The menace of homogenisation and the increasingly diminishing importance for contextual aesthetics and diversity of architecture were part of deep discussion during the international architecture conference, which began on the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C) campus here on Friday.
Architect and heritage conservation consultant Nimish Patel opened the two-day event organised by the Department of Architecture, NIT-C, in alliance with the Calicut Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA).
Design Pedagogy and Contextual Aesthetics was the subject of the conference titled ‘Thanima.’
Mr. Patel said market-driven economy had led to wrong consequences. “It has led to computer-driven designs and vendor-driven choices, which eventually lead to discontinuity and dilution in the aspirations for contextual architecture,” he said. Advocating the need for a curriculum change in the architectural and design front to accommodate the concept of contextual aesthetics into it, Mr. Patel said it was important that one accepted the fact that India had more than five “climatic regions” and that each one had its own creative solutions evolved using local resources. “It also constitute a part of our traditional knowledge and wisdom,” he said.
Mr. Patel maintained that imparting greater familiarity with climate and contexts was the primary responsibility of all architectural and engineering institutions of India. The studies, according to him, should focus on every aspect of our culture, materials, technologies, processes, and crafts.
Around 40 papers on different subjects related to the theme of the conference will be presented by participants from across the country and abroad during the two days of the conference, which will end on Saturday.
