As she wanders through the maze of concrete jungle and glass, she wonders, “ Where can I find architecture?” a girl begins her quiet quest, seeking to understand the deeper calling—the need for space-making. Why do we carve out spaces from the earth? What compels us to shape the voids that cradle our lives?
Elements Like Light, Shadows, and Landscape
There is architecture anywhere and everywhere. It is found in the houses we occupy, the streets we stroll on, the offices we work in, and the common areas we use. These environments, crafted with intention or shaped by necessity, influence our moods, behaviours, and interactions, subtly guiding the rhythms of our lives. Architecture is a composition of shape and space that speaks to our senses in a way that is a symphony for the body. It speaks to us in whispers, like the sound of leaves rustling in a courtyard, footfall echoing in a vaulted hall, and the way light spills through a window at dawn, painting walls with the morning hues.
“I don’t believe architecture has to speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature in the guise of sunlight and wind.” — Tadao Ando
For example, Tadao Ando’s spirituality in architecture is profoundly expressed through his integration of landscape, where nature and structure form a meditative harmony. In projects like the Church on the Water, Ando uses water, earth, and sky as integral elements, creating spaces where the landscape is not merely a backdrop but a participant in the spiritual experience. The seamless blend of building and environment invites reflection, with the natural world framing moments of serenity and introspection. In Ando’s hands, architecture becomes a dialogue with nature, a sacred space where the landscape speaks to the soul.
The Necessity Of Texture and Touch
“How can one feel the essence of Architecture?”, the question lingered in her mind,
As the fingers go over the textures of stone, wood, and glass, she realises touch is a sense of awakening. The architect’s palette includes the softness of cloth, the rough warmth of brick, and the chilly smoothness of marble. It creates awareness of the physicality of the environment around people when an individual experiences things like the soft give of a cushion beneath their feet, the weight of a door handle, or the resistance of a heavy gate.
Observing the works of Charles Correa, how he masterfully used courtyards in his architecture to create spaces that are both functional and deeply spiritual. In buildings like the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya and the Jawahar Kala Kendra, his courtyards serve as lungs for the structure, bringing in light, air, and nature, while also offering a place for reflection and community. These open spaces blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, connecting occupants with the environment and fostering a sense of tranquillity. Correa’s courtyards are more than just architectural features; they are sanctuaries within his buildings, echoing traditional Indian design while nurturing a modern, contemplative experience.
As she walks, she feels the pull of the open sky, the embrace of a narrow corridor, and the solace of a hidden courtyard. Each space speaks to her in a language of light and shadow, of texture and sound.
The Link in Designing Spaces
Space-making, she perceives, is a reflection of our innermost desires—to belong, to connect, to find meaning in the world around us. It is the crafting of a space where we can retreat from the chaos and the designing of thresholds that invite us to step into new experiences.
An iconic example of creating space in architecture is Balkrishna Doshi’s Aranya Low-Cost Housing in Indore. The roads and walkways that connect the residences are intended to be dynamic social areas that promote conversation and foster a sense of community. Because of Doshi’s design, any family can expand and alter their homes as their needs change over time, providing flexibility and individuality. This strategy takes into account both the current housing shortage and potential future expansion and modification.
She discovers that every space, no matter how grand or humble, carries a purpose. It holds the potential to inspire, comfort, to provoke thought. The walls are not merely boundaries; they are the frames of existence, shaping the way we see ourselves and others. The rooms are not just shelters; they are vessels of memory, echoing with the laughter, the tears, the quiet moments of reflection.
In her quest, she discovers that space-making is more than building—it is the art of shaping the voids where the soul can breathe, where dreams take form and life finds meaning.
As she travels further, she comes to learn that creating space is a necessary step in the process of understanding and expressing oneself. Humans have an innate drive to mould the world to reflect our inner selves and to create environments that speak identities and aspirations. Each space she encounters becomes a testament to this profound need, a reminder that architecture is not just about structures, but about the spaces that live within us.
Citations:
- Ando, Tadao. Tadao Ando: The Colours of Light. Phaidon, 1996.
- Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
- Correa, Charles. The New Landscape: Urbanisation in the Third World. Butterworth Architecture, 1989.
- Doshi, Balkrishna. Paths Uncharted. Vastu Shilpa Foundation, 2011.
