In an interaction with Higher Education Review, Dr . Debashis Sanyal, Dean & Associate Professor, National Institute of Technology Raipur, shared his insights on various aspects pertaining to architecture education in the current times Dr. Debashis has been associated with NIT Raipur for over 18 years now.
Tell us about the opportunities for career growth and advancement in architecture.
Architecture is an integrated five-year course that also includes six months of practical training. Once a person completes this course and gets a registered license from the Council of Architecture, they can practice anywhere in India and even get into jobs offered by different development agencies such as city development agencies, town & country planning departments, or any other public sector companies. Given the severe dearth of teaching professionals in this field, teaching is also a potential career opportunity for those who complete the architecture degree.
How has architectural education evolved over the years? Throw some light on the current trends in architectural education.
Architecture education in India started with Kala Bhavan Vadodara, post which many architecture schools came up and started offering a variety of architecture courses. Earlier, students had to study both the history of architecture and modern architecture. But today, the industry has undergone a serious transformation, wherein various tech advancements such as Smart Buildings, AI and Earthquake & Disaster Management are also included along with architecture in the academic curriculum. Landscaping and conservation of old architecture are among other additional subject areas that are part of the curriculum today. We at NIT Raipur envision developing every student into a self-sustainable individual having a thorough knowledge of all the intricacies involved in the architecture field. This way, every architecture student will have knowledge of all the different functions involved in the development of a building such as electrical wiring, plumbing, elevator installation and many others.
What are some key principles and methodologies used in architectural education?
The field that we are training students for demands professionals to have proper practical knowledge. As a result, everything cannot be taught theoretically to the students and we thus rely on drawings for covering a large portion of the syllabus. This is because drawings enable students to visualize objects in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional forms. Also, the design holds a very significant place in the architecture space, wherein every student should first learn visual design and artistic designs, post which comes to the process of gaining knowledge about different kinds of building materials, and lastly the building construction. To do all this effectively, an architecture student must have a thorough knowledge of certain kinds of technical aspects such as acoustics, weather’s impact on the building and similar others.
In your opinion, how do today’s professionals stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in architectural design & technology?
Today, Through this, students get the necessary inspiration about how to function in their careers and grow as successful industry professionals. A major trend that I have observed in recent times is that unlike earlier days when people opted for buildings that remain durable for long time periods; consumers today are opting for short-term aspirations with regards to the buildings they choose. This is because of the rapid pace at which new trends are emerging and the constantly ever-evolving consumer preferences. Lightweight furniture that can be easily shifted and multipurpose rooms are a few other trends gaining widespread prominence today.
How important is implementing sustainable design principles in today’s architectural landscape?
Sustainable and energy-efficient architecture practices occupy a significant role in the education curriculum across every architecture college today. Also, students are made aware of the importance of energy consumption in today’s context and encouraged to embrace sustainability practices to the maximum extent possible. Also, it is important to make sure that the building is designed in such a way that it is conducive to sustainable architecture.
What would be your advice to the young architects aspiring to make a big name in this industry?
I personally feel that today’s are still lagging behind in terms of exploring the architecture field to its fullest potential. So I constantly urge young architects to practice wholeheartedly, innovate & experiment as much as possible and make sure to put in nothing short of their best efforts. Young architects must also regularly visit architecture colleges to get a gist of the latest teaching techniques and even have a recap of various aspects pertaining to their industry. This also enables them to get exposed to new ideas since each year brings in fresh students into the field who all have a new set of ideas. Also, always remember that the happiness that you feel should be based on the quality & impact of the building rather than on its size.
