Need for Architectural Criticism in Academic Institutions

The word critic which comes from the Greek root crisis, refers to the act of judging or deciding. Criticism always means evaluating and placing a work in its historic context and amongst the issues that are contemporary with it, confronting discourse and also the building as it stands. Criticism is also about the circulation of ideas in the professional world and amongst the public, as much as in the community of architects. It has a role to teach and initiate as well as to interrelate, animate and even structure intellectual debate within the profession. Architecture criticism is the act of writing or speaking about a building, usually of historical importance or novel design or built in a notable public space. Architectural criticism is very important since it creates a sense of interpreting works of art and approach a building with an eye for criticism. Criticism often proposes to accompany or channel the evolution of architectural trends, to identify their historical roots, and to elaborate their imaginary or mythical sagas. In this age the reviews, the media system in general, and even the most demure of architects are interested mainly in a small cluster of architectural stars, who for one reason or another have been able to focalize upon themselves a share of current architectural thoughts. People at large, including architects are now interested in human and more artistic types that display ambiguous blends rather than a classic professional profile. Criticism could be constructive, but it could also be the opposite and destroy the reputation of a building, project, an idea or even a person. Some years ago, Dennis Sharp, famous British architect introduced a number of critical categories in the Architectural Journalism and Criticism Workshop to the Architectural Association. These categories related to an ungraded list of criteria. They were an attempt to create a working tool whereby students ideas, thoughts and words can be focused on the main areas that criticism may be expected to cover. The list was divided into dualities: environmental/economic, functional/constructional, political/cultural and visual/aesthetic categories. This helped greatly in providing clarification for the aims and content of the critical writing undertaken by students. It formed a basis for sharpening arguments and

opening up widely differing areas of knowledge. The students were rewarded with the publication of articles on the major buildings, including the 1960s Economist Building, London by Peter and Allison Smithson, and another work of their own choice. The results were published in Building magazine, wher e one of the students became an architecture editor. The young amateur architecture critics soon recognized the so called critical and investigative structure of much journalism is related to the aesthetic touchstone that can be defined as the basic ingredient of criticism. The various aspects of criticism of a built form are:

Aesthetics - whether the building is pleasing to the eye. Functionality - whether the building meets the needs of the client and those who will use the building. Style Architectural styles. Building materials - discussion of the choice of these and whether wise or unwise. Environment - does the building fit into its surroundings, whether those surroundings consist of other buildings or of a natural landscape. Also, of increasing importance these days, is the building environmentally friendly (regarding such things as energy consumption, pollution, renewable materials). Context - whether the building relates to projects built around the same time (contemporaneous projects) or by the same architect. Architectural criticism is not only applicable to architects alone, but anyone can voice their opinions and feelings about a built form, either positive or negative aspects. This criticism doesnt mean that the building has to be demolished, but will result in a more improved from in the future. Criticism cannot be taught, but still one can guide or create interest in young students on analyzing and forming individual opinions of their own about built forms around them. This helps in understanding the urban and architectural spaces around the city, and also helps one notice buildings which once they had ignored. There are two forms of architectural criticism- Operative and Explanatory criticism. Operative criticism attempts to explain the evolution of architecture. Operative criticism of a public place differs from operative criticism of an individual building. In both ways criticizing a building helps forming new ideas and design interventions for a project.

In any form of criticism like film, literature etc it is the opinion of the public that matters the most. In architectural criticism also public opinion matters, also it is more important since buildings are always used by the people and cannot be ignored. First thing one observes is the aesthetics of a building. Anything which catches the attention of the viewer creates an impression. Features which first strike an impression are colour, architectural features, sculptures and size or form of the building. Functionality is another aspect, which is taken into account by the people who use the building, feel its spaces and understand the scale. Criticism based on functionality shows whether it is a people friendly space and how much the spaces creates the feeling needed like intimacy, monumentality etc. It is important to learn about the ways in which the function and design of the spaces matter and how to go about it. When a graduate starts his/her own practice in the field, it is important to see that the building meets the needs and whimsies of the client. So both functionality and aesthetics plays an important role likewise. It is very important that students are accustomed to the methods of criticism, since it creates and instills more knowledge and reasoning abilities in them. Architects are often disappointed by criticism. Many of them like to think that it does not exist. But as long as critics exist, criticism also will exist.

Submitted By, Nileena.S # 25 S9 Barch