Architecture = Building + Art + People

Anthropologists deal with people all the time, along with their culture including languages and even spaces in which people interact. Spatial anthropology has become increasingly popular, but overall anthropologists are not accustomed to dealing with architecture. This disconnect between anthropology and architecture may be primarily due to the fact that up until now architecture only fulfills two roles for the anthropologist, function and art. Architecture fulfills a functional role of providing individuals with shelter and providing spaces for anthropologists to study. Other than this architecture is simply another form of art, it looks pretty. But what if architecture could do more than just look pretty? What if architecture could have a positive or negative impact on the day-to-day lives of common people? Would architecture then become something important to study? Ultimately there have been two major strides away from the human focus in architecture which we can understand better by taking a closer look at the past.

Historically, just like learning to walk, architecture has been something learned by all people. Everyone built their own home, so everyone knew how to build and there was no need for individuals to be paid for this specific task. During the industrial revolution tasks became much more specific and people stopped building their own homes, electing instead to have someone else build these structures for them. These individuals were called architects, or were they? For is this not really just a builder? Builders differ from architects in the fact that architects include art in their construction. This move towards art is one step in the process of architecture moving away from people and thereby anthropology.

The second step away from people comes much more recently, as people have become aware that we are destroying the Earth, and need to do everything possible to save this planet. One major preservation effort is building structures that are better for the environment, and provide healthier work and living conditions. In order to improve these conditions the US Green Building Council has created a relatively new form of building certification called LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Due to the fact that LEED is a nation-wide certification it is impossible to focus on incorporating the needs of localized individuals. Therefore LEED is ultimately not only a step toward the environment but also away from people.

In the end, despite their historical unity, these two steps away from locals have made it impossible for architects and anthropologists to communicate. Unfortunately, the two fields do not communicate and therefore do not exchange ideas. Since anthropologists and architects began their separation anthropologists have learned a lot of methodological techniques that are extremely important for architects. What architects need now is for anthropologists to come back and teach them these techniques, heal the bonds between the two fields.