What is architecture?

Is it the practice of designing or rather the art of

designing buildings? Is architecture the necessity of shelter? If so, then when
did humanity transcend living in caves and progress on to communal living as
seen in the remains of Catalhoyuk? Humanity did not stop the progression of
architecture at communal living; architecture continued to evolve to
accommodate the ever increasing needs of humanity. Has architecture
existed since the days that humanity resided in caves and simply evolved with
humans to become the modern day building method? These questions and
many more have been asked and debated for centuries, and as architects we
study the arguments and ideals of the greatest of the host who have asked:
what is architecture?
Thesis: Gottfried Semper and Karl Friedrich Schinkel are two of the most
notable names in architecture and architectural theory from the 19th
Century. Both of these men practiced architecture during the 1800’s in
Europe and both men held strong convictions regarding their personal
answers to the question of what architecture is and should be. By critically
examining the works and writings of these men, discerning the similarities
and differences of beliefs and practices, delving into the historic contexts and
reasoning behind their beliefs, we as architects gain a better understanding of
the art of designing the built environment.
Body:
Karl Friedrich Schinkel was born in 1781 in Germany. He was a student of
architect Friedrich Gilly whose work at the Berlin Academy Exhibition initially
inspired Schinkel to become an architect. Schinkel’s philosophy was most
influenced by Johann Fichte. Fichte believed fervently in the power of man to
create. Schinkel latched onto Fichte’s bel...

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...hes slightly both Schinkel and Semper held many things in common. While
Semper lived and designed by Gesamtkunstwerk, and Schinkel believed that
his buildings were a profound social tool to rework a society both men
achieved the same overarching end: an architecture that became a stepping
stone for the next age. Designing the built environment is an all inclusive
college of study. We must look forward to the future and make conscientious
decisions regarding it. We must look to our left and right to see what is
around us now, and the society, the people for whom we are creating.