Architecture happens to be the most profound storyteller about the glory of India. Civilizations around the world have employed architecture as an expression of their scientific advances, cultural identity, might of the rule, national pride, custodian of societal values, beliefs associated with spiritual journey and just the basic shelter sufficient for one’s existence. Science and art as rock bed of architecture can only be a journey of excellence but never be perfected by any human being except for the architect of the Universe, the Lord Vishwakarma. The divine architect, as Lord Vishwakarma is referred to in ancient Indian texts, can also be interpreted as a mighty intellect that alone can perfect the balance of science and art that is architecture.
CLIMATE, GEOGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE
Diversity is the sole typification of Indian architecture. If climate and geography are the two most significant influences that define human-nature relationship, they have driven the characterisation of architecture as well. However, the unifying factor across all regions has been the inseparable underlying ‘Bhartiya-tatwa’, the Indianness. This is evidenced in the architecture of temples of various time periods and regions. Despite their physical conditions, the scholarly works by archaeologists, conservation architects, historians and masters of Indian Knowledge Systems have yet to unfold most of the legacy. An intervening period of the last 1000 years has conditioned reference of our interpretation of heritage to the invader’s interests. Let us trace the technology legacy of Indian architecture briefly.
ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY WISDOM
Abundant literature has attempted to explain intrigue in form, scale and construction technologies in Indian temple architecture. Physical appreciation of magnificence is simple to connect with and so are some of the planning and design principles. There is another intangible layer of belief that is related to the principal deities and the depth of understanding depends on the level of internalization of knowledge by the individual devotees. Such devotees connect with external physicality of a structure all the way to the deity in the Garbha Griha seamlessly as they transition through spaces conjugated by design having different scales, geometric proportions, spatial relationships, sound articulation of Martas, variations in reverberation times, effect of underlying story sculpted on interior surrounding embellishments and so on. Thus, the visualization of the Master Architect was beyond perception, created through physical exterior expression and also imagining the spatial design of the volume inside the structure in the same design, simultaneously.
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Simply put, the technological genius of Indian Master Architects and constructors was to create one distinct external expression, and another one experienced inside as ‘Anubhav’ due to volumetric proportions and the detailing. So, the Master Architect was handling two different storylines in the same construction layer successfully. Indian temple architecture was beyond the realm of external manifestation of monumentality, but experiential expression conceptualised thoughtfully and executed to reality over decades involving generations of craftsmen. It is still an intrigue as to how design was communicated in its form and intent to the generations error free.
Recent excavations at Rakhigarhi have revealed remnants of a well-planned township as a part of the Saraswati-Indus Valley civilization of 5000 BCE. Masonry houses having kitchens, toilets, and drainage systems are a reflection of a flourishing trade city. Although the civilization might have collapsed around 2000 BCE, the evolution of architectural excellence that we see at later stages must have been the result of a highly accomplished society. From city planning to temple towns and temples, ancient Indian architectural legacy represents a unique continuum of wisdom linking society, communities and livelihoods around. Irrigation and water management systems created by Cholas are the testimony of their profound understanding of hydraulics but also the deep understanding of climate and geotechnical engineering.
Image Courtesy: World History Encyclopedia
CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ARCHITECTURE EXCELLENCE
Architecture is at the centre of creating a new India. The New Parliament Building at Central Vista New Delhi shall be remembered as a statement of creating our own national identity by leaving behind colonial tradition of the built form, thereby heralding a new India, marking Amrit Kaal of Viksit Bharat at 2047. In the journey of transformation into modern India, the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building is a landmark accomplishment. Known as the ‘world’s largest office building’, it is designed to serve as a destination for over 65000 diamond professionals which will house over 4200 traders from 175 countries having its own ‘Customs Clearance House’ for import-export, a jewellery mall catering to retail jewellery firms and a facility for international banking and secure vaults. The SDB is projected to bring in a turnover of Rs 2 lakh crore.
