antagonism, as they both began to struggle to make advancements in space exploration before the other, a race for space. The era would give way to rapid advancements in technology and huge accomplishments including the moon landing in 1969 . The Space Age aesthetic completely changed the way designers visualized the new world and left a dramatic impression on architecture and interiors. A new vision of futurism and prosperity.

Why Francis Kéré Won the Pritzker Prize?

Last Tuesday, March 15, Francis Kéré became the first African architect to win the Pritzker Prize , the most important award in the architecture discipline.

The election of Kéré is not only symbolic in a time of identity demands, where the institutions that make up the mainstream are required to more faithfully represent the social, cultural, and sexual realities that make up our societies, but it also confirms the recent approach of the Pritzker Prize jury.

Architecture as Sexual Technology

By defining sexuality as one of several sexual technologies, Michel Foucault has expanded our understanding of sex. This way, the relationship between architecture and the body is shaped not only by the built object, with its various spatial mechanisms for the production of bodies, but also by thinking, in the form of academic discourse. And vice versa, since gender and sexuality also impact architectural theory. One way or another, these relationships are very rich and capable of expanding our knowledge about architecture and the creation of generic sexed bodies.

Before “Colonial” There Was Immigrant Architecture in North America

There is an architecture of the migrant. It is survivalist, built with what is available, made as quickly as possible, with safety as its core value. Americans romanticize that architecture as “Colonial”: simple timber buildings, with symmetric beginnings, infinite additions, and adaptations. But “Colonial” architecture is not what was built first by the immigrants to a fully foreign land 400 years ago. Like all migrant housing, time made it temporary and forgotten.

Queer Looks On Architecture: From Challenging Identity-Based Approaches To Spatial Thinking

A growing number of theorists and practitioners have been discussing the impact of gender and race on the profession and theory of architecture. Issues linked to the relationship between the built environment, sexual orientation, and gender identity, however, remain particularly understudied, perhaps because of their relative invisibility and less clearly identifiable discriminatory consequences. Moreover, they are also completely neglected by design theory in the Francophone world. This article partially remedies the situation.

Architecture Out of the Closet

Architecture can be many things, also queer. Alongside many other transgressing words that carry different meanings and perspectives, this term triggers new insights into society and questions how we create architecture and urban planning projects, including their programs and activities. If there is any statement about how architecture should be done, if there is any conviction about what it represents, we wish here to avoid knowing what it is and be able to question its traditions to broaden the profession, its meanings, and social representation.

Living On the Edge: Why We’re Attracted to Places Where the Manmade Abuts the Natural

This article was originally published on Common Edge as "Living on the Edge."

I am on the edge. Not emotionally or psychologically—although this could be the case—but literally, physically, spatially, geographically. As I write this, I am sitting on the balcony of a hotel room in Miami Beach, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Behind me is the whole State of Florida and, indeed, the entire North American continent. In front of me: the boardwalk, a narrow beach, and then a lot of water—and not much else between here and Mauritania, a distance of more than 4,400 miles.

"As Long as There Are Human Beings and their Challenges, There Will Be Architecture": In Conversation with Ole Bouman

Believing firmly that "architecture is [...] too important to leave solely to architects", Ole Bouman embarked on diverse activities throughout his three decades of work , reflecting on “architecture, not so much as the art or technique of making buildings, but architecture as the intelligent way to organize our lives on earth, and infuse it with purpose”.

After having shared Bouman's essay Finding Measure , ArchDaily had the chance to discuss with Design Society ’s founding director his thoughts on the role of architecture, the current challenges of the world, the digital revolution, and many other thought-provoking topics.

"Architecture not Exclusively for Architects": Ole Bouman on Finding Measure

“We can all be designers ” states Ole Bouman , one of the most influential figures in the world of Architecture . Implicated in the contemporary architectural discourse, the founding director of Design Society , in Shenzhen , China has introduced, since the 1990s, many design concepts, founded culture brands, and took on institutional roles all over the world.

Previously the director of the NAi - Netherlands Architecture Institute and the creative director of the Urbanism/Architecture Bi-City Biennale of Shenzhen/Hong Kong , the Dutch-German historian, writer, publisher, photographer, curator, lecturer, and practitioner in design and architecture, has gathered three decades of work in a platform , highlighting the interaction “ between a life and history unfolding ”. Read on to discover Ole Bouman ’s Finding Measure essay, extracted from his website , and stay tuned for A rchDaily’s exclusive interview with Design Society’s founding director , discussing present and future, and tackling the role of architecture, the current challenges of the world, the digital revolution and many other thought-provoking topics.

