EDUCATION AT THE CROSS ROADS.

EDUCATION AT THE CROSS ROADS.

“We put together thirty spokes and call it a wheel; but it is on the space where there is nothing that the utility of the wheel depends.

We turn clay to make a vessel; but it is on the space where there is nothing that the utility of the vessel depends.

We pierce doors and windows to make a house; and it is on the spaces where there is nothing that the utility of the house depends.

Therefore just as we take advantage of what is, we should recognise the utility of what is not”

_Lao Tse

Architectural education today is presently undergoing a phase of transition, owing to other interlinked societal and market forces in the profession. Architectural profession now has inseparably woven itself in the social web. The basic strings of the multi-colored and multi-faceted fabric could be identified in

1. ACADEMICS

2. PRACTICE AND

3. FIELD.

The Conflicts and Confusions of Ideologies and Ground Realities may often lead to Compromises, whether be it in Academics or Practice or On Site Execution. In Academics, Setting the Goals in Administration, Setting Standards in Curriculum and the methodology of Teaching are crucial phases wherein different varieties of challenging Contradictions keep surfacing.

The Contradictions in the present day Global Practice are no less. With the Free Access to Information through Tools of Technology and the CAD skills forcing one to shelve conventional Drafting skills and Learn Compulsorily to start not only transform the ideas of design but also begin thinking through the aids of the day! Managing the Office internally and Catering to the Intelligent and All aspiring Clientele is leading towards Compromises of One kind or the other.

The Construction Management Expertise available and the Existent Processes of Execution are the Ground Realities one has to face and accept. The Lack of Match and MisMarraige between the Design Ideologies and Theories, Skills and Execution, Goals and Capabilities are a Constant Source of Everyday Frictions.

These inevitable (Or Evitable?) Frictions often lead to Turmoils resulting in Desperation and Finally Frustration.

CONFLICTS AND CONFUSIONS MAY PREVAIL BUT THE EFFORTS SHOULD BE TOWARDS CLEARING THEM WITHOUT COMPROMISES. Or Should We Compromise? If so, To what Extent?

Study and analysis of past, becomes a must in the present now, to assert for future. By maintaining an open-minded attitude of enquiry, by attempting to understand the artifacts left by extinct people who built and lived in their best-suited environments, by approaching sympathetically the mental outlook of the members of society and by inter relating recurrent phenomenon present at all stages of development, we may attain some comprehension of the more significant and fundamental aspects of the important role that socio economic and the environment conditions play in creating architecture.

The stress on creativity and to dream should be more now, when students are still academically students, because, when they become architects and enter the professional field later on, the source of inspiration and opportunities to dream the possibilities of design cannot be guaranteed. During this phase of satisfying the zeal to create, if by chance a technicality is missed or if a presentation technique is incomplete or if a minor functional error has occurred, though in the course of design, teacher would and should rectify them, there would still be plenty of opportunities to make up for these. During the career as students at the school, would be the only limited time for them to open wide their flood gates of imagination and proper stress should be laid to flourish their creativity. This opportunity would never be offered to them in the profession, nor would they be able to pursue and cultivate the habit later on. And the aspects which would pull them even if they tried, would be –

a). Lack of time,

b). Preoccupation in profession,

c). Absence of teachers,

d). Lack of library facilities and

e). Lack of inspirational sources.

Architects' contribution to the society has led to a plethora of constructional systems and architectural styles. The Technological Innovations in educational and Research Institutions have had their input in training and upgrading the knowledge awareness level of the Consultants. The pre-design strategies, earlier, focused on making the client a "Satisfied client". Later, the focus was to make them "Delighted clients". But now, the wants of the clients have multiplied substantially and the aim is to make them "Excited, thrilled clients". To achieve this, one HAS TO EXCELL in the predesign stage, to realise the "Dream Product" and retain the clients, which is not an easy task. The clients' awareness has enlarged than ever before, owing to media and communication outbreak. Now they have variety of choices. A satisfied client may or may not share his delight and excitement with others, but a dissatisfied client will certainly talk to ten others. Image building of the consultants’ firm, therefore, may become the key factor in the process of drawing and retaining clients. But, ultimately, it is the "real value" of design as well as the services that have a final say in converting a client into an "excited client" or a "delighted client" or at least a "satisfied client".

Idea generation is the fundamental of any design process. The academic, therefore must focus more and more on the creative aspects, abstract, ideal, utopian and design, apart from attitudes, aptitudes, skills and knowledge.