Rethinking Architecture's Impact: Healing, Apologies, and Responsibility

Listen to Anna Heringer

One of these talks, the purview of this article, began with deliberating the very meaning of mending, apropos 'the power of architecture and design to heal, in part, our built and natural environments.' Anna Heringer emphasised mending at an ethical level, and she did, by apologising—visibly tearing up in front of the panel and an audience equally moved by her words, she exclaimed with fervour—“Last week, I had a friend (who) said, ‘Anna, I am so angry—no architect from the Global North ever stood up and said: sorry, we created a dream of an architecture that falsely promised life in paradise and said it was a mistake.’ With the global community present here at the UIA now, I would like to take the opportunity to ask for forgiveness, as an architect coming from the Global North.”

I ask for forgiveness for creating this ideal of architecture that was supposed to bring us safe and comfortable lives, a healthy, easy, happy life, while in fact, we contributed to social injustice by serving mostly the rich, and by contributing largely to climate change.

– Anna Heringer

“It did not make us happy, or healthy. It brought us fame, money, and carbon-emitting conferences with nice dinners where we felt so important, but it didn’t make us happy. It even took a large part of the joy of our profession away because we created a framework of rules and regulations that makes it difficult to follow your intuition, to be (truly) creative, or to allow a participatory process. I’m deeply sorry that we even colonised the dreams of how a good home is supposed to look like, and that we make you believe that imported and industrialised materials are superior to the local, indigenous ones. To the members of the global south here, we owe you an apology. We owe you the deepest gratitude and the biggest respect,”

Anna Heringer she reflects on the role of architecture and design in society, particularly with regard to its impact on the environment, social justice, and cultural values. Here's a breakdown of the key points and their implications, especially for Indian designers:

1. Mending and Healing Through Architecture and Design: Anna Heringer begins by discussing the concept of "mending" in the context of architecture and design. She suggests that architecture and design have the potential to heal and improve both our built environment (physical spaces) and natural environment. This suggests a responsibility for designers to address the issues created by past architectural practices.

2. Ethical Dimension of Mending: Heringer emphasizes that the concept of mending extends beyond the physical aspect to an ethical level. She points out that architects and designers have a responsibility to acknowledge and rectify the negative impacts of their work on society and the environment.

3. Apology and Accountability: Heringer becomes visibly emotional as she apologizes for the role architects from the "Global North" have played in promoting an unsustainable and unjust vision of architecture. She expresses regret for creating an idealized notion of architecture that promised a life of paradise but ultimately contributed to social inequality and climate change.

4. Addressing Social Injustice and Climate Change: Heringer acknowledges that the architecture profession has often served the wealthy and privileged, while neglecting the needs of the broader society. She also recognizes the negative environmental consequences of pursuing fame and money through carbon-emitting practices. This is a call for designers to prioritize ethical considerations over personal gain.

5. Challenges to Professional Joy and Creativity: Heringer acknowledges that the pursuit of fame, money, and a particular architectural framework has resulted in a loss of joy and creativity in the profession. She suggests that rigid rules and regulations have stifled intuitive and participatory design processes.

6. Cultural Colonization and Indigenous Wisdom: Heringer apologizes for perpetuating the idea that imported and industrialized materials are superior to local and indigenous materials. She expresses remorse for contributing to the colonization of cultural ideals and erasing traditional wisdom about what constitutes a "good home."

7. Acknowledging and Valuing the Global South: Heringer expresses gratitude and respect for architects and designers from the "Global South." She recognizes their contributions, emphasizes the need for learning from different cultural contexts, and calls for a more inclusive and respectful approach in the field of architecture and design.

Overall, Anna Heringer's talk encourages a reevaluation of the role of architecture and design in shaping society and emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations, cultural awareness, and sustainable practices.

Why apologise?

An apology is a sincere and formal expression of regret, remorse, or acknowledgment of wrongdoing. It involves admitting and taking responsibility for one's actions or words that have caused harm, hurt, offense, or inconvenience to another person or group. Apologizing is a way of acknowledging the negative impact of one's behavior and seeking to make amends or restore a sense of respect, trust, and understanding between individuals or parties.

What happened in India ?