The Precarious State of the Mom-and-Pop Store

This article was originally published on Common Edge.

Few businesses in the United States are regarded with more fondness than mom-and-pop retailers. There’s an “all’s right with the world” quality about owner-run shops that meet a neighborhood’s everyday needs and, through repeated face-to-face exchanges, help people feel they’re members of a mutually supportive community. And yet for a long time, mom-and-pop stores have been under stress. In the half-century after 1950, cars shifted much of United States’s retailing to unwalkable roadside strips and winnowed the ranks of neighborhood-scale mom-and-pops. In the past two decades, the burgeoning of the internet has intensified the pressure on brick-and-mortar retail, a situation worsened by the pandemic.

The Chase Residence: The History Behind One of Texas' Most Radical Houses

The following text is excerpted from John S. Chase — The Chase Residence (Tower Books, 2020) by architect and University of Texas professor David Heymann and historian and Rice University lecturer Stephen Fox. Richly illustrated with archival materials and new drawings, the book is the first devoted to Chase, who was the first Black licensed architect in Texas. The study is divided into two parts, with Heymann examining the personal, social, and architectural significance of Chase’s own Houston house and Fox describing Chase’s architectural career.

This excerpt draws on Heymann’s analysis and highlights the first incarnation of the Chase Residence (Chase substantially altered its architecture in 1968). It places great emphasis on the house’s remarkable courtyard, a modernist innovation, and a singular statement about domestic living at the time. New section, elevation, and perspective drawings prepared for the book help illustrate the ingenuity of the house’s configuration. Finally, the excerpt was selected in part to honor Drucie (Rucker) Chase, who passed away in January of 2021.

The Case for a Feeling Architecture

My mother is a psychologist, so our family talks a lot about emotion. More specifically, we discuss the experience of emotion, because, as she  likes to remind me and my sisters, “We don’t  think  our feelings—we  feel  them, in our bodies.” According to my mother, it’s this experience of emotion that gives our lives a sense of meaning and vitality; as a result, her work isn’t about intellectual insight or abstract theories, but rather about giving her patients a new experience of themselves in the world.

Tech, Class, Cynicism, and Pandemic Real Estate

It didn’t take long for the coronavirus pandemic to inspire both cutting-edge architectural design solutions and broad speculation about future developments in the field. Many of the realized innovations have been contracted by or marketed to the real estate sector. But as firms compete to provide pandemic comforts to rich tenants, the COVID-19 technology that directly affects working-class communities is mostly limited to restrictive measures that fail to address already-urgent residential health hazards or administrative conveniences for developers that allow them to circumvent public scrutiny. These changes had been long-planned, but they have found a new license under the pretext of coronavirus precaution. In terms of “corona grifting,” this sort of thing takes the cake.

Minimalism in Architecture: Origins and Influences Essay

Architectural movement: minimalism.

Minimalism refers to an architectural movement that started in the middle of the twentieth century. It arose as a response to the previous era’s complex ornate designs. The movement sought to reduce and simplify architecture to its most critical elements. Thus, artists in the era used clean lines and simple forms and focused on function instead of ornamentation. Reducing unnecessary elements created a sense of visual purity and enhanced a structure’s functional qualities. Furthermore, minimalism was influenced by the economic and social conditions of the era. Society had become more industrialized, increasing the need for functional and efficient architecture. This need inspired minimalist design, as architects strove to create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and practical (Pan, 2019; Mehta et al., 2019). Today, minimalism in architecture is influenced by popular ideas of efficiency, functionality, and simplicity.

Political, Social, and Economic Context Of Minimalism

Minimalism’s emergence was inspired by the economic, social, and political changes that were happening after the end of World War II. The world was recovering from war devastation, and the need for affordable, practical housing had increased. Additionally, urbanization was accelerating and the population was increasing, creating the need for space-efficient and functional buildings. Furthermore, the 1950s and 1960s economic boom fueled people’s desire for minimalist designs. The economic boom also enabled architects to experiment with new construction methods and designs. Finally, the time’s social context influenced minimalist designs as the post-war generation wanted a break from the excessive and ornate past designs, and minimalism provided a refreshing and simple alternative (Norm Architects, 2022). Overall, the minimalist aesthetic reflected the new modernist age that expressed the desire for efficiency and simplicity.

