CP Kukreja

SELECTED WORKS

Delhi Gymkhana Club, New Delhi The Inter Continental Hotel, New Delhi

Le Meridian, Goa Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi National Archives Building, New Delhi

CHANDRA PRAKASH KUKREJA

IFFCO Housing Project, Kandla

born 1938

Union Carbide Research Centre, Bhopal

did his Bachelor of Architecture from the Delhi Polytechnic in 1955-59

ONGC Townships in Gujarat

National Dairy Development Institute Campus, Anand

Ambadeep Towers, New Delhi

in 1963 earned a diploma in Town & Regional Planning from the University of Melbourne 1963-65: worked on Campus Planning and preparation of Regional Plans for development of towns in Victoria, Australia did his Master of Architecture from the University of Manitoba, Canada in 1965 1965-1966: worked in London on designs of large Regional Hospitals and Regional Centres 1967: started his independent practice 1978: wrote ‘Tropical Architecture’ 1984: cofounded A+D magazine

SELF 2:6: DESIGN

DESIGN An Architect OBITUARY 1 of THEORY OF DESIGN

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Bhavika Aggarwal

Bhavika Aggarwal

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi

CRITIQUE

CP Kureja Associates his firm a multidisciplinary firm- directors from different fields staff strength of 250 employees including architects, structural engineers, city planners, electrical and mechanical engineers, surveyors, construction managers, interior designers and landscape architects firm named one of the top 100 in the world and one of the top four in the Australia-Asia region by UK-based World Architecture magazine the firm has worked in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Canada, Denmark, United States, United Kingdom, France, Nigeria, Italy, Austria, China, Russia, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh, Nepal, Australia, UAE and Saudi Arabia besides India

His Ideologies regarded as one of the pioneers in the development of post independence ‘contemporary’ Indian architecture belongs to the generation of foreign trained architects who returned to India in the 1960s Very aware of the importance of climate in architectural design- has used traditional/ vernacular ideas in design advocate of modernism

emphasizes on planning and using buildings as elements in space

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DESIGN An Architect OBITUARY 2 of THEORY OF DESIGN

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I admire his climate sensitive approach to design. His book is very detailed and also gives vernacular building construction techniques which he uses.

Sometimes though he compromises on the aesthetic to incorporate some bulky climate-responsive featuressun shades, façade treatment, etc.

Kukreja is a modernist. All his buildings reflect the times of which he is a product- the 1960-70s, when ‘forms (always) followed function’ He uses patterns and ‘blocks’ in his designs.

Sometimes this repetition creates monotony, as in his many office many office buildings in Connaught Place, where the façade of his buildings is just a series of windows after another, each with elaborate shading devices.

He has also been hugely successful, creating some very interesting and playful spaces using these same elements –case in point the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus- where the building patterns create smaller, more intimate spaces interspersed within large public spaces.

Ambadeep Towers, New Delhi uses a lot of climate sensitive features and combines both modernism and the vernacular, but is still not the most visually appealing.

Bhavika Aggarwal

Bhavika Aggarwal

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, New Delhi

CASE STUDY

nation-wide architectural design competition

spread over 1000-Acre Rocky Terrain of Aravali hillS the Academic complex comprises of 6 academic blocks, a Computer Centre, a 10-storeyed Library building, a conference and lecture theatre complex, an admn. centre and a students’ activity complex 16 residential sectors: each sector comprises a hostel for 600 students and includes 150 residences for the faculty.

The campus is huge, and the majority of it is forested- part of the Delhi ridge.

Design incorporates the natural features of the site.

SELF 2:6: DESIGN

DESIGN An Architect OBITUARY 3 of THEORY OF DESIGN

4

Bhavika Aggarwal

Bhavika Aggarwal

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru University Campus, New Delhi

CASE STUDY

iconic brick design balconies and overhangs

central courts offer cross ventilation and natural light

SELF 2:6: DESIGN

DESIGN An Architect OBITUARY 4 of THEORY OF DESIGN

4

Bhavika Aggarwal

Bhavika Aggarwal

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi

A/2004/2008 B. Arch. 3rd Yr. ‘A’ SPA, New Delhi