Cultural influence in Architecture

    In class last time, we were talking about how in general the origin of architecture was more seemingly a repetition of a way something was built, as in copy pasted. Which we can now see that due to the economic and cultural influence it has been flooded with, that meaning has changed. Architecture has been influenced by its surroundings through the passage of time, we can see this in the movie Baraka and it does have a similarity with its functionality and its beauty.

    I genuinely had not realized this, I find it so crazy that we were influenced even by buildings, and that said buildings can be influenced by our living. Take for example, poverty throughout history. People with riches lived in palaces and had immense room for anything they wanted, more poverty restricted folks were forced to live in caves or small and cramped areas, this is why we get a homey feeling from small houses and why we get a feelings of power or maybe awe when we go into a large enclosed area, its an instant wow factor. We can see this by the living conditions seen in Baraka.

    On another part, the cultural aspect of architecture is what is most drawing to me. All the different cultures have a different architectural norm. If you go to Asia, the buildings and cultural traditions are going to be totally and completely different as opposed to the carribean. This can be seen in their way of structuring. For example, Japan has a more people centric way of getting around, you see everyone walking a bunch of sidewalks, barely any cars. This directly opposes here in most parts, cars are a necessity due to roads and highways. This came from our cultural differences and obviously, there's nothing wrong with one or the other, it’s up to preference.

    Architecture influences the culture and the economy, what a crazy lesson. We as people try to put out identity into anything and everything. In making a functional object, we make it work the way we need it to for us specifically. In making art, we put a part of ourselves in it to see if anyone can perceive it. Architecture being a perfect balance and harmony of my last two statements, A part of us that is beautiful and functional.