Architecture or Vastukala as translated in Hindi is the science or study of planning, designing, and constructing buildings or any other structures. The need and desire, as well as the importance of architecture, have been recognized since the inception of civilization. One of the best examples of such can be seen in the detailed planning in the cities of the Harappan/Indus Valley Civilization. Even though architecture has been a priority throughout the world in all the continents inhabited, the affinity, lack, and consciousness towards it have always varied from society to society.
Scopes
Architecture if ever so roughly put in the simplest of terms can be described as a “Jack of all trades”. The variety of fields that one could pursue through the proper understanding of this subject is only limited by one’s imagination. That being said, the best feature of pursuing architecture is the freedom it grants an individual to choose between a career or a job since it is a subject that depends heavily on a practitioner’s creativity.
A stark contrast can be presented between the variant fields of architecture in that it provides scopes to work into the more conventional fields of design such as Landscape Design, Interior Design, Product design, etc., or more analytical subjects that include Climatology, Architectural Documentation (historical buildings and sites of architectural value), Material Study, etc. It even provides scope for subjects that are more calculative such as Structural Design, Service Planning, Urban design, and Planning, etc. The oddest and most miscible forms of career paths that one could pursue out of architecture include the fields of Architectural Journalism, Architectural Photography Architectural Videography, etc.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of an architect are quite heavy concerning a societal as well as an individual level. The social responsibilities of an architect range from a very wide field of specifics in which one has to spread awareness about the profession first and foremost in a society like India. Secondly but just as equally important is the awareness and education of the masses regarding the harmful effects of buildings on the environment.
Buildings comprise more than 40% of the annual carbon emission of the entire world and thus it naturally comes down to the fact that an architect has a huge responsibility for the environment and climate change factor of the Earth through his/her design or work.
This is just one basic example of how an architect has to be self-conscious regarding his profession and knowledge before proceeding with any project. A conscious and well-educated decision has to be taken at every step to achieve maximum efficiency with equal responsibility. Half-hearted and unsure measures are something very dangerous and bear ill results, so being bold self-confident, and self-conscious is one of the most important factors to being an architect and in many ways a responsibility of an architect to cultivate within.