Key Influences on Minimalism

Every art movement is influenced by different factors, and minimalist architecture is no exception. The modernist movement was one key influence that sought to develop a new style inspired by the modern age. Architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier were major modernism proponents as their work significantly impacted minimalist architecture. Thus, they emphasized the significance of simplicity, functionality, and clean lines. The Japanese “Ma” concept is also a primary influence on minimalism since it focuses on simplicity and negative space, which is critical in developing minimalist architecture. The rise of fresh materials such as glass and steel and industrial design significantly influenced minimalist architecture. The materials enabled architects to create delicate and light structures, reflecting the modern age’s industrial nature (Colomina, 2019; Norm Architects, 2022). Furthermore, the materials were easy to maintain, durable, and practical, making them effective for the time’s minimalist and functional designs.

Key Players In Minimalism

Peter Zumthor, Tadao Ando, and John Pawson are significant players in the movement due to their ability to create elegant, functional, and simple buildings. John Pawson’s work focuses on functionality and simplicity, often by utilizing natural materials such as stone and wood. On the other hand, Tadao Ando’s designs incorporate light and concrete to create spaces that are harmonious with the natural environment. In contrast, Peter Zumthor’s utilization of natural materials, especially stone, develops minimalist designs that engage all artistic senses (Norm Architects, 2022). These architects are famous for their capability to create beautiful and functional buildings, with simple spaces that are harmonious with their surroundings.

Architect Profile: Philip Johnson

The selected artist, Philip Johnson, was an influential American architect during the 20 th century. He is known for his significant impacts on the modernist movement as well as his innovative steel and glass designs. Born in Cleveland, Johnson attended Harvard University and Paris’ École des Beaux-Arts, where his deep appreciation for modernism principles began. In addition to his architectural work, Johnson was a critic and curator, influencing modernist architecture development in the U.S. Johnson’s influence on architecture extended beyond his designs since he shaped the discourse around modernism and promoted other architects’ works (Volner, 2020). He played a pivotal role in postmodernism development, and his effect is still manifested in contemporary architects’ works today.

Biography of Philip Johnson

Johnson’s architectural career started in the 1930s when he collaborated with Mies van der Rohe to design New York’s Seagram building. The building is considered an iconic depiction of modernist architecture. It was Mies’ first attempt in tall building construction and he created a masterpiece with ample outdoor seating. He went on to design various significant structures, including Connecticut’s Glass House. The building is regarded as one of his most vital works. The Glass House provides an example of how Johnson was fascinated by materials of glass and steel as well as his interest in the transparency concept in architecture (Volner, 2020). His ideology was controversial due to his desire to embrace various approaches and styles, such as postmodernism.

Glass House Design

The Glass House was designed by Johnson and represents a striking example of modernist architecture. The house is a rectangular and simple structure made entirely of steel and glass without interior walls, creating a sense of transparency and openness. The design was influenced by Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe and featured similar use of steel and glass. The house highlighted the relationship between nature and man (Tobolczyk, 2021). The house is located in New Canaan Connecticut and includes other structures, making it a modernist architectural landmark.

Interior of Glass House

The interior of the Glass House reflects Johnson’s philosophy of functionality, minimalism, and simplicity. The main living space contains sensibly chosen furniture designed to maximize the landscape views. In particular, the fireplace acts as a visual divider between the bedroom and living area. A closet wall separates the bathroom from the living space, while the kitchen is in another nearby structure. The building uses floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and glass walls to improve the sense of openness, which blurs the distinction between the outside and inside (Tobolczyk, 2021). Thus, the Glass House’s interior is a timeless example of a minimalist approach that creates aesthetically pleasing and highly functional living spaces.

The Exterior of Glass House

The Glass House’s exterior design is characterized by the simple and minimalistic rectangular form that emphasizes the connection between the outside and inside spaces. Using steel and glass as the primary materials creates lightness and transparency and blends with the landscape. The building lacks decorative elements; ornamentation contributes to timeless elegance and simplicity. The highly functional design allowed the construction of an ample open space without interior walls, ensuring a seamless transition between the outside and inside spaces. Glass as the primary material enables natural lights in the house, which makes it spacious and airy and provides unobstructed surrounding landscape views (Tobolczyk, 2021). Overall, the exterior design’s aesthetics and functionality converge to create a balanced and harmonious architectural masterpiece.

Critical Analysis of The Glass House

The key strengths of the Glass House are its innovative and unique design and its robust connection between exterior and interior spaces. However, its impracticality, lack of privacy, and unsuitability for specific environments and climates depict some of its weaknesses. Regardless of the limitations, the Glass House has significantly impacted the architectural world since it is an iconic example of modernist architecture, influencing multiple designers. As a result, the design continues to be appreciated and studied by architectural enthusiasts. The image in the slide helps to visualize the points presented in the critical analysis.

Colomina, B. (2019). X-ray architecture . Lars Müller Publishers.

