The things hidden within said tasks are often what takes certain buildings from good to great, whether they add to their timeless charm, their functionality, or how well they blend within the environment. Today we want to shed light on some examples of all three, which have caught the attention of architecture enthusiasts on the ‘Architecture’ community on Reddit. Ranging from houses of worship to old McDonald’s locations, they have the je ne sais quoi that people seem to like; scroll down to try to figure out what it is yourself. Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with the designer and founder of Kurani, an architecture firm that designs life-changing spaces for education, Danish Kurani, who was kind enough to share his thoughts on what makes architecture great. “Good architecture is designed to serve the needs of the people who will use the space. It starts with a clear understanding of who the project will serve, support, and influence,” Danish Kurani told Bored Panda, discussing the features of excellent architecture. “It involves looking within and understanding the challenges, needs, and aspirations of the people who will use the space. It goes beyond considering personal style preferences and focuses on the underlying needs and experiences of the users.” “While aesthetics are important, they should not come at the expense of practicality and usability. The design should be functional, sustainable, and meet the needs of the users,” he added. Expanding on the matter of sustainability, Kurani pointed out that architects should aim to create buildings and spaces that are energy-efficient, reduce waste, and rely on renewable resources; they should take into account the environmental impact of the design and seek to minimize negative consequences. But some people out of the 222,000 in the US and many more elsewhere in the world have gone way past being good and presented the world with awe-inspiring examples of architectural wonders. (If you want to browse such examples, continue to the list of masterpieces that won the 2020 Architecture MasterPrize or marvel at the cool and unique architecture, as shared on this online community, and see for yourself.) They should also be designed for change. “The design should recognize the power of the built environment to change people and nudge them towards desired behaviors and mindsets,” he said. Respecting nature often goes hand in hand with the next feature - building locally, as using certain locally-sourced materials can be more eco-friendly than sending them from a land far, far away. “The design should source materials and approaches to construction from the local area, minimizing the use of materials that harm the environment,” the designer told Bored Panda. As for the second, “It should consider the emotional ergonomics of a space and create the optimal feeling by using elements such as color, light, materials, and sound with intentionality.” Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
