The Importance Of Architecture And Architecture

3.5 UNDERSTANDING ARCHITECTURE AND IDENTITY
The British assembled monuments and great structures that would be a symbol of their power and rule of South Africa. Cementing their rule through architecture, it is evident how architecture was manipulated as a symbol of identity and power that the British possessed through cultural capture where their rule meant that their culture will assume control over a less powerful cultures. The more powerful cultures will implement their traditions and ways of life on the inferior cultures (Awotona, 1999). Architecture can be used as an element that can help express political power, social power and national identity (Vale, 1992). Vale further examines in what manner government buildings forces their supremacy and introduces a sense of national identity to the nation.

The architect sir Herbert Barker had to first understand the typologies, values and identity of the area before designing the Union Building that would reveal the power and social identity status of the rulers (Von Meiss, 1990). Another example of a great monument with an architectural identity is the early morning market in Durban’s CBD. The design of the market assists the space in establishing a certain identity that tolerates future change from its users. With the Precinct being dominated by major

Through architecture it is possible to measure many elements about a culture, such as lifestyle, artistic sensibilities and social structure. As long as human architecture remains an activity of human beings, it cannot but be influenced by culture of human societies. Culture is ever evolving and in the process it provides inspiration to architecture to evolve to its higher creative expression and synthesis. With this architecture and culture in mind, the next chapter will look at the formation of African architecture and what forms its elements and