What is an Architect and How is Mathematics Used?

"Architects plan, design and review the construction of buildings and structures for the use of people by the creative organization of materials and components with consideration to mass, space, form, volume, texture, structure, light, shawdow, materials, programs, and pragmatic elements such as cost, construction limitations and technology, to achieve an end which is usually functional, economical, practical and often artistic. This distinguishes architecture from engineering design, which has as its primary object the creative manipulation of materials and forms using mathematical and scientifical principles. As documentation produced by architects, typically drawings, plans and technical specifications, architecture defines the structure and/or behavior of a building or any other kind of system that is to be or has been constructed." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture)

There are many different sub-catagories in the field of architecture. An architect can do anything along the line of city planning (an example in the city of Hong Kong, as seen in the picture down), community planning (improving the infrastructures and all aspects of the enviroments of communities), regional planning (finding the best use of the land) , interior architecture (designing structural interiors of buildings to fit specific needs) , landscape architecture (i.e. city parks), and environmental design. Others can take interest in architectual technology or architectual history and criticism.

Math plays a major role in the field of architecture. Greater knowledge in math help the architect to understand the structures and concepts, with calculations, at a more indepth level. Geometry contains a large portion of the mathematics used in everyday architecture. An example of this can be taken from Renaissance architecture, were the concept of symmetry plays a huge role. Symmetry can be seen easily in Egyptian Pyramids. An impressive example of a more modern architectual building that uses many complicated symmetries can be seen in the Sydney Opera House, located in Australia. One interesting building that can be seen is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which uses broken symmetry for a very dramatic effect. Geometry can also be seen in the planning of cities using a grid plan (cartesian coordinate system). In Greek architecture, the golden mean (a.k.a. golden ratio) served a huge role in the planning of buildings. It is the proportion 1:1:618, which in Western architect was found very pleasing. This has been used in many Greek buildings, such as the Parthenon, as well as many sculptures, paintings, and vases.

Links to some other interesting images of architecture that I have found in buildings:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/FallingwaterWright.jpg

http://www.trendir.com/ultra-modern/architecture-insitute-amsterdam-3.jpg

http://condo-user.pamjundy.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/42c10_revolve.gif

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25830962@N06/3198161084/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22784225@N07/2674003861/