Mehta, N., Dave, R., & Barche, S. (2019). Minimalism in architecture . International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, 2 , 652-653. Web.

Norm Architects. (Ed.). (2022). Soft minimal: A sensory approach to architecture and design. Gestalten.

Pan, V. J. (2019). Architecture of the periphery in Chinese: Cartography and minimalism. Routledge.

Tobolczyk, M. (2021). Contemporary architecture: The genesis and characteristics of leading trends . Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Volner, I. (2020). Philip Johnson: A visual biography . Phaidon Press.

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IvyPanda. (2024, May 28). Minimalism in Architecture: Origins and Influences. https://ivypanda.com/essays/minimalism-in-architecture-origins-and-influences/

"Minimalism in Architecture: Origins and Influences." IvyPanda , 28 May 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/minimalism-in-architecture-origins-and-influences/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Minimalism in Architecture: Origins and Influences'. 28 May.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Minimalism in Architecture: Origins and Influences." May 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/minimalism-in-architecture-origins-and-influences/.

1. IvyPanda . "Minimalism in Architecture: Origins and Influences." May 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/minimalism-in-architecture-origins-and-influences/.

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Essay Architect Writing System - Teacher Guide for Teaching the Five Paragraph Essay Perfect Paperback – August 30, 2012

• Print length 213 pages
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• Publisher Secondary Solutions DBA Simply Novel
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Secondary Solutions DBA Simply Novel; Second edition (August 30, 2012)
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Guest Essay

How to Make Room for One Million New Yorkers

By Vishaan Chakrabarti

Vishaan Chakrabarti is the founder of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, a New York City architecture firm, and the former director of planning for Manhattan.

New York City doesn’t have enough homes. The average New Yorker now spends 34 percent of pre-tax income on rent, up from just 20 percent in 1965. There are many reasons homes in the city are so expensive, but at the root of it all, even after the pandemic, is supply and demand: Insufficient housing in our desirable city means more competition — and therefore sky-high prices — for the few new homes that trickle onto the market.

Some New Yorkers harbor fantasies that instead of building more, we can meet our housing needs through more rent control, against the advice of most economists , or by banning pieds-à-terre or by converting all vacant office towers into residential buildings, despite the expense and complexity . Given the enormity of the crisis, such measures would all be drops in the bucket, leading many to worry that if we were to actually build the hundreds of thousands of homes New Yorkers need, we would end up transforming the city into an unrecognizable forest of skyscrapers.

This resistance to change is more than just the usual grumbling from opinionated New Yorkers; it has become a significant obstacle, and it threatens to stifle the vitality of this great city. As Binyamin Appelbaum of The Times argues in his analysis of New York’s housing crisis: “New York is not a great city because of its buildings. It is a great city because it provides people with the opportunity to build better lives.”

I Want a City, Not a Museum

New York’s layers of laws to protect existing buildings has led to a shortage of housing.

By Binyamin Appelbaum

To do that, New York needs to build more housing, and it can. New York could add dwellings for well over a million people — homes most New Yorkers could afford — without substantially changing the look and feel of the city.

My architecture firm, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, previously worked with Times Opinion to imagine the future of the city’s rail infrastructure and streets . This time, we took a fresh look at housing.

We found a way to add more than 500,000 homes — enough to house more than 1.3 million New Yorkers — without radically changing the character of the city’s neighborhoods or altering its historic districts.

Here’s how we got to 500,000 housing units — the same number that the mayor has called a “moonshot goal.”

Apartments near public transit are convenient for residents and better for the environment, so we started by looking at areas within a half-mile of train stations and ferry terminals.

Next, we excluded parts of the city that might be at risk of flooding in the future.

In the remaining areas, we identified more than 1,700 acres of underutilized land: vacant lots, single-story retail buildings, parking lots and office buildings that could be converted to apartments.

For each lot, we calculated how much housing we could add without building any higher than nearby structures.

Take this single-story grocery store in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.

A mid-rise apartment complex built above a replacement grocery store could create 58 new housing units. The resulting structure wouldn't be any taller than the apartment complex next to it.

We also identified sites that could support smaller developments, like this vacant lot on the northern edge of the Bronx.

Low-rise apartment buildings house many more people than single-family homes. If designed thoughtfully, they could become just as much a part of the urban fabric as the city's brownstones.

This single-story store in Flushing, Queens, is just minutes away from a subway stop on a line that runs straight to Midtown Manhattan. It’s a prime example of underutilized land.

Matching the density of surrounding buildings, a high-rise built above new retail spaces could create 242 apartments.

Last, we considered office buildings that could be converted to apartments.

