Call us intrigued, for we have been re-reading these architecture books. Art and architecture are multifaceted domains, which have and continue to captivate and inspire us. Today, we bring to you a curated list of must-read architectural books which dive deep into architectural writing in India. The selected architects and firms are not only master practitioners of their field but are also forerunners, igniting much-needed intellectual discourses among the fraternity. Through a mix of autobiographies, theories and portfolios, these books have emerged as a must-read for any architect who wishes to explore and understand the complex nature of the field set within the Indian context.
Brace yourself for here is the list of 15 architects and their literary works.
1. Charles Correa
Architect, Planner, activist and theoretician Charles Correa has emerged as a major figure in contemporary architecture worldwide. His two most notable books include, ‘Housing and Urbanisation‘ and ‘A Place in the Shade‘.
‘Housing and Urbanisation’ documents over forty years of the architect’s work in the field and is illustrated with more than 450 photographs, drawings and original sketches. ‘A Place in the Shade’ is a favourite among architects and is a reflective, provocative and readable collection of essays that dissects the relation between our built habitat, climate and cultural resources.
2. B.V. Doshi
Celebrated Indian Architect, Royal Gold Medalist and Pritzker Recipient, B.V. Doshi is a household name among the fraternity. Apart from practising, the master architect was also an educator, having founded the renowned School of Architecture in Ahmedabad. Two of his must-read books include, ‘Balkrishna Doshi: Architecture for the People‘ and ‘Paths Uncharted‘.
Authored by Art Historian Mateo Kries, ‘Balkrishna Doshi: Architecture for the People’ provides a complete overview of all of the late architect’s projects and inspirations. The book also contains an interview with Doshi and an illustrated biography. ‘Paths Uncharted’ is an autobiography that recounts the extraordinary life and achievements of the architect from lifelong notes and diaries maintained by him. It contains inspiring excerpts and sketches and is the perfect source of inspiration for all architecture lovers.
3. Christopher Benninger
Christopher Benninger is one of India’s most highly decorated architects. He is a theorist and an academician and has authored two of the most beloved books on architecture; ‘Letters to a Young Architect‘ and ‘Architecture for Modern India‘.
‘Letters to a Young Architect’ is a sensitive memoir of Benninger‘s life in India and his personal concerns about architectural theory and contemporary urban issues. It is a collection of autobiographical narratives and ideas reflecting his vibrant journey. It is the only book to be featured on the Top 10 non-fiction books when released in 2011 by ‘The Hindu’ for 18 weeks, making it the most popular book on architecture amongst students to date. It is also the only Indian book on architecture to be translated into three languages, namely Gujarati, Bangla and Chinese.
‘Architecture for Modern India’ documents all the projects his firm CCBA Designs has produced over the past five decades. Curated by the Managing Director of the firm, Mr Ramprasad Akkisetti, its rich pictographic nature allows for easy readability and illustrates the design process of each project through a notable number of personal sketches and drawings by the master architect himself.
4. Hasmukh C Patel
Hasmukh C Patel has been greatly regarded for shaping the skylines of the city of Ahmedabad. ‘The Architecture of Hasmukh C Patel: Selected Projects 1966-2003‘ is a book authored by his son, architect and Urban Planner Bimal Patel and Catherine Desai as an ode to the late architect’s beliefs and works. It navigates the political and economic changes witnessed by the architect during post-independent India through noteworthy projects, some of which were documented for the very first time. The book remains a tribute to his work and legacy and is a true inspiration for every architect.
5. Raj Rewal
A distinguished luminary, Raj Rewal has set global precedents with his urban narratives of design that have been integrally and richly steeped in their contextual inferences. His most notable book, ‘Innovative Architecture and Tradition‘ authored by Kenneth Frampton, Suha Ozkan and the architect himself, effortlessly threads together episodes of design by studying various elements such as scale, geometry, rhythm and light through traditional methodologies of construction.
6. Rahul Mehrotra
Architect, educator, and author Rahul Mehrotra has been at the forefront of India’s contemporary architecture for the last two decades. Out of the numerous books, there are four that remain the highlight of his career.
Authored by the architect himself, ‘Working in Mumbai’ is a portfolio of selected works of the firm and is a critical reflection of the practice of RMA Architects. ‘Ephemeral Urbanism’ is a book that studies temporary settlements from all over the world and challenges the illusion of urban immutability. Authored by Mehrotra and Felipe Vera with Jose Antonio Mayoral, the book is insightful and relevant for its time.
