Sketching the Skyline
With rapid urbanisation and evolving infrastructure, there is an urgent need for high-quality architectural education in India that helps develop the next generation of architects, planners, designers and thinkers. Here is a detailed rundown of the largest institutes influencing modern Indian skies:
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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee
IIT Roorkee, which consistently tops the NIRF 2024 rankings in architectural and planning schools and colleges in India, has a 5-year B.Arch. program. Putting a high premium on design, technology and sustainability, its futuristic state-of-the-art studios and faculty and industry presence define it as a blueprint of architecture education in India.
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IIT Kharagpur & NIT Calicut
IIT Kharagpur is among the top three NIRF colleges in architecture. Besides NIT Calicut, both Institutes offer balanced architecture training in India, which combines engineering and space design and leads to real-life interactions.
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SPA (School of Planning and Architecture), Delhi
SPA Delhi has been ranked among the top five NIRF schools of architecture. Having separate branches in architecture, planning and conservation, SPA provides a highly interdisciplinary approach to architecture education in India, making its students ready to deal with urban policies and decision-making in cities.
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CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology), Ahmedabad
Ranked highest in private architecture (Outlook-ICARE 2024), CEPT has a reputation in the area of studio-based learning, technical rigor and inter-disciplinary research. It shares the feature of regional context and sustainability with an India-based principle of architectural education.
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Sir J. J. College of Architecture, Mumbai
Sir J. J. College of Architecture (est. 1913) is the oldest architecture school in Asia, encompassing both traditional and contemporary education. Its significant focus on the sustainability of houses and urban heritage promotes architecture education in India by combining traditional knowledge and present requirements.
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Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA)
Established in 1961 during the Le Corbusier Chandigarh experiment, CCA continues to be a source of influence in the readings of modernism, regional and interplay. With a colourful annual event titled “Corbu Day” and a place in the NIRF ranking (30th in 2024), it has contributed to the flourishing of architecture education in India.
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Emerging Private Institutes
Institutions such as BIT Mesra (Ranchi), Woxsen University (Hyderabad), RV College of Architecture (Bangalore) and Manipal School of Architecture & Planning are mentioned in the Outlook-ICARE 2024 report. These institutions are emerging to make significant contributions to the field of architecture education in India, with new curricula, high-tech facilities, and dynamic academic environments.
Trends and Challenges in Architecture Education in India
Curricular Modernization
Scholars criticize numerous architecture schools that have archaic curricula and do not train in BIM, parametric tools and sustainable design. Leading institutions are redesigning curricula to mirror international best practice and environmental demands.
Practical Exposure
Practical learning, internship, field visits and cross-functional relationships usually have restrictions. The top colleges are also tackling this challenge by building industry partnerships and incorporating field-based projects within their curriculum.
Infrastructure & Faculty
There are institutes with poor studios, old software and poor faculty. On the other hand, leading institutions set up sophisticated laboratories and acquire competent teachers in a bid to maintain the quality of architecture education in India.
Sustainability & Vernacular Wisdom
Climate-responsive architecture is an emerging trend. It is noteworthy that, students and institutions are mixing vernacular processes (such as earth-building and courtyards) and contemporary technologies to tackle heat waves, promote energy efficiency.
The Road Ahead
The future of India lies in the quality architectural education that is flexible in India, socially awakened and globally oriented. Notable developments are:
Stronger Public–Private Collaborations
The pandemic has permeated the gap that exists between theory and practice through the involvement of universities in partnership with industries, governments, and NGOs.
Regulation & Professional Advocacy
Strengthening of the COA (Council of Architecture) and revision of the Architects Act will assist in improving educational standards and recognition of professionals.
Curriculum Reform
A combination of interdisciplinary collaboration, soft skills, digital design, and sustainability will allow the graduates to become more competitive on a global scale and more employable.
Cultural Responsiveness
Promotion of designs that take into consideration the local climates, materials and heritage is the way to go to ensure architecture serves the larger interests of society and the environment.
In conclusion, the field of architecture education in India is changing the way it is defined by decades-old schools such as IIT Roorkee, SPA Delhi, Sir J. J. College of Architecture, and CEPT, as well as emerging private colleges. The future of architecture education in India will be marked by an increased focus on sustainability initiatives, urban interaction, social inclusiveness, and regulatory power to build more meaningful, more resilient skylines.
