I woke up to this email from a student. I generally tend to read emails as soon as I notice them on my phone and many times, even reply immediately. But, for the reasons stated ahead, I delayed reading the contents of this email. Reasons, one, the subject line which sounded negative, “Random rantings”, second, it was from a student (now, I am sorry for this) and third, it was Sunday. I conveniently assumed that this student must have some complaints about some systems at the institute where he studies and I teach, or submissions, or some teacher or some new rule. But, all my assumptions proved wrong. Majorly, it was about various concerns about the profession, systems in the society and moreover the hardship that an Architecture student goes through when it comes to seeking permissions from various “authorities” to study buildings.
On behalf of the student, Pulkit Soni, who is studying Architecture, I would like to discuss and invite views (more important) from the fellow Architects, Educators, Students or whoever is reading this, on the concerns shared. Following are the contents of the email, as received.
Architecture: A Case Study
Architecture is a dynamic course, learning isn’t based just on the text books it delves deeper, farther and way beyond the scope of those bound pieces of paper. Architecture as a course and a profession is an endeavour to design the future with minimizing the mistakes of the past and yet continuing the legacy of the shared being of the human civilization. This makes precedence studies or what many of us call case study an inexorable imperative in the learning process. Most, if not all architects must have gone through these things in their college lives. They must have faced the hardship of getting permissions, visiting the place again and again, eating the architect’s or supervisor’s head for the help and get a better understanding of their design/project.
The story is largely the same as it would have been a decade ago. I feel disappointed to say that none of those who had faced these troubles have ever tried to facilitate the next generations of students of architecture. We are students not terrorists or a gang of robbers from Oceans movie series, we are not going to use the detailed studies of the buildings for figuring out the way to reach the multi billion dollar safe or execute some jewelry loot. Still in the remotest possibility, had we been a gang from Oceans movie series I am sure none of the hyped security arrangements could have stopped us from our goal. We are pretty much comfortable in being denied the study of 7, Race Course Road but the security of a small hotel or commercial complex or a group housing isn’t going to be compromised with by conducting precendence studies on them. Some people would present a different argument on a supposedly higher plane of intellect, theft of intellectual property, well I am sure asking your own conscience the question “really?” would help a lot. I don’t wish to be disrespectful or too arrogant for a student but the truth is that your design is exemplary to be studied for good or for bad but extra ordinary in certain sense. It’s a matter of pride and hence should be dealt accordingly. Going a step ahead I would say learing doesn’t end in college, the analysis of the design that the students do may be helpful in the future so instead of troubling the students in the name of security concerns or intellectual property, try and facilitate them with permissions to study, drawings or details and go ahead and ask for a copy of their assessment or rather be a part of a healthy discussion.
The reason why I referred to asking the inner self regaring security or intellectual property concerns is quite simple and quite evindent a scene in a country like ours. X’s father is a town planner so he is able to manage the drawings, details and the permissions to study a piece of design, Y’s uncle is a renowned builder in town so she is able to manage, my dad is nothing so I require a permission from the NHAI to study a toll booth, luckily I find some Z who gets us coffee served at the same toll booth. Why are people ( including architects and builders ) not open to the idea of sharing what they did, how they did, what problems they faced, what solutions they ended up with etc. Most of the cameras ( if not all ) are meant for photographing, a grenade wouldn’t be launched on pressing the shutter. Photographing a building isn’t going to be dangerous in any way, I am doing photography for quite some time now and I can assure you that.
Still not convinced, I have a question, how annoyed are you with the process of getting permits from governments for doing a project? Must have cursed the way of working of bureaucracy a thousand times. Is the attitude of not permitting the students ( or at least not in one go) any different?
It’s a sincere request from an apparently cynical student of architecture to think about it and bring about a change. Being a student of architecture should be a licence to study existing architecture around the world. For just this once say yes at the very outset of a request to study a building, for this once treat the fellow future professional with furniture details when he seeks the plans, for this once let him/her fill his/her memory card with pictures of your building, for this once thank him for choosing your building before any other, for this once facilitate him. Ask people associated with the field such as builders and developers to inculcate in themselves a similar attitude. Promote an environment of healthy learning where if your son or daughter pursues your profession, you needn’t phone someone up to let him/her study a building.
A note from the heart of a student of architecture who feels ashamed in asking his father (a senior government official) for trivial things like seeking permission to study a building.
Point taken.
Nowadays, the security situation being what it is, no one can afford to allow a free access in any building, NHAI toll booth or the Sena Bhavan.
Further, imagine the plight of students from Rizvi College of Architecture wanting to see the buildings in Bhabha Atomic Energy Centre to study the apartment complexes.
So a blanket permission may be a good idea, but it can not be taken as a right, unfortunately
Sir as I mentioned the hypothetical incidence relating to 7, RCR ( Prime minister’s residence ) where the security concern is genuine. Requirement to study such places is rare, studying day to day places such as apartment complex, club houses, malls etc doesn’t raise security issues for sure.
