The World Architecture Day was established in 2005 by the International Union of Architects (UIA). The day is celebrated every first Monday of October. This year, it falls on October 3 and the theme of the Day is Design a Better World.
As the range of global challenges grows and intensifies, the role of architecture, planning and design are becoming ever more critical to ensure a better future for all people. UIA calls upon all architecture organisations everywhere to highlight the essential role of design in alleviating human suffering, reducing planetary burdens, and enhancing the quality of life. UIA members and partners mobilize on the day to promote the enormous power of architecture to cope with climate change, and to foster communicates that are strong, safe, equitable, productive and affordable.
The theme Design a Better World will focus on the role of architecture in providing a better future for people and creating solutions to global challenges through effective design. As the range of global challenges grows and intensifies, the role of architecture, planning and design are becoming ever more critical to ensure a better future for all people.
Architecture is about changing the way people relate to a place. Making places that are attached to people, to their culture, their essence and contemporary lives has a deep effect on the world. An architect’s task can be associated to a journey with various possible routes along which design goals might be satisfied. At certain times in the practice of a discipline, concepts and strategies based on common themes or concerns can be seen to arise.
Sustainable development contains two crucial elements. First, it accepts the concept of ‘needs’, in particular those basic needs of the world’s poor, such as food, clothing and shelter essential for human life, but also other ‘needs’ to allow a reasonably comfortable way of life. Second, it accepts the concept of ‘making consistent’ the resource demands of technology and social organizations with the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs. In this way it endorses the notion of sustainable development as improving quality of life within the limits of the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems.
Architecture has been changing along the years. It is an ancient discipline that humans have used to design their houses, places and create amazing structures that represent them per years. The Greeks, the Romans, architects of the Renaissance and many others worldwide made buildings that are still standing after hundreds or thousands of years. london’s most iconic building, St Paul’s Cathedral, was designed by English architect Sir Christopher Wren. Sitting at the top of ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of london, its famous dome is one of the world’s largest, measuring nearly 112 meters high. The original church on the site was founded in the year 604AD. Work on the present English Baroque church began in the 17th Century by Christopher Wren as part of a major rebuilding program after the Great Fire of london. St Paul’s has played an integral part of london life ever since - as a domineering element in the city’s skyline, as a centre for tourism and religious worship. The leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most remarkable architectural structures in Europe. The structure is most famous for its tilt. Colosseum, Rome is considered as one of the greatest architectural feats achieved by the Ancient Romans. The stadium was capable of seating 50,000 spectators. Built from concrete and stone, construction began on the Colosseum began around 72AD and finished in 80AD. The design and shape of the Colosseum has been the inspiration for many modern day stadiums. Today it is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. Construction on the mausoleum began in 1632 and was completed in 1648. The surrounding buildings and gardens took a further five years to finish.
The present day construction is quite different. Rapid change in the materials and technologies of the construction industry turns the design and construction of buildings into ongoing experiments. A standard material that is no longer available, or has become too expensive, is replaced with a new material that has no track record. A new material is tried in order to lower costs. Some of these experiments prove successful and some fail, and with that failure a building requires expensive repair.
Architecture presents a unique challenge in the field of sustainability. Sustainable construction is defined as, the creation and responsible management of a healthy built environment based on resource efficient and ecological principles. Sustainable buildings aim to lessen their impact on our environment through energy and resource efficiency.
To date, there are very few examples of adaptation, resilience or sustainable environmental planning processes in Indian cities. Strong urban planning can promote resilience by ensuring optimal use of space, energy and natural resources. Some policy recommendations can enable city-level integrated urban planning as a tool for building resilience and promoting low-carbon development. It should address comprehensive city planning and integrated approaches, flexible and adaptable climate change planning processes. Besides, education and awareness raising campaigns are a useful element within planning for sustainable development. There should be a growing movement to transform our educational system to better prepare students to live in and address this changing world and create a better world for future.
(Dr Praharaj is faculty member in Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar)