Example Of Article Review On Architecture And Environment Response

The article titled “Architecture and environment” written by Hassan Fathy and published in the Arid Lands Newsletters in 1994 gives an account of the impact of architecture on the environment. I find the article interesting as it offers a great deal of information on environmental harmony. I agree with the architectural constructions of the temples, mosques and cathedrals built by the Chinese, Indians and Greeks and the way they maintained environmental harmony. It is true that the industrial revolution has “disturbed the natural organization of the divine concept for humanity” . Industrialization and mechanization of architecture resulted in huge changes in the methods of construction across the world. I accept the role of industrially developed societies in weakening cultures through enhanced communication. Such interactions have created social and economic imbalances as well as economic inequalities in the society.
Another important aspect of the article, which I find interesting in the article, is the way the author has described the effect of industrial goods on the mass population, leading to cultural, moral, psychological and material disturbances. The author states that the population is well aware of living in harmony with the environment amidst economic building methods. I like the way Hassan distinguished between folk architecture and architect’s architecture. The architect is responsible for reviving the faith of the people in their own culture through the architecture, in which people have knowledge and mastery. I agree with the author’s argument about the reversal of the concepts and values in the present time when compared to the past. In the Middle East, the present architecture consists of houses with noise, heat and dust instead of cool and clean air .
The imbalance of man’s mind and body with the external world would result in harmful effects on man both psychologically as well as physiologically. I find the critique of the modern architect useful as it justifies the measure of civilization through culture. The concept of “contemporaneity” is important to understand as architecture and town planning play a crucial role in the process of civilization . While architecture associates with man and technology, planning associates with man, society as well as the technology. The article defines the term ‘contemporary’ in terms of approval and disapproval, which arises various question related to time and relevance. One of the important elements of the article is the judgment of the criterion, which measures ‘contemporaneity’. I like the author’s suggestion to examine the forces working for change and control them rather than passively follow them.
I accept that physical and aerodynamic analysis incorporated into the designs of the houses built in the past is valid even today as they meet the standards. With regards to the future, the article emphasizes on development and change as the two important elements responsible for transforming the architecture. I agree with the author’s argument about the responsibility of the modern architect. The author suggests the modern architect to devise remedies for the modification of architecture to narrow the gap between development and change. Application of modern techniques and valid methods to the existing methods developed by the ancestors is an option to innovate solutions, which satisfy the modern needs of man. On the whole, I like the arguments presented by the author and the way he justified those arguments with the help of examples and suggestions to describe the responsibility of the modern architect.

References

Fathy, Hassan. "Architecture and Environment." Arid Land Newsletters (1994): xix-xxiii.