THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AN ARCHITECT
Eminent and visionary Mumbai- based architect Sanjay Puri, founder of the internationally acclaimed practice
‘ Sanjay Puri Architects’, shares with Architecture+ Design, his unconventional approach to design. He dwells upon the meaningful role of an architect in society and his sensitivity towards creating a sustainable environment —
Every line that an architect draws is going to transform people’s lives, their perception, their moods, what they see and what they don’t and how they see, what they see.
Every decision an architect makes will have an environmental impact. The number of trees that will be cut, the amount of carbon emission generated by the production of the specified construction materials, the amount of energy used to cool, heat or light the spaces are all dependent on the design decisions taken by the architect.
When we take cognizance of the fact that the building industry contributes almost 30% of the factors responsible for global warming and cities are responsible for 70% of the total energy related CO emissions, the architect’s
2 role becomes an extremely important and responsible one.
When one starts considering all these factors, it makes the task of being an architect the most responsible one for maintaining an equilibrium for nature, the environment and the future of the world.
Along with considering all these factors, as architects, we need to understand the functional requirements of the client and delve deeper and go beyond to envisage the most appropriate way to create a building.
The building typology warrants specific parameters to be addressed in the design. When one sits to conceptualize a project keeping these numerous parameters, the site context and the surroundings, it can be quite intimidating.
A concept design sketch could be done in the first few minutes sometimes or it could take hours and sometimes days. It is a large complicated multifaceted jigsaw puzzle where each piece plays an integral role in completing the picture. Sometimes it is immediately apparent and at other
AN ARCHITECT HAS A VERY POWERFUL AND MEANINGFUL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE SHAPING, PRESERVING AND NURTURING OF
THE ENVIRONMENT. TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THIS ROLE, EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE TO THE MULTIPLE ASPECTS THAT
THIS PROFESSION ENCOMPASSES IS CRITICAL.
times, it needs to put together piece by piece till the entire picture is complete.
Imagine someone who has not seen a particular kind of machine tool putting together a picture of that machine tool in the jigsaw puzzle. It will take very long to be done even if it is eventually managed to be done. The most critical aspect therefore for an architect is to be informed in every aspect of design.
This can only be achieved by physical experiencing spaces and understanding the multiple factors that contributed towards creating them. In addition, the experience on working on projects of varying scales from the inception to the final implementation, and therefter revisiting them when in use enables one to understand how materials, technology, services and various other factors and aspects that contribute towards a project and the way its spaces work and are experienced.
Experiencing building of various scales and diverse typologies in different parts of the world along with working on a variety of projects enables an architect to create a design that is truly cohesive, responsive and responsible.
There is a lot of time required as well as passion necessary to do these things prior to being able to design. Experience is therefore the most important aspect for architects. Most graduating architects seem to be in a hurry to establish personal practices without the necessary experience and exposure. A minimum work experience of six years is required and the quality of that experience needs to be comprehensive for it to be meaningful.
Working through all five years of architectural education and another four years post- graduation, I yet feel that there was a lot to learn when I started my practice. In addition to actual work experience, it is extremely important to attend and participate in architecture and design conventions and exhibitions. Events like the Venice Architecture Biennale and The World Architecture Festival expose one to work methods and design concepts from around the world increasing knowledge and awareness manifold.
An architect has a very powerful and meaningful role to play in the shaping, preserving and nurturing of the environment. To be able to perform this role, experience and exposure to the multiple aspects that this profession encompasses is critical. When every architect takes cognizance of this, the world will be a better place now and in the future.
Sanjay Puri Architects is listed amongst the top 100 architects worldwide by Archdaily, while Architizer New York includes it in their list of the top 136 design firms around the world. The firm also tops the list of WA Community, UK award winners across the globe. Winning the World Architecture Festival’s Best Housing Project of the Year 2018 in Amsterdam and the World’s
Best Residential building in the LEAF Awards, London, had put the firm’s tally of accolades to almost 250, including as many as 150 international and 100 national awards.
Some of the other awards won by the firm in the last seven years include seven Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture & Design’s International Architecture Awards; 10 World Architecture Festival Awards; 10 Society of American Registered Architects Awards ( SARA), New York; 19 WA Community Awards, UK; and three Hospitality Design Awards, New York.
The firm has worked on architectural projects in Spain, Montenegro, Mauritius, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Montreal, Oman and Dallas, in addition to projects in 40 Indian cities. With a diverse portfolio of townships, schools, hotels, retail and office buildings, they continue their quest for creating innovative design solutions that are sustainable on a large scale.
With a total strength of 72, the essence of the firm’s design philosophy is constituted by evolving design solutions that are contextual and creating spaces that revolutionise the way they are experienced. This mandate has allowed the firm to create a diverse portfolio of urban planning, residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, offices, cultural, religious and institutional projects.