Oh, architecture! It's like that one friend who never shows up to a party without making a statement. Catering Pods You know the type--arrives fashionably late, dressed to impress, and somehow manages to be both the life of the party and the most profound conversationalist in the room. This is architecture: Always standing out, and always with depth.
Let's take a stroll down memory lane--or should I say, through an old city street? Imagine the old, historic buildings. They have been through more than anyone of us. Every brick and each window tells a story. The glass-topped towers of the cities of today are a stark contrast to this. You'd think they were two totally different planets. We're in an area where concrete meets cobblestone.
Gaudi's Sagrada Familia is a good example. He was like a cook who decided to ignore all the recipes and go with his instinct. The outcome? It's a dish or, in this example, a building that looks like something straight from a novel of fantasy. These spires, reaching to the sky aren't just showing off. They whisper (or shout) "Look what you get when your imagination runs wild!"
Modernism was born! The architects of the time decided that less was indeed more. Le Corbusier wasn't just playing with blocks; he was redefining how space could be used efficiently yet stylishly. Imagine telling a person from Le Corbusier’s time we would one day call plain concrete “chic”. You'd hear them chuckle in their cup of tea.
Talking about the future, lets talk about buildings that are more than pretty facades. 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.
But here's something to chew on: beauty in architecture is as subjective as pineapple on pizza (don't @ me). A person might be moved to awe by something that another finds boring. But that's okay. If everyone enjoyed pineapple on their pizzeria, then life would become pretty dull.
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 reserve inspiring places for only a selected few? We should democratize taste!
Architecture is something that we can't ignore as we try to navigate our crazy world. It is the reflection of what we value, our hopes, our failures, or even just our normality (look at you Brutalism).
Next time you pass an interesting building, whether it's an old cathedral or a new museum with a gleaming finish, tip your hat. (Or give a slight nod to it if hats don't interest you.) Thank it for adding to our common storybook. After all, every building is full of stories and secrets.
It is a combination of tradition, innovation and chaos. When is it best? This is an invitation for us to step away from the screens, and be amazed at what we can do when we dare dream big.