If Not Political, It Is Not Design

Architecture is on the threshold of change, but it risks being reduced to the decorative arts unless architects accept the inherent politics of it

- Kaiwan Mehta

The threshold to the future of design is marked by ‘demolition’! The future of architecture is marked by a boom, and demolitions, of which one is most iconic – the demolition of the Hall of Industries and Nations, and the Nehru Pavilion at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi in April this year. The future of design and especially architecture that is being projected is only possible if whatever exists is demolished. But is this the future we want, or should want? Design is based on thinking, and design is political; however, what is projected as Design for the future, does not want to think, and it only wants to dress pretty and forget that this is one of the oldest political practices. To design is to express, within the process of articulating function and need, the wider sense of what you think and believe.