One of the most difficult things to categorise in the architectural field is what structures fall under architecture and which are simply building. It is a tough distinction to make, leading to several arguments about what each title entails. It is simple to see that a building such as the Sydney Opera House is a beautiful example of architecture whereas a shed is not in the same league. The difficulty comes with structures that fall in between these two extremes.

One thing people look at to determine whether a structure is an example of architecture or building is who was involved in the design and construction. They suggest that if an architect took part in the design and oversaw the construction it must be an example of the former. This is accurate in a number of cases but it is not a clear cut rule. In fact there are a number of incredible structures around the world that were built without any input from architects but still have to be considered as architecture.

As you can see the differentiation can be very tricky. Efforts have been made in the past to make the distinction clearer, helping to make architecture as a whole more legible to people. The community architecture movement that began in 1975 sought to achieve this, breaking down the gap between the two. It has been successful in a number of cases, leading to a multitude of impressive structures that are undoubtedly more than mere buildings.

Community architecture has come on leaps and bounds over the years, spreading around the globe and making some very impressive contributions to the field. Many of these are notable because of the setting, the purpose of the structures and the people they are designed for.

One of the most important things that the community architecture movement teachers is that design is crucial, regardless of what the structure is categorised as. This is a great lesson for people to learn and means that we can appreciate buildings purely on their merits.

At London based Coffey Architects we do just that and celebrate the many different forms that structures can take. We always focus on the aesthetics as well as the needs and wellbeing of inhabitants, ensuring both are seamlessly linked.