A part of 2A Magazine’s viewpoints
Editorial of 2A Magazine issue 36- Ahmad Zohadi

Architecture is the social application of art

2A has started the challenge of creating an international reference of regional architecture in different areas of the world, although, architecture is growing differently in various regions of the world and new concepts are changing and transforming the life of people in 21st century, and despite this colorful variety, the reference model helps architects to have certain criteria and useful information in mind when designing a project in any region.
2A, specialized and well- known architectural magazine could be a sensitive and effective media element which can reflect an actual image of architecture by focusing on different regional architecture and promote and re-introduce the importance and necessities of considering cultural identity of various regions by publishing articles in the Magazine, and also by using other ways such as 2AAA Asia Architecture Award , which also focus and encourage both the young and professional architects to be more attentive to these cultural and regional needs.
The Asia Architecture Award (2AAA) is a critical effort to establish and recognize Asian architects from Istanbul, Beirut, Tehran, Delhi, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Tokyo and other Asian cities.
Asia is now engaged in creating and designing buildings and cities that are relevant to their particular geographies. The Asia Architecture Award is an attempt to offer a long overdue recognition to a whole new class of Asian architects.
The 2A Asia Architecture award goal is to avoid the extinction of cultural identity in architecture and emphasis on these unique distinctions rather than global modernism. The competition is the context to highlight and recognize essences of Asian Architecture and present them to the audience. For example cultural memory, continuity and integrity is of the essence.
I beleive the architectural approaches must successfully reflect the real picture of architecture in any region, which is able to respond to the real cultural, social, and spiritual inclinations and needs of its people.
2A Magazine believes that culture, social and spiritual values directly and indirectly effect our lives in all dimensions specially in form, figure and space.
The older traditions like traditional eastern societies have a certain design structure which has been kept throughout many years because they have respected and followed their traditional, cultural design and structure which was based on their social, cultural and spiritual values.
There are plenty of examples which can illustrate this fact, for example, If we look at the Japanese contemporary architecture, we can clearly observe that it has its origin from traditional, cultural and spiritual principals but at the same time it is harmonized with necessities of modern life.
In the other regions of the world , like Middle East we can also clearly observe the importance of cultural values, as Mr. Hamid Mirmiran, CEO of Tehran based NJP architectural group, has pointed out ; ” The consideration of geographical, social, cultural, spiritual and regional characteristics and concerns is not only an important factor but also a necessity if we are to have a sustainable development and design in architectural projects in the country. And through interaction and cooperation between international and domestic architects, the regional and cultural knowledge would help the foreign architects and consultants to accomplish better results in terms of building and designing sustainable projects in the country. ”
On the other hand, when we come across to architectural masterpieces and iconic buildings, we deeply feel that, the creator of that design must have been in a deep meditative state while designing that structure. There is something more than mere mathematical calculations and symmetrical proportions, it is as if the invisible hand of divine forces were present and had inspired the creator directly.
2A magazine’s vision has always supported and encouraged this typ of sustainable projects, and the architects who create designs and projects which meet those criterias in which the cultural and regional needs of the inhabitants are considered.
This can be clearly obsereved in architectural method of Hamburg based gmp Architects well known internationally with outstanding profesional background whom also match our target criteria, And for this reason 2A Magazine has decided to allocate an issue to them, and present their valuable projects and their vision in this regard.