The underlying principle

The practice of architecture varies a lot and within that spectrum, my area of interest lies in practices that focus on the locale and take initiatives of understanding the community. It was a little epiphany today when I realized where that underlying principle governing my decisions of pursuing a specific type of architecture, finally stems from. 

This type, of trying to dissect the site and elementary culture and designing for a positive space, is a definite challenge in today's world, with pressures of war, politics, society, and religion. And irrespective of the idealistic attitude of this style( if we may call it style at all ), as Critical Regionalism is, I do believe that projects of different scales are able to communicate this to the people.

Laurie Baker's Center of Development Studies uses brick lattice systems, that allow for wind to circulate through the building in a primarily hot climate. He also takes advantage of the material by creating light patterns that change throughout the day.

And although a lot of times we get bogged down by the social and political responsibilities of our profession, a lot of people following this mindset are creating a difference in the communities and our language of contemporary architecture. 

Bamboo House designed by SEEDS India, architecture department. The aim of the project was to use the traditional building methods by simultaneously improving them and designing for the river bed of Bhramputra in Assam, India.