His book, ‘Architecture In India Since 1990‘ is a personal account of his experience and presents four distinct genres of architectural expression supported by examples of projects that showcase the disparity and coexistence of multiple approaches to design solutions. As the name suggests, ‘Bombay: The Cities Within’ is a comprehensive study of the city’s contemporary skylines over the years. Authored by Mehrotra and Sharada Dwivedi, the book is ingeniously written and is the perfect source of knowledge for anyone keen on exploring the multifaceted nature of the city of dreams.
7. Laurie Baker
Architect Laurie Baker has carved a niche for himself by advocating for low-cost sustainable Architecture. Like most of his works, the biography, ‘Laurie Baker – Life, Works & Writings’ written by architect and writer Gautam Bhatia on the late master builder is direct, simple and easy to comprehend. The book is embellished with sketches, plans, photographs and some of Baker’s writings. It offers the reader a glimpse of the life, methods and thoughts of the unorthodox genius.
8. Morphogenesis
Morphogenesis stands as one of the most upcoming creative architectural firms in India. Their book ‘Morphogenesis: The Indian Perspective. The Global Context (The Master Architect Series)‘ is authored by the two principal architects, Sonali and Manit Rastogi themselves. The richly illustrated book provides a comprehensive study of the firm’s strong philosophical design intent across a vast range of typologies ranging from residential, institutional, commercial, hospitality, offices, houses, interiors, and public and master planning. The book offers a delightful overview of the firm’s design approach, making it a must-read.
9. Tony Joseph
Tony Joseph is the principal architect of the multi-disciplinary design practice Stapati. ‘Timeless Resorts‘, his first major monograph, authored by Sujith G.S., examines the evolutions of 11 captivating hospitality projects spread across India and Seychelles. The book explores the firm’s philosophy of creating timeless architecture through vernacular systems for contemporary living.
10. Shirish Beri
Architect Shirish Beri recently designed Pune’s new art centre – ‘Zapurza’. His book, ‘Spaces Inspired by Nature‘ is a book that documents the beliefs of the architect and advocates the need for a holistic approach to the field through a mixture of his projects and sketches. It contains illustrative essays and poetry that follow an obscure style of writing through a series of rambling thoughts and anecdotes that seek to understand the relationship between nature, art, architecture and life.
11. Yatin Pandya
Yatin Pandya is an author, activist, academician, and researcher as well as the principal architect of the firm FOOTPRINTS E.A.R.T.H. (Environment Architecture Research Technology Housing). His contributions to the field of writing have been immensely popular through his two most notable books; ‘Concepts of Space in Traditional Indian Architecture‘ and ‘Elements of Spacemaking‘.
‘Concepts of Space in Traditional Indian Architecture’ attempts to understand the very roots of what constitutes the Indian Architectural context by examining its notions of time, space and existence. ‘Elements of Spacemaking’ examines the inherent attributes of ‘spacemaking’ through components like roofs, walls, doors, windows, columns, stairs and floors by analysing their influences through design. The effective application of these complex elements is illustrated throughout using line drawings and sketches of detailed examples from all over the world.
12. Canna Patel
Canna Patel is a renowned architect and interior designer with over 30 years of professional experience. Her captivating book, ‘Meaning is More: Interior Design for India‘ is filled with stories and vivid illustrations, unveiling five design principles with alluring narratives. The book reveals Patel’s inspiration, thought process and methodology and can serve as a guide for young designers and students.
13. Miki Desai, Madhavi Desai, & Jon Lang
Architecture reflects the spirit of its times: in India’s case, the fight for Independence. Examining the forces that have shaped Indian architecture over the last century, this profusely illustrated book titled – ‘Architecture and Independence: The Search for Identity – India 1880 to 1980’ by Miki Desai, Madhavi Desai & Jon Lang traces the patterns of architecture and its response to political change in both India and the world since the founding of the Indian National Congress.
14. Krishna Rao Jaisim
Renowned architect and professor Krishna Rao Jaisim’s book, ‘I Do‘ is an affirmation of his ideas, thoughts and beliefs about the field of architecture. The book is a collection of articles that have been written over five decades of philosophical musing and experimental creations with themes exploring cities and states in India.
15. Achyut Kanvinde
‘Ākār’ is a monograph on the life and works of architect Achyut Kanvinde, one of the pioneers of Modern Architecture in India with a professional career spanning over five decades. Authored by Tanuja and Sanjay Kanvinde, the book covers 45 selected works and is a compilation of unrealised projects, research studies, competitions and working drawings.
Image Courtesy – Architectural Digest India
Indian Architecture Masters: A Guide to Design, Sustainability, and Timeless Aesthetics
Architectural Journalist
