Making of an Architect

As the Chandigarh College of Architecture marks its golden jubilee this year, Nonika Singh takes a look at some of its celebrated alumni

To those of us who have known the profession and passion of architecture through Ayn Rand’s famous book Fountainhead, the first thought that comes to mind is — are there any Roarks in real life? In the year when the Chandigarh College of Architecture marks its golden jubilee, the question acquires another dimension — has the college produced men and women of such brilliance and original vision as that of Roark?

Eminent architect Namita Singh, one of the most celebrated alumni of the college, can’t really say whether the college can be the fountainhead from which creative ideas spring forth. But her alma mater, she asserts, did grant them freedom of thought and expression.

Similar sentiments are echoed by Rajeev Kathpalia, who recalls that the college did encourage independent vision by virtue of the fact that it was loosely structured and there was no imposition of any style or of particular school. The informal way of learning happened through travel tours. Since the college came about at the same time in 1961 when the world was witnessing another revolutionary experiment in architecture — the making of City Beautiful — Corbusier’s influence on the college was understandable.

However, few cared to be Corbusier clones. By no stretch of imagination was Corbusier the only gospel truth for its students. Arunjot Singh Bhalla, executive director RSP Architects and Planners, responsible for the design and development of IT Parks and Software Development Campuses, reminisces, "There was a conscious attempt to train under architects who were markedly different from Corbusier."

Of course, besides Corbusier, students were introduced to many other masters, mostly Western, for Indian examples were few and far between then, feels Kathpalia.

Namita recalls how it was fashionable to criticise Corbusier back then. She herself was critical of his "sterile" work and only began to appreciate his principles much later in life. Ditto for Kathpalia, who says he has understood Corbsuier, the architect and the man, better after his association with Dr B. V. Doshi.

That is not to say that the college did not offer valuable lessons and insights. Its well-stocked library was and is a gateway to learning. Namita feels she woke up to the idea of third dimension and subjective thinking in this college. The presence of men like Aditya Parkash, R. N. Malhotra, A. R. Prabhawalkar, in the days when more professionals taught at the college made the atmosphere stimulating. The concept of open studios, where students both seniors and juniors could interact, was another motivating factor.

Today, Kathpalia rues the college’s inability to rope in visiting faculty from practising professional architects, while Panchkula-based Arun Loomba feels the open dialogue between teachers and students is missing. The college authorities, however, take pride in involving international faculty and boast of organising lectures by men and women of eminence from universities around the world. Foreign students are invited and Indian students visit foreign shores in several exchange programmes.

The college’s biggest plus, all agree, is its positioning. Its location in Chandigarh, with city offering a readymade laboratory in architecture, has put it on an enviable footing. Rajnish Wattas, a former principal as well as its alumnus, who has spent 38 years here in the college, opines, "Go anywhere and say that you are a product of Chandigarh College of Architecture, and doors open automatically."

Vikramaditya Prakash, Professor of Architecture, and Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Washington, agrees that CCA is an important legacy institution and known worldwide. He adds, "It was created to teach, research and`A0propagate`A0the principles of Indian modernism. Chandigarh’s architecture can be said to have been "sustainable before sustainability". CCA was founded to teach and research these contentions which I learnt here as a student."

Loomba asserts that if he has to hire a new hand, unbiased and strictly on professional terms he would give an extra rating to the college passout. So as the college clocks 50 years, a significant moment in time even in an institution’s life, all associated with it feel proud. Says Wattas, who incidentally left Punjab Engineering College to join CCA after browsing through Fountainhead, "The era of masters is over."

Nevertheless, the college has produced enough bright minds, including more than dozen men and women, who have chaired high positions such as chief architects of different states.

India, she feels, is yet to wake up to the right of idea and by and large people do believe that an architect’s role begins and ends with design.

Dr S. S. Bhatti, founder teacher and former principal, observes, "The CCA has the distinction of being an institution built on a school of thought which has the philosophic uniqueness of holism." Kathpalia adds, "Cities will be made`85 development will be there. The moot point is can you make it more relevant not in some fashionable green building terms but socially, economically and environmentally?"

The answer fortunately is yes. Many an alumnus has taken the road less travelled. And some like Tony Ashai, renowned California-based architect, who has designed homes for celebrities and who redesigned New York’s famous landmark – the Chrysler building – and contributed in changing Dubai's skyline, remain irrepressible dreamers.

Tony Ashai has given valuable inputs to the design of SRK’s home. He has also worked on SRKs dream project. The project is currently on hold. The key to Tony’s success perhaps lies in his belief, "One size does not fit all. I like to design my buildings around the lives of the people that will ultimately occupy that building and not the other way around."

Namita Singh has many prestigious projects like Naval Academy Ezhimala, Kerala, Revitalisations of Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, Dashmesh Academy of Martial Sports, Anandpur Sahib, to her credit. She believes, "You truly create timeless beauty in architecture when your heart is attuned to the people, the context and the environment."

Vikramditya Parkash, author of Chandigarh’s Le Corbusier, owns an architectural firm VergeAD in Seattle, with wife Leah Martin. They mostly do high-end residential and commercial architecture. Parkash dittos the sentiment "Think global design local."

Rajeev Kathpalia, co-founded Mansar with Radhika Doshi in 1987, which was later amalgamated with Vastu Shilpa Consultants, a partnership between the two principals of Mansar and Dr B. V. Doshi, a renowned architect. The company’s ongoing projects include revitalisation of the historic core of Hyderabad and high-density, low-income urban mass housing. Kathpalia believes," If you have to invent something, dig a deep hole and jump into it. While struggling to come out, you will invent."

The uniqueness of Chandigarh College of Architecture lies in the fact that it grew out of Le Corbusier’s idea — to be established as the academic wing of the experiment called Chandigarh. CCA was born on August 7, 1961.

A. R. Prabhawalkar, one of the three Indian town planners, was formally made its principal. From a department of Punjab Engineering College, it became an independent institution established on a common campus, to be declared a joint cadre with the Department of Architecture (first Punjab, then Union Territory). Finally it had its own cadre — thanks to the efforts of Aditya Prakash, who was its principal from 1967 to 1982.

Pradeep Bhagat, present principal, and J. P. Singh, dean academics, while revelling in the college’s high standing and ranking, too, admit that it has much to learn from institutions like School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and Centre for Environment Planning and Technology University, Ahmedabad. — NS