3. NARCHITECTURE

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12. CITIES OF THE FUTURE

“The overpowering sense of imposing an egotistic style in any building, irrespective of the context, displays insensitivity with respect to the project.”

NARChitecture… a growing epidemic?

- Parth Soman

Can trails of Narcissistic behaviour be spotted in the field of architecture?

Is architecture a profession for the creator or for the users? This question is an important one. It is common knowledge that architecture with its creator needs to abide by certain norms when it comes to designing spaces. The users, their wishes, their requirements are a top priority but so are the designer’s insights, skills and a personal touch

Narcissism- a blend of vanity, self-absorption, entitlement and a clear disregard for the opinion of others, is a growing epidemic. Architecture, a field that is an amalgamation of both science and arts, might just be one of the many narcissistic professions. This occupation has continued to shape the human lifestyle and act as a medium to propagate one’s ideology or agenda.

The early 1900s saw pioneer architects like Laurie Baker and Charles Correa taste the limelight. Their ideologies and principles saw a gradual evolution of a particular style. It is necessary to consider that this period was the advent of popular professional architecture in main-stream India. This ‘feeling akin to a style of architecture’ may have resulted in the general notion of developing a personal style. But while achieving that, is there a degradation in the habitability of a space?

A lot of famous names in the history of architecture are known for iconic forms w hich were developed due to individual ideology, gradually resulting in the creation of a ‘brand’. This branding, though very personal and unique to the respective artist surely puts barriers on the most superficial of the architectural aspects. Queen of the curve, Zaha Hadid, known for curves and skewed angles are very original but a compromise in functionality is observed in some of her works. The London Aquatics Centre, with its flamboyant design was actually not in tune with the design brief with several sightlines cut off. The manifestation of this structure also went overboard in terms of expenses like many of her other projects.

The peculiar obsession with rigid and characterspecific style has led to issues in functionality. It is easier for established architects who have distinct design elements, despite aesthetics, overshadowing the usability factor of buildings to get more design opportunities.

This trend has continued for years now, with architects’ reputation acting like a saving grace. The arrival of post-modernism ushered in the development of individuality in the fields of art and architecture. Driving home some ideas from earlier times, a sense of nihilism can be observed in the general public, not just architects.

The overpowering sense of imposing an egotistic style in any building, irrespective of the context, displays insensitivity with respect to the project. The structures that architects design have the potential to change, not only its immediate environment, but also the future. So, the question is- In a bid to create something exclusive, are we being inclusive of the basic parameters in design? “It is easier for established architects who have distinct design elements, despite aesthetics, overshadowing the usability factor of buildings to get more design opportunities. This trend has continued for years now, with architects reputation acting like a saving grace”