Dr Amit Srivastava - Architecture

If Dr Amit Srivastava was a brickies labourer hed be whistling at the bricks - not the passersby. Hold onto your mortar and trowel. Were about to go where few Architecture buffs have gone before. Think a brick is just a brick being a brick? Then you need to re-think your brick thinking! Bricks, as objects, have value beyond being assembled in aesthetically pleasing patterns or building impressive monuments to the stars. Bricks have a conscience. In fact, any object has a conscience or a being. And thats officially where I hear you saying, Dr Srivastava reckons a brick thinks? Was he hit over head by one? Stay with me. Hopefully if youre as thick as two bricks youll still be able to grasp the following: Youre a Human Being, right? (Presumably anyway. If youre a dog reading this....thats very impressive.) Think for a moment about the Being bit of Human Being. The Being bit refers to your existence youre doing something you are someone/something. Now, think about a Brick Being. Or a Chair Being. Or a Coffee Mug Being. What are these objects doing? Yes, humans created these objects sure. And we use them absolutely. But how does the very being of an object influence us? Has it changed our world by the very act of its existence? How would we function without it? And if we better understood how an object relates to us, can we better understand our world? These and other burning questions are the core of Dr Srivastavas research. Er, excuse me Dr Srivastava. This is all very interesting but how does this object being thingy relate to Architecture? Glad you asked. An architect doesnt want to build you a residence, an office space, a place of worship, a cinema, a shopping centre, only to serve a purpose thats purely functional. An architect wants to you to have a relationship with that space and a relationship with the objects that fill that space. An architect wants you to feel something; for you to relate to your environment. Case in point: during Amits early studies he visited Indias City of Chandigarh where the centre square is like an enormous block of concrete. Amit thought to himself, Hmmmm....French Architect Le Corbusier forgot all about comfort when he designed this place! Its hotter than Hades and theres nothing but a massive slab of concrete in the stinking hot sun! Uh Duh?! When he returned to Chandigarh during his last year of study, Amit saw the vast concrete slab through very different eyes: Oh yeah! Le Corbusier was trying to make me realise how insignificant I am in the great scheme of things. He wants me to feel humble. Thats the purpose of this space. Nice one, clever French Architect dude! Anyway! Now youve wrapped your head around these brain-straining concepts, the next bit of Amits research is elementary. Amit also researches contemporary Indian architecture. Instead of the buildings built during the medieval period or traditional buildings like the Taj Mahal, Amit is interested in the modern stuff. There are copious books devoted to the research of older Indian buildings but very few books devoted to modern Indian buildings. (Amits revered mentor University of Adelaides Dr Peter Scriver wrote one of those few books....and Dr Scriver is one of the founders of The Centre for Asian and Middle Eastern Architecture of which Amit is a member.) Amit believes Australians need to realign their architectural focus from the western architectural model to the Asian model. We need to focus on infrastructure, urbanisation, and social interaction when developing our cities. So! How did Amit end up in the Architecture game? As a child, one of Amits favourite things was to play inside the walls of an old tomb complex that was near his house in Delhi. Children would dare each other to climb the broken walls. Rumours abound the place was haunted. Perhaps this was where Amit first developed his interactive relationship with buildings? Amit admits he was initially more interested in

exciting career exploits such as becoming a Pilot or an Astronaut. His entire family were doctors and his father, a Professor of Surgery. In Amits mind, it was a case of medical overload. He wanted to do something different. Amit originally applied to study engineering but a friend encouraged him to study Architecture. He became hooked. Architecture involves the study of philosophy, psychology, maths and physics its an allrounders course. Amit soon began to realise there was an opportunity to change the world through better design. He relished the macro view of the world and wasnt at all interested in the little stuff an Architect might think about, like where best to put the wall between the ensuite and the bedroom. Grand Theory held influence in a grand way but notably Amit is not a fan of the ABCs Grand Designs. (That TV show is very focussed on the individual, says Amit. Ideas that encompass society as a whole are of more interest to me.) The University workload was intense but rewarding. Amits favourite teacher was Professor Rajat Ray who he now endeavours to emulate. Ray was extremely critical in the classroom environment. He quickly sorted the wheat from the chaff, and yet he was approachable and sociable outside the classroom. You knew youd got it right with Ray....good work stood out. Amits research goal is to put himself in others shoes. He tries to understand the grander social purpose and in doing so, improve the lives of others. He wants students to think about their approach to education: a degree isnt about finding a job its about personal development; expanding your understanding of the world. All in all were just another brick in the wall...famously sung Pink Floyd. Amit plays this song to his students. The brick at the bottom of the wall plays a vastly different role to the brick that supports the arch. In other words: regimented teaching is not the way to go - a holistic approach is. If Amit had access to a pot of Research funding gold, hed develop a network of other like-minded researchers and work to create documentaries, books, TV movies, in an effort to communicate his message. How do we change peoples relationship to objects of desire like the latest Audi TT sports car or must-have mobile phone? How does this desire fit with the greater social purpose? We cant remove objects, so how can we change their perceived value? Whilst marvelling at the architecture of the ancient pyramids or some medieval structure, have you given thought to the people who created it? Were they free? Were they slaves? Did their heads wind up stuck on spikes if they got it wrong? How does your perception of the beauty of a building change with your level of knowledge and understanding of how it came to be? This is the stuff Amit wants you to think about. Now, thats where we must end Im afraid. My coffee mug is trying to orchestrate an unsanctioned science experiment...I havent washed it in five days. See? Even my coffee mug wants to be something. Words by Allayne Webster The Professions The University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA 5005 Ph : +61 8 8313 0225 Fax : +61 8 8313 4843 e-mail: allayne.webster@adelaide.edu.au