Educating Architecture

Architecture is the noblest of all professions. The architects of bygone era were considered closer to God, because they built and sculpted the places of worships like temples and palaces for the kings. They had the direct influence on the State treasury and the ruler of the time. But today architects and their role has drastically changed to suit the needs of the contemporary society.

Evolution of modern architecture as a profession is a relatively new phenomenon particularly in India, demanding a different educational approach and pedagogy. Today the profession is pro-western in approach because our education system lays less importance to the cultural identity. Hence the underlying tension between modern and tradition remains to be resolved through aspirations integrally woven into the education philosophy. Most schools in India have not come to grips with this problem and the pedagogical structure that arrived here from the West, more or less continues to dominate architectural education.

A few decades back there were hardly a few institutions imparting education in architecture. These institutions were mostly committed and a selected few interested candidates would join the profession. The primary criteria would be to possess an ability to sketch and draw. Drawing as the language of the architect was essential to express ideas and visions. If one sees the original drawings of Frank Lloyd Wright who was referred as the father of Modern architecture one would be amazed to see the detailing in a simple pencil sketch.

It so happened that Wright got a commission from his favorite client Edgar J Kaufmann Sr. in Pennsylvania, 50 miles south of Pittsburgh. Kaufmann had commissioned the work to Wright and almost forgot about it, and so did Wright. One fine day Kaufmann called Wright and enquired about his project and Wright promptly replied that the designs are ready. Mr. Kaufmann said he would be there in 30 minutes and Wright agreed;the sketches and drawings that Wright made in that 30 minutes became history in the creation of what was called the “Falling Water”, the Kaufmann House. Architects like Wright were not just architects but creative genius ; they had hands-on experience in art, painting, sculpture, music and literature. Le Corbusier another eminent French architect who was responsible in designing modern Chandigarh is well known for creating one building and writing ten books on projects whether built or unbuilt.

"I call architecture frozen music." said Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.

His description of architecture has been one of the most lasting. It is a quote with many interpretations, most directly reflecting the predominant style of Goethe’s time-Baroque style of architecture.

Today, the advent of a variety of software have changed the world we see and live today. We can’t live without them but one must know that even human beings have limitations of innovation. Frank O Gehry a well known contemporary iconic architect draws inspirations from his nightmares and translates his nightmares into iconic designs taking advantage of the softwares which support his ideas and visions.

When I started my profession as a teacher in the School of Architecture and Planning in the year 1983 and especially took interest to teach the 1^st year B.Arch students on the subjects like Basic Design and Theory of Architecture. That year I can recall was the most exciting year in my life. I was not just a teacher but a student among student. Every day was an innovation and the quest and hunger to do something different and interesting. I taught also geometry and the extrapolation and interpolation of geometry based on the principles and theories by Prof. Arthur Loeb of MIT Harvard. With no internet I used the American Consulate and the British Council Libraries very extensively to source information to build experimental projects for students. It was “hard work” and the final result was amazing. I had the finest of the students in my class and they still remember the one year they spent in the school with me. From then on there was no looking back, I have lectured on invitation in some of the best schools around the world. Hence the basics matter the most and the first two years are crucial in the education process.

The architectural education in India is monitored and controlled by the Council of Architecture (COA) under the purview of The Architects Act of India 1972. There are about 180 schools as independent institutions and as departments in engineering colleges all over India. Due to the surge in real estate market from the early 90s’ the architecture schools have mushroomed all over the country. It has become a difficult task for the institutions to find a suitable faculty. The faculty in any architecture school play a significant role in building a strong base and platform of learning architecture. The faulty should possess ability to understand, develop and execute good teaching practice, to continuously learn; and to continuously renew one’s professional knowledge. Together with the ability to share and communicate such learning, the faculty can construct and implement an inspirational vision of architectural education, which will encourage, support and nurture talent. Thus this ability to harness talent will make the school a place of innovation in architecture.

Educating architecture is not so simple as many may think, but needs continuous innovation and experimentation in the subject. The students need to be exposed to an intellectually vibrant environment with extraordinary infrastructure where talent could be nurtured and leadership could be inculcated. Most importantly the faculty should “practice and have ability to earn a teaching position by producing innovative work and such work should be publishable works of design, theory, history or criticism”.