Passion for architecture beyond buildings today's architectural choices

Passion For Architecture Beyond Buildings : Today's Architectural Choices By : Meetali Gupta The picture of Architects and of Architecture may include varied aspects for different people.

Though each of these will have a building. A building that stands tall as a symbol of someone's creation. This someone is "The Architect".

In this vast field , perhaps buildings are just one aspect. Architecture shapes and reflects society's concerns. It is about "what you think ?" and "who do you think for?". Some choices that in today's world are taken for granted should hold the maximum weight age especially in Indian context. These take the field beyond buildings .Every Architect makes several of these choices which depict his philosophy and beliefs.

1. Economic barriers - choosing the client

Image courtesy -curatorprints.tumblr.com URL - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/173318285636982504/ With one part of the world busy in renovating their homes , there is yet another which has no roof over their head. That rich entrepreneur , who has bought land in different parts of the country is further looking for Architects to leave a stylish imprint , giving his business an economic edge. The building in such a case becomes the focus , for its form and function. The question though stands " Is building the resort on that beautiful hill , making it accessible to the limited sections of the society , the right way to show your love for Architecture? ". The Architect then chooses between an opportunity to build for the rich or saving the rights of people who can't use the space when intervened by the entrepreneur .

2. Choice to respect the context or not ?

Image courtesy - collectifetc.com URL - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/373306256594209416/ All through the education , we are inspired by works of great Architects and their buildings. We are told to update ourselves with technology and software . There is nothing wrong in this process , except that it often gives "thinking about context and need" , a back seat.

With new technological advancements it is now on the Architect to respect the current site context or create his own. For some leaving one's own mark is more important than identifying the contextual issues and solving them within one's scope. Others might shape their creation as a continuation of the fabric. None the less it is this choice which will form the cityscape of the future.

3.Choice to think individually or collectively

Image courtesy - stocksy.com URL - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/179510735127205990/

Architecture requires passion , not only for the buildings but the "Need of the time, the people and society ". It requires one " to ask the right questions , even if the question is to build or to go against it ". Many would argue saying all of it requires money. Yes, it does. The fault is yet again , Architects' thinking. All through college , the student who is taught to do team work , becomes competent of his fellow architects on stepping in the field. The collaboration is then done between a rich businessman and an Architect , rather than Architects within their community. Passion to do good with collaborative approach may hold greater importance to some than the project itself. Here comes a choice to join hands with the fellow Architects or to fulfill the businessman's wishes.

4. Choice to go for the conventional path or create one's own.

If a person learns the skills , knows how to build and still refuses to, does it mean he has no passion for Architecture? He loves the questions, the process and respects the beauty . He passionately responds to various aspects of the field. He is connected to the non-build and his passion thereby , comes for the society first than anything else. He would build if the structure is needed not wanted. He is a passionate Architect in whose mind buildings are secondary.

Architect Alejandro Aravena , in his Ted talk 2014 , talks about his focus on the community where the focus is "people" , who need design to be able to live a dignified life.

Does this way of thinking makes him less passionate an Architect ? Most of the Architects today fear taking the road which is considered to be for an unskilled , weak wanderer. This neglected path is not chosen by many but requires attention by all.

To put it in a nut shell I'm no less an Architect if I think beyond buildings.

I'm no less an Architect if I choose what they don't.

Time wants us to see That which exists, going for the same path is something I won't.