Seismic Conscious Architecture

Architecture is an all-encompassing field touching innumerable facets of human life. It is the coming together of functional, technical, economic, cultural, social parameters that produces great architecture. There is rarely any aspect of human life that does not affect the Architecture that a place or time produces. Traditionally, in India and abroad, in the making of buildings, there has been a single authority, the Vastushilp with all the requisite knowledge to carry forward the design and construction of the buildings. This single point of authority would specialize in all that was required, whether it was the understanding of the structure, the geology, the functional need and the final construction method. However now, as our Buildings get more and more complex over time; in terms of the number of services the building now integrates within itself or the structural complexity it now poses due to its height and land constraints, the need is to bring in specialists who cater to fulfilling these specific requirements. The Architect now has to play the role of the master conductor of this great orchestra, which will come together to produce a brilliant building. Thus the Architect needs to possess all or at least the fundamental knowledge of all aspects to carry the building through. Specialists or consultants are brought in when required to fulfill specific tasks. The onus of the entire building will always lie on the shoulder of the Architect. As per the Architectural training one receives and as a general perception among the field, Earthquake considerations did not form an integral part of the building design decisions right from the initia