The inner world of multidisciplinary practices – Atelier Anonyme Design by Amrita Madan and Rudrajit Bose, Partners, AAD.
For me, getting into architecture was like a dream come true. It is what I really wanted to do. It was the place where my natural inclination to understand the ‘form’ of things around me took shape. Today, more than 25 years later, I still see new things, unprocessed ‘forms’, ‘curated’ spaces and shapes, new-fangled ideas based on classical thoughts, and I feel invigorated to continue to imagine, and in some sense turn into reality, our shared habitat and environments that support human innovation.
The journey in architecture is a more a journey in life – it is embedded into our very being, our daily lives, it makes us who we are, it becomes our conscience. Architects become stewards of the built environment, making sense of the material world for the common people and giving direction to how our civilization would evolve. Be it a small project for a nuclear family or a large settlement design involving large sections of our society, we impact, re-energise and change the world around us in ways that no other profession is meant to do.
Being a faculty of architecture, having taught for the last 17 years, I am very often faced with questions from students regarding what their future should or might look like – what will we do when we grow up?! The answer, in some sense, is in our surroundings and in our society. Professionally, we would be architects, making buildings, townships, societies, housing projects, etc. Conversely, we could be proponents of the built environment – documentary makers, filmmakers, policy makers, artists or journalists. Technically, we could be project managers, sustainability experts, BIM experts, etc. Socially, we could become lawmakers, real-estate developers, planners, heritage experts, etc. We could be entrepreneurs, dealing with concrete projects from their inception to completion in all these regards. Or we could be ‘thinkers’ for the built environment, with a true handle on the way to direct our built futures in a sustainable manner.
All this is well and good, you say, ‘What will I really do?’ Here’s a list of possibilities that clearly list down some paths that my colleagues, fellow architects and my many students from Sushant School of Art and Architecture, have taken over the years. Here’s hoping this gives you a handle on what the future holds for you:
You could be…
A ‘formal’ Architect – you would be able to work on building projects, large and small. You would be able to visualize them and create them. Or you would be responsible to convert a fellow architect’s vision into a tangible built form. You would derive your ideas and ‘visions’ out of the real-time needs of the society and people.
An ‘Informal’ Architect – the informal architect is an architect by training but works in ‘creative’ fields related to architecture. You use your unique skills to think for the environment and architecture in other creative endeavours. I have ex-students and friends who have become scenographers, photographers, set-designers, curators and museologists, journalists, artists, film-makers, advertising experts, to name a few.
An Interior Architect / Designer – An interior architect is an architect who works up close with spaces – you look at inhabitation of buildings and spaces, lifestyles and their impact on spaces, material choices that make life possible within the built envelop, human comfort and aesthetic qualities of spaces are your primary concerns. There is a large scope, both in design and types of projects that you might get involved with.
A specialized Architect – Architects tend to take up specialisations which usually of concern themselves with scales much bigger that the building and are of great ecological impact – they become urban designers, urban planners, landscape architects, conservation architects, etc. Specialised architects such as these are engaged with design and development at large scales in our cities and urban centres. Their work spans from environmental restoration, restoration of heritage buildings and precincts, sustainable development, climate change to the large scale planning of townships and our urban futures.
A specialized Designer – Architects-turned-Designers engage at scales much smaller than the building but in areas of great social impact. Some training intensive specialisations allow you to become Exhibition Designers, User Experience Designers, Industrial Designers, Furniture Designers, Product Designers, etc. Over the course of their practice, a number of architect-trained consultants end up that focus on specific aspects of buildings – they become experts for roofs, curtain walls, lighting, sustainability, energy conservation, insulation, security, development, information management, HVAC systems, graphics, universal design, interiors, etc.
A Design Management Consultant – the one who makes it all happen. So you don’t think you have a creative bone in your body but still want to be engaged with the Built Environment? Here’s a way. Your training as an architect will put you in a unique position of understanding and positioning client needs in such a way that the creative architect can rationalise and produce a innovative design solutions. This is a leadership position in most big corporations (real estate / builders) and for all big projects. It requires an essential skill is to the able to lead, manage resources from the client’s side.
Project Manager – In the realm of architecture, project managers are responsible for carrying out day-to-day duties and responsibilities, wherein they carry out the practical application of their knowledge and leverage upon their skills to lead, solve issues, motivate team members, and document affairs in a proper manner. You would be responsible for organizing, planning, and staffing the project, while monitoring the progress and execution.
A real-estate developer, a builder and an executor – the one who puts it all together. To become a successful real estate developer you need more than deep pockets. You need a degree in architecture, construction management or similar. Got zeal; have a business bent of mind; love the construction aspect of buildings, then this is the right career for you. Developers trained in architecture have the unique ability to bring together quality in construction with economic benefits to their projects.
An Entrepreneur – a jack-of-all-trades – a businessperson and an architect turned into one. Very often architects want to launch off on their own rather than working for someone else. These distinctive individuals require grit, determination, a conviction for their ideas, innovative thinking in the design of spaces, sociability and communication skills. You are responsible for pushing the boundaries of the discipline and making it holistic by the very nature of your work – providing end-to-end solutions.
An Educator – last but definitely not the least. With the growing requirements for architects in the country (and in the world), more and more educators of worth are needed in Architecture. For me personally, combining education and architecture was a dream come true. Both my passions rolled into one. You get to work with young minds and, in return, influence and direct the course of the discipline in a very grounded way. You get to make a difference.
The construction industry is the second largest industry in India after agriculture and accounts for around 10% of India’s GDP. It is slated to be the third largest construction industry in the world by 2025. Come be a part of a profession that has its pulse on the fast-changing ecosystems of today’s world where essence of the built environment, human and natural habitat, and human identity face their biggest ever challenge in the face of invasion by (man and) machines.
Amrita Madan
Architect, Landscape Planner
