Planning, Strategy Development, Economic Analysis, Design
ARCHITECTURE
Space
Site
Geography
Use
Alignment
Comfort
Coherence
Perspective
Place
Order
Perception
elements of architecture
Bias
Familiarity
Similarity
Pattern
Protective
Secure
Architecture in often described in terms of buildings, built structures, developed systems or as"spatial art".
Its association with "art" often leads people to think of architecture as nothing more than a discipline that "makes things beautiful" through the application of colours, icons and sculptures.
While architecture does incorporate the concept of "beauty", it is within the broader construct of aesthetics.
More specifically, the concept of "beauty" is founded on ideas and concepts important and meaningful to humans; things like protection, security and familiarity.
For example, in the design of buildings, the utilization of electrical lighting on the exterior of a building to enhance the "look of a building", can engender a "feeling of security" in that it eliminates hidden spaces and provides a broader visual sphere from which a person can determine a zone of security.
A similar "aesthetic quality" can be applied in the design of organizational environments.
The use of standard (and familiar) processes, work profiles, reporting structures and interfaces into digital systems establishes a feeling of acceptability and a primitive level of trust.
Specifically, a recognizable and "easily understood" work environment makes people feel secure, provides organizational participants a "sense of connection and pride" and an "aesthetically pleasing and comfortable work space".
The creation of order (reduction of chaos and disorder) often leads to the term architecture being used
as a proxy for describing the organizing of components or building blocks into recognizable patterns that lead to well-defined outcomes - outcomes that humans find acceptable and meaningful.
However, the resulting outcomes are not architecture.
HUMAN CONTEXT
Architecture informs me.
It provides me with design "sensibilities" and a framework for introducing and applying management techniques, business knowledge and innovative technologies into organizations through the enabling structures they use.
Architecture is a design philosophy in which humanism is at its core.
Architecture must be applied, within a design process - a process that leads to a "form" that can be utilized to address conditions and challenges of the human endeavour.
The resulting "form" can be a building, urban park, business process, software application or an information system.
The discussion of architecture often leads to conversations about engineering.
Most believe that architecture and engineering are similar - sometimes one and the same.
While both are design philosophies, engineering is focused on the application of known science and manufacturing techniques.
The separation of architecture and engineering is actually a "modern concept".
Historically, those applying the philosophies of architecture were"master builders" that acted in the roles of designer, engineer and master craftsmen.
As structures became more complex and modern materials appeared, the humanistic characterisitcs implied in the works of the "master builder" was separated from the construction efforts.
In addition, as the economies of the world moved through the varying phases of the Industrial Revolution the idea that work needed to be separated and segmented to achieve efficiency also came to bear on the discipline of architecture.
The result - a distinct separation between the work of a designer, engineer and builder.
Today, the separation continues with the introduction of of sub-disciplines such as interior designer, urban planner, structural engineer, etc.
As a professional practitioner, I am a Designer that utilizes the design philosophy of architecture.
Let's discuss how I can apply an architecture design philosophy and create optimal work environments within your organization.