It was during my 4th year internship at Ahmadabad that a thought really struck me. The practical training semester is a phase in every architectural student’s life where they take their first step into the reality of architecture. They realize the feasibility of their ideas and how difficult it can be to make something stand up from the drawing board and take shape on the ground. This process is often far more complicated than we visualized it to be.

 

This was the phase where, for once, life felt slightly different from the three and half years of theoretical architecture at college. For once, there were no night outs and not too much pressure; but instead just organized work. After all, no one was really giving you demeaning marks at the end of every submission.

 

The training itself, being in Ahmadabad, gave me a lot of time to reflect upon architecture and its in-depth new dimensions which we often overlook. These practical lessons are never really taught at any architecture school (at least, not at mine).

 

More time for myself, just gave me, more time for architecture. During which, on one occasion, I came across an essay writing competition conducted by BERKLEY UNIVERSITY. The topic I came across for that particular year was 'ARCHITECTURE AS A SOCIAL ART'. I don't know if your curriculum included courses about this or not, but mine surely didn’t. This got me thinking, what is ‘architecture as a social art’?

 

Could ‘architecture’ really be a ‘social art’?

 

I started reading up the essays put up there by the various students. One such, was about ‘THE ARCHITECT AND THE ACCESSIBLE CITY’; (i.e.) how architecture, with its social responsibility element, creates spaces that can be accessible to all. Most of us have often used fundas like ‘wheelchair accessibility’ and ‘universal design’ in our design presentation and concepts.

 

But to hit the note in reality, it really got me thinking:

 

How accessible are our cities?

 

How accessible are our spaces?

 

Well, the answer did not hit me until I saw my own mother avoid using public transport or visiting major public spaces because of her leg problem. It had been almost 2 years since my mum had actually stepped out like a normal person.

 

I realized that disability is not something that disabled people want to feel. It is we, the architects, who create spaces that are inaccessible to them and this thus makes them feel disabled. If the city was designed with ramps and minimal usage of stairs, then probably more disabled people would feel comfortable using the spaces that we create.

 

So, are they at fault for being disabled, or are the architects at fault for making them feel so?

 

When you really think about it, you might realize your importance as an architect. You might realize that you are merely not just creating blocks and rooms; but instead, are creating spaces that carry meaning and life that they owe to you.

 

Now, coming back to the topic, I happened to visit CEPT, Ahmedabad on one of those days when this self-realization about accessible architecture was bouncing around inside my head. Doshi was surrounded by a crowd of students who were intently listening to him share his experience of designing CEPT. He went on to talk about the evolution of the spaces surrounding the institute from then to now.

 

If you have been to CEPT, then you will most certainly remember the numerous levels that have been used to create common spaces. Absolutely no ramps at all. Aren’t all institution supposed to be equipped with universal access, let alone the most prestigious architecture and planning college in the country.

 

As the talk drew to an end, Doshi asked the audience for any questions or queries. I wanted to ask him about the accessibility issue but, I was quite hesitant since I noticed that the crowd encompassed of mostly CEPT-ians.

 

I waited for the crowd to thin down a bit before I approached him and gathered all my courage to ask him – “Sir, how is it that the best Institute for Architecture, (that has been) designed by a person like you, does not fulfil its criteria of accessible design. No differently abled student can ever imagine comfortably studying here.”

 

Doshi was scrolling down the menu on his touch screen mobile. He paused to look down at me and said “Sorry?” He clearly hadn’t heard my question properly and so, I nervously repeated it.

 

Hearing it, he smiled and quite simply said – “Well, I dint think of it then. If we actually might need it, we don't mind adding it in the future.”

 

Wondering whether to respond or not, I just stood there and watched him walk on.

 

Doshi is considered as one of the greatest architectural minds of the country and yet, that was the only answer that he could give me!

 

It dawned on me that it probably is a very subjective statement when you claim that “so-and-so is my favourite architect”.

 

The reality doesn't really strike you unless incidences like this happen. I am most certainly not saying that Doshi cannot be someone’s favourite architect. But I did end that day with a question mark that I am yet to figure out.

 

However, before I conclude, I’d just like to point out that during one of Jaisim’s (the founder of the firm ‘Fountainhead’) lectures where he was discussing good and bad architecture and architects, he said – “There is no such thing as good architecture or bad architecture. I can’t pass judgment on anyone’s work and they can’t judge mine because it is my architecture!”

 

Architecture is like a piece of art that you create. No one can say that it is good or that it is bad. A great architect or a small architect, we all have got our own charm. Because we are artists who breathe life into our works.

 

So, the next time you think about fantasising about your favourite architect, just pause for a moment to consider the necessity.