Anything and everything that is written about architecture comes under architectural writing. It could be articles on a certain project, descriptions of a project, design interpretations, the construction techniques, materials, environment, and so on. It could be brochures, blogs, website content, writing for social media, academic writing, research papers and any other type of writing that you could think of. These days architecture is also discussed on the electronic media, in the form of short films, lectures and webinars. So, as mentioned earlier, anything written about architecture comes under the umbrella of architectural journalism.
Architecture is an all-encompassing subject. After all, we live amidst built forms even though we do not consciously think about the built environment around us, at all times. We tend to take it for granted and do not recognise or appreciate the impact it has on all living beings as well as the environment unless someone makes an effort to point it out to us. Architecture is also rather exciting because it allows the concept of dualism, the rational and the intuitive, to co-exist effortlessly amongst us, giving tangible forms to the designs of a creative mind. And any writing which addresses this comes under architectural journalism.
So what does the architectural journalist really do? Architectural journalists do what all other journalists also do. They try to bridge the gap between information and its consumers. Likewise, the architectural journalist bridges the chasm between the architect, the environment and the common man. He or she helps to decipher the architectural terms and philosophies and writes them in a language understood by the layman.
– Yasmin Dandekar
(The author is an Asst. Professor at Vidyavardhan’s IDEA and holds a Masters in English Literature, Sociology and Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communications)
