Heritage and Conservation
Author: Charles Correa Foundation
Charles Correa Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to education and research in human settlements.
Rs 1,900 crore Ahmedabad revival plan to balance heritage, modernity
SP Stadium To Go; ₹1,250cr Push For Riverfront
by TNN
Ahmedabad: After ruminating for almost a year, the civic boddy has decided to demolish the iconic Sardar Patel Stadium at Navrangpura, which was recently put on the 2020 World Monument Fund (WMF) watch list.
The stadium, designed by Charles Correa, will now be replaced by a Rs 200-crore sports facility. A Rs 26-crore building to house the city museum or Sanskar Kendra has also found place in the civic body’s latest Rs 1,900-crore city revival plan.
Continue reading “Rs 1,900 crore Ahmedabad revival plan to balance heritage, modernity”RESEARCH FELLOW
The Charles Correa Foundation (CCF) announces the 2024-2025 cycle of the Research Fellowship, a residency program based in Fontainhas, Panaji, Goa.
Apply by 15 December 2023 for a year-long position opening January 2024 with the following qualifications:
- Professional degree in Architecture.
- Proficiency in using the following software – InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, AutoCad + SketchUp.
- Academic Architectural Portfolio.
- Essay – 500 words (max). Prompt: Interpret Charles Correa’s ideas and practice of architecture and urbanism in 20th century independent India. How do you see it fit into the current day discourse of architecture and urbanism?
- Writing sample – from an earlier academic paper.
During the Fellowship, you will be required to:
- Assist in preparation of project proposals, surveys and documentation, mapping and analysis, graphics, essays and presentations related to the research project, including coordination with agencies (government or private) for permissions, status, fees, etc.
- Assist in work related to acquiring funding for projects or events related to the activities of the Foundation such as preparation of dockets, posters, invitations, etc.
- Work on the documentation of drawings and photographs of Charles Correa’s built and unbuilt projects, sketches and essays.
- Organise and work on outreach programs of the Foundation through publications, conferences, exhibitions and workshops.
- Work on writing up about concerns and issues related to architecture and urbanism, and represent them through essays, blogs, etc.
- Assist in creatively designing and scheduling of the events related to the activities of the Foundation.
- Make presentations on the Charles Correa Archives, on his philosophy and works, to keen visitors coming to the Foundation, ranging from travelers, student groups and professionals.
- Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of ₹20,000/- as well as rent-free accommodation in an apartment leased by the Foundation.
Send in your application to apply@charlescorreafoundation.org with the subject “Application for January 2024 Fellowship” with the necessary attachments.
Final Films
Vidi Veni Vici
As the city of Guwahati grows in size and population, three young artists explore the subject of urban waste through their individual art forms to create awareness among the public.
Jajmau ka Tila
Forgotten by their own city in its blind race for urbanisation, the people of Manohar Nagar and Makhdoom Nagar live atop a mound at Jajmau which claims a history of 3400 years.Surrounded by garbage dump yards and tannery water dumped in Ganga, the people of Manohar Nagar guard a picturesque landscape while themselves living in destitute conditions.
अवनति – Avnati
In the heart of Goa’s capital city, Panaji, the once vibrant St. Inez Creek has transformed from a vital freshwater source to a neglected drain. Through the personal narratives of diverse individuals, this documentary explores the creek’s decline, its impact, and the resilient efforts to restore it, inspiring a call to action for our shared environment.
Scavenger
This film is about a modern day threat which has been created by our human civilization.The story revolves around a nine year old student from a marginal background who attends an unique school that accepts plastic as fees and teaches recycling. One fine day, the child encounters an unusual event which raises his concern about his own beings and cherished surroundings.
e-Wasted
This film is an observational exploration of informal collection and recycling of e -waste in Kolkata, a growing hub for toxic wastes. The film presents both the microscopic view of the immediate health hazards and the macroscopic picture of the long term impact on the global climate crisis.
An Omnipresent Landfill
Compelling documentary film that sheds light on the pressing issue of a dumpyard causing significant problems for its neighbouring communities. This thought-provoking documentary aims to raise awareness by following through (a family living near the dumpyard) about the detrimental consequences of improper waste management and the urgent need for effective solutions.
River of Concrete
The film traces the life of concrete waste that emerges from demolishing sites in Bhopal. The contractors give away many reusable materials for cheap to those in need, or to the 2nd hand shops in the old city where they can be purchased. The municipal corporation then picks the unusable leftovers to be processed in a plant some 15 Kms away from the city.
