By Tanaya Manchekar
[- Architecture and Nation Building – Smart city mission – Slum development – Economic development – Effect of pandemic – Architecture in early centuries – 2 converging topics – Sir Laurie Baker work – Late realization of Nation Building]
INTRODUCTION
Architecture is a medium to serve people and environment if it is in the hands of diligent practitioners. Architecture alone cannot solve problems of sociology, economics, politics etc. but it can determine the spaces where these changes can happen for the betterment of the nation. Architecture and Nation Building are two different subjects but related for the development of the nation. Architecture holds the ability to create aesthetic spaces and hence makes human existence meaningful.it is a living reality where same space can be used for multiple purposes. It is a built environment having potential to communicate the nations thoughts. Now, Nation Building involves structuring the national identity using the state’s power. Architecture of a nation should be looked upon at a globalized scale. It should ultimately affect the national identity by encouraging economy to grow and create a politically viable and stable state like Japan and Germany. Architects should consider concepts and regulations which bode with nation and solidify the relationship with common people. Architecture is not limited to the interior environment but has a social obligation, public face and a community dimension towards the nation. Anything constructed is always going to have its standard and rules on which the nation is going to stand and hold its pride in. Since the late 1600’s due to ignorance, architects failed to express aspiration of culture and assume their role in Nation Building. Nation Building has now been taking place without architectures active participation resulting in slow and diverging concepts of Nation Building. Architecture can take an initiative in nation building by developing national community through government programs like ‘Smart City Mission’.
SMART CITY MISSION
Smart cities is a mission initiated by the Government of India. It takes into consideration the architectural part of urban areas like Jaipur and Varanasi. It focuses on new paradigms of global linkages and cultural transitions among the cities. It tells us the needs of the nation and focuses to make the cities of India self-capable in cases of solar rooftops, robotics, quantum communication etc. But while constantly looking forward to embrace a new paradigm through architecture we forget the older paradigm and hence planning happens but evolution stops. So I feel to meet the upcoming expectations of the nation, all the developing cities should drive and develop through the metaphor of cities like Jaipur, Varanasi and Chandigarh but not Mumbai. For example, in case of Jaipur city, we can say that its land use imagination was done much earlier and hence it could give a city with controlled scale of buildings, large streets, informality and a manageable cluster scale.
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DHARAVI SLUMS
Not to ignore the nations famous Dharavi slums. In 1882 When the Britishers shifted their business to Dharavi during the Plague pandemic, Dharavi then grew to Asia’s largest slum which is the most unplanned area of Asia. This unplanned area of 600 acres carries a population of over 1 million people and is a micro industry for textile, leather and pottery. In so many years’ architecture could have done so many beautiful things to this land had it been in responsible hands. What if we shift the slums to residential buildings and focus on empowering the textile leather and pottery industries by interconnecting them somehow. If given a direction, it would bring so much business to the Indian economy. To improve the slums, we will need the state’s power but initially the project should be of interest for the locals and the state to invest.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Economic development always remains an important aspect of Nation Building. Active and passive architecture now needs to maintain an effective global vision to the extent of development. Architecture can give us forms that harmonize with opportunities presented by growth between sectoral and regional economic necessities. When the concrete phenomenon created by architecture acts a prominent propagation and intimidation on a global stage and acts as occasions of human contact will have the power to boost the nation’s economy towards Nation Building.
PANDEMIC
Today the nation and Architecture on every scale has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic proved that modern architecture of the nation has failed to serve the nation in times of emergency. It could not provide social isolation or retreat from viruses. Modern Architecture failed to provide us with self-sufficient power, water and air filtration systems. Hence, the post pandemic architecture should look forward to contain things that matter like urban farming. It should also be able to help us to relocate cities in times of emergency. Architecture if works in the direction of urbanization, may make relocation of cities possible. Since today, every day is a state of permanent emergency, everyday becomes a paradigm for architects to deliver planned architecture without compromising the quality of life.
HISTORY
Architecture has its own history since the Indus Valley Civilization. The remains of the cities are found to be incredibly well planned to support 80,000 people hence making India the largest early civilization. Later in the Maurya, Kushan and Shunga Dynasty, stone carvings became prominent which played a major role social, cultural and religious communication. It became an important element of Architectural believes. In 12th to 18th century Mughal and Islamic architecture started in India. Surprisingly this change drove India towards nation building by
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strengthening its national believes and economic growth because Islamic architecture was in accordance with early Indian architecture hence it only had a positive impact on the nation.
CONVERGENCE
When Architecture and Nation Building comes together, it not only involves buildings but it works on building people associated with a nation which has to be democratic in all senses. Architecture of this era is a mirror of civilization. It sends coded texts through its form. Like Indian temples through its elements communicate the spiritual inclination, richness and art of the nation. This shows that contextual and symbolic architecture will play a major role in Nation Building. While studying the Eiffel Tower, it is a steel structure comprising art and technology. The art part of the tower comes from the locals of Paris who used to wear decorated and frilled clothes, hence communicating the tradition, culture and art. It helped Europe to stabilize economically and socio-culturally hence pushing it towards Nation Development.
SIR LAURIE BAKER’S CONTRIBUTION
India had an Architect who was not only styling his buildings but was simultaneously styling the nation. Sir Laurie Baker’s architecture had a sensitivity to the needs of common people and an understanding involved in shaping a built environment. Even though he lived and worked mainly in Kerala, still his vision and work was relevant to the entire nation. Baker’s work led the nation towards simplicity, liberation and culture. It is not important to contribute only through concrete but contribution of architecture through an Architects vision, change of mindset and philosophy of work, stands of utmost importance. He made architecture belong to the place and people of the nation. In late 1960’s, he introduced cheap systems of rain water harvesting and energy management. Besides being visionary, he also has a strong practical side to himself that practice is of huge inspiration and contribution to managing our settlements and taking architecture to the entire nation.
REALISATION
Concluding Architecture’s role in nation building, plays a crucial role in the subject of shelter which is the basic need of nation building. Architecture is not only about creating spaces, it includes noting past errors and avoiding them to create healthy projects for the future of nation building. The heritage and culture of a nation should be considered of a caliber to protect and empower the nation’s identity and consider the nation as unique and innovative. If we as Architects closely look at molding a nation of different groups and identities as a part of cohesive society under one flag, then Architecture could be a major part of Nation Building. Conscience efforts and sensitivity towards styling the environment will help attain National Unity and Stability. From the late 1980’s we realize that Architecture should now move from monuments to people. Understanding of orientation and attitudinal change in Architecture will lead cities and nations to be better places to live.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
I have taken reference for smart city mission on pg.1 from the webinar of ar. Manoj Parmar.
I have taken reference for economic development on pg. 2 from www.researchgate.net
I have taken reference for history on pg.2 from www.ancient.eu
I have taken reference for Laurie Baker contribution on pg.3 from www.thelogicalindian.com
By Tanaya Manchekar
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