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Unit 5: Syllabus:
Introduction to IIA, IID, IUDI, ITPI, ISOLA, and such professional organisations. The need for
Architects to be aware, sensitive and active to Social and Civic issues in Urban Context
Preamble: The Architect’s Act 1972 explains the duty of an Architect in the following
manner
• His Duty towards his country and Society will make him
1. Ensure that his professional activities do not conflict with his general responsibility to
contribute to the quality of the environment and future welfare of society.
2. Apply his skill to the creative, responsible and economic development of his country.
What exactly are we talking about here? The following is my interpretation of the same
5.B. Do architects and architectural firms have a social responsibility beyond our
practice? We all have heard about the social consequences of architecture and about
architects having a responsibility to the community when they create a piece of
architecture. But do we have a social responsibility that extends beyond our practice?
Architects and Sustainability: What does social responsibility in architecture mean in our
time? It may mean sustainable design, whatever way you choose to define it. The definition
of social responsibility and how sustainable design is implemented are hotly debated, but
most of us would agree that two goals of sustainable design are to eliminate or minimize
negative environmental impact of the built environment and to connect people with the
natural environment.
5.B.1. Architects as Sensitive Professionals:
A. The Urban Context: Any architectural project designed, no matter what its scale, it does
not exist in a vacuum. It exists within a given context. The structure of the building
would have an impact on
1. The built environment of the area,
2. The aesthetics of the area ,
3. The movement pattern in the area,
4. The activities that the project would generate within the area.
5. The impact on microclimate of immediate vicinity, etc...
It is therefore the first responsibility of the architect while fulfilling the requirements of the
project to be sensitive to the above issues and address them in a sensitive manner.
The project could be in a Historically, Environmentally and Culturally Sensitive zone
The social responsibility of architects lies in part in believing that architecture can create
better places, that architecture can affect society, and that it can even have a role in making
a place civilized by making a community more liveable.
And as such the Architect would have to go beyond the clients brief to create an appropriate
design solution.
This would define the Architect’s Sensitivity to the Urban Context
Unit 5b The Urban Context Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho;Ar. Shirish Kembhavi
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B. End User Context:

Apart from individual projects, in most of the projects the client and the end user are two
different set of people e.g. In a housing project, the developer would be the client but the
actual end users would be the future occupants of the housing project similarly in an
Institution, the Client would be the management of the Institute but the end users would be
the actual occupants of the Institute. It would therefore be necessary to understand and
anticipate the expectations and aspirations of the 'end users' which may not be spelt out in
the design brief given by the 'Client'. As such a sensitive architect would be expected to take
extra effort to understand the End User’s Requirements and design accordingly.
This would define the Architects Sensitivity in the End User Context
5.B.2. Architects as Civic Activists:

In an urban area there are various projects undertaken by the local authorities as part of the
developmental agenda. While it is expected that all Civic projects be undertaken after
proper engagement with all the stake holders, many times it is seen that the projects are
undertaken on the basis of the perception of the authorities who assume they know what
the people's needs are which may not be true.
As a citizen and as a professional trained in development related activities, it is necessary for

an Architect to make himself/ herself aware of such projects and critically analyse the same
and make constructive suggestions to the project by engaging with the authorities. While
planning exercises like a development plan, the citizen engagement is built into the system,
in other cases one has to Suo Moto intervene to set things right . The recent examples in
Pune would be the Metro proposal, road in the river etc. wherein conscious professionals
raised relevant issues related to the project and forced the authorities to reconsider the
same.
Every ward in the city is supposed to have Mohalla committee consisting of educated
people residing in the area. It is a formal forum to vet the projects envisaged for the area. It
can be a good platform for Architects to voice their opinion. The current age is of social
media.
Going Beyond Practice

As architects, we can have a significant role in improving the well-being of communities by
being involved with non-profit organizations. We can raise public awareness of critical social
and environmental issues. One may argue that we chose the field of architecture because
we have a calling to take a role in influencing the built environment beyond our practice. An
architectural education facilitates the development of critical thinking abilities, which can be
applied to solving problems and addressing situations beyond design. Our social
responsibility is not limited to needs related to the built environment or environmental
issues. Our critical thinking abilities can also be valuable in designing an organization or
setting strategic goals and implementation plans.
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Architects or not, most individuals can have a role that has social impact. Whatever
involvement you choose to have in an important cause will have an impact on other
people’s lives. You may choose to contribute where you have a direct and emotional
connection, such as grassroots work volunteering at a shelter to feed the homeless. Or you
may choose to contribute indirectly by volunteering to serve on a committee to draft
policies that help streamline the funding process for a homeless shelter or Slums
Rehabilitation or Waste Management Proposals etc. etc. While these examples engender
dissimilar feelings of self-satisfaction and different short- and long-term outcomes, both are
important and valuable.
5.B.3. The Pune Context

Over the last few decades the City of Pune has seen rapid growth. The once idyllic town has
grown in leaps and bounds due to the Industrialisation, Proliferation of Educational
Institutes, and IT Boom and as such the ‘Development’ has not matched the ‘Growth’ of the
City and hence the City is found wanting as far as certain Civic amenities are Concerned.
Herein I have listed 10 points close to my heart.
1. Traffic issues: A lack of Strong Public transport resulting into increased dependence on
private vehicle ownership which occupies the available roads causing congestion which
is further magnified by Lack of traffic discipline.
2. Pedestrian Insensitivity: Lack of adequate infrastructure for Pedestrians and non-
motorized transport.
3. Increasing Environmental Pollution: The Lesser said the better
4. Untreated Sewage Problem: Sewage untreated but let in the river causing pollution and
degradation of River.
5. Encroachments: Encroachments in River by way of Roads, slums, and unauthorized
commercial activity causing environmental Degradation of River.
6. Hills Endangered: Development (Unauthorised or otherwise) of Hills and hill slopes
surrounding the city.
7. Ground Water Depletion: Unequal Water Supply in parts of Pune City leading to
excessive use of ground water causing depletion.
8. Reduction in Green cover: Green Cover Depletion due to felling of trees to
accommodate the growth of the City is an unacceptable reality we live in
9. Solid Waste Mismanagement: The City generates huge amount of garbage everyday
which is taken to land fill sites outside the City. Unavailability and resistance for of land
fill sites has made garbage disposal a major issue for the City and there is urgent need to
take up decentralized segregation, vermin composting of wet garbage and recycling to
ensure a better Solid waste management.
10. Menace of Proliferation of Slums and Squatter settlements: Due to increasing
migration and lack of cheap housing Slums are on the increase resulting in settlements
that lack basic sanitation and have poor living conditions.

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B. End User Context:

5.B.2. Architects as Civic Activists:

As a citizen and as a professional trained in development related activities, it is necessary for

Going Beyond Practice

5.B.3. The Pune Context

Herein I have listed 10 points close to my heart.

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