MODERN SOUTH ASIA
A Visual Archive of South Asia’s Modernist Heritage
The Modern South Asia (MSA) series is dedicated to exploring modern architecture of historic importance in South Asia through photography-based books. The series will focus on architecture from the 20th century, designed and built by regional and international architects. Each book will provide the reader with an in-depth visual exploration of the architecture through contemporary photographs, architectural drawings, and newly commissioned writing by architects, thinkers, and academics.
The MSA series is edited and photographed by Randhir Singh. The project is supported and published by Arthshila Trust.
ACHYUT KANVINDE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPUR 1959-1966
Essay by Brinda Somaya and Alpa Sheth
Photographs by Randhir Singh
“Architect Achyut Kanvinde was a prominent figure in the world of Indian architecture from the mid-20th century onwards. His architectural designs were characterized by a unique blend of modernist principles and a deep appreciation for the local context. Kanvinde’s philosophy emphasized the harmonious integration between architectural design and structural engineering. This essay explores his design qualities and philosophy through the lens of his iconic works at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur (IITK), particularly focusing on the academic core which includes the Library, the Faculty Building and the Lecture Hall Complex.
Alpa Sheth and I decided to structure this essay as a conversation. We began our discussions in the summer of 2023 (Part I) and were able to visit the campus in September. While Alpa had been to IITK prior to this, it was my first visit. Part II includes discussions we had while we were at IITK and also our conversations upon our return to Mumbai. I think the site visit was a very important decision because we needed to understand how the campus had survived, how it had changed and whether it was still relevant to the educational system of today. To experience this campus as an architect and a structural engineer, we echoed the importance that both disciplines jointly played in the formation of the buildings. The symbiotic relationship between architecture and structure is apparent, and these two elements of architecture must be read together as one entity. Credit must go to Kanvinde, Mahendra Raj, Damle and Phatak in this collaboration”.
—Brinda Somaya
thinkMATTER 