Oh, architecture! You know that friend who always makes a big statement at parties? cateringpods.co.uk It's the friend who always arrives late and dressed well, but somehow is the best conversationalist at the party. It's the architecture you are: always being different, always having depth.
We'll take a trip down memory lane. Or should I call it a tour of an old street in a city? Imagine the buildings which have witnessed more history that we all combined. Each brick, each window has its own story. Compare that to the glassy towers that reach the sky in the modern city. It's like they are two completely different universes. But here we find ourselves in a place that is a mix of cobblestone and concrete.
Remember Gaudi and his Sagrada Familia? That guy was like a chef who decides to throw all recipes out the window and just goes with his gut. The result? It's a dish or, in this example, a building that looks like something straight from a novel of fantasy. Not only are those spires reaching towards the heavens showing off but they also whisper or maybe even shout, "Look what can happen when you allow your imagination to run free!"
Modernism has arrived! It was at this time that architects realized less really is more. Except when it came to coffee. There's always too much coffee. Le Corbusier didn't play with blocks. He redefined the way space could be efficiently used while still looking stylish. Imagine telling someone of his era that in the future, we would call concrete bare "chic". Most likely, they'd laugh into their tea.
Let's take a look at those futuristic buildings which do much more than simply stand and be beautiful. Today's structures are getting smarter by the minute--solar panels for hairdos, rainwater cocktails at happy hour, and walls that change color with their mood... or temperature; I always get those two mixed up.
Don't sneer at me, but beauty in architecture is just as subjective (or as arbitrary) as pineapple on a pizza. It's not the same for everyone. What inspires one person to be awed by architecture might cause another to shrug it off and continue on. It's fine because life would get boring if everybody liked pineapple on pizza.
As we toss opinions like confetti around at a wedding let's also not forget that good design should be accessible to everyone, and not just for those who can pay extra to add fancy toppings to their pizza. Why should inspiring spaces be reserved for a select few? Let's make good taste accessible to everyone!
While we are navigating this crazy, small world--yes even without a globe--it is clear that the architecture provides more than shelter from storms. It is the reflection of what we value, our hopes, our failures, or even just our normality (look at you Brutalism).
So next time you walk past an interesting building--be it an ancient cathedral or a shiny new museum--tip your hat (or give it a nod if hats aren't your thing). It's important to acknowledge the building for its role in our storybook. Each structure has a tale to tell or a secret to share, if you are willing to hear.
As I close (and no, I did not promise to be fluff-free but please bear with me), architectural design is like the life it represents - a mix of order and chaos, tradition and modernity. How about at its best. I invite you to raise your eyes from your screens and see the amazing things that humans are capable of when they have the courage to dream large, then to build them.