We are surrounded by architecture. The term encapsulates humanity’s approach to the built environment. The art of construction, i.e. architecture, serves to connect fundamental needs like a roof over one’s head with aesthetics and design.
An expression of societal development
In addition to serving the purposes for which they are erected, buildings are also time capsules. Their styles of construction provide information about different eras, political movements, and lifestyles. The cathedrals of the Middle Ages reflect the central role played by religion. Covered in ornamentation and filled with splendor, the Baroque buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries mainly served as monuments representative of aristocratic families and the Catholic Church. The age of flamboyance was succeeded by a period of architectural classicism with a trend toward clarity. This style was used to build museums, libraries, theaters, and galleries. The modern age brought about Art Nouveau with its plant-based motifs and curvatures, reintroducing nature into cities and creating a contrast to the machinery of industrialization. The modernism of the 20th century saw the focus shift toward functionality, and new building materials such as exposed concrete, glass, and steel found their way into architecture.
Contemporary needs
Architectural style reveals much more than what can be seen at first glance. Every building mirrors human culture, traditions, and needs.
Our fast-paced society demands flexibility, a fact that is also reflected in architecture. It is no surprise, for example, that multifunctional and flexible apartments are highly sought after.
“Our tenants prefer modern buildings, natural materials, and privacy,”
says Bettina Früh, property-marketing manager at Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate.
Businesses are also showing demand for properties with variable design options.
“Nowadays, companies often need plug-in solutions that make work convenient. They are also hunting for spaces that can be easily reconfigured depending on the desired work environment,”
explains Bruno Schuler, property-marketing manager at Credit Suisse Asset Management Global Real Estate.