While speaking about the human and humane face of architecture, spaces that can create memories, moments, events and structures that are simple, yet timeless, Professor B V Doshi celebrated the “Art of Architecture”, in an absorbing lecture and slideshow organised by the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi Tuesday evening.

“Very few places affect you so deeply, and today is such an occasion. Sitting in this auditorium at the Government Museum, I have so many recollections, and I am looking at my journey of six decades, my research and the paths I have been trying to find. I wonder if Corbusier would come back came back here now what would he say, may be he would ask us to look afresh at our journey of everyday life,” said Prof Doshi. ... “Architecture is like a food basket, there is so much variety and it is important to look at our old civilisations and evolve organically. Plurality is paramount,” Doshi talked about the Centre for Environment and Planning Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. He also encouraged architects and students to use the site and look at the land, nature, sun, trees, climate to get clues and examine the layers. “Discover the lost lanes, take space as an immeasurable place and create drama and mystery, for architecture is not mechanical, but connected to life,” Doshi said while making interesting observations about the Indian way of life, living, clothing, and stressed upon the need for our buildings to complement our roots.

The study of behavioural sciences, anthropology, sociology, old cities and mythology can help create architecture that is multi-layered and one that encourages the community and society to engage. A building, added Doshi, is not a product, but a process, and so young architects through their work need to explore and experiment so that people can be empowered, “we have to integrate people, buildings must become public spaces for interactions, and it must be done with diversity and dynamism, “ summed up Doshi.