Article review - The Changing Culture of Architecture in Modern India.

 

Dutta, A.B.2018, FEB 15. The Changing Culture of Architecture in Modern India.

Retrieved from - https://archinect.com/features/article/150048645/the-changing-culture-of-architecture-in-modern-india

 

 

The article starts with Ar. Apurva Bose Dutta, explaining how architects have lost authorship and their voice amidst commercialization of the profession in Indian context. She talks about how architects and governing architectural bodies are making efforts to practice better architecture, especially in projects like building smart cities, but the Indian government has neither shown interest in taking their opinions into consideration, nor are they worried about heritage being lost in the face of modernization. The author also mentions how women are the only ones taking charge and bringing about change in the field.

 

Dutta explains the need to look at cities, rather than just the buildings and how it is the responsibility of an architect to bring community architecture in action. She brought up the new development of social movements and public dialogues, recent example being Bengaluru where people are voicing their opinions and working to bring about changes visibly. Dutta also talks about the changes in sensibility of the Indian architects who have perused their higher studies from West and have shunned old cliché practices. She also looks forward to Indian media being more active in architecture and design which will in turn educate people more about the need of architecture. The author concludes by stating the need of the hour and how going in the right direction can do justice to the profession and the community.

 

 

CRITIQUE’S NOTE

The author has tried to make the audience aware of the present case scenario in architecture. The article has been painted in a very optimistic and revolutionary way, but in my opinion, it still doesn’t reflect the harsh realities in our profession, nor has the X factor to create a spark among the audience, it has more of “a let it proceed energy”. This article surely gives us hope, yes! but people who aren’t related to the field of architecture and design won’t be able to contribute just by dialogue. The focus should have been more on what we can achieve, how can we benefit from it and the roadmap for the same with a stern face to face with reality.