Office building conversions can require a tremendous amount of construction. But we should consider any reasonable proposal to house more New Yorkers.

The hypothetical buildings in our analysis would add 520,245 homes for New Yorkers. With that many new housing units, more than a million New Yorkers would have a roof over their head that they could afford, near transit and away from flood zones, all while maintaining the look and feel of the city.

Of course, adding apartment buildings would place more demand on our subways and schools in some neighborhoods. But the construction of over 520,000 homes would stimulate our economy; add people to our sidewalks, making them safer; and make the city more accessible to middle-class families — who are essential to the long-term health and prosperity of New York.

How to add 520,245 housing units to N.Y.C.

conversions

Getting to 500,000

How many housing units our proposed buildings would add.

Office conversions

Mid-rises wouldn’t feel out of place

in many parts of the Bronx and Queens.

Almost all of the office conversions

we’re proposing are in Manhattan.

Residents of high-rises along Atlantic Avenue could easily take the subway to work.

Low-rises near the

Staten Island Railway

could house thousands

more New Yorkers.

Several political, legal and economic impediments stand in the way of addressing New York City’s housing crisis. Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul have proposed ambitious plans to build hundreds of thousands of new housing units, but they have faced stiff opposition. Our City Council and State Legislature need to support a significant expansion of housing supply for the city or otherwise answer for our housing and homelessness crisis.

There are many reasons it is so difficult to build new housing in New York City — including zoning, the under-taxation of vacant and underutilized land, the continuing rise of construction costs, the elimination of important tax incentives, and intense and often misguided anti-development sentiments. These challenges can and should be addressed. But please, don’t let people tell you we can’t build the homes New Yorkers need because we’ve run out of room or because it would ruin the city’s character. We are, in fact, a very big apple.

Methodology

We identified underutilized lots using the Department of City Planning’s PLUTO dataset. Transit stations include stops for the subway, ferry, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North train lines. For the flood risk analysis, we used the NYC Flood Hazard Mapper’s 0.2 percent annual chance floodplain for 2100.

Contiguous lots facing the same street were merged to maximize hypothetical development potential; small and irregular lots were excluded from the analysis. Maximum building heights were determined by looking at buildings in an 800-foot radius from sites on local streets or quarter-mile radius for sites on more heavily trafficked thoroughfares, as defined by the city’s LION street database.

For low- , mid- and high-rises, we calculated the number of units in each proposed building using the following assumptions: We allocated 37 percent to 45 percent of each lot to open space, and then multiplied the remaining lot area by the number of stories allowed as determined above to calculate the amount of buildable area. Of that total buildable area, we allotted 15 percent to hallways, lobbies and mechanical spaces; we divided the remaining residential space by an average unit size of 750 square feet to determine the number of units.

To identify offices that could be converted to apartments, we created a list of larger, older offices that were built between 1950 and 1990 and have not been altered since 2003. We excluded offices that are publicly owned or have architectural or historical significance. To estimate the number of units in the proposed conversions, we allocated 40 percent of each building to hallways, lobbies and mechanical spaces.

To calculate how many people could live in the proposed housing, we used a rate of 2.56 people per housing unit, based on statistics for New York City from the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Abdel Moneim Mustafa (1930–)

28 May 2024 By Esra Akcan Reputations

The Sudanese modernist distanced himself from colonial architects, paving the way for a postcolonial cosmopolitanism in architecture

When I first came across Abdel Moneim Mustafa’s (1930–) name in 2018, I could not find a published image of his work in any library outside Sudan, apart from a thumbnail of the Arab Bank for Economic Development HQ that piqued my interest. I grew suspicious of this lack of recognition. There was a short window of time, in 2019, when I was able to visit about 20 of Moneim Mustafa’s buildings in Khartoum, with the help and guidance of Migdad Bannaga, one of his former employees. The visit took place after Omar al‑Bashir had been deposed following 30 years of authoritarian rule, when the transitional government had promised to move to full democracy, and before another coup shook the country in 2021. Today, the violent conflict continues. News of famine and displacement is proliferating, while many of Khartoum’s buildings are occupied or destroyed. Little did I know, in 2019, that I could be documenting the last days of some of the most fascinating mid‑century modernist buildings on the African continent.  

