Western construction techniques don’t work in equatorial places like India.
The trend of aping the West is very prevalent in some yet ‘underdeveloped’ parts of India. There is a lack of understanding of the fact that Western construction techniques don’t work in equatorial places like India. More glass and steel are being used to make taller buildings, especially in places like Gurugram. In our opinion, India should stick to its vernacular sustainable construction techniques.
Technologies like BIM, Rhino, etc are giving rise to a ‘Think it and Build it’ future.
Building software help in prefabricated construction of building elements, which now, unlike earlier can be vastly different. These software help in a more realistic visualization of not just how a building will look, but also how it will be built. They add an element of practicality in the more adventurous ventures of architecture.
We prefer local materials to be environmentally friendly, and also to cut down transportation costs.
Whether traditional materials like brick, stone, bamboo, mud, and timber will become a more popular choice over glass, steel, and composite materials, cannot be answered without a context. Choice of material is highly dependent on where the site is, what all is available near it, the climatic conditions of the project’s location, etc. All these factors play a crucial role in determining the material being used. Usually, we prefer local materials to be environmentally friendly, and also to cut down transportation costs, unless the client demands a certain type of material, specifically for a purpose.
MTV Flyp Cafe, Lower Parel, MumbaiSome interesting technological developments are in motion and will impact how architecture is conceived
Prefab construction techniques are perceived as a faster and more durable means of construction with durability, and there is a drastic cut down on the construction time of a structure.
In building software, interesting technological developments, which are in motion and which will have a big impact on how architecture is conceived are Virtual Reality and 3D printing. Virtual reality will allow a user to get the feel of a space in the most realistic way possible without the structure having been constructed. 3D printing is gaining popularity as the first 3D printed building in China now stands tall. For India, however, there would arise a social problem of labour vs technology. Architects have a social responsibility to the community as well.
