Understanding architecture through installation art

Abstract

One of the factors which drew me to architecture was my curiosity with the power of a building's ambience to affect one's mood. My personal experience of public buildings locally taught me that repeatedly one comes across spaces which are hostile and unwelcoming. This is even more disturbing when the buildings in question should be promoting well-being and congregational unity; such as health clinics, community centres and governmental offices. Well-designed spaces pave the way for users lo have a more positive experience of the built environment both on an urban level as well as in the journey through their interiors. in the case of architecture, a 'good' design integrates aesthetical attributes with issues of functionality, context and the consideration of social issues. in the reality of the construction industry however, unless an intrinsic sensitivity towards these issues is instilled in architects, these concerns can be easily undermined by the attention required for legal compliances and by the pressure from profit-minded speculators. This paper attempts to address this situation through investigating some ways in which i believe architects can benefit their practice through borrowing certain inspirations from fine art practice. Art and architecture have always had a somewhat intertwined development through history. These two fields have areas where they overlap, creating various discussions and arguments as to the depth and limitations ot this overlapping. The roles and aims of these fields have evolved according to the need of the time and adapted accordingly. Particularly in fine art, one of the more recent developments of this field is that of installation art. To date, though there has been substantial research into this subject, few have delved into the relationship between installation art and the role it plays in architecture.