Kere Hogana? – Lets go to the lake?
The Begur Temple’s reclamation and preservation is a testament to a preserved past, and the Begur lake is a promise for a future to be built. The Begur fort though, is waiting to be reclaimed. This film will be a documentation of these spaces and the people that inhabit them.
Raat ki Jag Mag
This film is about the discoveries of the various facets of ‘Manek Chowk’ in Ahmedabad and how the dynamics of space reclaim the urban commons. It will investigate the informal, unwritten waste management and disposal processes and explain how this one-of-a-kind system can exist, fulfil the needs and be self-sustaining.
Know Your City: Built by Charles Correa, Ahmedabad’s iconic Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium boasts of many firsts
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has hired a private consultant to raise funds to restore the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium.
by Ritu Sharma
At the centre of the busy Navrangpura, a dense residential and business district in Ahmedabad stands the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Stadium spread over 67,000 sq metres.
Designed by the famous architect Charles Correa, the SVP Stadium was built for the Cricket Club of Ahmedabad (CCA) and hosted the first international match in the country in 1981. Gujarat had already made history as it had hosted the first cricket match in India in 1721 played by the Mariners of East India Company at Cambay.
Continue reading “Know Your City: Built by Charles Correa, Ahmedabad’s iconic Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium boasts of many firsts”Conservation groups call for Charles Correa’s under-threat modernist stadium to be saved
by Tom Ravenscroft
Conservation groups including the Twentieth Century Society and World Monuments Fund have called for the 1960s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, to be saved from demolition.
The groups made statements following news that the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, which was designed by Indian architect Charles Correa, is set to be demolished as part of Ahmedabad’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
“The SVP Stadium is a modernist Indian coliseum: a remarkable example of innovative and expressive post-Independence design, and one of architect Charles Correa’s most distinctive buildings,” said a Twentieth Century Society spokesperson.
Continue reading “Conservation groups call for Charles Correa’s under-threat modernist stadium to be saved”Why Conserving Modern Architecture Has Become Nearly Impossible
Retrofitting or repairing modern architectural landmarks could be challenging. Concrete structures, as in the Ahmedabad Stadium, are challenging to preserve. Among others, glazing used in modern buildings is only sometimes energy efficient. But these challenges can be met.
by A. Srivathsan
Mirza Ghalib’s verse – ‘My heart boils in the clamour of discontent/ This voiceless bubble augurs a storm’ – best captures the current mood of Indian architects horrified by the quick loss of significant modern buildings. The iconic Hall of Nations in Delhi was pulled down six years ago. Last year, IIM Ahmedabad decided to demolish about 14 buildings, mostly dormitories, on their internationally renowned campus.
Continue reading “Why Conserving Modern Architecture Has Become Nearly Impossible”Battling Demolition: The case of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium
by Bhawna Dandona
Bhawna Dandona, the conservation architect who was involved in preparing the CCMP for the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, discusses the ways to preserve the iconic building.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad stands as the result of a remarkable collaboration between architect Charles Correa and structural designer Mahendra Raj. Constructed in the 1960s, it ranks among the most impressive public structures of its era, showcasing cutting-edge engineering and the skills of Indian professionals in the years following independence.
Continue reading “Battling Demolition: The case of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium”Statement on the Proposed Redevelopment of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium
by World Monuments Fund
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, a modernist structure designed in the 1960s by renowned architect Charles Correa and eminent engineer Mahendra Raj, represents the progressive ideals and experimental spirit that characterized India’s post-independence period. Located in the city of Ahmedabad, the stadium is particularly notable for its visionary use of concrete and cantilevering. World Monuments Fund (WMF) named the site to the World Monuments Watch in 2020 to spotlight both the architectural inventiveness of the design and the severe weathering undergone by the exposed concrete structure over the decades.
Continue reading “Statement on the Proposed Redevelopment of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium”Vytilla Mixed-use Development, Kochi, Kerala
Author: Evana Sajan Pallivathukkal
Site Location: Kochi, Kerala
Institute: SPA – Delhi
Advisor: Prof. Dr. Jyoti Pandey Sharma, Ar. Raman Vig
description
Kochi is on the cusp of embracing its regional culture and infrastructure development,
requiring an architectural intervention that reflects the city’s spirit. The city aims to create
ultra-connected work environments and City Hubs, providing a convenient and efficient
lifestyle for young citizens. The project aims to create a “buzzy,” ultra-connected public
realm with service apartments, offices, retail, and entertainment integrated with a bus
terminal, metro station, and water metro channels.
