Humanity Needs Architecture

• Ronnie Gor

This is a very broad statement, and in some ways it’s very obvious, but humans need architecture to survive. At the most basic level, we can live without fussing over many of the details as long as we have basic shelter from the elements, but architecture still plays an important role in our survival and it allows us to live more deeply and on a more connected level.

Architecture connects us to one another and with the past, and it allows us to establish a connection with generations to come. The structures we envision and create stand as lasting symbols not only of the time, but of us and our humanity. Some of the best architecture becomes completely timeless, spanning centuries while still standing as a lasting symbol of the past and a representation of social, political, or even economic issues at the time. Sometimes, we may never see these spaces or structures in person, or we may only need them occasionally, but architecture has a way of crossing borders and cultures to touch people around the world.

When we at Amorphous Studio think of the word “survival,” this connection remains central. Part of what makes us who we are is how we are connected to one another and architecture helps this connection reach further than we can as individuals.

When We Need Shelter

Shelter comes in many forms, but in this case, we’re talking about where people live. Shelter looks very different from culture to culture and even within cultures, but the basic goals for the places we call home – whether short term or long – remain the same: Comfort, safety, rest, relaxation, etc. The most obvious function of shelter is offering us a reprieve from the elements, but today comfort and safety extend beyond that.

Homes are where we build our lives, form relationships and families to work and entertaining. They help us feel grounded and provide us with an anchor in the world. This feeling is especially obvious when you move into your first apartment or buy your first home. This transition becomes a building block that stays with you and continues to grow from place to place.

When We Need Something More

Obviously, shelter is not exclusive to homes and not all architecture is meant to provide shelter. In some cases, architecture is meant to touch upon our senses and feed some of our other needs, including spiritual and social. For example, Neue Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart, Germany (designed by James Stirling, Michael Wilford and Associates) not only complements surrounding buildings, but is also an effective use of space for visitors to gather.

Notre Dame is another excellent example. When the fire broke out in mid-April of this year and the iconic spire eventually toppled, people around the world watched in shock because the church has become iconic even for those who’ve never seen it. Notre Dame has been standing for over 850 years, through wars, upheavals, changes in rule, and more, and today it represents a connection to the past, a beacon for the catholic church, and one of the best examples of the French Gothic style. The cathedral connects people to Paris and connects Paris to the rest of the world.

When We Need Architecture

We will always need architecture to create public and private spaces, large and small, because of the connection it creates. By using building and design practices perfected with time and passed down between cultures and generations, architecture helps us stimulate moods and emotions with scale, natural light, and ultimately a connection to the outside world. Shelter is only a small piece of the puzzle.