Contemporary Architecture

Lecture 1 - Introduction

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

Breakdown

Class Introduction - 30 mins

Lecture - 1 hour

Introduction to Contemporary Architecture, Syllabus, brief

history

Interaction - 10-15 mins | Q&A, Takeaways

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

 What does
architecture mean
to you?

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

 ● Why so?
What is your
● What is its significance?
favorite/ dream ● What is the context?
structure/architect/ ● Why does it speak to you?
philosophy? ● How does it align with
your values as a budding
architect/designer?

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

 Module 01

● Architecture in India (Pre independence):

○ The Architecture of the Princely States of Jaipur,
Bikaner and Mysore: Their city examples – clock
towers, railway stations, public offices, assembly

Syllabus ●
halls, water systems, public hospitals, etc.
Modern Architecture in India-1:
○ Architecture in India(Post-Independence): Works
Overview of public nature in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad
(Legislative Assembly Complex including High
Court, Legislative assembly and Secretariat,
Chandigarh and Mill Owners ‟Building,
Ahmedabad), IIM, Ahmedabad and its
significance.
● Modern Architecture in India-2:
○ Ideas and works of BV Doshi (Institute of
Indology Ahmedabad, IIM-Bangalore and Gufa,
Ahmedabad) and Charles Correa: (RamaKrishna
House, Ahmedabad, Kanchen Junga Apartments,
Mumbai and MRF Headquarters, Chennai).
Module 02
● Modern Architecture in India-3:
○ Ideas and works of Raj Rewal and Uttam Jain
(Pragati Maidan, New Delhi and Asian Games
Village, New Delhi), Achyut Kanvinde(IIT, Kanpur
and Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai), Uttam
Jain(Lecture Theatres, Jodhpur and Engineering
College, Kota)
● Modern Architecture in India-4:
○ Enrichment of Indian experience- Cost effectiveness
and local influences. Lauire Baker and Anant Raje
(Centre for Development Studies,
Thiruvananthapuram and St. John Cathedral at
Tiruvalla) and Anant Raje(IIFM, Bhopal and
Management Development Centre, IIM-A).
● Parallel trends in Indian architecture:
○ a) Revivalistic- monumental, Religious b) Experimental-
Pondicherry, Belgium embassy, IITB, Sriram Centre
Newdelhi c) Vernacular influence-Cost effective
concepts.
Module 03
● Last phase of Modern Architecture:
○ Ideas and works of Richard Meier (Smith House,
Connecticut and Getty Centre, Brent Wood,
LosAngeles) and Charles Moore (Architect‟s
Own House at Orinda and Piazza d‟Italia, New
Orleans), Bernard Tschumi (Kyoto Railway
Station Project and Parc de la Villete, Paris).
● Ideas and works of Frank Gehry
○ (AeroSpace Museum, Santa Monica and
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao).
● High-tech architecture or Structural
Expressionism-1:
○ An architectural style that emerged in the
1970s: The High-tech architecture
practitioners include British architects Sir
Norman Foster(Hong Kong Shanghai Bank
and Renault Distribution Centre, Swindon,
England), Sir Richard Rogers, Sir Michael
Hopkins.
Module 04
● High-tech architecture or Structural
Expressionism-1:
○ An architectural style that emerged in the
1970s: The High-tech architecture
practitioners include British architects Sir
Norman Foster(Hong Kong Shanghai Bank
and Renault Distribution Centre, Swindon,
England), Sir Richard Rogers, Sir Michael
Hopkins.
● Postmodern Architecture:
○ Development of Postmodernism with its
origins in the alleged failure of Modern
architecture from 1950s, and spreading in
the 1970s and its continuous influence on
present-day architecture. Ideas and works of
Michael Graves, James Stirling, Robert
Venturi etc.
Module 05
● Hyper theories of Architecture-1:
○ Development of postmodern
architecture in 1980s is the ideas of
Deconstructivism including, Frank
Gehry (AeroSpace Museum, Santa
Monica and Guggenheim Museum,
Bilbao), Daniel Leibskind (Jewish
Museum, Berlin and World Trade
Centre, New York ), Rem
Koolhas(Dance Theatre, The Hague
and Netherlands Sports Museum).
● Hyper theories of Architecture-2:
○ Ideas of Deconstructivism including,
Peter Eisenman, Zaha Hadid (The
Peak Club, HongKong and IBA
Housing Block 2, West Berlin), Coop
Himmelb(l)au, and Bernard Tschumi.
CONTEMPORARY?

