URBIZEN

I recently finished reading a book called “The Architect’s Apprentice” by Elif Shafak. It is a work of fiction set in the historical period of the Mimar Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire in the 15 th century. The book contains some real gems for architects, and gives some really good food for thought. One of the things struck me as particularly timeless and relevant. Sinan used to encourage his apprentices to go and study and document great works of other architects. Though they never met, Sinan and Michelangelo shared mutual respect and admiration. In order to gain knowledge, learn and grow, Sinan talks about three “fountains of wisdom” – books, works and roads. “there were three fountains of wisdom from which every artisan should drink abundantly: books, work and roads. Reading, practising and travelling.”  Reading not only about architecture and construction, but allied arts like painting, sculpture, and music, and sciences – astronomy, physics, chemi