APK-Contemporary Architecture

Achyut Purushottam Kanvinde

Contemporary Architecture
Submitted By : Rafiela I. Jana 1.
6th Semester B. Arch
INTRODUCTION

• Padma Shri Achyut P. Kanvide was an architect of second

generation of contemporary Indian architecture (1950-1980)
• During this era modernism was attractive to developing

societies trying to break from the memories of European
colonialism that the older style still carried.
• Kanvide introduce modern architecture to humane path and

innovatively blend technology and atheistic.
• He was an Indian architect , teacher, writer and a

committed modernist as he always desired to take Indian
architecture to be global and to the height of international 2.
style.
Early Life And Education
• He was born in 1916 in Konkan region of Maharashtra.

• His father was an arts teacher in Bombay.
• He finished his bachelor in architecture from Sir J. J.
School of Arts (1935-1940).
• Later he studied design in Harvard University under Walter
Gropius.
3.
Influences
• Claude Batley- Who taught him

that architecture was a universal
craft tailored rationally to regional
parameters.
• Walter Gropius- Who taught

him to use space as a tool
for expressing universal
human values
4.
PRINCIPLES
 His buildings were simple and he used to tell the students

“ARCHITECTURE IS NOT A MUSEUM OF MATERIAL”
 The various principles reflected in most of Kanvinde’s work

would be:
• Asymmetry
• Blocky
• Cubic shapes
• Smooth, Flat, Plain, Undecorated surfaces
• Flat roofs
• Adoption of steel framed or reinforced concrete post and slab.
5.
Doodhsagar Dairy ,Mehsana (National Dairy Development Board) (1973)
6.
IIT Kanpur Campus Ahmedabad Textiles Industries Research Association
CONCEPT
• Kanvinde believed that a grid of columns forming a matrix

giving structural and spatial aspect would turn a design to
more sophisticated and faceted.
• He treated his building with ‘VASTUSHASTRA’.
• He also used maximum principles of vernacular architecture.
7.
PHILOSOPHIES
 FUNCTIONALISM
• The buildings were always conceived with first priority given
to its functions and the social values when designing spaces.
• He rejected symmetry.
 LOGIC OF LIGHTNESS
• The complete focus on the materials to be used in construction
Kanvinde always try to develop such an aesthetic for a heavy
mass construction that’s looks light.
8.
 MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND BRUTALISM
• Simplification of form and creation of ornament from the

structure.
• Elimination of unnecessary detail.
• Visual expression of structure, as opposed to the hiding of
structural elements.
• Brutalism is child of modern architecture.
• Developed to create functional structure at a low cost, but
eventually designers adopted the look for other uses such as
college buildings.
9.
 REGIONALISM
• Inevitability based on the exigencies of local climate, social
conditions, building materials and sound climatological
principles.
 RATIONALIST
• Kanvinde reveal the internal functional in a building as
separate masses and then arranged in a ways that were
functional from inside and elegant from outside.
 SENSE OF SPACE
• Kanvinde always tried to bring down buildings to humane
scale and a connection to the built heritage in a locality.
10
11
IIT KANPUR
• Central deemed University located in Uttar Pradesh, about
15 km north-west of the city of Kanpur in the Kalyanpur
suburb.
• Constructed in 1960-1965
12
Academic Buildings P. K. Kelkar Library
DESIGN CONCEPT
• He treated his building with VASTUSHASTRA.
• The Bauhaus style: He was greatly influenced by Walter

Gropius who introduced the Bauhaus style, which later on was
adopted in his various buildings.
13
FEATURE
S
• Total area 1000 acres.
• Academic buildings: 13 departments, Library, Computer
Centres faculty offices, laboratories and administrative
buildings.
• 10 boys hostel and 2 girls hostel.
• Sports complex.
• Housing for faculty.
14
IIT KANPUR MAP
15
• Core Pedestrian island which consist of lecture halls
surrounded by landscaping and water body forming the main
focus of the campus.
• The academic area is well connected by long corridors

which links all the major buildings
• The academic area is set up in vicinity of Hostels to

provide quick accessibility to students
16
Core & Main Focus
Water Bodies
Pedestrians
Lecture halls
Corridors
• Split level corridor system
 Minimize the walking distance, improving connectivity.
 Create spatial expansion.
 Give the impression of one large space hence space is used as
a tool.
18
• Visual expression of the structure rather than hiding its
structural components
19
• In Kanpur, the local availability of high quality brick and the
prevalent labour and construction practices made Kanvinde go
for reinforced concrete for structural frames and brick as infill.
• Exposed brickwork reduces maintenance costs and

enhances aesthetic appeal.
20
RCC structural frame Exposed brick work
21
• The residential
campus is planned and
landscape with a hope
for environmental
freedom.
Hall Of Residence
22
Faculty Residence
Elements of Landscaping
Shaded seating arrangements Playground Shading trees
Grass lawns Sculpture Conifer Pathway

SCULPTURES
24
OAT FOUNTAINS
“In each of his buildings, whether residential, commercial or
government complexes, one can see an attempt to break away
from traditional architectural design and yet, design them
keeping in mind all the aspects conducive to a great building
(such as climate, use of space, orientation and aesthetics) his
ultimate concern was for his profession and for society and that
came through quite effortlessly in all his works.
Kanvinde travelled extensively across the country and always
made it a point to carry books and magazines along. He used
to say the long travels gave him time to read, reflect and
introspect. Kanvinde’s stellar contribution can be summed up
succinctly as that depicting plasticity, humility and humanity.”
- B.V Doshi 25
THANK YOU

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Achyut Purushottam Kanvinde

• Padma Shri Achyut P. Kanvide was an architect of second

• During this era modernism was attractive to developing

• Kanvide introduce modern architecture to humane path and

• He was an Indian architect , teacher, writer and a

• He was born in 1916 in Konkan region of Maharashtra.

• Claude Batley- Who taught him

• Walter Gropius- Who taught

 His buildings were simple and he used to tell the students

 The various principles reflected in most of Kanvinde’s work

• Kanvinde believed that a grid of columns forming a matrix

• He treated his building with ‘VASTUSHASTRA’.

• He also used maximum principles of vernacular architecture.

• Simplification of form and creation of ornament from the

• He treated his building with VASTUSHASTRA.

• The Bauhaus style: He was greatly influenced by Walter

• The academic area is well connected by long corridors

• The academic area is set up in vicinity of Hostels to

• Exposed brickwork reduces maintenance costs and

Grass lawns Sculpture Conifer Pathway

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