Bases for development of Architecture

The study of history reveals that the bases for development of architecture are the following:

1.       Life: Ever since the earliest times man is trying to seek protection of life against weather, wild beasts, so as to have safe living. Thus architecture had its simple origin in the early efforts of mankind.  The earliest efforts of dwellings of ‘savage’ hunter were dolmen, rock-cut caves.  Later he learnt to build huts of reeds and tents of saplings sheathed on bark, skin etc.

Thus from the ancient cave man, he emerged into a present-day modern man and as a result came into existences the houses, mansions, palaces and sky-scrapers. Hence architecture of any place is the clear picture of human life. Architecture is a social art which is related to the life of the people. The spirit of life makes the building alive, gives vitality. It has power to inspire.

2.       Love: For sake of live many splendid buildings have been constructed. For example, Taj Mahal of Agra is built in token of love by the Emperor Shah Jahan of Delhi for his beloved wife Mumtz.

3.       Hope:  This has been responsible for the construction of religious buildings such as temples, churches, mosques etc.  The shrines have been built all over the world ‘hoping’ to secure a good life by offering prayers. The Great Pyramids of Egypt were constructed to preserve the dead bodies of the royal people in the form of mummies with the ‘hope’ that they will secure immortality of soul and will come back to life after some time.

4.       Death: This has been resulted in the construction of tombs. Also to cherish the memory of men of great ages, many monumental buildings have been constructed after their ‘death’. For example Raj Ghat built in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. Indian War Memorial at Delhi, and Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, Statue of Gomateshware at Sravanbelgola etc.

Thus architecture has supplied “homes for the living, shrines for the gods, and tombs for the dead.”