Formal architectural education has been in place in India since late nineteenth century when Sir J.J. School of Art was established and formal architectural draftsmanship was introduced.

Royal Institute of British Architects patronized the formal education and certification of architectural learning for a long time in our country.

One and a half century later today we have close to 500 schools of architecture in India, doling out B.Arch. degrees, affiliated to different universities.

While the march of technologies have brought about sea change in the way architecture is practiced all over the world, including India, the foundational learning of skill sets required to become an architect has not yet been formally structured by any university system, and not even looked at by the apex body Council of Architecture which regulates the functioning of architectural education practice in India.

The chart given above is a very basic one that I have tried to create to understand how to fill in the gaps visible, as part of new pedagogical approach to teaching and learning of architecture. It is this chart, duly completed, which needs to be looked at while creating a syllabus or curriculum for architectural education.

It may be noted that architecture continues to be a 5 year degree course, gnawing away one of the most vibrant times in a young adults life, while other technical courses offer quicker opportunities for one to settle down in life with a reasonable income and job satisfaction.

The sole reason for making the chart as above is to see if it is possible to de-construct the learning of architecture to suit different timelines of learning different skill sets required in today's context to be part of the burgeoning and booming building industry in various capacities, apart from that of an 'architect with a halo' around his/her head.

Another important reason I made this chart is because today, after being in practice since 1979 and in academia since 1987, I find most fresh graduates who apply to me seeking training and job, though have beautiful looking portfolios, lack real life skills that can make them employable in an architect's office.

Perhaps we need a systemic overhaul, to suit today's technology powered world where manual and digital skills have merged to create a chimera, we do not know how to make use of effectively in our academic and professional world...

I may be wrong, you may not agree with me, yet I invite your ideas and suggestions to fill in the blanks in the chart above in myriads of ways possible...

Please mail to archiestudio.thrissur@gmail.com 

I will be uploading all ideas and suggestions in a suitable format on this website...

- Dr. Harimohan Pillai