Relationship Between Architecure and Environment

There is strong and unique connection between architecture and its environment.
Architecture in here means the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. Environment
is a sum total of all surroundings of a living organism, including natural forces and other living things,
which provide conditions for development and growth as well as of danger and damage.
Environment plays such and important role in architecture, since architecture defines in a context.
This context reflects in environment. Architecture appears with nature, society, culture, etc. In this
way architecture and environment work in same line but with the diverse duties. Some of
relationship between architecture and environment are how building exist within space, climate,
culture and how architecture contribute or distract from its environment.

Building that exist within space, climate, and culture has some conditions also its criteria.
Buildings in cold climates invariably have high thermal mass or significant amounts of insulation.
They are usually sealed in order to prevent heat loss, and openings such as windows tend to be small
or non-existent. Buildings in warm climates, by contrast, tend to be constructed of lighter materials
and to allow significant cross-ventilation through openings in the fabric of the building. Buildings for
a continental climate must be able to cope with significant variations in temperature, and may even
be altered by their occupants according to the seasons. The way of life of building occupants, and
the way they use their shelters, is of great influence on building forms. The size of family units, who
shares which spaces, how food is prepared and eaten, how people interact and many other cultural
considerations will affect the layout and size of dwellings.

Architecture can contribute or distract its environment. For mankind to preserve the
planet’s ecological health, we must change our perception of what our homes and industrial
buildings should look like, and blend these with nature, rather than replacing nature with concrete.  
Architects need to make buildings more green and adaptable to our surroundings. They need to
avoid the sick building syndrome and create buildings that are energy efficient.

In conclusion, the relationship between architecture and environment is very strong and
can’t be denied as we see to have a sustainable and healthy environment we have to take good care
of the buildings that are built in it and also to have sustainable buildings we have to take into
consideration the environment surrounds it and its impacts.