Born in 1930 in the city of Omdurman, across the river from the capital, Moneim Mustafa studied to be a civil engineer (mühendis) at the University of Khartoum; there was no department of architecture (mimar) at the time. He received a fellowship to pursue his architectural education in the UK and became the first non‑British ‘student of the year’ at Leicester School of Architecture. In the meantime, Sudan regained its independence from the Anglo‑Egyptian Condominium in 1956. Upon his return to Sudan, Moneim Mustafa was employed by the Ministry of Public Works and started teaching at the newly inaugurated architecture department at the University of Khartoum in 1964. He also founded a private architectural office and was commissioned for private houses and office buildings. Partnering with his engineer colleagues led to an office restructure in 1982; named Technocon Engineering Group, the new firm took on larger‑scale projects, including bridges and infrastructure across Sudan, as well as collaborations with Italian architects Paolo Portoghesi and Vittorio Gigliotti for an (unbuilt) airport in north Khartoum, and with Doxiadis Associates for the second plan of Khartoum in 1990.  

One of the most locally admired Sudanese architects of his generation, Moneim Mustafa lived during the transition from colonial regime to national republic, when professional networks reached not only British colonial architects but also those of the last Ottoman generation. Moneim Mustafa shared some of the mid‑century developmentalist enthusiasm of the time – an ideology of modernisation based on the conviction that all world nations would follow in the footsteps of western countries, adopting their ideals of progress. For instance, he referred to his College of Fine and Applied Art as ‘an essential instrument for economic development and social change’ and as ‘a cultural centre where the public can meet to exchange ideas for … [Sudan’s] realities and future prospects’. He identified ‘flexibility and extendibility’ as the major planning principles of development in his report for this campus, but also sketched alternative schemes depicting ‘monocentric’, ‘polycentric’, ‘gridiron’ and ‘linear’ development.  

Yet, Moneim Mustafa was hardly a passive recipient of western developmentalist zeal, or an uncritical follower of the continuing British control over former colonies. Educated in the UK, Moneim Mustafa was well versed in the techniques and ideologies underpinning ‘tropical architecture’ – a term used during both colonial and independence eras. Bringing sun and ventilation to the centre of his design practice, he intentionally built on this know‑how; yet the ethos of independence as well as his preoccupation with, and understanding of, local climate led him to revise and make significant adjustments to colonial designs. His buildings in Khartoum are easily identified by their elaborate verandahs and window details. The verandah is an example of how his views differed from those of the British colonial architects and some of his contemporary colleagues. As one of the most recognisable elements of British colonial architecture in Sudan and other British colonies across Africa, Australia and South Asia, the verandah was employed unmistakably in all residential and public buildings of Khartoum under colonial rule. In the eyes of the colonisers, it was a passive cooling technique for their comfort in ‘tropical’ climates. Racist segregation dictated its use, as Khartoum’s planner WH McLean and governor Edwin Geoffrey Sarsfield‑Hall explicitly defended the verandah and open areas for ‘white men’ in European quarters, while they claimed ‘natives’ could live comfortably in denser urban areas and houses without verandahs.  

The private houses designed by Moneim Mustafa throughout the late 1960s and ’70s were commissioned by new statesmen, professionals and other members of the rising bourgeoisie of the Sudanese independence. Inside the modular reinforced‑concrete frames, the architect alternates solids and voids; a whole range of open, covered, screened and closed areas help climate control and provide spaces for different activities, from open‑air nighttime sleeping terraces to daytime shaded and socialising spaces. Whether living areas attached to interior spaces or circulation paths that were part of the landscaping, these spaces were all labelled in the architect’s drawings as ‘verandahs’. Mahmood Abdelrahim House in Khartoum, for example, integrates the high walls of the street into its design to create a courtyard, while the lifted verandah of Mansour Khalid House creates a hybrid relationship with the street and provides a viewpoint to see behind the high garden wall. Even in his designs for low‑cost collective housing, Moneim Mustafa provided a verandah for each unit; in the Neighbourhood Unit project, each dwelling has its own private garden as well as verandahs covered with bamboo roofs, while the dwellings encircle a larger and shared open area.

Extending his care for passive climate control to public buildings, Moneim Mustafa designed the most memorable metropolitan structures of Khartoum. El Ikhwa Building, which combines retail and apartments, features a remarkable set of balconies that jut out, alternating in orientation from one floor to another to provide both shade and air circulation. Concerns to block direct sun rays also led to signature window details in large office buildings such as the Arab Bank for Economic Development HQ, the Sudan Development Co‑operation, and the Sudanese Savings Bank.

