Title

Role of Architecture in Giving Identity and Economic Boost to a City or Region

Abstract 

In today’s world, there is a search for an architecture that is meaningful within its context and at the same time participates in the more universal aspects of a contemporary mobile society. It is an approach to architecture that strives to counter city level issues and lack of identity in Modern Architecture by using the building as one of the element. Today, iconic building which can be considered as the existential foothold dominated most of the cities in the world. The buildings which are identified in their places and conceived as iconic buildings are usually appreciated not only by professionals but also societies. However, it needs to be investigated what exactly contributes to the cognitive image of such buildings to society and what are the different aspects that help make a building iconic.

This study examines the Role of Architecture (buildings) in giving identity and economic boost to a city or region, with an objective to investigate outstanding examples from past and present which have given economic boost or helped city revive from its downfall through architecture and also to explore the aspects or ways which help structure become an icon.

Under this scope, certain iconic buildings which contribute to city identity and architecture will be selected and analyzed with respect to their form, location, relationship with context, design principles and its contribution towards society with respect to economic development. The case studies selected were Sydney Opera house, Bilbao Guggenheim museum, Gherkin tower (London), Burj-al-Arab (Dubai), Louvre pyramid (France) and other cases that failed in creating iconic effect.

The findings from the research show that factors of spatial organization, time organization, general design principles, building shape and form, building materials, location, program brief, marketing strategies and relationship with context are effective factors in creating architecture identity and giving Image to the city. It was also observed that these buildings help to trigger economic development directly and indirectly towards its society through tourism, employment, surrounding development because of construction, thus attracting other area of business.

The dissertation concludes with observations related to the factors that contribute in giving identity to a city. It proves that Architecture through construction of emblematic buildings, plays an important role in giving identity and economic boost to a city or region.

Keywords:

Architecture, identity, Iconic characteristics, economic development

Aim 

To explore the role of architecture in giving identity and economic boost to a city or region

Objective 

1. To find out and investigate outstanding examples from past and present which have given an economic boost or helped city revive from its downfall through architecture.

2. To find out aspects which help in creating identity, making the structure an icon and helping in economic development.

3. To identify aspects or ways in which the economy improves not only through tourism but by other ways too

4. To explore the aspects or ways which help structure become an icon

Methodology

The method adopted is that of Case Study Research using secondary data sources. The study includes an analysis of ten such examples.

Scope

The study would lead to the identification of unique and modern architectural styles and the factors that are to be considered making iconic architecture

Limitations

The limitation of the study is its excessive reliance on published literature

Conclusion

Earlier the most important buildings were the Cathedrals and Town hall, however today the culture has shifted towards more cultural and commercial language. The innovative architectural buildings which known as an iconic building is the key role to identify and create a new perception for place. In fact, design of iconic building and place has a significant relationship with each other.

The ‘Bilbao Effect’ not only inspired others but also reminded us of architecture being one of the catalyst for creating global identity, new image and positive economic impact for that region. However, not every building trying to achieve ‘Bilbao Effect’ was successful. It’s not just the design that helps in acquiring iconic image but there are other factors that also need to be planned and implemented before construction of such large-scale projects like external accessibility, internal mobility, investment in human resource and technological innovations.

The study investigated the spectacular characteristics of iconic building such as innovative, uniqueness, being first, new image and extraordinary representation. The study has helped one to understand the concepts of identity and the factors that contribute to the image of buildings. The research deliberates the culture and history of place, architectural characteristics of an iconic building that let the development of architecture of cities, the power of place in the formation of an iconic building, as the particular aspects of design which designer should be considering about it via the image and representation of the building.

Factors like form, material, location, time, context, marketing strategies are found to be more influential factors in the process of image formation of a building. Most of these iconic buildings are so fascinating because the shape, size, or the ideas are materialized for the first time in an extraordinary manner, thus making them a novelty.

Construction of Emblematic buildings and structures also helps to trigger economic development through tourism, employment, surrounding development due to construction and thus improving the general image of the region and thus attracting other area of business. 66 Architecture thus plays an important role in giving identity and economic boost to a city or region.

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