THE LOST CHAPTER!!
Hey ppl,I found this on a word document hidden in the deepest caverns of my hard disk... though i don't recollect when i wrote this i am still surprised at the clearity i wrote this in... i'm sure the situations as described in this may seem a little exaggerated but i only saw the essence in this document!!! Hence i poudly call it THE LOST CHAPTER!!...
A for Architecture
They initially asked me the usual details, my “BD” and another one asked me, “Do you even know the meaning of the word Architecture?” I tried to think hard, but it was all blank. I began to recollect all that I had learned over the last few months during my aptitude test and said; “ The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘The study of construction and design’. But as far as my understanding goes Architecture is the art and profession of understanding spaces. The word Architecture also has a historical meaning. In that respect, it may refer either to the building style of a particular culture or an artistic movement. For example, we speak of Greek architecture or Gothic architecture.”
I looked at them hoping they’ll let me go but then came the second question from another senior in the group which was a little more casual, “What is unique about architecture and who inspired u to choose this subject?” I thought for a while and said, “There are unique features about architecture that set it apart from other arts. In most cases, painters, writers, composers, and other artists create their works and then try to sell them. But a building may cost millions of rupees to construct. In nearly all instances, architects must have a buyer for their work before they create it. For example, rarely can an architect design an office building, afford to have constructed it, and then try to find someone who will buy it. But in architecture, needs, comfort levels and taste of the client has to be considered. Within the limits of those wishes and needs, architects have to make their artistic contributions.”
Thinking hard to find the answer for the second part of the question, last month’s NGC documentary came to my mind and I said, “History has created several great architects. But the architect who inspires me the most is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Mies, as he was generally called, was the master of glass and steel architecture. He designed skyscrapers that have a steel frame and thin metal and glass walls the style became popular for commercial buildings after World War II. He became the director of the German art school “ the Bauhaus” and served in that position until the school closed. The school greatly influenced modern architecture. His designs stressed rectangular, cube like structures of brick, exposed steel columns and huge windows.” I was shocked by what I had just said. I was a very quiet person by nature and public speaking was not my cup of tea. I just realized that this one interaction with the seniors made me so much more confident than I had ever felt in years.
Pleased with my answers they let me go. I went back to my seat and began to ponder that the beauty of a city or town is largely determined by the quality of its architecture. India contains many great buildings that are worth praise. I hope we as future architects build great buildings like we have in the past and make India a prouder nation.
- Siddharth Krishnamurthy
posted by Siddharth Krish @ 7:36 PM
1 comments
