Students of architecture and their shift in perspective

The sleepless nights from graduate school have always been an excellent memory for each architect. These late hours spent talking, chatting, and those small work breaks at 2 am taught us way more than making buildings. One learns how and what to learn in schools, not give a design solution.  

Skimming through the bachelor’s design sketchbook makes one admire the freedom of ideas and thoughts drawn into a small design. These did not only solve the given problem but always had the rush to give more than its essential utility to give life to a building or a design. These silly designs knew no limits; reasons were not limited by land, money, ideas, thoughts and experiments. As young aspiring architects, we were asked to design a house limited to 25 feet. A 25 Cube is a house with 25 feet in each dimension. Though the problem looked simple then, it still amazes me even after a few years of experience. I wonder how, as young minds, we can bring a hundred different ideas that vary from their base. 

The exposure to new theories, new thoughts, and new philosophies initiates a movement within that pulls us off the mob mentality. This designer/architectural cloak makes this more partial; the walls are no more dead walls; one sees through them. The stories that were muted are now heard loud and clear. The lifeless brick and mortar can directly be associated with emotions. Emotions that limits to beings can now to associated with hollow space. There’s no coincidence that few areas in the same building are liked more by people, and significantly fewer people visit few. Understanding this science is what architecture students have mastered during these vigorous years of working. 

These vigorous years have helped architecture students to find their niche, which they can pursue as their future goal. Architecture is no more a building design course. One has limitless mediums to explore, such as products, furniture, landscapes etc., but few choose to capture these devil details through the artificial lens. These interdisciplinary approaches do not just make you an architect but a better version of yourself. This plethora of knowledge allows us to dig deep into our self-consciousness. This five years of gradual weathering makes design proof and equips it for the real world. Unlike other courses, the deeper you dig into architecture is not confined to brick and mortar but politics, culture, people and social lives. As said by the Chinese activist artist Ai Weiwei: 

“To work in architecture you are so much involved with society, with politics, with bureaucrats. It’s a very complicated process to do large projects. You start to see the society, how it functions, how it works. Then you have a lot of criticism about how it works.”

Architectural course, in my opinion, is just a tiny step towards exploring this lesser known design world. It has made the known street more detailed and more exciting to the designer’s eyes. The perspective on understanding the community has changed, and the association of architecture with the community has become apparent. 

Pursuing a bachelor’s in architecture has helped me in great depth to develop my intellect in the design field. During these years, I’ve developed an interest in computational design, photography, and leather craft, all under the giant umbrella of design/architecture. For me, the design allows the user to carry out everyday activities ranging from tiny products and furniture to urban spaces. As a designer, the hands-on experience of working on a public installation of a cafe during India Design Week gave me a whole new perspective on looking at the public realm. The temporary installation was derived from the void, a negative word that, when used efficiently, changes its characteristics drastically. Work experience as an architect-designer involved working on various scales of design ranging from macro to micro, from public buildings/spaces to door handles. The newer ideas opened up gates to more unique experiences exposing me to a new challenging design realm.

A Master’s in Urban Design sparked my interest in the public realm. The programme combines sociological and morphological aspects of society and its environment. As an architect, urbanist, and designer, the master’s programme taught me the importance of a space’s publicness, essence, and belongingness. The experience of local area planning has changed my understanding of community-led design. People’s enthusiasm and interaction with local authorities helped me realise a studio project. The thesis has helped me appreciate the intricacies of earlier planning ideas. An in-depth study of these concepts and sustainable practices helped me address current concerns by integrating indigenous principles into design.

People are actively working to make great ideas a reality on various fronts of technology, economics, and human well-being. As an architect and urban designer, I perceive inclusive urban space more socially and humanely. As stated by one of the most creative minds, Zaha Hadid;

“Architecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space … On the one hand, it’s about shelter, but it’s also about pleasure.”