Architecture is a field that is constantly changing and evolving. From Romanesque style architecture to Gothic to the Renaissance, then more modern styles like Neoclassicism, Art Deco, Neo-Modernism and so much more. Architecture is everywhere and can be changed and influenced by anyone.
When thinking about architecture, it is common to think about large buildings or houses that look extravagant and fancy, but in reality, architecture is much broader than that. Architecture is any structure that a human being designs and constructs to fill a space. That means that anyone can be an architect. Projects including designing and building a dog house, a chicken coop, or even a shed for the back yard make you an architect.
When the sky is the limit, the human brain can create all kinds of ideas. With architecture, the only limit is your imagination...and of course physics, a budget, and manual labor but that’s beside the point. There are buildings that show such creativity and ingenuity that they show what can really be done when the human mind goes toward something. Buildings have been built upside down, to look like musical instruments, and to incorporate nature.
Architecture is an amazing tool that we can use to innovate our world and make it a better place to live in. For more information on architecture, here are a few books that can be checked out at the library:
Understanding the Concepts of Parallel and Perpendicular
by Janey Levy
720.9 LEVY // A foundational and concise history of architecture focusing on the style of Frank Lloyd Wright for middle grade students.
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Architecture and History
by Larry Remele
978.403 REMELE // An architectural gem, the building is unique among capitol buildings with a story that entertains and educates.
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A Step-by-Step Guide
by Mike W. Lin, ASLA
720.284 LIN // Quickly learn drawing techniques to render architectural designs, room interiors, and landscapes.
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Rafael Guastavino and the American Dream
by Berta Miguel
Easy 720.92 MIGUEL // Spanish architects, Rafael Guastavino and his son, designed more than one thousand iconic spaces across New York City and the US.
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