HISTORY

Unlike other forms of art, architecture lies in full view and is difficult to get rid of. Architecture is a
relatively permanent expression of how society as a whole sees itself and how it views the environment,
and it can serve as a time capsule of human history and human thought. It is a powerful reflection of
human culture.

Architecture is part art and part science. As an art, it provides an outlet for creative expression that
leads society to look at their living space and the overall environment in different ways. At the same
time, architecture responds to society’s functional needs while making use of modern technology in
building design.

CULTURE

Architecture itself is rarely seen as a matter of culture or, if it is, it becomes framed as a symptom of the
social inequities of gentrification. It seems that outside of the architecture and design communities,
architecture is not culture but its scaffold. At the same time, those cultural forms usually seen as having
pure intrinsic value—the visual and performing arts, literature, music and the like—are now also seen as
having socio-economic values of the kinds usually claimed by architecture in economics and
employment, value in community engagement and even health and well-being.

One can be sceptical of the efficacy and the politics of exchanging cultural, social and economic values
in this way, but the fact that culture is now seen as a holistic interacting system capable of measurement
asks new questions of the place of architecture. As methods for assessing value become increasingly
important in the management of culture, the conference asks: how do we understand the values of
architecture as a matter of culture?

RELIGION

Most everything you see is influenced heavily by two origins: Religious or communal. In earlier days
communities built together in a way that worked best for their environment and needs. (If you want to
deep dive on that, read “The Timeless Way of Building” by Christopher Alexander) Most houses until the
20th century evolved out of this. The 20th century (and specifically air conditioning) allowed forms that
would not work in certain environments to be fine. A Florida Cracker House looks nothing like a
Georgian style farmhouse in Massachusetts. The former needs lots of cooling (off the ground to allow air
flow, shutters, and deep porches), the latter needs lots of warmth (smaller windows, central fireplace
and heating mass).

Religious structures evolved from shrines to temples. Greek and Roman columns are echoes of trees.
Christianity took those forms, as well as the form of the Roman legal building (Basilica) and those
formed the basis for the Romanesque style of churches. Modern courtrooms still have this form today,
replacing the altar with the judge (a representative of the state)