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"Architecture is the styling of buildings and its environment into something seductive- when architecture is truly great it even has the metaphysical ability to change stone, wood, plastic, glass into gold. Architecture can be a form of alchemy."
So writes Architect Srilal Fernando in one of his many unpublished writings on Architecture. It is not mere ranting but profound insights by a passionate persona, who is awed by the mysticism of Architecture.
Start of a romance with architecture
‘I simply took matters into my own hands after schooling and walked into an architectural establishment, bent on gaining admittance. I had no prior knowledge of it and I was asked to start work as a tracer, I learned a lot through observation. Subsequently I started working for Geoffrey Bawa, which was a dream of mine. During my 13 year stint with Bawa I was granted much freedom and assigned many responsibilities. Thereafter I branched out as a solo architect after completing my studies in the sphere. It was not a walk in the park but I value it more as I literally started from scratch.
In sync with nature
To my query as to his signature style, he replied in the negative saying that he is unable to discern what his style is apart from the fact that his work is in harmony with nature. ‘One is unable to pin the true meaning of architecture hence the books filled to the brim with my thoughts on it,’ said he with a smile.
Browsing through his architectural escapades one cannot but observe the reverence he has towards nature. His work is moulded according to the natural landscaping, often creating a truly luscious and potent setting.
Architects he admires
‘Frank Lloyd Wright, Bruce Geoff, Herb Green, Tadao Ando and Louis Kahn for their affinity towards nature and the environment,’ said he.
Driving towards architectural nirvana
Trust is imperative in building a rapport with the client, and one must be humble in his/her approach towards architecture , finally and most importantly have a profound love for it,’ opined he with conviction.
In conclusion he added that ‘architecture is not something that can be known intellectually, it is only something that can be felt.’ We wish this architect who shuns the public eye luck in his future endeavours and hope to see his written works published soon.
Architectural insights by Srilal
* Architecture has to be earthly, just as trees cannot grow with out earth, trees need, roots in the earth, architecture needs the connectivity with the earth, the base (not in a literal sense). The body represent the earth, remember one secret, higher the trees grow, deeper go its roots. It is proportionate, the connectivity have to be deep as the tree so high, the height or the validity of an architect and the depth or the connectivity have to be absolutely balanced.
* The mind must not be fixed; Technology will be richer if one can move into the world of arts and vice versa, if one’s mind has the freedom to move away from its main fixation and then back to them again, he will be a designer.
* The spirit of an architect has to grown like a tree in all directions, the concept that we cannot grow in opposite directions must be dropped, an architect can grow only if he can grow in opposite directions. In my mind an architect must never be a specialist then something ugly happens, then the architect will grow in a specific direction and he lacks everything in an architect then he becomes a branch not a tree and even this branch is bound to be poor.
* Great architects of the past were not after any ideals they live and create spontaneously they grow in their own way. They grow like wild trees but then the wild trees become ideals for their followers. The followers begin to have patterns, preferences truths and condemnations.
* As I understand architects can only create the situation in which architecture could happen. And has to be vulnerable and open to the environment, to nature from all sides.
* Architecture Is play regained, childhood has gone but once you are an architect, you have regained the playful mood of architecture, you can play with forms spaces, colours, light etc…. as an architect you can just relax into a playful mood, but not be playing at all. In this relaxed moment, the situation is created. The ecstasy is created
