Thinking the way of life

© Aishwarya Warad

Dwelling about the past and proposing the future can be a great contribution that the wise architects of the newer generation can undertake. The mature tree is always there due to the roots that bear it. Likewise, the urban cities of today are due to the practices of ancient civilizations. Going back to the roots of time, it could be noticed that the orderliness in activities, the pattern of living, and simplicity in the procurement of resources led to the quality living context.

Humans have adapted their surroundings efficiently since the past. They rather have inhabited themselves in the natural systems around them. With time, they understood the key methods of survival. They began hunting for food and finding materials to envelop themselves against harsh weather conditions. They found places to be within - ‘the shelter’. Caves were a natural choice to reside in. Accommodation for a person became a need to ‘live’ than to ‘survive’. Humans settled and enhanced their living conditions by constructing shelters.

When most of the basic needs were obtainable humans began finding betterment. With time, they socialized among themselves, following certain lifestyles which generated culture. With economic stability, these civilizations began to evolve and gained knowledge of ecocriticism, music, art, and architecture. Subsequently, the cities got more urbanized.

After the industrial revolution, urbanization resulted in the negligence of certain parts in its backdrop. The cities carried on acquiring the luxury of overexploiting the resources and did not realize the upcoming consequences of exhaustion. Autonomy and resources played a crucial part in the urbanization of cities. The world as a whole, has a cultural dynamic with time by reason of differences after urbanization due to technological advancements. Today’s rural parts can be replicated to the history of architecture. There yet are rural villages in this globalized age that still uses ancient techniques to survive in a pleasant manner. Following the lines of sustenance of rural habitat can be a worthwhile contribution to the design of futuristic city planning. Analyzing the advancements of rural settlements in science, economy, and society, the major wedge is of the rural habitats that haven’t understood the boon of modernity. Our planet has advanced on account of various social undertakings that flourished rural economy. Rural settlements when studied deeply, give an idea of how the social processes make it a people’s habitat by the actions that create it, bring capital, and produce skilled labor forming a synthesis of productive shelter making. It is due to the social cohesion that makes up a truly developed city. Understanding the difference between rural and vernacular; and contemporary and modern, here, is important. The future, thus, should be based on modern concepts united with vernacular practices.

Modernized urban lands have contributed to the degradation of natural resources. Urbanization in terms of infrastructure, developed from huts to framed structures, to public housing; and now it tends to proceed its lines on modern mobile containers. Unfortunately, all of this is leading humans to generate a linear economy when the ‘big picture’ is taken into consideration. Urbanization due to technological upgradation has led to its misuse that in one way explains that the methodologies of the past were mostly green. Although development has not benefited the ecology, it has the potential to be much more than a unidirectional process. The process thus can be two-way. The rural regions, those which have been neglected by modernity can be a green ground for sustainable cities. The concept of ‘circular economy’ can be attended to. These in turn have to be the players in the smart city programs.

The scenarios arising in recent times are subjects that need to be solved productively in terms of environmental quality sustainability. Sustainability in ecology can be achieved by various means such as agriculture, economy, politics, infrastructural innovation, and so forth. It is also on the architects to assist the need to sustain the ecosystem. Emphasizing architectural progress is one of aid to revere the ecosystem and turn down the threat to our existence. Architecture is not just about designing buildings and marvelous independent structures but is more about sculpting new beauty that adds to the existing nature. Cities must better manage the quality of urban spaces to improve connectivity within the urbanity and the green premise and deal with the social and climatic stresses. We must take full advantage of the resources, efficiently to ensure that the future of the global society is lit. Valuing the needs of high population densities, by improving productivity in terms of its share in the global economy can be executed by job creation, provision of sustainable housing, improvised services, pollution control, etcetera.

The aim of the future cities should interpret the informal social processes that shaped the cities. Also, it should be the designs that impart new modernity to the impressions of the bygone.

Delineating the builtscape,

it portrays the signage.

The harmony between humans and nature,

narrates a wholesome village.

In time, a part flourished, responsive to wants ;

yet another placid with their living and ecotones.

Make the vision reach down the roots,

it explains the path to be chosen ;

to think beyond worldviews,

to attain sustenance in biomes.

The ode to nature can be depicted in lyrical forms, paintings, sculptures, or 1:1 installations as an artistic approach. Sculptures, a 3-D art stimulates a viewer directly. It is not something that can just be felt, but could be noticed feasibly and could have more dominant impacts than the other means. This sculpture is an environmental art explaining how humanity intervenes with mother nature. This sculpture is a vertically arranged circular form, kept hollow, that holds balanced rocks.

A circle is chosen to represent the whole. Since straight lines symbolize structure and order, while curves represent connection, a circle could be an absolute description.

The vanished part of the circle with two sharp tips depicts the hope to frame the balance of rocks completely by a human contribution.

The balanced rocks depict human efforts, representing the climate activists, and environmentalists, who care for nature’s goodness.

Small heaps of stones and pebbles around the seating can be used by the public to create more balancing rock sculptures along the structure.

Today’s embossed expressions

of the climate activists, so fierce and deep;

Listen to them!

Why steal so a beauty from the generations to come?

The big notion should remain to keep the earth sustaining;

Look for it, and it’s fearsome.

Educate you to grow you;

to not just make efforts for space explorations,

but let the efforts be to keep nature too!

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AUTHOR

AISHWARYA WARAD

Often mused, she has a flair for healthy design approaches which develops the potential to be eco-sensitive. Aishwarya, an architecture undergraduate, is studying at the University of Mumbai. She is a good conveyor and listener and has a zeal of a curious thinker. Persuasive writing has always been a part of her sphere of interest.