Image Courtesy: PIB
When India hosted G-20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, it was in fact, a celebration of contemporary Indian architecture. India has at least two buildings completed in the ‘supertall category’ having height more than 300 meters (Palais Royale and Lokhandwala Minerva, both in Mumbai) and has at least four buildings under construction (all in Mumbai). Known as the ‘financial and technological metropolis’, GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, in Ahmedabad district) is an architectural and planning marvel conceptualised on walk-to-work and quality of life principles. It is a global benchmark which will set standards for architecture and planning leading to realization of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Indian architecture practice has been leading the world’s largest ‘green building’ movement. Green sustainable technologies and systems being used in contemporary buildings for energy efficiency and water management are some of the most advanced in the world. Late Dr PC Jain, an engineer par excellence, who taught student-architects at the School of Planning and Architecture for almost four decades, pioneered Indian Green Building Movement under Indian Green Building Council in 2007, envisioning 10 billion sq. ft. of green building foot print by 2022, with the target of ‘one square foot of registered green building footprint for every Indian’. Today, India is the second country in the world in terms of registered green building footprint. As a result of the Indian Green Buildings initiative, there is a transformation of green products and technologies with a market potential of around 300 billion USD by 2025. Dr Jain, one of the most revered teachers, was a graduate from BHU where he got deeply inspired to serve the country. Having acquired a doctorate from the US, he returned to serve India and was a catalyst in involving one of the largest numbers of registered architects practicing green certified buildings in the world. Dr Jain, in his book, ‘Path of Green’, envisioned India to be ‘Jagatguru in a Sustainable Built Environment’.
At the Amrit Kaal of Viksit Bharat, India has the technologies to produce green and sustainable buildings as well as the critical mass of architecture professionals. Recent airport buildings, healthcare infrastructure buildings (such as numerous AIIMS projects dedicated to the nation already) and many other such projects in both private and public sector bear testimony to the potential capacity. The challenge now is to respond to climate change and engage in a net zero carbon sustainable development paradigm.
TRANSITIONING THE LEGACY OF INDIAN ARCHITECTURE TO FUTURE
As we move to the climax phase of reaching the goal of a developed nation, the development has to be sustainable, lest the development itself become the nemesis. Architecture practice is now transitioning from ‘green buildings’ to net-zero carbon footprint development. At this juncture, it is important to recall that Indian traditional architecture has evolved scientifically based on ancient wisdom. Sustainability has been at the core and consumptive needs were controlled through compatible lifestyles. The nation is now presenting traditional Indian wisdom of Lifestyles For Environment (LiFE) principles as a panacea for climate change to the world. For Indians though, it is reverting to our own roots. It is therefore incumbent to build new paradigm architecture on the foundations of ancient wisdom, traditional knowledge, and contemporary experience with technologies. The challenge, though, is to embrace technologies for global standards of lifelong measurement review and verification (MRV) of systems integrated in upcoming buildings. Verifiable outcomes during the operational phase of net zero performance of technologies and systems would necessitate digital twinning.
CUSTODIAN OF CULTURAL IDENTITY
Architecture is the most effective custodian of cultural identity. And Indian architecture has a pivotal role in instilling national pride. Hence, architecture in India would now need to express Indianness, the Bhartiya Tatwa as it embraces cutting edge solutions. Hitherto, in recent times, the question of identity has been relegated to insignificance, but technology led architecture cannot afford to clone western urbanization. Defining Indianness is a complex paradoxical issue. Can it be urban centric and roughshod villages where culture and value systems still flourish? Global architectural expressions have no relevance to the diverse rural settings in India while technological advances should not discriminate against the urban-rural divide. Rural India and its surroundings would have to be preserved as carbon sinks which should not be the reason for less than ‘modern’ facilities and amenities. Professional training pipeline is yet to create appropriate capacities since the architecture professional education is largely modelled around its service in urbanised context. This would call for transformation of professional architecture education in India addressing ‘art and science’ needs of villages, embracing technologies for MRV protocols and experimenting with adaptation of contemporary in contextually diverse regional realities in India. The wise amongst the architecture education and profession in India need to strategize for the dawn of new India @2047.
*The writer is Director, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.
