Is architecture an art in itself?

Architecture is certainly more than a geometrical planning of houses that need to room as many people as possible. It is also a shape we give to our environment, an expression of the creative mind that brings beauty to our lives. The primary purpose of architecture is to make our environment habitable for present-day humans with all their needs. In this respect, architecture is not an area for artists but rather for engineers who can create a perfectly-structured building. Nevertheless, architecture certainly has an aesthetic value, which has been visible for centuries. Shapes and forms differ from one civilization to another not because our forefathers had a different understanding of practicability. But their beliefs of what is beautiful and traditional brought a plenty of architectural styles that became a part of history by now. Ancient Greek temples differ from Medieval churches and Beaux-Arts buildings do not resemble Romanesque architecture in the slightest.

Creative process is the act that unites science and art in architecture. Planning castles, mansions, and cathedrals, architects of the past centuries envisaged their exquisite tastes. The world heritage is full of historic constructions that look so grand and pompous that it is impossible to a pragmatic person to create them. Present-day architects still remain to be artists even though modern tastes do not resemble preferences of our medieval forefathers. Architects, just like artists, take inspiration from nature and other artistic works. At the same time, their works align with the functional demands and safety measures necessary for the construction. We shall say, architecture is not a sheer art but its combination with science and engineering.