Society, culture influence architecture

Prof Altaf was recently felicitated on being awarded the Madhav Achwal Gold Medal by the Indian Institute of Architects. According to him, “Architecture deals with human lives. It reflects society, culture and the economy. All these elements tend to influence the type of architecture that comes up in a given time period. As architecture’s purpose is to continue to add to human existence. It is more than just creating a brick and mortar structure.” 

Students must first try to understand Architecture before taking the plunge, warns Prof Altaf. “Before a student decides to take up a career as an architect, they must first truly understand what Architecture is all about. Many students make the mistake of getting into this field without understanding what it is. Some students even select their career choice based on the prevailing demands. Earlier, it used to be the IT industry, now, the trend is to become an architect,” he added. 

Elaborating on the qualities needed to become an architect, Prof Altaf said, “A career in architecture encompasses a space to unleash your creativity and to gain absolute satisfaction from what you do. Architecture cannot be taught. Institutes can only help students to learn and accept it for what it is.” 

Speaking on the qualifications required to enter the field, he said, “To become an architect, students must be motivated and need to have the aptitude. A love for Mathematics is very important. The quality of an architect is very important. There is plenty of money to be made, but it is very important that ethics and principles are also maintained. Only the best will survive. As an Architect, what you design must stand for years to come. Both good and bad designs stay the test of times, so it is imperative that the building you design will be remembered as good in the long run.” 

Prof Altaf highlighted the need to be meticulous while choosing a college saying, “Students must remember that the choice they make will impact their lives for the next five years. These years are crucial as it will mould them for the future. It is imperative that they choose  the right college. They must make sure it has the required infrastructure and staff to ignite their true potential.”

Prof Altaf maintained that Architecture is a constant learning experience that requires student to be up-to-date with all the latest trends. “Architecture is an ever evolving medium. The current scenario is very different from what I learnt in the 60’s. Nowadays, architecture incorporates technology, sustainability and eco-friendly designs. The objective of an architect is to analyse all these components and to address the issues that arise from them,” he revealed. Throwing light on the avenues that enable a career in Architecture, Prof Altaf said, “For gaining an Architecture seat, students must clear the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA). JEE is needed to pursue Architecture in IITs and NITs, while NATA is accepted by all other colleges.” 

Prof Altaf said that the career options available to students are quite promising. “The scope for Architecture is especially good now that the Council of Architecture has stipulated that Engineers can no longer dabble in Architecture. The move will protect the profession. The real-estate industry is currently doing alright. There might be a slowdown in some areas, however, the overall scenario is doing well. The current economic situation will not have a negative impact on the building industry and will provide ample opportunities for budding Architects,” he said.