Kerala and Kochi have a unique regional identity that is celebrated globally. Kerala has a
unique model of development characterized by high sustainability values, human
development achievements and social equality, making it a model to be emulated. The
architecture community in Kerala, evident in large projects like the CIAL, is an inspiration
for moving forward.
The “Gateway of Kerala” project uses towers to create a frame with functions through a
podium and skywalks connecting parallel towers. The architectural language and
technological armature are crucial to raise the narrative, transforming site constraints like
trees, riverfront, and iconic bus terminal into drivers for the vision. Although the project
has a commercial aspect, it still maintains democratic values due to its institutional
structure and untouched natural resources.
“ The Urban Hub in Vytilla is an ode to Kochi itself, which is a city in the cup of being the
next metropolitan city while strongly rooted in its natural and cultural roots, intended in
this project by marrying the idea of future in terms of its pragmatic needs – a mixed use
program and sensitizing it with the strong visual identity reinventing the globally
celebrated culture and architectural language of the region of Kochi. ’’
drawings
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E -Waste Park
Author: Jitish Jain
Site Location: Delhi
Institute: College of Architecture – SVIT
Advisor: Prof. Sailesh Nair
description
E-waste poses a significant environmental challenge due to its non-biodegradable, toxic nature and widespread presence in ecosystems, impacting soil, air, water, and organisms. Electronic products also contribute to climate change. Manufacturing devices results in a carbon footprint, highlighting the need for eco-friendly processes and sustainable product lifecycles.
E-waste management involves proper disposal and handling of discarded electronics like phones, computers, and TVs. This includes collection, transportation, recycling, refurbishment, and environmentally conscious disposal.
In Delhi, adopting sustainable e-waste management yields advantages, such as enhancing the microclimate, reducing pollution, mitigating soil degradation, and potentially raising Yamuna River’s water level, affected by improper disposal. This approach benefits broader ecosystems and marine life. It emphasizes the intricate link between human activities, the environment, and species welfare.
The architectural intervention addresses e-waste management while providing experiential learning within a sustainable framework for local betterment. This multifaceted approach requires thoughtful design.
Architecturally, the intervention integrates e-waste collection, sorting, and recycling into urban spaces, serving as educational hubs. Interactive displays, workshops, and exhibitions offer insights into e-waste impacts and sustainability. This intervention blends functionality and sustainability by managing e-waste and offering educational and communal spaces, fostering awareness, participation, and positive local impact.
drawings
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Dexterity, Tactility – Ameliorate Workhshop for Potters
Author: Anusha V.
Site Location: Puducherry
Institute: C.A.R.E School of Achitecture
Advisor: Ar. Henya Stephi. S
description
The craft based communities in Tamil Nadu are losing its importance as a part of cultural heritage. This automatically becomes the cause for losing the art in few years. Hence by designing a catalyst of built form in the urban context will help to upfront the bridging of Rural into the Urban and can be a plane of medium where they can meet. Thus the built form can have the role of establishing the importance of these beautiful crafts that has been a skill gifted from generations to another generation which is something that cannot be replicated aswell into the fast pace urban livelihood.
After inquiring with the local artisans, one thing that came repeated was that they dont have enough space to build or keep a fire place or kilns to make their products because of this they are forced to outreach to very remote villages and get the products and resell them back in the urban neighbourhood. Even though they are skilled potters, the lack of space and right materials and source force them to become sellers instead of the creators.
Understanding the Spatial needs of certain crafts and its importance of material knowledge and trying to input the importance of dexterity into built form which can become an easier medium in a fast paced urban context to acknowledge it. Hence uplifting the community engagement between two different planes.
drawings
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Revitalization of Krishi Mandi and Empowering the Youth of Community at Bikaner (Rajasthan)
Author: Dinesh Jailwal
Site Location: Bikaner, Rajasthan
Institute: Thakur School of Architecture & Planning
Advisor: Ar. Durgesh S.
description
India is the country of villages. Since ancient times agriculture was the major occupation in India. India is a country with agriculture as the major occupation. More than half the population of India is engaged in primary activities like agriculture. Farmer’s visit mandi to sell their surplus goods produced. Under the Apmc act, the states can establish agricultural markets, popularly known as mandis.
The project aims to revitalize the existing krishi mandi, to create a practical and better spatial experience for the farmer and allied users. Along with modern mandi to create an educational hub which becomes an experience and knowledge sharing space for the experts and farmer’s community.
