Designing temples with A Srivathsan

Dr. A. Srivathsan is an architectural scholar with more than twenty-five years of experience in teaching, architectural and developmental research, and professional practice. Before joining his role as the Executive Director of CAU, Srivathsan served as the Academic Director of CEPT University for five years. He holds a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology along with a Master’s degree in Urban Design, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. Today we are here to document how are contemporary sacred spaces designed, mainly the Hindu temples. 

I also want to thank Ruturaj Parikh from Matter for making this episode happen.

1. What is different about designing a sacred space? Are sacred places of worship built or they grow organically? Should such spaces be designed? Are sacred spaces like public spaces, or are they different?
2. What is the relation between sacredness and architecture? Does specific kind of architectural forms and style have sacred quality? What is the role of Vast Sastra in this? If you can also tell, which tools they used to build these old architecture of temples?
3. What role does an architect play in building temples? If the stapatis or sompuras are the traditional architects and experts in designing temples, do you need modern architects?
4. Most of the temples have an ornamental look. Why so? Do ornamentation and decor continue in recent temples?
5. What role do architects play in the modern context when they are designing temples? Do you have any insights to share about the architecture of the new Ram Mandir?
6. How do you envision the design of sacred places of the future?