Architecture establishes the connection between the individual and the universal by designing a structurally cohesive environment where the two can mutually recognize and build each other. Looking at and linking the past with the present through modern modulations, architecture education encompasses all aspects of our way of life by creating spaces that influence the interaction of the socio-economic landscape.
The impact has become even louder in the last decade with the advent of futuristic tools to shift the paradigm of the history of architecture education even in India.
While paying emphasis on the state of architectural education in India, it is important to note that we look at Artificial Intelligence to have a greater impact in building the individual’s connection with the society by constantly understanding the human relationship with its built environment to enable sustainable projects in the future. And the conscious interrelationship between traditional and modern needs to be explored and established to reflect the new dynamics in the state of architectural education in India.
With the aspiration of “100 smart cities”, there is a rise in demand for architecture jobs in India. The emergence of futuristic tools and Artificial Intelligence has further impacted the evolution of architectural education in India. With this rising demand, architecture education is now shifting course to accommodate innovative design methodologies around sustainable architecture and design thinking. There is a spurt of workshops that provide short and strategic course material and active learning where students not only get to learn from industry experts but also work on their own design concepts while being exposed to group interactions.
The power of artificial intelligence has also made architects conscious about the collective environment and the future by placing a radical responsibility on these thought-leaders of tomorrow. And the architect of the future must be mutable in thinking strategies to blend the traditional and the modern to tackle the limitations of the future which is to be imparted to the students of architecture.
There are even immersive workshops new and thriving architecture firms conduct that are designed to impart a holistic training program educating students on new-age tools and software in parametric architecture with hands-on learning and even site-specific instructions shaping the evolution of architectural education in India.
One such example is ‘Parametrized’ and ‘AI Urbanised’ conducted by Equim Designs where a power-packed 5 days session wraps up key learnings by taking methods of Antoni Gaudi’s & Frei Otto’s Form Finding a notch ahead through Simulation in Computational Design and introductions to Rhino and Grasshopper, making architecture education seem interesting and interactive through practical learning. The workshops involve the participants’ collaboration with each other where they work on designing a conceptual project with the learned concepts.
Moreover, the virtually growing world has enabled a newly discovered state of architectural education in India by making workshops and study programs more accessible via online and available in a reasonable price bucket.
For architecture education to flourish and unleash independent and curious minds, it is vital that the workshops conducted be interactive and help develop group-work fusing the different ways of thinking based on learning by the different students participating in a workshop. Such a system enables exposure to design methodologies and helps students cultivate new ways of identifying problem-solving in architecture.
Moreover, it teaches students to master confidence in their own ways of building a vision for the future. Such coursework influences grit and competition in students to stay hooked to the framework and receive the best out of the workshop which nurtures learning in a fun and unconventional way as well as allows them for doubt-clearing sessions with the mentors.
It is important to note that the recent history of architecture education in India had been about facing a crisis with a shortage of teachers and overcrowded classes according to architects in India which brought to light the problems in architecture education in India.
Hopefully, such major issues are being countered since the opportunity with a few key factors such as rapid urbanization is driving the sphere of infrastructure. By the next three to four years, the infrastructure sector should be escalating in growth and this implies that it is a good time to pursue architecture in India.
Architecture places itself to respond to the needs and problems of the collective race by using the sharpness of imagination and integrating the craft to master a fruitful vision for the planet that has the power to elevate the human experience and pushes the “renaissance individual” to soar above the mediocrity of self-imposed limitations.
And therefore, architecture education must address the history of architecture education in India and reflect on the shifts in thinking AND the huge impact of technology that places the architect face to face with endless potential for creative genius in driving the face of our environment and inspire collective harmony.
A healthy and constructive criticism is also a significant denominator to help architecture as a field of study resolve the problems in architecture education in India, simultaneously.
