Just Another Big Question Mark

As architects, we are planning the future of our country every day. All the decisions which are taken in an architect's office turns out to stand as a concrete evidence to this fact as these decisions gives rise to a new architectural feature. The architect is shaping the future of every country by not only creating spaces but also by creating lifestyles.

But practically, the actions of architects are getting more and more influenced by "developers". More and more sick buildings are being created everyday. Malls which are just duplicates of each other are being transplanted from one place to another.

The concept of green building has nearly turned out to become a business for the big players (developers and "fat chickens"). The main motive of architects has become to achieve "green rating points" so that their building can sell well. It is common to see that most of the so called "green buildings" are glass buildings which need air conditioning to function.

In terms of innovation, architects are getting very lazy. Most of the architect's office is a "copy-paste" center rather than a center for new and fresh design ideas. Architects are getting too busy copying the styles from the architectural magazines inspite of taking inspirations from them.

Architecture is being treated more like a "business" than a dream profession. Architect's are running into the business mind-set and are mass producing buildings. An architectural project, in an architecture office can be compared to "coca cola" in "coca cola factory". There are just too much similarities in all of them. And they are getting produced in a very fast rate. Also, the use of modern architectural softwares like revit has made it worse.

By saying this, I do not intend to complain about whats going on in "our industry". I am just a bit disappointed, because I feel that it will surely make it hard for the young architects to see the real architecture (which is not copying and pasting).

Also, I don't say that all architect's offices are like these. There are some people who have chosen the hard path which leads not only in the discovery of architecture but also of human being. I think that the true power to tackle with the sad situation of architecture in our country is in the unity. The unity of "good", to wipe out the "bad"...

Anyways, what are your views on this?

@ rohit

why do u want ot become an architect?

my motto is to bring welfare to the nation and i chose architectutre aa a path to help me out in my own ways.

 @ Rohit : Well I agree with your opinion but the developers u r talking bout are ultimately our clients, who are too influenced by the things they have seen ...i thing we as architects should have the talent of convincing them for doing what we want.....they are anyways not going to understand how architecture helps the society , lifestyle or the environment..and yes its true that the architects in the business are after making more number of projects , where they lack in giving a conscious thought on the decisions they are making...we need to grab the grip over our skills of convincing so that we can do what we think is right..and that will bring the unity within all of us...

 hi, i am a final yr architecture student and in these 5yrs of time many feelings, likes & dislikes about architecture as a whole has crossed my mind.

• Every student who studies architecture gets a lot of freedom in life since we do not need to cram definitions, formulaes (except 1subject-structures) etc. Rather we can exercise our own minds & fancies for every new project.

• People say that architecture is a lucrative profession once you get established. Anithor +pt.
  

• Now, i have always felt that as far as work is concerned we all become very dependent. Right from gathering case studies, searching for bye-laws & drawing help for the basic study requirements since we dont have many course books to guide us etc. we have to depend on other sources who would help us in this regard.  And the college pass does not work, believe me, nobody accepts letter from ur college and permits you to even visit all parts of their building,,, forget about getting plans from them. And the college authorities are least bothered about this plight of the students. They can only except a big bulk of work while their input is neglible.                                                                                                                                         Studying architecture means you get to suffer humiliation at so many different levels- from ur college  proffessors at the time of every viva-they can never feel satisfied with ur work, seniors who r supposed to help u out but wont do so unless n until they see any benefit in this helping, and the other places where u land for conducting case studies.

• Unlike your school times, when u'r an archi student u can not except that u can simply come to class, attend 'informative' lectures and just go back home and revise the concepts. Life is not this independent.

• Its said that its a very creative profession. I want to ask a question here, is creativity all about just creating some different forms & painting the walls with a novel color. Isn't it a very kiddish way of defining creativity. Rest everything is strict-straight from the construction methods to materials. Airy fairy ideas are not accepted by the professors. Guys where has the so-called 'freedom' of archi gone now?

• Long working hours !..you can not just help with this fact that as an architect you have to work really really hard and for many hours at a stretch. And there isn't much brains that u have to put on these works, just the time.
  

These were some of my opinions and querries as an archi student, i would want to get some light thrown on these issues both by the students & the proffessionals especially.

Thank You !