Let's face it, what wouldn't people do a like? The 800 million user and counting social media platform, Instagram, has taken "photographic moments" to a whole new level. "Insta-fame" doesn't only affect people, but places as well. Deemed an influential force, Instagram is not only changing the way we view architecture but how we understand. Our environments are being shaped by the photos and coveted "likes" made by hundreds of people. 

In Oliver Wainwright's piece, Snapping point: how the world’s leading architects fell under the Instagram spell, he explains "For a place to be shared on Instagram is no longer a chance by-product of a photogenic design, but a primary concern that drives the ambitions of clients and designers. The idea of “doing it for the ’gram” has moved from the preserve of Like-hungry teens to board meeting discussions and multimillion-pound budgets."

For example, Thomas Heatherwick's Vessel, which is described to be the "Eiffel Tower of New York" was built on the notion that it had the quintessential elements of photogenic design. According to Stephen Ross, the billionaire real-estate developer, he wanted an "iconic bauble that would become a tourist magnet" With its elaborately designed staircase and polished copper balconies, the structure itself is a honeytrap for Instagrammers and selfie-takers. The Vessel is merely one of the many Instagramable structures that embodies a certain je ne sais quoi that attracts likes.

However, beyond the photographic appeal, where exactly does Instagram fit within the realm of architecture? Instagram has made sharing architecture with the masses easier than ever. Cities have found ways to use social media platforms to increase visitor traffic. However, with these "Instagrammable locations" comes a price. Inhabitants of these areas must now deal with the hassle of visitors looking for the perfect photo or selfie. Residents find themselves having their daily routines altered thanks to the influx of visitors. 

Yet, for every drawback, we can find its silver lining. Architects are learning to embrace the fast-paced world Instagram can create. The notion of "experience-driven" spaces are shaping the way designers, architects, and even retailers are understanding how space matters. Architect Farshid Moussavi shared with Wainwright, that the platform is a way for people to notice the importance of space. Skeptical at first, Moussavi soon realized the potential the platform could develop. "These environments are not just containers for storing goods or providing services," he explained. "Instagram is reinforcing the fact that space matters, which can only be good news for designers and architects.”

Lest we forget, one of the roles architecture plays within our society is creating a way to frame people. According to architect Sam Jacob, Instagram is merely transforming the old "Kodak moment," he told Oliver Wainwright.  Through this lens of creating photographic moments, Instagram may be a way for architects to find an opportunity for innovation. “Architects have always designed their buildings to be photogenic," he explained. "Instagram culture moves so fast and gets exhausted so quickly that you have to keep evolving your architectural language, whether in drawings, models or actual buildings.”

Whether there is or isn't a place for Instagram in the architectural community, it is a system that is being used, implemented, studied and adapted to. The idea of making something photogenic is merely a byproduct of an attractive design. The challenge of prioritizing function over photographability is a variable architects will either welcome or avoid.