Ruchika Sharma

HT4003

The Rise & Fall of the Agency

The studio Theorizing Architectural Production followed the course of decoding the structural details of a building to understand its construction process. This understanding was subsequently placed parallel (Illustrated in the Process Journal) to a system of existing theories in architecture, to create a case for one or more out of the three lenses of "Agency", "Making" and "Modernity". The piece titled "Rise & Fall of the Agency: The changing role of the architect in the society" is a tale of the dynamics of power in the face of a building's conceptualization, construction, and subsequent usage. 


Report Content

A reflection on Part-1 of the studio-process: Decoding the building.

The site of study was Advance Mills Canteen, a demolished building, and hence it couldn't be measure drawn. On the basis of the archival images available, tile-sizes (and various other standard architectural dimensions) were used to derive the dimensions of the building.

Owing to the absence of an actual building, a model was constructed to understand the structure and to draw a basic section with accurately conjectured details.

A final perspective section was drawn to understand the interior details, the larger components in the spatial configuration of the building. This section was further annotated to highlight the essential features in construction and design.

A reflection on Part-2 of the studio-process: Engaging with Theory

Mind-map based on a text pertaining to the lens of Agency In Architecture. This, and several other mind-maps helped in breaking down the concept of agency to its core, to aid in developing an argumentative essay around it.

A reflection on Part-3. of the studio-process: Making of The Essay.

After indulging with multiple theories and readings, a mind-map for the argument was made. The theories studied were those of Making and Agency; the mind map was developed over how "agency of the architect enables making to turn into innovation".

Draft of the essay with constructive comments by the instructors.

Abstract of the final essay, and a segment from the same talking about Innovation.