Ideas of ‘tropical architecture’ were evolving, but continued to inform architectural practice in Khartoum during independence, via the pages of UK journal Colonial Building Notes for example; at London’s AA School of Architecture, ‘tropical architecture’ became a discipline of scientifically tested climate‑control techniques, and Sudanese students were invited to contribute research examples from Sudan. Moneim Mustafa perceived that the British entitlement to climate literacy was embarrassingly mistaken – British colonisers referred to all of their colonies as ‘tropical lands’, regardless of their geography or latitude. He qualified Khartoum’s climate as ‘hot and dry’ rather than ‘tropical’, and drew attention to sand storms (haboobs), which had been ignored by colonial planners. His architecture developed in response. Instead of the wide and open‑air areas highly exposed to wind that were inherited from colonial and mid‑century urban planning, he grouped buildings around courtyards and minimised uncovered walkways. The design for the Khartoum Polytechnic Campus is a network of buildings tightly knit together, where half the proposed sleeping areas in student hostels are open to the air, on terraces and verandahs. Landscaping would play a vital role for creating microclimates, shading cars and providing different identities to courtyards.

Even though he used some of the technical know‑how acquired as a student in the UK, such as solar diagrams, inverted umbrella structures and technical sections showing sun and wind control, he also at times turned to precolonial climate wisdom – the more tightly knit buildings and courtyards that create a microcosm are an example of this. Rather than boldly refusing or blindly accepting colonial heritage and its postwar continuations, Moneim Mustafa chose to keep and work with functioning climate‑control techniques, translating and adapting them, in the buildings he designed for the new Sudanese citizens. He also chose to disregard some of these techniques, when he assessed them to be inappropriate or damaging from the viewpoint of climate. This freedom to choose is what I would call independence, or rather ‘self‑determined interdependence’: the idea of redistributing the material and symbolic wealth produced under colonisation among the new self‑governing citizens.  

Scholars often underestimate modernist architects in newly inaugurated nation‑states, accusing them of not decolonising enough, of being ‘helpless victims’ of western developmentalism or suffering from the Stockholm syndrome. Acknowledging the work of these architects requires a commitment to translatability in multiple directions. A new and more equitable international dialogue is sought, together with the self‑determination to dismantle the domination of global empires, without foreclosing cosmopolitanism. Adom Getachew acknowledges, in Worldmaking After Empire, the work of Black Anglophone intellectuals of the independence period who stood against the view of decolonisation  

as the rejection of the foreign. She argues that anti‑colonial nationalists were not solely, or even primarily, nation‑builders. This type of anti‑colonial struggle aims to construct the conditions for international non‑domination: an egalitarian but still globally connected world order, a postcolonial cosmopolitanism.

Postcolonial cosmopolitanism and anti‑colonial worldmaking was short‑lived in Sudan, a country then ravaged by a 22‑year‑long civil war that resulted in the genocide of Darfur and the separation into two countries, officially in 2011. Political turmoil and undemocratic forces personally affected Moneim Mustafa. He could no longer find public commissions once the Islamist military officer Omar al‑Bashir came to power in 1989, and eventually emigrated. Some of his most celebrated buildings, such as Mansour Khalid House, were occupied by military forces. Given the current conflict and struggle for democracy, it is unclear how many of his buildings or drawings will survive. The digitisation of his archive, realised with the CCA (Canadian Centre for Architecture) as part of its Find and Tell Elsewhere series, went online in 2022 and will help ensure Moneim Mustafa’s work is recognised for its contribution to the brief but hopeful moment in Sudan’s road to emancipation.

Lead illustration: Isabel Albertos

AR May 2024

Since 1896, The Architectural Review has scoured the globe for architecture that challenges and inspires. Buildings old and new are chosen as prisms through which arguments and broader narratives are constructed. In their fearless storytelling, independent critical voices explore the forces that shape the homes, cities and places we inhabit.

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Architecture critic Mark Lamster on the inaccessible trope 'plaguing new buildings'

Over the past decade or so, bleacher stairs have become a ubiquitous marker of contemporary public architecture. It’s time for the trend to stop. Its subsequent proliferation serves as a good example of how avant-garde design, or at least a consumerist version of it, filters down to the mainstream. The broader point is that architects need to be more inventive as they plan new public spaces, and their patrons need to demand that those spaces are accessible for the entire population. — The Dallas Morning News

The ubiquitous “bleacher stair” feature can be seen in designs for the Studio Museum of Harlem, Perez Art Museum Miami, and the new Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History (just by my count) and can be traced to Rem Koolhaas ’ design for Prada’s NYC flagship in 2001, says architecture critic Mark Lamster in a look around Dallas. (He later mentions SOM ’s new Schwarzman College of Computing for MIT as a positive adaptation of the trend.)

Interestingly, architect and disability advocate David Gissen tells him, “I think a giant mattress would be a more appropriate element with which to gather people together. Many disabled people have called for cities to re-imagine rest as a public good, and I think it is important that we explore the possibilities.”

