Wednesday, 2 March 2016

How A Modern Architect In Richmond VA Help Shape Society

By Amy Wilson


To a large degree, architecture has always been and still is one of the main human endeavours that influences mankind. From the very beginning the main priority of man was to find shelter against the elements and his enemies. He quickly learned how to build his own shelters and to satisfy his own unique needs. As soon as mankind started building structures for very specific purposes architecture was born. To this day a modern architect in Richmond VA or Charlottesville VA, for example, helps to shape society.

Over time this field has experienced massive changes. Man grew more sophisticated and simple shelters were not sufficient any longer. A desire for places of worship, seats of government and specially designed structures for storage purposes, for example, developed and the field of architecture developed with those changing needs. To this day the needs of mankind keep changing.

Another factor that changed the field of architecture was that new materials became available for construction purposes. The development of steel, plastic and a variety of other hardy compounds allowed designers new freedom to develop buildings that were higher and more versatile and that could be erected much quicker. Technological advances in the manufacture of cement and building techniques changed the face of architecture forever.

As the needs of mankind changed, so the field of architecture had to adapt to those needs. Space became precious and very expensive, so buildings had to take up as little space as possible. Designers had to think of ways to design buildings within which the temperature and moisture levels can be controlled, for example. Many industries required structures that can be erected, dismantled and moved very quickly.

One of the latest demands made upon designers is to create buildings that do not have a negative impact on the environment. The planet is under tremendous pressure and the construction industry is one of the biggest consumers of natural resources. Designers simply had to think of ways to reduce the amounts of water, raw materials and non renewable resources that they use.

Designers have accepted the challenge to build friendlier buildings. They now routinely make use of recycled construction materials and of materials harvested from demolished structures. Every effort is made to avoid the use of non renewable resources. The use of scarce materials is further reduced by designing buildings that do not require constant heating or cooling and that use natural air flow for ventilation.

Buildings are the biggest consumer of energy, almost half of all the energy generated. The focus is therefore also on reducing the energy needs of buildings. This is achieved by using solar technology, special materials that reduce the need for heating, cooling and ventilation and by using highly effective insulation materials. Even the placement of buildings are influenced by the need to reduce the energy need.

Architecture is more than just the creation of buildings and other structures. It is about satisfying the needs of mankind and those needs include the need for beauty as well as the need for utility. No doubt designers will continue to face new needs and new challenges as societies grow and as new technological advances are made.




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