Architectural Intergration

Architectural Integration

By: Adulsak "Otto" Chanyakorn

Intensive study of regional climate is one the most significant factors for architects. Climate factors define the results of architecture in many aspects such as architectural form, materials, and building orientation. Buildings in the tropical climate which has high humidity require light materials and cross ventilation which is important for air flow and bringing heat out of the building. In contrast, buildings in cold climates require more insulated materials to control inside temperatures. Furthermore, precipitation levels in each region define forms of architecture. Regions that have high precipitation levels require sloped roofs to drain off the water or snow; similarly, architectures in Africa need small windows to keep inside temperatures cool. Hence, understanding local climate is significant for architects because understanding local climate will help architects to make the correct decisions in orientation, materials, and forms for buildings. The best way to comprehend it is observing and mastering vernacular architecture in that region because it has experimented and developed through many generations (Khan, 2011).

            Culture defines architecture in terms of function. Building users in each region have different behaviors in their everyday lives.  Culture is involved in many aspects of human lives such as religion.  Some regions may require specific areas for religious activities in dwellings, food, how food is prepared and eaten, individual or collectivistic culture may influence the size and layout of dwellings. Thus, understanding culture is important for architects to prevent design failure which happens occasionally with modern architecture despite cultural difference (Yousuf, 2011).

            Modern technologies offer great advantages in many fields and professions for contemporary living. Similarity, high technologies have offered accomplishments and benefits to the architectural profession in many aspects. First, modern materials allow architects to provide more efficient buildings through such ideas as prefabrication materials and so on which integrated with vernacular design strategies will provide good results for architectural design. Second, the advantages of steel and cements offer architects the ability to create flexible structures such as domino structure by Le Corbusier which offers better solutions for architects to manipulate building functions (Lara, 2009). Last, there are a lot of Architectural computer aided software which is a great appliance for architects in the design process. High technology software offers many abilities for them to examine and experiment with their ideas, such as architectural visualization software, energy stimulation programs, and air-flow prediction methods (Yousuf, 2011, p. 116).  It’s easier for architects to simulate design on computers before making the final decisions in the design process. Hence, taking an advantage from modern technologies will be good manner to integrate it into design strategies.

References:

Khan, S. M. (2010). SETHI HAVELI, AN INDIGENOUS MODEL FOR 21^ST CENTURY

‘GREEN ARCHHITECTURE’. Archnet-IJAR, 4(1), 85-98.

LARA, F. (2009). Modernism Made Vernacular: The Brazilian Case. Journal Of Architectural

            Education, 63(1), 41-50, doi:10.1111/j.1531-314X.2009.01027.x

Yousuf, W. A. (2011). THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABILIT IN DEVELOPING

COUNTRIES AND THE ADAPTATION OF HERITAGE-INSPIRED

ARCHITECTURE IN CONTEST. Archnet-IJAR, 5(2). 106-118.