Summary: Role Of Architecture In Nation Building

“We shape our buildings, and afterwards, our buildings shape us”. These words by Winston Churchill are itself a testimonial to the tremendous impact that architecture has forever had on mankind. But to what extent does this impact our collective national identity and in shaping our nation? In every era of a nation’s past, buildings have enabled progression. As time passes, those structures determine what appears next, becoming indicators of that nations path through the ages while developing a direction for the coming generations at the same time.

Each of them representing a distinctive part of a nation’s way of life and development throughout history, from the architecture of the amazing pyramids to those of colonial age and to the current 21st century. Architecture is not just about the built and unbuilt, but a part of a broader repertoire of economic, social, cultural and spiritual symbols. It is these factors that forge a nation and its principles.

Even from ancient times, architecture and planning have been a gateway to cultural, spiritual prosperity and power of a nation.

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The Romans described unmapped territories as ‘hinc sunt leones’, which translates to ‘here are lions’. The civilizing nature of making bound cities, and therefore making worlds of civilized culture, has been an integral ideology behind every great nation. Structures like The Gardens of Babylon, The Pantheon, Taj Mahal have all been prominent in showcasing the culture of their respective countries and bringing them to the peak of power. Ironically, Taj Mahal almost brought the Mughal nation to the brink of an economic disaster, considering how valuable it is to the current Indian economy and nation.

A nation destroyed by colonialism. Colonialism is the prime example of architecture for power. The French Colonialists, after destroying parts of Algiers’ Casbah in 1830 to reinstate it with a Hausmannian urbanism while also provided a layer of colonial administration to the remaining portion of the old city by assigning house names and street numbers. This brought about a social change in the nation's perception, making it easier to manage. In the Indian context, Colonialists aimed at changing the cultural and spiritual nature of the nation. The Viceroy’s House, known to us as the Rashtrapati Bhavan, was a result of this movement. Later, during post-colonialism, they adapted the building to incorporate indo-saracenic motifs. Once a sign of British oppression, now the Rashtrapati Bhavan stands as the simple for the world's greatest democracy. Here, architecture was used to create an independent, collective identity and to boost the self-confidence of the nation's people. Likewise, the choice of architectural modernism in Chandigarh was an attempt to shed the past and embrace a new and brighter future, and was therefore a profoundly symbolic act. Chandigarh, planned by Le Corbusier, became the poster child of independent India. Nehru even went on to call it ‘The Temple of New India’. Another phrase which brings focus to the religious and cultural symbols of this nation. Many of the successful Indian architects like Charles Correa, Raj Rewal and B. V. Doshi blended vernacular elements into modernism, lending it a rich flavor that characterizes the identity of Indian architecture. All these examples further solidify the fact that Architecture is a core part of building a nation and shaping its identity. Through architecture, we can mold a nation composed of distinct groups and identify them as a cohesive society under one flag. Architecture is used as a tool to create unity and thus shape a society. Nowadays, the focus of architecture has moved away from power and towards economic gain.

Economy is of the utmost importance in a country's development. Lately, architecture has become an in instrument in bringing out the economic potential of a space. In the current global scenario, architecture is used in various methods for economic development. Architecture and space branding is one of the latest trends seen in this field. It imparts a new meaning to a space through architecture. The rise of Singapore, from the colonial era to the flourishing city it is today, is a prime example. The major reason for this is the desire for legitimacy that extends beyond mere economic performance and the understanding that ‘Branding of Singapore’ would be a competitive resource. The fact that Bjarke Ingels chose Singapore to be the face of a highly futuristic world in the Sci-Fi series Westworld speaks for itself. Architecture tourism has also been an important factor in bringing out the economic potential of a nation. Dubai, which was just a barren desert a few decades ago, has propelled itself into one of the leading nations through this strategy. With the oil reserves of the country depleted, the country is able to sustain itself purely through tourism. The development of an array of architectural marvels has been the major reason behind this success. Both Singapore and Dubai are also examples of corporate architecture where soaring high rises and office spaces have brought in highly skilled labor force to these countries. It is also clear from countries like Spain, France and Italy that preserving the culture and spiritualism of a nation through architecture can also give economic dividends. These countries have very few high rises and have stayed true to their people and their culture. The most important way in which architecture affects the economy is through upbringing of the local communities. Architects are the real catalysts which provide a platform for local craftsmen, artisans and locally available materials. This is best visible in India where architects like Raj Rewal, Charles Correa and Laurie Baker have made use of the local materials like brick, sandstone etc. at the same time being climatically responsive and in harmony with nature. This kind of architecture helps in connecting with nature. It creates a local income stream which leads to self sufficiency and a supporting economy. It also brings out national pride and character. Aranya housing project by B. V. Doshi and Belapur housing by Charles Correa are such low cost projects which have hugely contributed to the transformation of a nation with two-thirds of its people living in poverty. As times are changing, architecture is too. Quoting the words of Ar. Richard Rogers, ‘Form follows profit is the aesthetic principle of our time’.

Even with all the developments and change in people’s perspectives, how much influence does architecture really have on building a nation? The Truth is, architects build only a fraction of the world. Thus it's unfair to limit the scope of architects in shaping a nation to just to the build form. It's when and how people communicate with these structures that they serve a purpose and become a part of a wider social movement. Here comes the role of architects. It's up to the architects to build in such a way that his works react to the needs and problems of the people. The architect has to plan for the future, at the same time keeping in mind the culture and values that uphold the nation. Architecture isn't all about form, size and structure. The stability of a nation is depended on its people’s welfare, health and happiness. This starts from the most basic of architectural forms, a shelter. Architecture should serve society and enhance the quality of living. Thus, it is evident that it plays a role in the micro and macro aspects of a nation's development. Even from the smallest of houses to the tallest high rise, it’s the people’s interaction with it that completes them.

Building and upholding a nation is a long and complex process and a never-ending one. Through every period, architecture has prevailed as one of the most significant reflection in a nation's progress. They became symbolic carriers of nationalistic ideas. No other field can express national identity through its spatial and visual attributes. In short, we should understand architecture as a part of a much bigger system, it should be a symbol of a nation's social progress, technological development, economic progress and contextuality. It is only through constant renewal that this system can move forward. Architecture may not be the defining system of a nation’s identity. But it does play an unavoidable role in every nation's prosperity and development and will continue to do so for all time. As Julia Morgan said, 'Architecture is a visual art and the buildings speak for themselves”.

Bibliography

1. Korody, Nikolas. “Uncovering the Architecture of Colonialism with 'The Funambulist'.” Archinect, 1 Apr. 2017, archinect.com/features/article/149994523/uncovering-the-architecture-of-colonialism-with-the-funambulist.

2. Sebastian, Sofia, and Ravishankar K.R. “POST INDEPENDENCE ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA : A Search For Identity in Modernism.” International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research JETIR, JETIR, 2018, www.jetir.org/view?paper=JETIRC006253.

3. Dean, Darren, and Raymond Quek. Nationalism and Architecture. Ashgate, 2012.

4. Vale, Lawrence J. Architecture, Power, and National Identity. Routledge, 2008.

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