India is a land with a rich and diverse history, and over the course of millennia, several major civilizations and cultures have left their mark on the Indian subcontinent. These civilizations have often layered upon each other, contributing to the complex tapestry of India's history and heritage. While it's challenging to provide an exhaustive list due to the vastness of Indian history, here are some of the major civilizations that have layered in India: Indus, Vedic, Maurya, Gupta, Chola, Sultanate, Mughals, Colonial, Post Independence to mention a few. Each era, time, development lead to intellectual development very similar to modernism. Each era imposed stronger culture and tried to win over nature, some were freindly, some weren't. But for sure, starting from colonial to post independence modernism altered the landscape of India drastically. The wisest and the real were the early inhabitants, the Adivasis.

An apology from a modern designer!

As a modern designer, I have come to a realization that compels me to address the past in a deeply meaningful way. I find myself reflecting on the early inhabitants of India, those who cultivated an architectural legacy characterised by wisdom, sustainability, and a profound connection with the land. It is with a sense of humility and empathy that I am drawn to offer an apology for the times when their extraordinary contributions were overshadowed by the allure of modernity.

It is with the recognition of this legacy that I humbly express my remorse for the times when my profession, influenced by the pursuit of modern trends and global norms, failed to uphold the reverence that these practices deserved. I apologize for instances when the brilliance of these early inhabitants was inadvertently marginalized, and their sustainable ethos was not fully integrated into the evolving landscape of architectural design.

My intention in offering this apology is not to claim personal responsibility for historical actions, but rather to accept a collective accountability as part of a modern architectural community. I recognize the need for a renewed commitment to principles that honor the wisdom of the past while embracing the challenges and opportunities of the present.

Through this apology, I hope to contribute to a broader awareness of the significance of indigenous architectural traditions. I aim to foster a dialogue that transcends time, inviting a collaborative exchange of ideas between modern designers and the descendants of those who once shaped our architectural narrative.

I have no idea of solutions as of now but I will strive to discover what needs to be done to restore the right balance between culture and nature.

Letter of Apology

To the Respected Ancestors and Early Inhabitants of India,

I write this letter with a heavy heart and a deep sense of remorse, seeking your understanding and forgiveness for the actions and decisions that have shaped the architectural landscape of our beloved land. As a modern architect and a member of the present society, I feel a profound responsibility to acknowledge the mistakes of the past and extend a sincere apology to you, the true stewards of our land's architectural heritage.

Throughout history, the early inhabitants of India displayed an unmatched wisdom in crafting architecture that seamlessly merged with the environment, respected the delicate balance of nature, and nurtured a sense of harmony and sustainability. Your remarkable ability to design dwellings that were not only functional but also deeply connected to the ecosystems they were a part of is a testament to your foresight, ingenuity, and respect for all living beings.

However, as time progressed and the influence of external forces grew stronger, a wave of change swept across our land. The allure of progress and modernization led us astray from the path of reverence for nature and the wisdom of our forebearers. In our pursuit of what we believed to be advancement, we inadvertently neglected and marginalized the very essence of your architectural heritage that had once flourished.

I acknowledge that this disregard for your sustainable and eco-friendly architectural practices led to profound consequences for both our environment and the cultural tapestry of our nation. Your profound knowledge was overshadowed, and your architectural legacy was pushed aside, making way for structures that often failed to honor the principles of harmony and respect that you held so dear.

With a sense of humility and deep remorse, I offer my sincere apology for the role that architects and designers like me have played in perpetuating this disconnection. I apologize for not valuing your wisdom and not heeding the lessons that your architectural marvels should have imparted to us. We failed to recognize the importance of sustainable building practices and the cultural significance inherent in your creations.

I pledge to learn from your legacy, to honor your wisdom, and to integrate your architectural ethos into my work and into the architectural discourse of our time. I promise to be a steward of your values, to collaborate with indigenous communities, and to champion the resurgence of your eco-friendly and harmonious architectural practices in our modern designs.

Please accept my heartfelt apology, as I hold utmost respect for the profound knowledge you imparted to us through your architectural marvels. May your legacy inspire us to forge a new path, one that embraces the sustainable, eco-friendly, and culturally rich architectural practices that you cherished.

With humility and a renewed sense of purpose,

Kiran