What Happens When Design Exceeds Function

I was a nine-year-old boy when I experienced the following event, but I remember it like I lived it yesterday. It was the first week of June in Mumbai, the city where I grew up. The sun was bright, the day hot, humid and busy. I held my father’s hand in the scotching heat as he hurriedly guided me through the busy streets of Kalbadevi.

A thousand pedestrians, a swarm of vehicles, echoes of distant sirens, vendors screaming at the top of their lungs, paired with waves of convection from the heated tarmac cautioned us to make our journey in haste. We squirmed past people, motorcycles, cows and the streetscape, moving closer to a customer’s office. It is not unusual for parents to take their children on business journeys, but the thresholds between business, the city, its people, and the unexpected opportunities to form lasting memories are often gentle and indulgent.

At any moment the sway of the crowd could have pulled my father and I apart. So, I held on tightly, trying to keep pace with his hurried footsteps as best as my small legs would allow. There in the midst of the chaos, we had each forgotten the imminent monsoon that often sends its blessings when the heat is most unbearable. Unexpected gifts always seem sweeter—so we let go of our worries and surrendered to the surprise.

A loud roar followed. A thunderous roar, accompanied by the obedient quiver of every noticeable surface either fixed or hanging loose. Then another roar of equal strength followed. Not a moment had passed when the sky shifted hues and heaven’s blessings touched our unsuspecting bodies. In another moment there was silence. It was as though the city had taken a pause. We each sought shelter under the plentiful overhangs lining the street and together marvelled at nature’s spectacle.

From the silence arose a gentle whisper of awe and a sigh of humility. The shy blush on each of our faces revealed an intimate truth. Conceited are those who forget their infinitesimal place in this vast and wonderful universe! As we lifted our gazes from the pitter patter of raindrops to the gift bearing clouds above, we became aware of the strangers around us, equally struck by awe and humility. Perhaps, like us, their compulsion to reach their destination had been replaced by the quiet curiosity of watching the rain and the people taking refuge from it.

My father and I took shelter under the overhangs of an old brick and timber building. Under the overhang, introverted smiles led to minuscule chatter. Realising that rain was too stubborn to leave, chatter grew into intimate conversations, and strangers offered their curiosity through opinions, comments, stories and questions. My father struck up a conversation with a man nearby while I playfully wet my hands in the rain. They later exchanged business cards and promised to meet on another occasion. I was too young to remember their conversation but, this was the first time I met uncle Kalpesh.

A stranger and my father, both victims of nature, took shelter under the unassuming overhangs of an old building on a busy Mumbai street. That stranger grew into a fond friend of the family and a customer to my father’s business. His children and I formed a bond like that of siblings. Decades have passed, and physical distance separates us, yet to this day, I still recognise that stranger as my Uncle Kalpesh.

Nine-year-olds may be considered too young to register the depth of such moments. I was surely too young and playful to comprehend it fully. However, years later, I found myself once again in the streets of Kalbadevi. This time I was a teenager running errands for my father. When I passed the same building, I paused to reminisce. To my surprise, the overhang that offered us shelter on that eventful rainy day seemed to serve no objective purpose to the building. It did not shade any windows from the heat, nor did it shelter an entrance. No, it had been built without any obvious function for the building, except, perhaps, to serve the intuition that one day, two strangers might foster a lifelong friendship beneath its shade.

How much must one care for the people of a city, a street, or a neighbourhood to selflessly offer design features that may forever remain unacknowledged? What must occupy the mind of the architect who, behind closed doors and perhaps in isolation, carries the responsibility of the world within them? If memory is inextricably bound to place—the vessel within which experiences are shared—then shouldn’t the places we inhabit reflect the highest human ideals? Ergo, if our built environment embodies nobility, passion, selflessness, and trust, our experiences will inevitably take the shape of their vessel.

Bibliography

Beckett, Marc. Permission to Feel: The Power of Embracing Your Emotions. London: HarperOne, 2020.

De Certeau, Michel. The Practice of Everyday Life. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984.

Gehl, J., Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space, trans. by J. Koch (Washington, DC: Island Press, 2011).

Merleau-Ponty, Maurice. Phenomenology of Perception. London: Routledge, 2012.

Pallasmaa, J., The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses, London: Wiley, 1996.

Tschumi, Bernard. Architecture and Disjunction. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1996.

FAQs

How can design exceed function?
Design exceeds function when it goes beyond its practical purpose to create emotional or social value. In the extract, the overhang offers shelter, but its true significance lies in fostering human connection, creating a space for meaningful interactions. This highlights that design can serve deeper purposes, such as enhancing social experiences and building memories.

What is the relationship between architecture and memory?
Architecture is closely tied to memory, as spaces can evoke and store personal and collective experiences. Well-designed spaces can shape how we remember experiences, embedding emotional and social meaning within the built environment.

What is the role of architecture in fostering community?
Architecture fosters community by creating spaces that encourage interaction and shared experiences. Thoughtful design can create environments that nurture social bonds and a sense of belonging.

How does the concept of ‘selflessness’ apply to architecture?
Selflessness in architecture refers to designing spaces that prioritize human connection and communal well-being over immediate functional or financial gain.

What is the role of the architect in shaping society?
Architects shape society by designing spaces that impact social interactions, personal experiences, and community dynamics. Their work influences how people connect with each other and the environment, fostering shared experiences that contribute to a cohesive, supportive society.