Revitalized Mandi consists of Modern warehouse for storage of goods and allied activities. Trader’s Office for the Buying and selling of goods and, In the world moving toward Globalization & Tertiary sector the agriculture sector seems to be in endanger due to its extinction number in workers. Training centre for the Empowerment of the Youth of the next generations.
drawings
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Tribal Museum and Reseach Centre – Nagpur
Author: Jayesh Dinesh Kumar Lunawat
Site Location: Nagpur
Institute: University Institute of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Shruti Sidhu
description
Within this endeavour, an interactive museum is unveiled—a manifestation of architectural consciousness rooted in climate sensitivity, mirroring India’s commitment to honouring its native cultural motifs. These enduring motifs, shaped through epochs, now stand on the precipice of oblivion or have been enshrouded by the sands of time. This museum emerges as an emblem not only of cultural safeguarding but also of design in harmony with sustainability, firmly underlining the urgency of countering climate change through astute architectural interventions.
In alignment with the ethos of the “Make in India” initiative, this museum serves as a window into the realm of natural creations, encompassing eco-friendly cosmetics, herbal panaceas, eco-conscious utensils, and organic textiles. Enlivened by the essence of modern vernacular techniques, its architectural form harmoniously embraces the exacting standards of global museum curation, spotlighting the exhibited artifacts and their anthropological significance, while simultaneously casting light upon their intricate ecological context.
Termed as ‘living museums,’ tribal enclaves hold the key to the renaissance of vanishing traditions. The embodiment of this concept thrives within the folds of the Tribal Museum—a testament to India’s unwavering commitment to nurturing its primal cultural sagas. This institution stands as an intersection, where the tapestry of cultural heritage converges seamlessly with the mantle of environmental stewardship, firmly accentuating the imperative of melding these twin narratives in our unceasing pursuit to celebrate and shield the bountiful legacy that India inherits.
drawings
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Architecture for a Culture – A Case of Bonda Tribe
Author: Sugyani Sahu
Site Location: Majhiguda, Odisha
Institute: Faculty of Architecture – Sri Sri University
Advisor: Ar. Rishab Ray
description
Introducing the Eco Tribal Village, an architectural thesis project that embraces vernacular, sustainability, and climate-responsible designs. This project is centered around the Bonda tribe, as they are the heart and soul of the endeavor. By meticulously considering their needs and preserving their rich heritage, we aim to create a harmonious space for both the tribe and tourists The design seeks to foster cultural exchange by providing designated areas for tourists to engage with the Bonda tribe, promoting understanding and appreciation.
By creating community areas for traditional activities and crafts, tourists can engage with the Bonda tribe and gain a deeper understanding of their way of life. Emphasizing responsible tourism practices, such as waste management and ecological conservation, will further contribute to the long-term preservation of the region’s natural beauty.
Through this project, the hope is to create a sustainable and inclusive community that respects the environment and preserves the cultural identity of the Bonda tribe. Hence, by building a vibrant and eco-friendly haven that honours tradition while embracing the future.
drawings
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Centre for Culture, Thrissur
Author: Neeraj Rajeev
Site Location: Thrissur, Kerala
Institute: Nitte School Of Architecture Planning and Design
Advisor: Prof. Malini C.H.
description
The Center for Culture is an attempt at making a singular destination for anyone practicing or interested in the cultural arts. The project aims to service artist, performers, tourists and enthusiasts. This is achieved through an array for inter related exhibition, performance and learning spaces incorporating the local climatic considerations.
The final design takes inspiration from studies performed as well as the local architecture of Thrissur. The design provides spaces that cater to various stakeholders through Museum, Workshops, Private studios and Artist’s private spaces, indoor and outdoor performance spaces, markets, restaurant, café and outdoor areas while satisfying necessary services required by each individual functional space. The structure incorporates multiple climate control aspects to keep the building cool due to Kerala’s hot and humid climate. The structure incorporates jaalis into its facade to allow for seamless air movement. Jaalis have been placed on two parallel faces of the building to allow cross ventilation. The clay tile roof is placed on a steel frame that acts as ventilation system. The framework allows for warm air to escape as well as allows cross ventilation. The framework is dotted with a shutter system that can be controlled based on need.
drawings
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Reimagining the Urban – A Bird’s Eye Perspective
Author: Anushri Joshi
Site Location: Mumbai
Institute: Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. George Jacob
description
Over the years, the concept of climate has developed broader connotations with global phenomena like climate change and crisis becoming topical issues of the Anthropocene. The idea of deriving comfort by designing a singular structure is becoming a myopic activity as it can no longer be viewed in isolation and is an entity that gets affected by and is a part of larger systems, forms and dependencies.
