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CULTURAL
Since each culture has developed its own aesthetic symbols, language, and
preferences for its use of materials and colors, the challenge for
"cross-cultural" building design is to use these ancient cultural aesthetic languages to
inform the architecture of the contemporary buildings.
The Native Americans of California originally lived in temporary structures
made of materials such as willow and palm fronds. Later, when the Spanish
introduced them to adobe, their architecture remained unadorned. The Paiute
Shoshone Cultural Center and the Curio Shop on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation
at Palm Springs are examples of the use of traditionally influenced designs
that utilize some of the designs found in their basketry and beadwork. The
colors are influenced by the natural surroundings, which were an integral part of
their life and culture.
The Desert Highland Park Community Center was designed to serve the Black community in the surrounding neighborhood. The most usable aesthetic elements from the diverse cultures of Africa seemed to be the painted geometric designs that were applied to many of their mud villages. Coloration was also utilized for inspiration.
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