Contemporary architecture in India has constantly been evolving since its inception. The first prime minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, deemed it a necessary step for a shift in mentality. He felt it was an important to realise a modern India that was not defined by the chains of colonialism. Since then, India has seen a vast number of projects designed by architects, national and international, that have forever changed the landscape of Indian architecture. Here are a selection of these projects:
The Chandigarh Capitol Complex
Architect: Le Corbusier
Chandigarh was the first step towards Nehru’s modern India. Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier was commissioned for the project. The Chandigarh Capitol Complex is a UNESCO world heritage site. The complex is located away from the city centre in sector one of Chandigarh and is framed within the peaks of the Shivalik mountains. The three main buildings are the High Court, the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly. It also comprises of three monuments – the iconic Open Hand, the Tower of Shadows and the Geometric Hill.
Address: Sector 1, Chandigarh, 160001, India
Amdavad ni Gufa
Architect: Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi
An underground art gallery, roughly translated as ‘The Cave of Ahmedabad’ it is also dubbed as the Hussain Doshi Gufa. The complex cave like structure, showcases the works of contemporary Indian artist M.F. Hussain. The structure is designed by Pritzker laureate B.V. Doshi. The project is a unique meld of art and architecture done by two individuals at the top of their respective fields. The domes of the cave are held up by irregular tree like columns while the interior cave walls are painted.
Address: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus Opp Gujarat University campus, CEPT campus, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009, India
The Lotus Temple
Architect: Fariborz Sahba
The Lotus Temple in Delhi is one of eight in the world and belongs to the people of the Baha’i faith. The temple was designed by Iranian architect, Fariborz Sahba and resembles a half open lotus flower surrounded by leaves. It is surrounded by a series of pools which not only contribute to the aesthetic but also contribute to the ventilation of the structure. The architecture draws immense inspiration from light and water. Traversing through the temple complex can be a visceral and humbling experience.
Address: Lotus Temple Rd, Bahapur, Shambhu Dayal Bagh, Kalkaji, New Delhi, Delhi 110019, India
Jawahar Kala Kendra
Architect: Charles Correa
Designed by eminent Indian architect Charles Correa, The Jawahar Kala Kendra is an art and craft museum built using knowledge from ancient Indian esoteric texts of the vastu vidya and the city plan of Jaipur where the museum is located. Correa’s plan invokes the use of the Navagraha or nine house mandalas, wherein each mandala or square represents a planet, and the central one is left open to the sky. The exterior walls are clad with a local sandstone almost making the building seem as a natural element of landscape.
Address: 2, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Opp Commerce College, Jhalana Doongri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302004, India
IIM Ahmedabad
Architect: Louis I Kahn
IIM Ahmedabad was the work of a man known as the master of monumentality— Louis I Kahn. Kahn did not simply provide a school for one-sided lecture-based education, but a space for debate, discussion and free flowing ideas. The structure is made primarily of brick with large cut-outs along the façade which were reminiscent of shapes primarily found in Indian culture. The use of bricks along with these omissions in the façade were an homage to Indian vernacular architecture.
Address: Sargam Marg, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380015, India
St. John’s Cathedral, Tiruvalla
Architect: Laurie Baker
Famously dubbed as the poor man’s architect, Laurie Baker was a British-Indian architect with deep respect for vernacular material and building techniques. It has been vividly realised in the project of this church that he undertook. The church has the exterior of a Hindu temple, but the interior of a typical Christian church. The ingenuity of this project comes from local bamboo craftsmanship. Jaali work (a fine see-through net) is used to keep the interior naturally lit and ventilated.
Address: Kayamkulam – Thiruvalla Hwy, Thiruvalla, Kerala 689101, India
The Street
Architect: Sanjay Puri
The Street is a student housing residential complex designed by Sanjay Puri architects. It is located in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The apartment complex is said to have its own discernible style where each student has their own unique identity, because of the wedge shaped bay windows that are all set at unique angles. Bright colours differentiate the blocks of the campus that are also volumetrically very distinct from each other.
Address: Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
Wall House
Architect: Anupama Kundoo
The Wall House is located on the outskirts of the Auroville township in Tamil Nadu. The house stands on the forefront technological innovation, questioning the basic use of the residential programme. The house is built by architect of great international renown, Anupama Kundoo. The house seamlessly accommodates the daily needs of living while also being capable of expanding itself to accommodate guests. It consciously uses old and eco materials and local craftsmanship, implemented with new techniques.
A few more projects that are worth noting and are due for completion in the near future are:
Navi Mumbai Airport, Zaha Hadid Architects
Amravati Capitol Complex, Norman Foster
Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMoMA), Herzog and De Meuron
Author
Newton Thomas is a freelance writer and design student with a passion for video games, cats and most of all, architecture. Through his writing, he hopes to add clarity and ignite a sense of curiosity within his readers for the subject.
