Kelsie Kaatz: The new Type A

Architecture surrounds us in everyday life and creates the spaces we function in. There are the types of buildings that take your breath away, and then there are the ones that make you doubt the abilities of every architect in the world. Although all architects know structure can only enhance the beauty of a building, those who don’t speak architecture rely solely on appearance to judge a building’s success. The problem is, both the appearance and the interior workings of a building should be considered. There should be a required process that links design with all of the inner workings of a system to create a whole entity that functions seamlessly while getting more for less.

The mass production vision that consumed Le Corbusier’s thoughts and designs could never reach its full potential because of the way the problem was addressed. Mass production then was a kit of parts that made every building blend into the next allowing no individuality to have the client identify the building as their own. The idea was there, but lacked a detailed thought process because getting less for less was obviously not what people preferred. This type of architecture with a lower case a doesn’t allow for change and the only thing that is certain in this life is change. By not conforming to the transforming desires of the people, mass production and fabrication fell behind. Conformity does not translate into the customizable designs people were searching and yearning for.

Hence, the arrival of architecture with a capital A. This type of architecture stands on its own because it is unique and shows design talent. Architecture with a capital A requires a certain level of skill and design capabilities that create an individual design to withstand the change of time. These architects think with a process mentality and takes in what the client wants to achieve to in turn create a design that functions from all angles. This means that the design becomes cohesive with all of its working interior parts and becomes more than just a building or space. It transforms into a living work of art that functions because the people that are within it are functioning and going about their daily activities in a comfortable way. The design works.

Architecture requires an in depth thought process about how the space will function once it is completed and serves its purpose. By creating a pre-fabricated mold for all architecture to fit within, the limitations become so consuming that nothing architectural can be accomplished. The changes and advances seen in architecture today are on the verge of being architecture with a capital A because designers now are willing to push the limits on design standards set before them. Buildings are beginning to have their own identity and are becoming stand out pieces of art. This striking transformation in the way that architects are viewing architecture can only have a positive influence on the generations to come. By continuously expanding on design knowledge and letting creativity take charge, architecture can escape its uniform mass production former self and emerge as the top field of innovation.