The epistemology of architecture goes with the spirit of time.

Concepts like modernism, postmodernism connote a blending of form and function. Sculpturalism in architecture is like a river flowing continuously. One the surface it may seem that one is stepping in the same water, but one actually cannot step into the same water twice. There is an undoubted correlation between matter and form, body and soul. Sculpturalism is an acceptable modernism which the classicists have defined as the sixth order of Classical architecture. The modern dogma of Sculpturalism states that instead of form follows function, the opposite should be the case i.e., function follows form. The primary consideration of architects should be the shape of the building and the functions and activities ought to be within this form. Sculpturalism is an exploration of people in space. In most pieces it is a record of movement, a series of frozen frames as a body moves through space. These pieces are in constant motion. A static record of dynamic changing form. The language of architecture is not easily identifiable. One of the reasons is that not everyone will agree on what constitutes as a language in architecture. An expression like the building speaks to me is not something that usually translates as a reality, rather an emotive feeling that one gets when in awe of something they see. Form gets itself expressed through this awe. Going back to the early existence of humans the form follows function ideology was reversed. Before we started to build our own stone tools, we almost scrounged around for existing natural objects (stones, bones, sticks) that could help us perform tasks. A stone that could fit neatly in hand was used to apply sharp blows. A pointed stick was used to jab holes in things. So in most cases the form already existed before the function was decided. It was the form that stirred the idea of use, which led to defining the function. Form followed imagination and function followed the form therein. Evolution passes on genetic traits to the successive generations without any rationale for their purpose. Each generation of the species then finds a use of the form it has inherited. Rock cut architecture followed the sculpting concept to perfection. The designs were just too amorphous to be dictated into one definition. Function follows form in nature. Buildings and nature are a coherent unity. Existence of a building from time immemorial has been a sculptural form because of its execution in a spatial environment. The forms through sculptures were not only tangible but also tactile. The sculptural elements were integrated intricately with the structures. Egyptian, AssyriaBabylonian, Indian, Greco-Roman and European periods of architecture showed the sculpturesque form with beautiful ornamentation.

Architecture is inhabited sculpture. - Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) Form follows function was the war cry of people of early 1900s who wanted to build big boxes and substantially similar typefaces. Nothing in this Universe has a single function. A building has functions multitude. It keeps the dweller warm and dry. Keeps certain people out and lets others in. Achieves the health and safety of dwellers. Maintains harmony with the neighborhood. Conserves energy. Increases the aesthetics of the place. Function after function each has a different answer. So the serious intone of form follows function is not valid. Because what is the exact function on which the form got decided? What about the rest functions and their respective forms? The existence of a building in the virtual realm is purely symbolic. It is a reference to a real world structure created in a space where none of the utilitarian functions have any relevance. The symbolic functions bring out the legitimacy to what otherwise could have been an incomprehensible abstract space. The function of a building is unclear until the building itself tells what it is. The architectural production of the late 20th and early 21st century is remarkable for its impenetrability. There has been a resurgence of the theories which try establishing the sound base for sculpturalism. The Blobitecture reflects sculpturalism to a great extent. Despite the use of natural forms in architecture, building forms of every era express the designers efforts which cater to the ecology. They elevate the human ideology and signal social functions and broaden the aesthetic spectrum. Blobism is greatly implemented through glass and steel structures as they make the blob buildings fairly transparent. Architectural utopia having building as an extension of the body began to develop a virtual dimension, thereby expressing the forms through sculpturalism. Architects turn to biomimicry for new building designs in terms of sculpturalism. Buildings seek to mimic natures forms. Frank O. Gehrys fish like shapes, Gaudis spiny spires and structural vertebrae of Calatrava exemplify the architects fascination with nature. The paradigms of space creation have sublimated the form follows function concept with the innovative and the out-of-box ideas. Many contemporary architects have harbored a wish to suspend the laws of gravity. Coop Himmelblaus stab at the task took a whale catapulting its body out of the water. The idea was to freeze frame the moment before the monumentally heavy body fell back into the sea. The sensation thereby captured would speak of the design of the building. The building would float in peoples head for its beautiful form and stick a tongue out at gravity.

A few shining stars in this field areThe proponent of the post modernist Sculpturalism is Frank Owen Gehry. For him, sculpture is more definite and painting is more ephemeral. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Marques de Riscal are some striking examples of post modern sculpturalism. The Marques de Riscal has roof structure in the form of a fish. Life is chaotic, buildings should reflect it. For him a building is a three dimensional object so the form can be anything which will make it iconic. And the function will follow it. The plastic sculpture unravelling itself.

Marques de Riscal Le Corbusier is one of a man who created monumental sculptures, rather than of a man with a social mission to drive design and technologies towards solutions of a rapidly urbanizing world. Zaha Hadids liberal architectural designs are rhythmic and asymmetrical, articulate and seamless; the curvaceous forms are intricately linked, spatial and inhabitable improvisation suspended in time. A good example of sculpturalism in the post modern era is the Performing Arts Center of Abu Dhabi. The sculpturalism of the Performing Art Center emerges from the linear movement developing into a growing organism sprouting branches and architectural complexity. The structure houses the performance spaces and thus the function takes the fluidity of the design.

Performing Art Center Peter Eisenman rightly said In a world of irresolvable anxiety, the meaning of form and shelter must be different While a house must still shelter, it does not need to symbolize or romanticize its sheltering function, to the contrary such symbols are meaningless and merely nostalgic. The aim of his work was to free architecture from its institutional control. He allowed architecture to generate its own form and create its own history without any anthropomorphic reference. The transformational process of buildings followed the deconstructivist theory of fragmentation and manipulation of ideas. His famous Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences is a perfect touch of sculpturalism.

Staten Island Institute of Art and Science The buildings of Philip Johnson also use large sculptural elements inspired from the medieval buttressing and are full of sensuality. He got mostly inspired by the Derridean deconstructivism and therefore contributed significantly to the function follows form notion of architecture. The sculpturesque form of Samudra Institute of Maritime Studies, Lonavala by Ar. Christopher Charles Benninger is a post modern ensemble of objects, floating on a green sea carpet, held into a visual pattern. It lends unique character to the design whose appearance is driven by both fashion and efficiency! Functionalism in architecture makes the architecture constricted to forms, styles and symbolisms. Whereas, architecture is all about creativity. So modern movement aims with the form to retain creativity. Form follows function states that life is monolithic, simple, does one thing at a time and uniform. When we all know that life is varied, complex, multifunctional and diverse. Acknowledgements1. www.smashingmagaziine.com/2010.03/23/does-form-follow-function/ Does form follow function? - Steven Bradley 2. Eohlsson.wordpress.com/page/2/ -john lautner

3. Form follows function? Actually no. Bruce Deitrick Price 4. Form follows function, right? Not so fast. Tom Dair 5. The social role of Virtual architecture- Function follows form -Drew Harry,Dietmar Offenhuber, Judith Donath 6. truth radicality and beyond in contemporary architecture.