Form or function! Poor architecture students! Keep oscillating between the two in all semesters. I too was not spared of this dilemma as I grappled to make faculty happy in my design classes.
Flash back to forty years!
My college studio! Three professors sitting in a semi circle, examining my design project, a primary school, and one of the Professor, Yamraj, slaughtering me left right and centre.
“Why square plan?” Yamraj in a silky tone. By the way this is Prof. Gautam, nicknamed Yamraj.
“Sir! Because it works well. Sir I have conceived it on the principle of form follows …”
“Where is creativity? What form you will make out of this?”
“Spare her yaar! At least let her explain the design concept.” Chattu Sir, I mean Professor Chatterjee butts in.
“Arre Sahab ye students bas form follows, form follows karte hain! Form bhi koi cheez hoti hai!”
“Sir! But I have not shown you my elevations!”
“What will I do with your elevations? You are standing in front of me!” Sarcasm clearly visible!
“What will I do with your building elevations? Your plan is so simple! No circle! No hexagon! What will come out of this plan? Kya designing karte ho!”
“Building plan, not my plan!” I want to interrupt but keep quiet lest he gives me less marks.
“Bring something creative to the next class. Chalo bhai aa jao next.”
Chattu, Scenty (Prof Sharma, nicknamed Scenty because he is very sentimental) looks at me sympathetically but I am fuming inside.
Five days later……
Same studio!
I am excited. Playing with circles I have come up with a beautiful design. I am convinced this time Yamraj is going to be happy.
“Arre! What is this? Movement is going to be so difficult for children. Functional naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai……………………………………” There he goes!
I guess I don’t have to write further. All of you must have guessed my various design journeys through five years of college!
Fast forward to present!
Thirty eight years in the profession! Form or function? A question that keeps bugging students!
I quote the great master Frank Lloyd Wright:
“Form follows function – That has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.”
Adieu till I am back with another episode from college life!
Hilarious article!