Architecture and The Community
In this constantly growing industry and trying to keep up with the need of building more homes, more business parks, and keeping neighborhoods up to date and safe to use, do you know just how much architecture can give back to its community, and how it is keeping neighborhoods and the world around you alive?
Being there for our community has always been such an important reason as to why we love what we do. Its why we chose the Lowcountry as our home and why we love creating for our clients here every year! The beauty of the Lowcountry in every season and throughout every trend and fad that comes with design, we are constantly inspired and so fulfilled in adding to the landscape around us. We love helping give new life to our community and letting dreams grow into realities for our clients.
In a world that is growing very rapidly, it's hard to keep up with all the construction, and sometimes in knowing why we need another office building, another set of new condos, or a new neighborhood. But I assure you that every bit of this work is needed and so important. Architecture is so much more than you might realize, and it gives back to its community every day.
First, the very basic principle of architecture is to provide and create safe and comfortable places for everyone to live in and to fulfill the needs of society. That can be achieved by providing any kind of structure that is needed for a communities success including hospitals, schools, churches, grocery stores, and more. Charleston is one of the most popular places to move into right now, and with this skyrocketing growth, the only way to support it is to provide the needed homes and buildings to accommodate these growing numbers. This growth surge is allowing the economy to flourish by bringing in new business, more money spent within the community, and providing a lot of jobs to the economy in Charleston.
Architects also deal with every kind of client possible, from every background, age group, and financial situation. I have mentioned our support of, interest in, and how important healthy and green building and living is to our company. We are constantly trying to find the best ways to implement those ideas into every structure we design and build. Architects are also striving to build and design healthy and safe neighborhoods, communities, and cities according to the changing ways people want to work, live, play and lead their lives. They are dealing with these decisions for all ranges of income, location, and acting as support and activists for those who may not have the power to express what they want and need for their communities.
One of the many barriers architects are helping their communities deal with is that a healthy, green, and safe home shouldn't cost an unspeakable amount of money. These homes should be affordable for any family to make their own. Having a well designed and healthy home is now considered a natural human right. Architects are rising to the occasion to discover how homes can be built in the most economic ways, so any level of income family can get the home they deserve without breaking the bank. It's challenging architects to embrace affordable architecture, to become thoughtful, and to become more creative. This movement of providing safe homes to anyone will need more help from the government along with other funding as time continues. Once these funds are in place, architects will be leading the charge to make these changes possible.
It is more common now for those heading towards retirement and those who would usually be heading into nursing homes, to want to age in place. The baby boomer generation that is making up this strong population no longer wants to move to a nursing home, into their children's homes, or into a friends home. They want to stay in the home they worked so hard to build. How can an architect help this generation? In many ways, in fact. Having a well-lit neighborhood, safe and easy access public transportation, and safe roads to drive on are a great place for architects to start when helping out this older generation. Designing a neighborhood or city to be close to food, stores, and other amenities is also needed, and a huge help. Having these necessary things close to a retiree allows them to remain independent and comfortable longer. It also allows them to leave their homes more frequently, avoiding becoming a shut-in. This helps with both mental and physical health. Architects can also help those wanting to age in place with home remodels that will make aging and living at home safer and easier than ever before. There is a huge list of all the simple and easy additions look like, but here are just a few:
Creating a whole living area on one floor
Creating wider open spaces, doorways, and halls
Very low maintenance for landscaping and outdoor living spaces
Non-slip floors
Lowering cabinets and workspaces
More natural light
Much, more more
Architecture can help shape society and its occupants. It can help give them a positive outlook on life, help productivity, and creative flow, and improve the all-around safety and feeling of home. It can keep people healthy, keep them from taking sick days, improve morale, and keep you focused and on a plan or any project or business. Well designed buildings can help eliminate stress and help keep your emotions in balance.
Architecture is also a cherished and much-needed form of art and historical preservation. Seeing structures built hundreds of years ago still standing is a history lesson all of its own. It is the reflection of the culture it stands in and what the world was when it was built, and a reminder of why it was built and why it was important. Famous structures stand as icons, reflections of the story they represent, and the importance of why each was built and designed.
From keeping you safe, inspiring whole cultures, giving back to the community, providing jobs, and helping our well being and quality of life, architecture has been there for every community since the dawning of time. Architecture will continue to be there for every future community it will help build, design, and create. We give back every day and are honored to keep doing so with a job we all love to do.