WHY SHOULD WE KNOW HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE?

WHY SHOULD WE KNOW HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE?                                                              

This piece of article explores the question of why is it important to study history of architecture – Western architecture or Eastern Architecture…What is the use of learning history or getting to know things that have happened more than 2000 years before? If these things have happened, why to spend time discussing on them? Don’t we have better things to do in the present times that pondering about the past?

Just as you are thinking about these questions, I have also had a fair share of confusion and frustration in my mind as a student of architecture. These are the same questions which came to my mind. Therefore, let me attempt to shed light on the relevance of history subject for you. This is based on my personal experience, exposure to professional practice, some serious reading and my journey as a post graduate student in British Columbia for a research based program dealing with Indian Temples in Diaspora context.

Firstly, these questions do not have a direct answer. Some questions persist life long, other questions are replaced by more critical questions and some others loose relevance once you get the answers. Asking questions and finding answers, in fact, is a lifelong process and which you should imbibe in yourself as a habit. This will make you a sensitive and a better architect and a critical thinker. As you involve yourself in this profession in the coming years, your wisdom will grow and you will begin to see the “connection” of history with today’s society and how the Past informs the Present and how it can project the Future.

We begin with - what is the purpose of history syllabus….what is being taught or said? The basic intention of syllabus is to make you aware of enormous variety of buildings done worldwide. You will learn countless building typologies that have been constructed in the past in different continents and in different time periods. You will learn the technology used to construct them and in what context (situation) the buildings were done. You will be made to do a lot of sketches. For us, sketches are a medium to understand space and how it is manipulated. Just as you listen to music to understand or enjoy it, you “sketch” a building to understand it.  This might look overwhelming and cumbersome, (and boring also) but we will try to make it interesting to you. It is also required that you read stories, refer to history books (plain history as well), see historical videos to get the “feel” of history, visit historians, visit Deccan College, visit places of historical interest and develop liking. History is the only subject in your curriculum, which can tell you a lot of things about design, response to climate, use of technology, about the society and people, about other crafts and arts, about different places on earth and how people “think” about themselves and architecture.

In the thick course schedule and limited time slot, it is impossible to cover all aspects of this subject. Therefore, you should also be as much proactive in seeking answers and information, as we will be to provide them for you – to the best of our abilities. If we are not available, you should seek help from others, or maintain contact by emails or blogs or other social media. Knowledge is unlimited, but time is not. So, it is upto you how to make best use of the available time. And this is the best time in your life to think about questions and find answers. I can assure you that life becomes more complicated after you graduate!!

How should one look at history of architecture information given by teachers? As mentioned before, not all things can be shared because of limited time. So it is important to know HOW should one understand the information given to you? What is intended to be learnt from the information presented to you? You should keep on seeing any historical information from these aspects:

1.       Why was the building designed in this way? Could there have been a different way of doing it? (This is the primary motive of designing any building)

2.       What were the factors that influenced the form of the building? Were they climate or economy or technology or ideology or a combination of all these or something else? (This helps you to understand “context”)

3.       If I were given a chance to do the same type of building in today’s times, would I do it in a different way? If yes, in what way? (This develops the “critical” habit of interpreting the Past and responding to Present)

4.       What are the fundamental issues that remain common in all societies and throughout all the time periods? (This is the most difficult question to answer and this question will keep you engaged life long!)

What attitude probably gets developed by seriously being involved in history of architecture?

1.       Critical Thinking – You may start to ask questions like “why is this building done in this way?” or “Is there a need for putting so much glass on this wall when we have so much hot climate?” or “This space looks very small as compared to people using it…could it be expanded?” or “Why does it feel suffocated in here….are there less windows or poor ventilation in this given volume of space” or “ this white washed wall colour looks very peaceful and appropriate for meditation space” and so on. You should always question what is right or wrong, what feels appropriate to you and why it is to be done in this way.

2.       Importance of climate – You will understand that appropriate response to climate and correct use of technology creates “good” architecture most of the times. Examples are boundless – Charles Correa, Rahul Mehrotra, B.V.Doshi, and many contemporary architects. You will understand what is exactly “green” architecture and why is there so much fuss about it?

3.       You will come to know what makes our country unique? What can be learnt from Her and what answers can we give to architectural fraternity today?

4.       You will come to understand what defines the present context? What is the best way to move forward?

With this, I wish you the best of luck in this journey of history of architecture!