Living in Culture

Recently, I traveled to France and learned so much about the unique building styles throughout the country and their deeper meaning. This inspired me to take a deeper look at architecture around the world and the stories it can tell about the time it was created. Architecture isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a visible record of who held power, what values were prioritized, and how society has changed. Below, I detailed two specific examples of how architecture can show a bigger picture about the culture/society as a whole.

Chateaus as Symbol of Aristocratic Power

In Versailles, I saw the unparalleled wealth of the monarchy of France. The entire building was a symbol of opulence, with rumors of small things like button spending reaching $100,000 per year. However, this building and those similar around the country are more than just architectural marvels, they are symbolic spaces meant to reinforce a hierarchy where spatial design and social order were tightly intertwined.

The sheer scale and symmetry of these expansive homes are hard to ignore. Perfectly manicured gardens, expansive courtyards, and long halls filled with gold all project the wealth of the kings. Through their elaborate residences, they tried to show their power using their wealth. Additionally, they symbolically reinforce hierarchy as the king and his family would occupy the center of the palace while others lived and moved around them, like the planets orbit the sun.

Every architectural choice served a social function. AT Versailles, for example, the layout of the rooms follows a social logic: proximity to the king equaled power. Rooms equaled social rank. Also, the artwork and orientation help to exemplify the power of the King. On the ceilings there were mythological references attempting to convince people of their naturalized power to make the monarchy seem unquestionable.

Today, the spaces are, of course, open to the public. Tourists like me wandered the same halls where aristocrats once plotted military campaigns and power consolidation. The velvet ropes and ticket scanners may be modern, but the structure itself tells a story about who mattered in 18th and 19th-century France and who didn’t.

Islamic Mosques as Cultural and Spiritual Expression

Islamic mosques are not only a place of worship, but they are also deeply involved in cultural, social, and political life. Mosques offer a lens into how communities give a space meaning through aesthetics, space, and rituals. They are great tools to learn more about the Islamic religion and its ideology.

Mosques are designed to facilitate communal prayer with their open prayer halls and mihrab pointing to Mecca. Mecca is an important site for Muslims, and each year, many complete the Hajj to Mecca. Due to its importance, Muslims always face Mecca as they pray, five times per day, according to the second pillar of Islam. However, many mosques also function as centers for charity and education reflecting Islam’s integration of spiritual and social life.

Although most mosques have similar functions, there are unique regional variations that can change the design and appearance of the mosque. Most mosques have key features of domes, minarets, calligraphy, and geometric designs, however, there are local touches to each mosque. For example, Persian mosques often include an elaborate exterior, decorated with geometric patterns and grand arcades. On the other hand, some Arabian mosques have a more simple, although still beautiful, exterior focused more on functional design. These variations indicate how Islam is blended with regional traditions, and these differences can be helpful when trying to understand where a mosque is located.

The architecture of the mosques embodies values of unity, order, and submission to Allah or God. That is expressed through symmetry, spatial orientation, and the absence of human imagery. Instead, decorations rely on calligraphy and geometry to depict important values from the Quran in a visual form.

Finally, through Islamic mosques, you can also explore how gender roles play a part in many Islamic societies. For example, in most mosques, there is a separation of men and women, or who has access to certain areas. These spatial divisions reflect the broader societal norms of gender within many societies.