The Lost Chapter

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

It was my first day in CSIIT. It was a bright and sunny day and I could see all my friends waiting for me at the gates. The college was filled with fresh faces all looking forward for the long awaited course to finally begin. We had the usual grind that all colleges have, an inspiring speech by the director and another by the H.O.D. Then we came face to face with the seniors. They gathered in the room and were waiting for someone to talk but there was no response. I was amazed by the silence though the classroom was over flooded with people. I felt extremely safe and smart to have taken a seat in the corner of the class away from all my seniors. Just when I thought things were going my way a group of seniors noticed me. I tried to keep my head as low as possible, but it only made things worse. They called me, and I reluctantly got up from my seat and walked up to them.

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