Architecture and Art: Introduction

Architecture and Art Introduction is the first article of a series of articles about the art dimension in architecture. The goal of these articles is the discovery of art, its development, its interaction and role in architecture, its role in developing architecture discipline, and its effect on the other disciplines involved in architectural design in practice. The role and the art dimension in the creation of architecture form, function, structure, space, and urban space.

Architecture and Art appearance and development

Throughout history, humans developed art since the Old Ages, see Figure 1, living in caves and drawing on its walls. Humans have developed art sense gradually and humans used art in many ways and applied it in various areas of life. Art used by humans had no principals and guidelines but the primitive ways of using it set out by humans. When humans fulfilled their basic needs they approached the creation of tools, crafts, and spaces they lived in art methods they built gradually.

Art people created their own followers. These followers attended informal classes in art education. Because these educators were art people, and they were involved in the architecture of buildings they taught followers their findings and principles of architecture and building. Day by day and with the support of society and people who have wealth and believe in art schools were created to teach certain art principles. These schools created certain staff, guidelines for creating art and architecture. The educated followers and enrollers in these informal schools got direct involvement in applying the taught principles in creating architecture. Society got noticed by this massive change in teaching and applying art principles in architecture. Architecture became familiar in society as an important job that supports a wide range of social groups. Examples of these informal schools are from Italy, Greece, France, and the Western world.

Art after its widespread in society and when people acknowledged its importance many people wanted to enroll in studying art. Art schools were created to teach the principles of art like dealing with colors, shapes, depth, light, composition, and even art effects in architecture. In the late 15^th century art movements appeared and art styles spread out all Western world and Asia. The artist’s job was created, and many talented arts people appeared especially in Italy, France, Greece, and Russia.

The introduction of art schools created a type of people who deal with specific types of drawings. Since the art people who were creators of the informal schools were involved in the creation of architecture and buildings, they were responsible for teaching and preparing architecture drawings. Art people before the appearance of formal architecture schools were preparing architecture drawings like plans, elevations, and perspective drawings for buildings.

How does art intervene in architecture?

Art is the medium for innovative two-dimensional and three-dimensional creation using materials like color, wood, textiles, and other materials to represent personal or group thoughts see Figure 2. Art intervenes in architecture in representing ideas and representing relationships. Representing ideas comes in various forms sketching, colored shapes, and massing through 3d forms. As for relationships either by two-dimensional composition or three-dimensional composition of the relation of masses or shapes and mass in space.

Art intervenes in architecture in the creation process of architecture form, in the creation of functional relations of a building. The use of art is behind the architecture’s success in supplying beautiful and comfortable spaces indoors and outdoors. Art is behind the success of the architect’s design of interior spaces color combination and material selection.

When did art enter architecture?

The art people who taught art principles and guidelines of architecture building and design became informal architects and the profession of architects appeared. Many of these teachers attempted to write a booklet of architectural principles of design originally from Italy. As the number of art teachers became architects and wrote architecture design principals booklets individuals in society closely linked to architecture established also informal schools of architecture. 

Through art humans gradually either were commissioned or involved voluntarily in the building of the shelters they lived in, homes, buildings, and places of warship. Art people became one of the main contributors to the architecture of buildings as they became builders and practice builders. Examples from history show that builders supported by their artistic sense have developed architectural styles without former architecture education. Art people invented various methods and techniques to produce art and art movements and styles appeared.

Life and its various forces social, economic, political, and even environmental had a direct effect on art people’s life and production. Art styles throughout history were an intervention between various factors and forces leading to their creation.  These styles and art movements had a direct effect on architecture since the Old Ages, ancient Asia, and the Middle East, European and Western architecture. Examples range from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Asia, Greece, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and modern Europe.

Architects, and builders, by adopting art styles in the creation of architecture came up with simple forms. In many cases, architects by applying art in architecture come up with a complex architecture that needs special attention especially when it is constructed like the Pantheon Rome. This led to the invention of the simple ways of construction of arches, domes, arcades, and so on. Throughout ancient history, architects supported by art created complex architecture and structures leading to the invention of complex methods of construction. Examples are available of ancient cathedrals in Rome and Paris.

Art and art people without former architecture education and before the creation of architecture schools in the Western world were the pioneers of architecture inventions. Art became the main tool and method of designing simple structures of luxury villas of noble people. It was the cause of the innovative work of royal palace design, famous and important public buildings, icons of sports ancient facilities, and religious places of worship throughout the Western world and Asia.