The white house allows visitors to quite deep an extent without much trouble. Rather no trouble. The west is west, cannot be compared to India yet I believe there is a large large scope to improve our attitude without compromising with security or intellectual property
The students should be allowed to study buildings good or bad- whichever they chose of the architect. We at Biome have no problem with it but would like-
a)student to have gone through the philosophy of the office as available in the web-site, or any other press and ask “informed” questions.
b)Students should be expected to walk the premises, take notes, sketch, photograph and study the same by themselves and then revert to the architect with questions, doubts and their assessment. Most of the time students expect the architects to pass on the drawing printouts and they never spend time understanding the whole thing.
c)I here also fault the academics who do not prepare the students on how to research, what to assess and look for. In such cases of inadequate academic guidance the students are expected to do the case study-which is chosen by students themselves most of the time and then it becomes the responsibility of the concerned architect to guide. Professionals are busy and are not able to give the best of time to students and it in turn frustrates both the parties.
I conclude that if institutions organize and work at getting the permission from the respective institution and professional there will surely be less hassle than leaving the whole issue to student to tackle.
The professionals as well as establishment will also feel better when the respective teachers/institute contact them with a letter of introduction or intent before the student approaches them.
The issue mentioned by the student is very pertinent and I can understand the dilemma and anguish faced by him and the student community at large. As a practicing architect I have always endeavored to help any student approaching me or my office. Its a matter of great pride for me and everyone in our office “SMITA & HABEEB KHAN ASSOCIATES”, when students approach us to study our buildings. For us it gives an opportunity to learn and becomes an important learning process. Recently my involvement in academics has increased substantially and as an institution we have come across obstacles, but we have talked over and have been able to solve the problem of access to buildings and permissions.
Basically this problem pertains to attitudes that we have in our country. Until they change, very little can be achieved. Mass awareness and institutional help and intervention to its students can solve this problem to some extent. Usually institutions per se do not face much problems, but yes when a student approaches individually there is a problem.
My advise to students in general is very simple:
1. Instead of waiting for someone to act and solve problems for them, they should get pro-active and act.
2. For all government buildings one can approach through the RTI and ask relevant questions and rules under which the permission is being denied. Private buildings usually are easily approachable.
3. Approaching the architect or the maintenance engineer usually always works.
4. Another approach is the contractor who has worked on the building. Almost every time this works.
5. Most important point which I want to put across to all students is that unfortunately the system and the attitudes at the moment are what they are. When you grow up and become fellow professionals, do not do what you are facing now. Individually if all the students take pledge to this effect, the situation will change in 5 years…!!
Every drop counts and together we can make a difference.
🙂
These concerns will never be addressed by authorities… ASI does not allow sketching/drawing on their sites without written permission from the head office in New Delhi, but photography is permitted!
Suspicion is the most common Indian response, after jealousy! Only individuals and organizations above these two concerns permit a stranger free access to their built forms and spaces for scrutiny, study, analysis and criticism…
Hi
Open sourcing design is very pertinent and extremely important. I have been advocating this for many, many years and in fact, have set up a website for this http://ww3.teamtad.com It is critical in this information age we need to exchange the “source code” of buildings openly. The student is right; the older generations have done lots of mistakes and we should guide the youngsters at least by being open about what we did. There is a lot of work that needs to be done here. The open source movement has done a lot of good for software and computers. The movement is spreading to other areas too. Good to see that students are waking up this scenario
I found the issue of insufficient data on buildings that students could use as case studies prevalent when I dealt with thesis design studios or contemporary architecture electives. Students had access to a lot of information on buildings across the world but not of schools, campuses, cultural/sports centers, etc. in India or even in their own cities or towns. Documentation is limited to the photographs in the few architectural journals. InCITE’s exhibitions and publications – Drawings and models, the project files, design walks – are attempts to fill the void, bridge the gap. Details on https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/InCITE/120435167855
The issue is extremely important. Case studies and visits to construction sites for architectural students are like attending clinics for a med. student.
I think the issue must be taken up with Council of Architecture. It must be made mandatory for a practising architect to provide electronic copies of drgs to an accredited architectural student may be through his college. The architects should also be asked to facilitate site visits for them.
Also the CA should get the Government organisation like ASI, CPWD, NBCC who are generally involved in Planning and construction and various other departments to provide all necessary help for the students.
Perhaps some guidelines may be evolved which would be binding on these institutions.
I do not see why this is not possible. Over FOUR DECADES any student who has desired to visit and study our projects have always been welcomed. The only incidences of refusal or postponement of visit dates have been when there has been a private function or some other reason of the client seeking privacy.
One other thing. some students go in a crowd like crows and 90 percent of them are not interested but do it as matter of fact. This is annoying.
It is a two way story.
Serious young architects and students have always manged to get around hurdles and visit and study sites and projects to their mind and heart content.
where there is a will there is a way.
Crying and lamenting is not one of them