CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is considered to be the container in which the different environmental aspects

for e.g.. Physical factor, cultural, social, economic factors are reacting together to give us the
physical product which is the building/complex.
Some say culture is a general expression of humanity and creativity while the Webster's New
International Dictionary defines culture as "the complex of distinctive attainments, beliefs,
traditions [which constitute] the background of a racial, religious, or social group.“ Culture,
therefore, should be understood as involving more than the values and needs of a group of
people but the entire "way of life" of that society. That is to say culture is concerned with
more than a collection of values, it is a system or complex of distinctive attainments and
traditions.

The language of one culture differs in fundamental respects from that of another. Each with
its own rules and internal logic, values and beliefs, each offering a quite different
interpretation of reality. Different architectural traditions have different language and
meaning. It is important to understand and study the parameters that influence the form of
a building, the various methods of cultural representation and conveyance of meaning, an
the influence of context on such representation in the buildings such as embassy buildings,
borrowed architecture forms for a built in a foreign land due to architectural influences etc.
thus defining the conceptual relationship between architectural form and social or cultural
meaning, how a form is expressed and understood. Thus providing a prime focus for the
study– THE LEGIBLE EXPRESSION OF SOCIAL OR CULTURAL MEANING IN AN ARCHITECTURAL
FORM.

Starting from the pyramids In Egypt constructed in 2500 BC or the caste system governing
the house types in India to the colonial cultural influences in south Carolina and the
interpretation of a simple form with a courtyard in different parts of the world are just a few
examples indicating culture being the basis of almost all architectural forms. Architecture is a
manifestation of the cultural context in which it resides. The form and relationships of
buildings and spaces act as a kind of "cultural marker" that can be read.
CASE STUDIES :
1. interpretation of a courtyard in different cultures
case study : chinese, islamic, korean, turkish
2.streets of hofuf town in saudi arabia
3.general idea of cultural factors governing modern day market scenario.

1. Culture has been known to be among the key determinants of an architectural form.
Starting from the historical references of the pyramids to a modern day transported
architectural form such as an embassy , cultural aspect has placed a key role in defining
the basics for a design.
2. It has been identified as a dynamic and for ever changing aspect of a society or a
community, based on which forms that are alien to the a culturally sound set up due to
the influences, hence producing a misrepresentation of the culture.
3. Based on the case studies it would not be wrong to say that cultural changes bring about
development at a community and a city level and transformation can be brought about with
a sensitive eye on the roots of the development .

4.Different cultural set ups have different forms , for eg. Chinese architecture is based on
Feng shui where as Indians at large believe in the vastu purusha madala. Even in todays date
, when there is such a great influence of architectural forms from the west the new and
modern say dwelling systems basic need for the concept starts with the orientation plan
with respect to the manadala. Thus proving that changing times brings about a change in
culture and the mind set of the people but foundation is layed down from the roots.

5. Its not just the built that has been derived from cultural references, even the design of the
streets have been thought about from a cultural and historical sensitive mind set. As seen in
one of the examples of the middle east. The streets play an important role in the linking the
units and their design also plays an important role in bringing about interaction at the
neighbourhood level. One could also say that the Streets of Ahmadabad were also designed
on a similar pattern where
Culture defined the width and the setting up of community spaces.

6. The transformations of the market spaces have been studied in a general Context, they
help identify the sustainable aspect of culture and its Viability in the design forms and built
environments.