Architectural Philosophy

Kiasmatic Architecture: The Soul of Civilisations and the Immortality of the Architect

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Kiasmatic Architecture: The Soul, Memory & Legacy of Design

“Architecture, of all the arts, is the one which acts the most slowly, but the most surely, on the soul.”
— Ernest Dimnet, What We Live By, 1932

Architecture does not shout. It rarely races ahead. But it endures. It lingers long after words have faded and empires have crumbled. Of all the arts, architecture is the most patient, and perhaps, the most profound. It embeds itself in time, not as a passing gesture, but as a perpetual influence. It shapes how we live, feel, move, and remember.

In many ways, architecture is the soul of a culture made visible. It is the stone and steel that breathe life into the ideologies, ambitions, and aesthetics of civilisations—both ancient and contemporary. From the Parthenon of Athens to the glass towers of Dubai, buildings carry the fingerprint of their age. They tell us who we were, who we are, and who we long to be.

Architecture as Art, Architecture as Language

Architecture, like music or poetry, is a language. It speaks without uttering a word. But unlike the fleeting resonance of a musical note, architecture has weight and permanence. It offers us shelter, yet it also offers meaning. Through the delicate choreography of proportion, light, shadow, and material, architecture expresses emotion—hope, power, humility, divinity.

Architecture as Art, Architecture as Language

The Gothic cathedrals of Europe soar not just in height, but in ambition. They embody reverence. They pull our gaze upward, whispering to our souls about the possibility of heaven. The minimalism of a Japanese tea house, by contrast, invites us inward. Its simplicity does not signify lack, but clarity. It is an architecture of peace.

The best buildings are silent storytellers. They don’t just house lives—they reflect lives lived with intent.

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Introduction to Architecture | Era of New Architectural Styles

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Introduction to Architecture | Architecture Style of the 21st Century

What is Architecture??

“Arch”- a form of construction and “tecture”- the surface of the structure.

Architecture is defined as designing the structures with respect to their interiors, exteriors and also the surroundings of the structure. It is considered as a form of art and science.

People who have the creative ability of imagination and then transforming it into concepts go for Architecture. If along with creative genius, a person is coupled with the technical aspects of construction, any kind of design made by such an Architect could be very well and easily be executed since the Architect himself would understand the technicalities involved in the execution of a specific design.

Parthenon, Athens
Parthenon, Athens

Architects give a certain feel to the space depending on what structure it is. Their understanding of architectural factors such as mass, texture, use of colours, use of appropriate materials, play of light and shadow in the interiors to create illusion etc.

Two major goals are to be accomplished in Architecture:

  • Functional aspect
  • Aesthetic aspect

That is, along with structure being functional, the structure also has to be aesthetically appealing which would make the people want to appreciate the structure.

If we study the history of Architecture, we will see that a lot of architectural styles flourished in different parts of the world and were then modified with the changing lifestyles of the people.

Some architectural styles were plan specific, some were elevation specific, some flourished because of the available materials in that particular era etc.

It is very crucial for Architecture students, Architects and all the designers to understand and feel the essence of real Architecture.

Architecture is not just designing buildings, it is an art of integrating the design of buildings with its surroundings which would include its environment and the Urban fabric.

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