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 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. The prime minister commissioned famed Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier to complete the project. The Chandigarh Capitol Complex is a UNESCO world heritage site and remains a must-visit primate for architecture lovers.
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
💡 Must read → Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh: A Modernist City Built From Scratch
Amdavad ni Gufa
Architect: Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi
This unique structure is an underground art gallery that roughly translates to ‘The Cave of Ahmedabad’. The complex cave-like structure, showcases the works of contemporary Indian artist M.F. Hussain. It was is designed by Pritzker laureate B.V. Doshi who also worked under Le Corbusier and Louis Khan.
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. Iranian architect, Fariborz Sahba, designed the temple to resemble a half open lotus flower surrounded by leaves. The lotus flower was significant meaning in India. It is celebrated as a symbol of purity, spiritual awakening, and divine beauty, appearing frequently in art, mythology, and daily life.
A series of pools surround the lotus which not only contribute to the aesthetic but to the ventilation of the structure. The architecture draws immense inspiration from light and water to enhance the overall setting. 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 is 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 are 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.
Do you want to know more about Louis I Khan? I recommend watching ‘My Architect: A Son’s Journey’ (1993).
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. His vision was vividly expressed through the completion of this striking church. 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. The inclusion of Jaali work (a fine see-through net) has been 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 has its own discernible style that gives each student their own unique identity due to 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, built by architect of great international renown, Anupama Kundoo, and stands on the forefront of technological innovation, questioning the basic use of the residential programme. 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
You might also like:
- Concrete Elegance: Where to Find Brutalist Architecture in Paris
- Mies can Der Rohe & His Iconic Buildings
- Architecture Tour of the Barbican
- Architecture in Rome: 5 Contemporary Buildings You Should See
- Architecture in Porto: 5 Contemporary Buildings You Should See
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.
