Architecture (Latin architectura, derived from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων arkhitekton "architect", derived from ἀρχι "chief" and τέκτων "creator") is both the process and product of planning, designing and constructing buildings or other structures. Architectural works exist in the material form of buildings and are usually regarded as cultural symbols and works of art. Historical civilization is usually known for its surviving architectural achievements.
This practice began in prehistoric times and has been used as a way for civilizations on the seven continents to express their culture. Therefore, architecture is considered an art form. There have been texts about architecture since ancient times. The oldest surviving text of architectural theory is De Architectura, a thesis of the first century AD. The Roman architect Vitruvius believed that a good building embodies firmitas, utilitas and venustas (durability, practicality and beauty). Centuries later, Leon Battista Alberti further developed his idea of seeing beauty as the objective quality of a building in its proportions. Giorgio Vasari is the author of "The Life of the Best Painter, Sculptor, and Architect" and proposed the concept of style in Western art in the 16th century. In the 19th century, Louis Sullivan declared that "form follows function." "Function" began to replace the classic "utility" and was understood to include not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural dimensions. The concept of sustainable architecture was put forward at the end of the 20th century.
Architecture began with oral vernacular architecture in the field and developed from trial and error to successful reproduction. Ancient urban architecture focused on the construction of religious buildings and buildings that symbolized the political power of rulers, until Greek and Roman architecture shifted the focus to civic virtues. Indian and Chinese architecture has influenced forms throughout Asia, especially Buddhist architecture has different local flavors. In the European Middle Ages, pan-European style Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals and monasteries appeared, while the Renaissance favored classical forms implemented by renowned architects. Subsequently, the roles of architect and engineer were separated. Modern architecture started after the First World War, it was an avant-garde movement aimed at developing a completely new style to adapt to the new post-war social and economic order, focusing on meeting the needs of the middle class and the working class. Modern technology, materials, and simplified geometric shapes are emphasized, paving the way for high-rise buildings. Many architects are disappointed with modernism. They believe that modernism is not historical and is unsightly. Postmodern and contemporary architecture has developed. For years, the field of construction has expanded to include everything from ship design to interior decorating.