Architecture vs. Globalization

Abstract

Globalization affects all areas of life. It is also present in architecture. It is a continuous process that has definitely accelerated in recent years. Global processes, fast flow and exchange of information, ease of movement and extensive experience related to them allow crossing borders and breaking barriers of culture, politics, and in architecture, losing regional features and changing aesthetics. All of these factors definitely affect changes in design processes and architectural message. Architectural design takes on a new expression resulting from the cultural mix as well as the detachment from the context, tradition and often cultural roots. The first example of globalization in architecture was the International Style (the rise of the 1920s), which was characterized, among others, by a free plan, the form of objects resulting from functions, large glazing and the lack of ornamentation. It experienced its splendour in the 1930s-1960s. Today, its features are still being noticed in world architecture. Repeatability, unification and typification as well as copying and commercialization, the pursuit of a dominant, detachment from cultural, climatic, natural and often social context result in the design and implementation of objects with the same characteristics in culturally, climatically, naturally and economically different environmental contexts. The research questions posed in the article are: To what extent do globalization processes lead to the loss of national/local/regional identity? Can this process be prevented in the context of architecture? How to create sustainable architecture and preserve its regional character in the conditions of progressing globalization? The goal is to confront the ideas of sustainable development and globalization and to show the consequences of globalization in the transformation of the architectural message. The research methods used were: case studies, literature studies, basic in-situ research and a descriptive method. The reason for taking up the topic was the research conducted by the author during study trips to European, Asian and American countries.