Change is the only constant

Gurnaaz Kaur

“There is a need to strengthen private sector and have educated, capable people to maintain the standards of architecture in India. The vision has to shift from short-term gains to long-term results; that’s how we in US function. Almost 80 per cent of the industry there is in the hands of private architects who have studied their subject from well-known universities. That’s not all; we pay them handsomely while here in India those doing the job are neither educated nor paid enough. It’s mostly in the hands of government with fewer qualified architects and engineers who then pass on the work to builders and their main focus is filling pockets,” says Amar Malla, a New York-based architect with over half a decade of experience in architecture, while sharing his take on how the art of designing and constructing buildings is different between the US and India. 

Amar once lived in Chandigarh. In fact, it is here he discovered his ambition of becoming an architect. This alumnus of Chandigarh College of Architecture proudly shares his association with the college. “I belong to the second batch of CCA. Initially, I was a mediocre student but things changed after my nine-month training. I was so involved in the project that by the time it finished, I was among the toppers. The education that I got in the college has made me who I am. And that’s what keeps bringing me back to the city.” 

With the intention to give back, this award-winning architect with accomplishments in design, construction and project management says, he wants to add to the city’s infrastructure by sharing his knowledge and expertise. “I started with a private firm and worked there for 13 years. Then I joined the Department of Design and Construction, New York City, and today I am the senior project manager in city’s cultural institutions. My role involves being there at every step from design, bid, award, and registration to construction stages of each project. I do not want to take all the experience to my grave; I want to pass it on. The first step is students should learn not to seek a bypass but get equipped to remove the hurdle.”

Being of the opinion that a lot can be handled well if the policy implementation was in place, Amar believes there is a huge gap between writing laws and the actual practice of it. He says if we are aping the West, we then need to also implement stringent laws like them. “There, even if one tree is removed, we have to pay a huge penalty and also plant six new trees. No one can touch a tree without permission there. Come to traffic, New York, even after being a highly populated and commercial city, rarely has a traffic jam. There are countless cars but the traffic laws are so strong that the traffic is constantly moving.”

Word of advice

The authorities have to start thinking about demolishing roundabouts and replace them by traffic lights. They are changing it in other countries. City’s character was never thought at that time when city was planned, which was to cater to less population. Every house should have garage space for two cars. Private vehicles are seen obstructing road all across the city. 

gurnaaz@tribunemail.com