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

● Recent?

● Marked by characteristics of the present period : modern,

current contemporary American literature contemporary
standards.
Introduction to
Contemporary
Architecture Influences, impacts and styles

Pre - Independence

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

IMPACT OF BRITISH IMPERIALISM
● British rule governed the architecture in India
before independence
● Colonial impressions in styles and facade styles
● Emblem of Power
● Insensitive to native arts and traditions in India

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
● Colonial Architecture
● Indo-Saracenic Architecture

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

 Former British Residency Building, Hyderabad
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eRDZ47cvfWQ/VBiWbkfhcDI/AAAAAAAACBU/mkf9CZA7WXs/s1600/Hyderabad01.jpg
Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64
 North Block, Secretariat Building, New Delhi by Herbert Baker
https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller//public/uploads/filemanager/images/shutterstock_1213460905-(1)_5d5538bcb30ea.jpg
Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64
 IMPACTS - Social dynamics
● Introduction to modern reforms and culture.
CULTURAL ●
●
To make India a part of modern, progressive world.
Negligence to rich cultural history.

● Monopoly of British East India Company

ECONOMICAL ●
●
Import of machine made goods - a threat to traditional art
Land revenue policies, zamindari system, Commercialization
of agriculture

● Change of power - change of ideology

POLITICAL ●
●
Direct & indirect rule
Mass movements as a retaliation to foreign invasion

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

DICHOTOMIES IN EXPRESSION
● Development of modernism in the country also created
anxiety among architects since it was tough at that
times to cope up with the modern thoughts of architects
and old heritage of the nation.
● Differences of opinion emerged
● The idea of modernization as their point was that
modern India required modern architectural symbols,
form and functions to achieve economic and social
development.

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

 LEADERS OF EMERGING INDIA

Architecture

Gandhi Tagore Nehru

● Simple in form and shape ● Simple in form

● Propagating - minimalist and ● Inspired by industrial
and shape revolution
fusion
● Propagating - ● Free spirit
minimalist and ● No reference to past
fusion

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

RESOLUTION OF THOUGHTS

● Charles Correa - a pioneer who resolved the differences

between the modern and the prominent.
● Revived earlier practices - By exploring functionality
rather than aesthetics and decorations.
● Key focus - Low cost housing, courtyard spaces, open to
sky spaces, climate responsive
● A rich and strong mix of modern and traditional

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

 Architecture in India

Before Towards
After Independence 1960-1980 1980 - Present
independence Independence

Ganesh Deolalikar Shiv Nath Prasad Charles Correa

Edward Lutyens Habib Rehman
Shridhar Joglekar Joseph A Stein Kuldip Singh
Herbert Baker Achyut Kanvinde
JLL Gehlot JK Chaudhary Raj Rewal

Influenced by International Style Inspired by Le Based on local and

Neoclassical
Edward Lutyens inspired by Walter Corbusier & Louis ecological
Indo - saracenic
and Herbert Baker Gropius, FLW Kahn solutions

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

Some of the architects that we’ll study
BV Doshi Richard Meier

Charles Correa Charles Moore

Raj Rewal Frank Gehry

Uttam Jain Sir Richard Rogers

Achyut Kanvinde Michael Graves

Laurie Baker Santiago Calatrava

Anant Raje Daniel Libeskind

What is the intent behind learning about
contemporary architecture?

- To do a critical survey of contemporary architecture

from the 1960s to the present, and to provide an
understanding and appreciation of contemporary issues
and trends in Indian and western architecture in terms
of ideas and directions.

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

Outcomes
1. Understand the difference between various style of
Contemporary trends in India
2. Understand the importance typologies of buildings based on
the purpose of use.
3. Get familiar with various examples of Contemporary
Architecture in India and Western world which pioneered the
style.
4. Get acquainted and use the various terminologies, definitions,
design characteristics used in all typologies
5. Understanding and appreciation of contemporary issues and
trends in Indian and western architecture in terms of ideas and
directions, hierarchy of building materials and its respective
construction techniques in each style studied.

Semester 06_CA_Lecture 01_18ARC64

Assignment 01

● Write an article for an architectural journal, featuring

any 1 Indian Contemporary Architect who has risen to
fame in the recent past (2000’s).
Assignment to include :
○ Sketches
○ Style of architecture
○ Prominent city and genre
○ Compelling design philosophy
○ Notable projects