Exploring the Evolution of

Human Necessities

All Photos by Nicole Olszewski

Basic Needs• Shelter

• Shade/Sun

• Light Source

• Food

• Water

Necessity from weather to elaborate decoration and we have choices-became architecture

Sunshine and shade (even animals seek shade from the sun at times)-became an art form (ex: umbrellas)

Oil burning lamps to chandeliers/decoration-became part of interior design

From a need to a want, have choices-evolved into culinary art

Remains a necessity for all living things-but has become part of landscape architecture as well

ShelterShelter is a necessity from weather and has become

elaborate decorations that we have choices of-architecture

Church in Goldfield Ghost Town

Goldfield, AZ

This church is old, wooden, and built as a necessity for survival in the harsh Arizona sun as well as a place of worship for spiritual peace, and comfort during devastating times. Today, the basic concept of the church as well as a building still remains intact.

St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, LA

Churches had grown over the years to show off wealth as well as be adorned with many paintings and decorations that are not deemed a necessity for worship.

Shade/SunWithout sunshine we wouldn’t have shade, and vise versa

(even animals seek shade from the sun at times)-art form (ex: umbrellas), relief/protection

Big Branch Marsh, Lacombe, LA

Finding shade – a basic primal instinct for humans and animals during the heat of the day, especially in the south where the humidity takes your breath away. Smart fish.

Off Hwy 88

Tonto National Forest, AZ

The sun: the giver of light and warmth to all things on earth. Plants require it to grow, while we now use it as a vanity (ex: tanning). Was also a light source during the day hours for most; now we turn the lights even on during the sunny hours of the day.

Light SourceLight sources have gone from oil burning lamps to

chandeliers and decorative styles for all sorts of uses-interior design/decorating

Two Sisters Restaurant(est. 1832)

French Quarter, New Orleans, LA

Oil burning lamps and wood or coal burning stoves have become a thing of the past with electricity. However, the lamps themselves still remain a part of our lives through decoration and giving a historical nostalgia to an area. Candles have gone from a light source to being décor and an aroma generator.

Flower lights at the Andy Warhol exhibit

Union Station, Kansas City, MO

Lights can be made into many different shapes and colors with the advancements since the times before electricity. Now, instead of only being able to use the sun during the day and fire during a lack of light, we choose to decorate places and spaces with fashionable and modern lighting structures.

FoodFood has gone from a need to a want in the aspects that we have many choices as well as options by means of obtaining

-culinary art

Nearly all foods can be found at a grocery store. The days of foraging for berries and nuts are long gone, though there are still many people who farm and harvest food in large abundances to sell to distributers for the general public and masses as well as the use of animal farms for meats and other products.

Wheat field

Truman Rd, Independence, MO

Food as become a culinary art form. There are schools to learn the techniques, restaurants to employ the skills, and people willing to spend large amounts of money for foods of their choice as well as at places of their choice. Meals are no longer required to be cooked in the home by the mother/wife, but instead we now have the luxury of choosing foods and relaxing while others prepare and bring it to you.

Dish made by John Allgair, French Culinary Institute, NYC

WaterWater is the least of all the necessities to have made such a

drastic change over the years. It still remains a necessity for all living things.

-has become part of landscape architecture

(t) Big Branch Marsh, Lacombe, LA

(r) Railroad Park, Blue Springs, MO

Everything in this world requires water to survive, even the cacti in the desert. The amount varies per subject matter, but the basic concept of living things needing water withstood the test of time. Animals and humans use water as part of their diet and to wash up, along with humans using water for entertainment and transportation. Plants use water along with sunlight as one of their basic terms of survival in their habitat to make food

The River Walk

San Antonio, TX

Along with all of the things we used water for in the past, it has now grown to become part of landscape architecture, such as the rocks and water were placed to work in harmony with each other to produce a small waterfall.