ACHYUT PRAKASH KANVINDE

Born in ACHARE (Kankan region of Maharashtra). In November

1916.

Graduated from the “J.J. COLLEGE OF ARTS” in 1942.

He was then sent by the government of India to study at

“HARVARD UNIVERSITY”

There he worked under “WALTER GROPOUS” and was

influenced by his thinking and teaching.

Kanvinde was also influenced by his father, who was portrait and

landscape painter.

When he retuned to India he joined the council for “SCIENTIFIC AND

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH”.

In 1985 he was the winner of IIA “BABURAO MHATRE GOLD

MEDAL”.

In the early 50’s Kanvinde established a private practice in new Delhi with Shaukat

Rai , a civil engineer , who had been with him at Harvard.

They established a firm ”KANVINDE AND RAI” which received and executed

many important commissions.

He practiced perfectly for 55 years, he was considered the pioneer of what may be

termed the modern movement in architecture in India.

His buildings were simple and he used to tell the students

” ARCHITECTURE IS NOT A MUSEUM OF MATERIAL”.

Kanvinde plays with space and forms. His designs are slender, balanced,

proportionate, neat and well crafted.

The building is important but most important is the gate of the user. Example is

“Iskcon Temple”.

He gave much more importance to the natural light. He gave such a form to the

building that it can solve the problem of ventilation as well as excessive heat .

He believed in Vernacular Architecture.

He believed that the image should be such that can set the mood and interest for

which the building stands for.

Both inherent values and historical influences contributed towards good architecture.

An art can be to nourish the

senses. Art is purely an aesthetic

exercise.

He 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

Vernacular

Architecture

in foreign.

EXPERIENCE UNDER CLAUDE BATLEY

TRADITIONAL INDIAN ARCHITECTURE

Claude Batley introduced Kanvinde to the world of architecture. This was the period when

Kanvinde learned to appreciate the values of Indian architecture. He was familiarized with

•its origins

•Architecture based on the exigencies of local climate, building materials and social

conditions

•literate fusion of Western classical order with Indian building traditions

•Climatological principles

EXPERIENCE UNDER WALTER GROPIUS – THE BAUHAUS STYLE

Studying under Walter Gropius , kanvinde developed a whole new outlook

towards architecture. He was greatly influenced by BAUHAUS STYLE.

VARIOUS BAUHAUS CHARECTERSTICS VISIBLE IN KANVIND’S WORK WOULD BE

ASYMMETRY

BLOCKY

CUBIC SHAPES

SMOOTH, FLAT, PLAIN, UNDECORATED

SURFACE

FLAT ROOFS

VERY FREE PLANNING

ADOPTION OF STEEL – FRAMED OR

REINFORCED – CONCRETE POST AND SLABS

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

LOCATION: New Delhi, India

PURPOSE: To serve as a center for India's greatest glory, her Vedic

knowledge and culture.

MATERIALS: Steel: 880 tons. Cement: 5,500 tons. Marble: 25,000 square

feet. Stone: 75,000 square feet. Stone chips: 260,000 cubic feet. Wood: 2,000

cubic feet.

It was built in 1998 and is located in New Delhi.

The project is situated on a sloping site and covers an area of 3 acres with

the slope of 8 meters in relation to road level.

Deity spaces are located at the highest level.

It has assembly hall for 400 people.

The building was constructed of reinforced concrete frame structure and

clad with red and white stone finish.

Services spaces like kitchen, dinning areas for devotees, offices are located

at the lower level.

THE TEMPLETHE MUSEUM OF VEDIC CULTURE

THE CENTRE OF VEDIC STUDIES

THE VEDIC CENTER FOR PERFORMING ART

THE ASHRAM

KRISHNA JAYANTI PARK

THE WHOLE STRUCTURE IS CLADED WITH STONES AND MARBLE WHICH GIVE A HEAVY LOOK TO THE STRUCTURE..

KANVINDE HAS PLAYED WITH THE LEVELS IN THE WHOLE COMPLEX AS THE TEMPLE IS CONSTRUCTED ON THE HILL SO HE DEFINED THE EACH REGION WITH A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

THE INTERIOR OF MAIN TEMPLE HAS MARBLE CLADDING ON THE WALL.

THE WHOLE TEMPLE COMPEX HAS A VERY WELL CONNECTIVITY AMONG ALL THE SPACES

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY(KANPUR)

Established in 1959-66 and is located on the outskirts of the city of Kanpur in

U.P.

The site measures close to 420 hectares.

Construction material is concrete and brick.

The important objective of this institute was intellectual and cultural

stimulation.

The building is harmonial in character.

The site is flat with the canal on one side and transportation route on the other

side.

The academic complex is located centrally all the site and free from traffic

noise.

Halls of residence, faculty and staff houses and community building surround

the central academic area to provide flexibility in movement and communication.

The residential campus is planned and landscaped with a hope for

environmental freedom.

The institute has a number of facilities, including the National wind Tunnel

Facility.

The external surfaces, wheather of

concrete or brick are left exposed to

obviate recurring maintenance costs and

to enhance the aesthetic appeal.

The structural system consist of

reinforced concrete frames and slabs

with available brick curtain wall.

The library forms an important part of the whole complex.

It is framed structure based on grid.

The whole building is built on R.C.C with a brick façade the

whole structure gives a very beautiful play of shades and

shadow.

•Lecture halls, library and faculty

building with laboratories and other

specialized services, organized and

planned as decentralized activities, are

connected by the walkway system.

•This allows the students to walk at two

levels of the building that are designed

to receive a two level circulation thus

providing shelter from the extremely

hot sun

THE WHOLE CAMPUS IN PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY

SOME OTHER PROJECTS OF KANVINDE

INSTITUTE OF RURAL MANAGEMENT, ANAND (1979)

NATIONAL INSURANCE ACADEMY, PUNE (1992)DOODHSAGAR DAIRY ,MEHSANA (NATIONAL DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD) (1973)

HARIVALLABDAS HOUSE, AHEMDABAD

NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTER, NEW DELHI (1991)

GANDHI KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRA BANGALORE (1965)

PRESENTED BY :

PRADEEP VERMA