Arkitektur Metamorphoses The Earth’s Landscape

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9825
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The London Bridge, statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal, Egyptian pyramids, Stonehenge, the Opera house, the Colosseum, the leaning tower if Pisa, the giant statue of Christ in Rio and the Eiffel tower. All of these structures, ancient or otherwise have been crafted by the human hand and have changed the landscape of our planet forever. These structures are monumental, awe-inspiring, beautiful and a cause of pride to the world of arkitektur. And mind you, these are not the only ones that deserve a mention. There are thousands buildings and monuments that exist in the annals of our planet that can never be replicated and have been an endless source of inspiration for anyone who wishes to make a mark in a field based on creativity, ingenuity and innovation.
Being an arkitekt means having the power to change the face of the earth, literally!

Anyone who is even remotely connected to the world of arkitektur will know about Vitruvius, the 1st century roman architect. The formula of three fundamental principles that was professed by him, by-and-large holds true today as well. A building can serve different purposes. It could ...
... be a home, an office, an establishment, a museum, a sports complex, in fact, just about anything. Irrespective of the purpose that it is going to be used for, it has to be practical and functional. A structure could be imposing and eye-catching, but if you can’t live or work in it, the attempt to create an object that’s primary function is to house something/someone, is a futile one.

The next important principle is the one of structure. The way a building stands up is a very important factor. A building could be made up of a mix-and –match of several different materials. No matter what you use in the construction the structure has to be a stable and gravity-resistant one. Architecture is different from engineering in that it adds aesthetics to functionality. Just as cosmetic value cannot compensate for lack of functionality or structure, so also a structure that is merely functional cannot be defined as architecture. A structure also has to be beautiful and appealing. Paying attention to details like textures, effects, materials used, striking facades with an unusual mix of materials, carvings or high-ceilings, is an important component of architecture.

An arkitekt has to learn to encompass all these factors or ingredients into any structure that he/she creates. The definition of beauty changes with every generation. Something that was considered to be beautiful in the past century might be no more than a humungosity today. An edifice to a past that gave more importance to creating immense structures to prove its construction prowess to the world around them. But objectively, isn’t that what great architecture is meant to achieve? It is meant to catch your attention and be a conversation starter. It is meant to be more than just shelter. That’s exactly what the towering sky-scrapers of our urban, concrete-dominated landscape do, don’t they? They compel you to look up to them, to admire them and to laud their creators.

The reasons for constructing buildings may change but some age-old arkitektur principles will stay unchanged. The contemporary arkitekt will have to work around these principles. Arkitema understands this and designs structures that will suit futuristic needs.