Investigating The Sacreo In Architecture (Page 2)

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Sthapati or architect?
By the sacred texts, the architect trained in a university college should be debarred from practicing architecture. S/he most likely will not conform to the traditional image of the sthapati. The disqualification is not just about gender, but has also to do with his/her training, lifestyle, the clothes. S/he wears, the food S/he eats, the gods. S/he doesn't worship, and so on. 

The architect in history acquired his skills at his father's Knee as it were. The stars ordained that he be born in a particular family to a particular profession, in other words, in a guild of architects, sculptors and painters. Father to son and on through generations, skills were perfected and transmitted. The ancient guild system in India has been responsible for great achievements not just in architecture but also in metallurgy, pottery, textiles, etc. Each guild that often came to be recognised as a sub-caste of the infamous caste system guarded its trade secrets closely. Professional knowledge was transmitted by Word of mouth as sacred information given to the forefathers by the gods.

Today, however, the majority of architects enjoy decidedly 'modern' lifestyles and are trained in colleges that follow non-traditional curricula formulated and periodically reviewed by boards-of-studies, professional organisations, other universities, etc. While a discussion on course content is beyond our scope here, it might be pertinent, however, to note here that course content is not considered secret, sacred or in any way esotericany more. While each architect's office may well have its trade secrets or working-details if you will, the learning of architecture is open to everyone regardless of caste or creed. Moreover, the license to practice professionally is granted by a professional council only on successful completion of course and due registration.

As a consequence of the training that is imparted to her/him, in the design process S/he applies, in the way S/he conducts her/his studio, in the kind of work S/he does and in the tools and technology S/he employs, the architect of today can find little that S/he can relate to in what is today understood as the traditional way of design and construction.

(Continues…)


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