Architecture and people : an examination of the difference between the perception of architecture as a reflector of people and as a response to people

Abstract

"Perception is dependent on our own conceptions. We perceive the sum of our own experiences. "Feelings" come to dominate perception. No perception is in reality completely free from an emotional content ....” Christian Norberg Schultz. Architecture is the process and the product of human habitation. It is the only art that caters to his physical needs - shelter and bodily comfort. It is the only art that encompasses all his psychological needs, privacy, security , identity, aspirations and self expressions. Architecture expresses. Through expression, it communicate. Depending on the beholders readiness and temperament, he grasp the inherent meanings enshrines in these expressions, and steps on to a higher realm of contemplation. The meaning is therefore in the ultimate supremacy. The expressions that are absence of deeper meanings does not change the beholder. These meaningless ,superficial expressions therefore termed as "reflections". The expressions that consist of deeper meanings, modify the beholder. The end result is being essentially a change in man. These meanings therefore "respond" to the beholder. These two kinds of perception sin architecture are applied in certain situations, but misapplications could be disastrous in the situations, that the most important aspect - the psychological needs of the beholder are more important.