Need for Flexibility of Spaces in Architecture.

Since the very existence, humans have always derived their comfort from the knowledge and materials available to them. Every community’s need and aspiration differs from that of their surrounding people and so does every individual’s from his neighbour and this is why no two structures are same and may differ either in their form, function or character. Being Architecture students, we are always reminded to cater these very needs and aspirations, but can we actually address to all of them?

During our recent visits to the Gandhi Market, the vegetable and fruit wholesale market of the city, I realised how every shop differs from its adjacent shop and how same vegetable is displayed various styles in the same row of shops. Though built structures have been provided, they don’t bind the shopkeepers from experimenting with their arrangement of shops.

My Aunt stays in a row house where her neighbours belong to different cultural background. While Mr. Gupta feels that the store room at the first floor is useless, Mr. Chauhan complains that the space given is not enough. But for my Aunt, it’s her dream house. Surprisingly all the families have the same number of family members and belong to a similar taxpaying group.

So, did the Architect go wrong? He probably confined to the standards!

Just when I tried to answer the question above, I realized the need of flexibility in a space, but how flexible should a space be?