The idea of creating a comfortable space thus needs to negotiate larger thresholds while also stepping beyond the frame of the ‘human’.
The thesis chooses to focus on a dense urban swatch in Mumbai – the Dadar kabutarkhana area- as a template for demonstration of how the architectural form can start responding to the local and global climatic forces in conjunction with the economic, socio-cultural forces to sustain and forge relationships and create livable environments. The significance of biodiversity as a tool for climate resilience has been well-established and is thus, the main focus here. The building is imagined as a template for the neighbourhood that triggers morphing of the form of the city to respond to the topical issues broached by climate, thus enhancing overall livability and rendering the interpretation of the idea of ‘form follows climate’ extremely relevant for the current times.
drawings
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Hob – Box Hobby Cultivation Hub in Neighborhood
Author: Naman Shroff
Site Location: Kolkata
Institute: Amity School of Architecture and Planning
Advisor: Prof. Adityadip Chowdhury
description
In the Digital Age, where basic needs are easily met and alternative job opportunities are abundant, relying solely on work for fulfilment and contentment is insufficient. The accessibility of information and technology has led to a decline in the quality of life outside of work hours, indicating a neglect of mental well-being. Consequently, individuals seek escapism and mindless entertainment as a means of respite from work pressures. However, this does not indicate a lack of passion or interest, but rather a need for supportive urban infrastructure that encourages hobbies and passionate pursuits. Urban environments with high living costs pose challenges in allocating resources towards activities like arts, sports, or music.
This project addresses the lack of accessible and available neighbourhood infrastructures for pursuing personal interests and hobbies in Newtown Kolkata, a satellite city, that caters to diverse hobbies. It draws inspiration from the personal journeys of individuals who have faced constraints, such as limited space, while pursuing their diverse range of hobbies and passions. The area is dominated by multi-story apartment buildings and single-family houses. The sparse apartment carpet areas limit the users’ passionate pursuits and therefore becomes an inevitable challenge for them. The project seeks to uncover narratives and propose solutions embedded within the fabric of the neighbourhood to foster a supportive ecosystem for hobbies and enhance the overall well-being of its residents.
The proposal focuses on developing modular community hubs as inclusive and vibrant spaces that cater to a wide variety of interests. The project blends sustainable principles with prefabricated construction methodologies by utilizing modular design approach to provide flexible venues for creativity and self-expression. Strategic placement of these hubs encourages social interaction and knowledge exchange among residents with varied hobbies and interests.
drawings
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Meta School
Author: Suraj Sanikatta
Site Location: Bengaluru
Institute: Nitte Institute of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Amrit Narkar
description
The cities are expanding for accommodating demands. Institutions are established for
the functioning of these cities. It becomes important to use land as a resource optimally
as in the process of expansion we are depleting nature’s footprint in the peripheries of
the cities and compromising on the green footprint inside it.
Institutions occupy a lot of space but only operate for around 8 hours, leaving it unused
for 2/3rd of the day. The attempt of this project is to do programmatic interventions to
these institutions and house other upcoming institutions instead of making new
campuses thus generate new purpose to the space for remaining hours supporting the
core institution.
The design allows the space to transform according to the intended purpose while
fostering a learning environment that blends the tones of climate, sustenance and its
stakeholders. Thus, directing its vision towards reduced carbon footprint and a lighter
burden on the environment.
Reprogramming and designing of the institutions can significantly optimize the use of
land in future city designs.
drawings
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Re-Instate – Rehabilitation in Mined Coastal Areas
Author: Utkarsha Mali
Site Location: Panmana, Kerala
Institute: Rachna Sansad’s Academy of Architecture
Advisor: Ar. Yagnik Bathija
description
The coast of Kerala between Chavara and Alappad has long has decade long stories of peoples’ struggle for survival against mining companies. The stretch of land in Kerala called Panmana is the part where extensive beach sand mining happens. because of coastal sand mining the land has been prone to erosion and hence consequences can be seen in the form of frequent tidal attacks and displacements. there are lots of issues with rehabilitation as well as it relocates fishermen away from coast hence their livelihood gets affected. the thesis focuses on rehabilitation of people that are getting displaced in mined areas. The site chosen is Ponmana, a ward in Panmana village which is the southern part of Alappad village where mining has been stopped and the land has been abandoned. utilising that land again in order to negotiate between nature and human needs is the core design intent.
drawings
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