Other critics have begun taking note elsewhere . How refreshing it is still to see criticism include a discussion like this that doesn’t expressly encourage “bad building.”

Similar articles on Archinect that may interest you...

I'm pretty torn on this. 

There are some egregiously bad examples and situations where the stair creates a large space in the center of the bleacher stair that is not accessible. 

But the one we see in the image for this article? The one that probably used to be a trash-filled non-conformingly small sidelot filled with broken bottles and piss? The one that has accessible seating areas at grade you can roll your chair into and participate in whatever is happening? I don't think this kind of stair is the problem. 

Schwarzman College of Computing, which unless I'm missing something is not accessible at the stair landing:

Maybe we should get rid of all stairs and only build ramp buildings from now on?

Noah Walker

I had the same reaction. Why use the example above, which im 99% sure is the highline segment around 21st - 24th street. Those bleachers are used all the time, both by tourists and locals alike. They are designed so that accessible seating positions are provided on either side, as are all of the railroad benches along the highline route. There are much bigger accessibility questions at the highline than this, mainly how narrow it gets in many areas, particularly in the 30th St range. But the entire length of it is accessible, with multiple elevators along the route. Its not clear the author has an idea of what would constitute a better model. If they were looking for a truly problematic bleacher seating, they should have brought up the example of the new Hunter's Point library, which has entirely secluded inaccessible bleacher seating on it.

archanonymous

ericd_weber

Bleacher stairs work when the space is already awesome. It doesn't work when the stairs are The Thing, usually taking away from space you are trying to make nice. 

My thinking behind it has been that stairs take up a great deal of space, so if you need them you may as well have fun with them. Of course it's dumb to ruin a perfectly good room with a random set of bleacher stairs that are obviously the "thing" and don't accomplish much else, but I think a big part of the appeal behind bleacher stairs is that they can provide multiple functions in a single package. Combining vertical circulation (when needed) with seating can make a great deal of sense in a lot of contexts. So long as an elevator is provided as an accessible alternative, and the staircase doesn't hold additional programming that someone in a wheelchair simply wouldn't be able to take advantage of (like the hunters point library), I don't really see what the problem is.

Access issues aside for a moment—the major objection is that these things simply aren't used and serve little purpose. And even if they are used, do they really add that much worthwhile? A bunch of people just sitting around? What is the message here?

What other worthless tropes have we been stuck with?

Like the Spanish steps in Rome. Glad they banned sitting on them , because they were just awful. The problem is not the type, it's the bad design. Maybe ban shit designers instead of worrying that there are too many bench/stairs, or its evil twin, the infamous stramp?

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Remove a code repository from this paper, mark the official implementation from paper authors, add a new evaluation result row, remove a task, add a method, remove a method, edit datasets, task agnostic continual learning with pairwise layer architecture.

22 May 2024  ·  Santtu Keskinen · Edit social preview

Most of the dominant approaches to continual learning are based on either memory replay, parameter isolation, or regularization techniques that require task boundaries to calculate task statistics. We propose a static architecture-based method that doesn't use any of these. We show that we can improve the continual learning performance by replacing the final layer of our networks with our pairwise interaction layer. The pairwise interaction layer uses sparse representations from a Winner-take-all style activation function to find the relevant correlations in the hidden layer representations. The networks using this architecture show competitive performance in MNIST and FashionMNIST-based continual image classification experiments. We demonstrate this in an online streaming continual learning setup where the learning system cannot access task labels or boundaries.

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Title: increasing the llm accuracy for question answering: ontologies to the rescue.

Abstract: There is increasing evidence that question-answering (QA) systems with Large Language Models (LLMs), which employ a knowledge graph/semantic representation of an enterprise SQL database (i.e. Text-to-SPARQL), achieve higher accuracy compared to systems that answer questions directly on SQL databases (i.e. Text-to-SQL). Our previous benchmark research showed that by using a knowledge graph, the accuracy improved from 16% to 54%. The question remains: how can we further improve the accuracy and reduce the error rate? Building on the observations of our previous research where the inaccurate LLM-generated SPARQL queries followed incorrect paths, we present an approach that consists of 1) Ontology-based Query Check (OBQC): detects errors by leveraging the ontology of the knowledge graph to check if the LLM-generated SPARQL query matches the semantic of ontology and 2) LLM Repair: use the error explanations with an LLM to repair the SPARQL query. Using the chat with the data benchmark, our primary finding is that our approach increases the overall accuracy to 72% including an additional 8% of "I don't know" unknown results. Thus, the overall error rate is 20%. These results provide further evidence that investing knowledge graphs, namely the ontology, provides higher accuracy for LLM powered question answering systems.

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