Free Offer
We read the news. Govt. has been made to believe that free things are good and they roll out invitations for free concept planning. Who is responsible?
Hafeez Contractor who offered to design for free? No I do not think he is responsible for this. Then who?
First we try to understand the possible reasons behind Hafeez's (HC) offer.
1. When other Architects were busy churning box like residential buildings in Mumbai in 80s, HC came out with out of the box architectural treatment to his buildings and was a great success. Others hated him for that and still do. I myself worked on his NRI housing project as freelance job once. HC was a tycoon for Architecture and even featured on National Geographic.
2. When metros started in Delhi, due to technology transfer Japanese MNCs came in and established norms for metros for India. Nobody in Mumbai had an idea how to do metros and metros remained exclusive to select MNCs even for phase 2 and 3. Other cities followed DMRC and same MNCs could be seen there as well. Once again due to qualifying criteria HC could not enter.
3. MNCs started cutting fee and lowered standards as competition grew among themselves. Copy paste increased and no innovation was done. Almost after 20 years of DMRC works quality has become degraded due design and quality management faults. MNCs are hiring untrained staff, no standard procedure and basics are wrong in designs.
4. In the meantime age old Indian railways looks at metros and prepare DDC qualification criteria hard for Indian firms to enter. Indian firms start looking for foreign JVs.
5. From past 3 years, real estate is doomed and Architects like HC sense that without infrastructure projects they cannot sustain.
6. HC starts looking at already built stations, gets hold of design records and knows instantly what is going to sell. There is enough manpower in Indian market to bring with them technical expertise for which he will pay. But his visionary mind has seen that how things have degraded over the years and he will try his luck by putting in innovative aesthetical treatments for which he is undisputed master. Where as the current DDCs are still churning out typical govt. like buildings.
7. Hafeez ensured some work in metros already, now has insight into what can be done to make it more sellable. He is eyeing a larger picture taking advantage of his fame and contacts.
8. Hafeez knows that consultancy in both railways and metro sectors in India are driven by vested interests, already high competition and unproductive Architectural fee as a result of MNCs lowering costs and standards.
9. Hafeez free designs will be with an edge above the current copy paste designs for which he has adequate manpower, whereas other MNCs will have to spend for good concept generation. HC knows it well, done his homework and ready to strike.
10. As a rule he is gambling in this game and will never count his money when sitting on the table. He will count it when the deal comes through. Others will have hard time arranging the gamble money.
Hafeez Uncle (he is very senior to us) at this age has nothing to loose and even his failure to secure railway or metro jobs will have an impact on MNCs but will open doors for some talented guys ready to work in such scenarios.
My advise to people working for MNCs including me - love your opportunities not your company. I am sure when the times are low you are bound to be kicked out first.
Rlys and metros will call for PPP mode of development and contractors will prefer hard working professionals and thats the hope HC has to offer to the country.
Last thing - Successful people are hated for their success by competition. And now arena is open to all.