Abstract:
Society has evolved over generations and will no doubt continue to evolve. Its effect on the built environment has continually changed over time as well. However, over time, the built environment has reciprocated this effect, also contributing to the evolution of social and cultural behaviors. The way one behaves in space is largely dependent on the individual and the culture in which they have grown. Societal effects such as varying technologies also play a role in a person's behavior. But to what extent can the built environment begin to shape the way people think about their actions? Buildings can have the ability to make us think about our lives, our actions, and leave us with awe inspiring emotion. Our built environments are time pieces that teach us about our ancestry and how those folks lived. The relationship between society and architecture is so deeply embedded in our built environment that it is often overlooked. The very concept of mass production and replication threatens the individualized history that each building contributes to a society while also threatening the very role of the architect. The constant push and pull of the relationship between these two entities needs to be constantly re-evaluated. At this point in time the influence of a mass produced society has begun to take its toll on the built environment. To what extent can the built environment now push back against these influences? How, as architects, do we appeal to human senses and design for the current social conditions as well as continually re-shaping the future of our built environment?
