The GOK of Architecture

This morning, I got a WhatsApp message from my nephew. We have a special relationship, statistically. He is my only nephew in the world. And I am his only Uncle in the whole wide world.
The text goes: 

 
"Quick question, I have in interest in architecture, and since you are an architect, I was hoping you could give me some advice as to what you do, and what the entire job is about. Thanks!"

I was in a fix! And a 'ponderundrum'(when you reach a conundrum while pondering. Also called Writer's Block)

Still pondering, I remembered what a client once said, "you should be able to explain your job in words so simple that your child can understand."

To test my client's philosophy, I immediately asked him, 

“By the way, Sir, what do you do?" 

"I do hotels”.

Great going, Mr. Client! Unfortunately, I can’t do that. I just can’t answer a longish question of profound depth in three words.

28 years after barely managing to graduate from Architecture School, I wonder if I’m qualified to – what’s that word when you blah like an expert- expostulate- about Architecture.

My Dad had the same question as he dropped me off at college, “What is Architecture?" I didn’t have an answer. Seeing my obvious embarrassment, he quipped in, “Well, that’s why we’re here!". I made a note to find out by the next time I met him. 

I did carry an impression about Architecture, though.

Thanks to our Famous Family Encyclopedia. We had volume 1 of a 32 Volume Set from a publisher whose name escapes me- not Britannica but a pretty big name begins with an ‘O’ or a ‘W’. No, I can’t remember. Anyhow, the volume covered part of the letter 'A': ‘Aardvark to Arizona.’ Of course, the intent was to buy all the 32 volumes, but we moved back to India before The Great American Encyclopedia Salesman dropped in for his next visit. Yes, we escaped by the skin of our teeth. 

("And what has this to do with Architecture?” says the Little Pop up in my Head.') 

Well, in that Famous Family Encyclopedia, I had, for the first time, felt Architecture. All I still remember, as clear as the day, is a black and white picture of Eeiro Saarinen’s TWA terminal at JFK Airport, New York. A building ahead of its times, that appeared like a majestic eagle, its wings spread out, ready to fly.

So, for the 18 year old me, Architecture was just that: a feeling.

Once in college, I forgot about my resolve to answer Dad’s question: “What is Architecture?" I was busy discovering independence. Staying on your own, late night movies, and Very Late Night Bun Omelettes at the legendary café: Bhatia’s. We were learning lines, drawings, Art. We were learning how to sharpen pencils, preserve sheets, balance a Tee Square and yes, we also learned the alphabet all over again.

At that time, Architecture was Sheets. 

Back home in my first semester break, I was walking around with Dad, when we met his 'friend’. In those days, ‘friends’ competed with each other over the academic performance of their children. A typical Facebook status update would have been: ‘Son got through IIT, Roorkee, AIIMS, but flying to the US with 100% scholarship.’

Uncle ji shot off the most loaded question of that age:

“Hello, beta, which college did you join?" 

The Chhabra Family had gone through many trials and tribulations over the last year, but now was the time to swell up one’s chest and announce:

“Roorkee”(one of the top 5 Engineering colleges of India) 

“Which branch of Engineering- Civil?” 

Puffed chest deflated a bit as I let out that I got the last in the list of choices. In fact, for the herd of the ‘80s, architecture wasn’t exactly a choice.

“Architecture.”

Uncle ji replied in a consolatory tone,

“Waise Architecture bhi achhee branch hai” (even Architecture isn’t too bad)

At 19, Architecture meant a location in Dad’s social ladder.

The next few years we get into and out of Architecture as we designed schools, did not design hospitals, built an arch, did not build models, went on Youth Festivals, and had our first drink, first cigarette, first love and first heart break. Read the Fountainhead, booed at boring lectures from great architects. We spoofed about Architecture through songs, skits and corny acronyms like Brotherhood of Roorkee Architects, Society Of Frustrated Architects, to name a few

Sometime before my final year, my Dad, who had clearly forgotten my pending answer to “What is Architecture?” seemed pretty animated for the first time.

“Architecture is a good as Engineering!”
Before I could object and expostulate in detail about the differences, he continued,

“I met this guy at a bus stop. He had a roll of sheets, and I knew he had to be an architect. (I cleared my throat to clarify that Architecture wasn’t the only…). I spoke to him about Employment Prospects for Architects. He works for the Government. There are vacancies in the Government filled in through Examinations. Yippee!”
He didn’t really say,” Yippee!” Neither did he say the Punjabi equivalent: Balle balle. He was too staid and controlled for that. But he definitely felt all of those and more.

For my Dad, Architecture was a job.

I graduated, and spent a decade doing everything but erect a structure. I ran errands, made drawings, met clients, made more drawings, measured many sites,  learnt computers and got a management degree. My personal life saw marriage, children, many cities, houses, riots – all the agonies and ecstasies that one’s life would see.
Then I just stopped. Aged 33, I took off my corporate ties and shoes, put on my jeans and sandals and started my own practice. That was one thing Architects could do that Engineers couldn’t. Take off the corporate doggy-collar.

That day, Architecture meant independence.

I still didn’t build houses. I had acquired experience in designing offices. I ploughed my trade, always trying to make my difference. I was happy to move a client who said “Only Grey shades please” to be able to say 7 years later, “Sanjeev, no more Grey in my projects.” Or changing the atmosphere of a place by using an aquarium as a partition.

Those years, Architecture meant atmosphere.

As I grew older, the projects grew larger and the industry more complex. There were more agencies managing and reporting than the ones actually executing the project. In the new millennium, one spent as much time in electronic masturbation, dodging the blame game, as one did designing. Your project was successful, not when someone praised your design. But when you got paid for it.

Architecture was any other business.

As I go through the senior years of life, I travel more. The boring archaeological sites don’t bore me anymore. They excite me (and bore my kids). I can see what those people could do centuries ago, and I still can’t. I see the holes that can’t be plugged by big, really big builders, and wonder how many of these fancy structures will be standing a thousand years from today? I’m not sure about 50 years.

Architecture is creation of history. 

So, Architecture can mean many things to many people. It can mean different things at different points of time.

One of the greatest architects, Charles Correa once told me while solving my complex design problem in seconds. “See, it’s simple to be a good architect."

For Correa, Architecture was simplicity.


Laurie Baker, the Gandhi of Architecture, believed that the solution to every design problem was here, in Nature, in the earth.

Well, for this Britisher who made Kerala his home and used vernacular architecture in cities: 

Architecture meant Home. 

So, dear Nephew, I leave you not with answers, but with more questions, that will lead you to your truth.

Oh, and for Dad, my answer to “What is Architecture?" is:

"GOK” (God Only Knows)

Since Dad is with Him now, I guess he would have got his answer.
If he wants to.