Architecture is a noble profession that helps human civilization to build beautiful and safe homes, offices, public buildings, and monuments. But in India, architecture is often called a ‘failed’ profession. It has been called that for many centuries and continues to remain a controversial topic.
In India, the financial returns from architecture are quite low compared to other professions. The long working hours, long duration of projects and meager pay frame architecture as an unreliable source of income. Moreover, the government regulations imposed on architects make the profession difficult. This is why some regard architecture as a failed profession. Moreover, there is a lack of infrastructure and proper education system to support the profession and encourage more people to pursue architectural studies.
The conception of architecture in India is also flawed. In India, architecture is often seen as a luxury profession. It is deemed unnecessary in the larger context and is seen as a hobby or art rather than a profession. Since India is surrounded by various cultural and religious influences, architecture often has to compete with traditional designs and ideas which have been passed down for generations.
The poor financial returns in architecture are a major issue for architects and potential architects. With the high cost of living, many people feel that pursuing an architecture degree is not worth the hassle or cost. This can lead to choosing other professions, instead of architecture, which are more capable of providing an adequate salary.
Architecture in India is also faced with the problem of cultural ignorance. People in India often fail to recognize the importance of architecture and its role in shaping the society and its environment. This can lead to limited opportunities for architects and can make the profession more difficult to pursue.
Furthermore, the lack of opportunities for architects in India is an issue. There is a lack of government-funded architectural projects. Moreover, the competition from international market has decreased the local demand for architects and made it harder for them to find clients. This lack of success has led to people recognizing architecture as a failed profession in India.
Impact of Digitalization on Architecture Profession
Digitalization has played an important role in the failure of architecture in India. With the emergence of 3D technology, architects have to face the competition of international design and software technologies. Furthermore, the advent of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robotic automation have all made traditional design processes obsolete. This has pushed many architecture firms out of the industry, leading to a lack of success among architects in India.
Furthermore, the easy access to digital designs on the internet has drastically reduced opportunities for Indian architects. Digital designs made by international companies have become cheaper and more accessible than ever before. This has led to these companies taking over Indian projects, further reducing the opportunities for Indian architects.
In addition, the lack of investment in digital infrastructure has hampered the development of architecture in India. The lack of investment in digital software, hardware and networking has reduced the potential for architecture firms to excel. This has further reduced the success of the Indian architecture industry.
Moreover, the lack of adequate resources for architects has made the profession more difficult and unattractive. The lack of resources for research and training has further made it difficult for potential architects to enter the field. This has led to fewer people pursuing architectural studies, further contributing to the failure of the profession in India.
Efforts to Revive Architecture
Despite all the setbacks, there is still hope for architecture in India. The government has recently launched many initiatives to revive the profession, such as the Jawahar Lal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University and the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. These initiatives are aimed at encouraging more people to pursue architectural studies, and creating more opportunities in the field.
Furthermore, many private companies have also taken steps to promote architecture in India. For example, the Tata Group has set up a design research centre to promote architectural research and development, while many others have started various architectural scholarships and internships to encourage more young people to pursue the profession.
In addition, many architectural firms have started to adopt new technologies such as block chain and artificial intelligence to design better and faster projects. This has made the profession more attractive to potential architects and has also made it easier for architecture firms to acquire clients.
Moreover, many organizations such as the Council of Architecture and Confederation of Real Estate Developer’s Association of India have come forward and are making efforts to promote architecture in India. These organizations are educating the public about the importance of architecture and are helping to revive the profession.
Conclusion
It is clear that architecture in India has been labeled as a ‘failed’ profession, but with the emergence of new technologies, the government and private initiatives, there is still hope to revive the profession and make it attractive to potential architects. It is now up to the current architects and the upcoming generation of architects to work hard to raise the standard of the profession and make it successful in India.
