The ongoing London Festival of Architecture (LFA) is one of the world’s foremost celebrations of architecture and city-making. It is held all around the city of London every year in June.
This year, CP Kukreja Architects (CPKA), a multi-disciplinary Indian architecture and design practice, was invited to exhibit at the festival – the first and only Indian firm to receive this honour, putting Indian architecture and design on the global map.
The exhibition, held at The Lalit, London, was titled, “Five Decades of India’s Built Environment,” showcasing the transformation of India’s architectural landscape through the lens of CPKA’s fifty-year-old architecture practice.
“It brings me immense joy to see contemporary Indian architecture being received well globally. It is something that is very close to my heart,” said Dikshu Kukreja, Managing Principal at CPKA and curator of the exhibition. “It is not just about creating buildings, but how our buildings influence society.”
The exhibition explored ten of CPKA’s most significant projects, critical to the past, present and future of India, through concept notes, sketches, images and drawings – from the modernist buildings of the 70s and 80s to the experimental projects of the post-liberalisation era to cutting-edge and sustainable ongoing projects of the day. One of the focal areas of the exhibition, demonstrated through projects such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi, 1972) and the Gautam Buddha University (Greater Noida, 2013), was investigating how modern architecture derived from the principles of traditional building wisdom can create suitable and sustainable living environments.
“When I looked at the projects done by CPKA, I noticed how we could all learn from the way they’ve used local materials and local traditions,” said Amish Tripathi, renowned Author and Director of the Nehru Centre, London, the cultural wing of the High Commission of India in the UK. “Traditional Indian architecture acknowledges the context and climate it is placed in. It is cost effective, reduces energy consumption and has always been environmentally friendly,” he added, reiterating the need for contextually rooted architecture.
Rosa Rogina, Director of the London Festival of Architecture, commented: “It’s fascinating to observe different cultures and what CPKA has done is a fine example of how environmental sustainability has been the core of the organisation right from the early 70s,” she said.
“Five Decades of India’s Built Environment” takes a giant leap towards breaking the West’s notion of Indian architecture being limited to forts and palaces and brings forth perspectives and practices from a new, changing India to the world. By presenting upcoming projects (designed in association with IDOM, Spain) – the East Delhi Hub (New Delhi), which will be India’s first transit-oriented development, and India International Convention Centre (New Delhi) that will host the G-20 summit in 2023 – the exhibition puts forward the scales and opportunities that are coming up in India in terms of urban development. “This provides a promising vision for the world to consider India as a favourable investment destination,” added Kukreja.
Teknion Enters Into A Strategic Partnership With British Furniture Brand Modus
Teknion has announced a strategic partnership with Modus, a renowned British furniture brand known for its commitment to sustainable design. This collaboration holds immense potential for the Indian market, focusing
CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence Collaborates with Vishal K Dar to Celebrate the Architecture of JNU
An exhibition curated by Artist Vishal K Dar commemorated the late master architect CP Kukreja’s design of India’s monumental educational campus - the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, Speaking with the language that
Peninsula Land’s project Salsette27 awarded IGBC Platinum Certification
Located in Byculla, South Central Mumbai, Salsette27, is one of 10 buildings in Mumbai to achieve the IGBC Platinum Certification – a recognition from the Indian Green Building Council that underscores the project’s exceptional value
Anant National University holds International Symposium ‘Architecture for All: Call of the Future’
The three-day international symposium organized by Anant National University, India’s first DesignX University, based in Ahmedabad, brought together leading minds from the global architectural community to explore the future of architecture
Ar. Tripat Girdhar awarded Indian Glory Award 2024 & Fames 60 Under 60 Awards 2024
Ar. Tripat Girdhar, Founder and Principal Architect of Arete Design Studio, Chandigarh, was bestowed the Indian Glory Award & Fames 60 Under 60 Awards 2024 for the category Innovative Architecture Designer at an event organized
Elan Group appoints BENOY to design 1st Luxury Mall of Gurugram
Elan Group has sparked tremendous excitement with its appointment of BENOY, a globally recognized architectural firm, to design the 1st Luxury Mall of Gurugram. This step marks a departure from conventional structures, ushering in a new
Alumil India Opens Exclusive Partner Showroom In Coimbatore
Alumil India, a fully-owned Indian subsidiary of Alumil Group – one of the global pioneers in designing and manufacturing high-quality architectural aluminium systems - unveiled its first exclusive partner showroom - YD Systems Pvt Ltd
3DXB Group Sets Guinness World Record for Largest 3D-Printed Villa in Dubai
3DXB Group, a leading innovator in 3D printing solutions for the construction industry, has made the world’s largest 3D-printed villa in Dubai. Made in one seamless session, the four-meter-high residential villa is set to become a symbol
Glass artist Grant Garmezy sculpts Indian Heritage at Arjun Rathi’s Glass Studio
Marking his inaugural appearance in India, Grant Garmezy gave a peek into his fascinating world of craftsmanship at the Rural Modern Glass Studio by Arjun Rathi, Principal at Arjun Rathi Design, and co-Founder of Design Democracy.
Colliers bags $10 million project with Infibeam Avenues, to construct AI extension hub in Ahmedabad
Real estate consultant Colliers has won an assignment to construct the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Extension Hub in Ahmedabad for Infibeam Avenues – an Indian multinational fintech company that plans to have an AI