Book: ARCHITECTURAL INHERITANCE AND EVOLUTION IN INDIA

Published: May 2023; Publisher: Altrim Publishers, India & Spain; Collaborator: Council of Architecture, India

ARCHITECTURAL INHERITANCE AND EVOLUTION IN INDIA: Furthering a Lineage or Building a New Identity brings forward the narratives of ten architectural families from India reflecting on how architecture situates itself in the bonds within architectural families in India, a nation rejoicing in its rich family culture and ethos.

The volume explores how the introduction, journey, understanding, interpretation, and approach of architecture can develop across family members. Traversing the families’ individual and collective philosophies and contributions, it further depicts the complexity of navigating personal and professional equations in a space where divergent notions of creativity and opinions prevail. Such notions translate into analogous or disparate journeys, varying interpretations of ideologies, and multiple working approaches in architects of the same family.

The diverse tales of the architectural expeditions of the 44 architects in the ten families, ranging from a 20-year-old to a 90-year-old, symbolise the colossal transformation of architecture over the decades.

The book will appeal to the Architectural, Design & Building industry, readers who value spaces and the understated role of architects and architecture, and those who are a part of family practices and are interested in the synergy of creative heads working together.

ARCHITECTURAL FAMILIES FEATURED

Sumit Ghosh, Suchitra Ghosh, Sudipto Ghosh; New Delhi
Uttam C. Jain, Maya Shah, Chirag Jain, Shona Jain; Mumbai
Late Achyut Kanvinde, Sanjay Kanvinde, Tanuja B.K., Vrinda Kanvinde; New Delhi
Late Sharad Kembhavi, Nalini S. Kembhavi, Indrajit Kembhavi, Nita Kembhavi, Partha Kembhavi, Soumya Partha Kembhavi; Bengaluru & Hubli
Habeeb Khan, Smita Khan, Sabrina Khan Talaviya, Samiha Khan; Nagpur & Rajkot
Sanjay Puri, Nina Puri, Ayesha Puri Kanoria; Mumbai
Sagar Shah, Shaila Shah, Pinkish Shah, Shilpa Gore-Shah, Rahul Gore, Sonal Sancheti; Mumbai
Late V.N. Shah, Rajiv Khanna, Sabeena Khanna, Ajay Shah, Sakshi Khanna, Himanshu Khanna; Gurgaon, Mumbai, & Vancouver
Shiv Datt Sharma, Sangeet Sharma, Purnima Sharma, Shivansh Sharma; Chandigarh
Lalichan Zacharias, Jabeen Zacharias, Bhyrav B.R., Aatira L. Zacharias; Kochi & Bengaluru

Excerpts from the Foreword by Prof. Krishna Rao Jaisim, Architect, Patron, Philosopher; Founder & Principal Architect, Jaisim-Fountainhead, Bengaluru (India)

“Today, in a world of great diversity, the task of unifying, which is the fundamental of architecture, is welcomed from all directions of human society via all the senses and elements that constitute life. This book opens a new chapter and direction in the lives of young architectural professionals. This direction which was thought of as a family-dictated one can now be declared as one giant step that families in future will take up with immense involvement. A whole new chapter of architecture awaits the built world of human society!

Expressing architecture in a format other than the built environment and communicating the differences of the architecture of families within a format of discipline is an accomplishment every habitat and habitant should take the time to read and comprehend. Literature has the power to open a new facet of human habitat as realised through the creation of spaces travelling to a new horizon of expression. This literature, authored and curated by Apurva, opens a new dimension of comprehending and expressing imaginative innovation. I would say, Just Read It!”

Sample pages from the book can be viewed here.

BOOK CURRENT AVAILABILITY (MRP: 1990 INR – in India): Click on the hyperlinks to buy the book

India Availability
Council of Architecture, Collaborator
Altrim Publishers, Publisher
Overseas Availability
Altrim Publishers, Publisher
Online Retailers
Amazon

LAUNCH EVENTS

Event organised by IIA-Brihanmumbai Centre, Mumbai; 11th Oct 2023
The event witnessed the unveiling of the book by Chief Guest Ar. Uttam Jain, Guest of Honour Ar. Kamal Malik, and the three families from Mumbai featured in the book: architects Sanjay Puri, Ayesha Puri, Pinkish Shah, Shilpa Gore-Shah, Rahul Gore, Maya Shah, Chirag Jain, Shona Jain, and Nilesh Dholakia (Chairperson-IIA Brihanmumbai Centre). The unveiling was followed by a presentation by Apurva and a panel discussion on the book and the theme, with the three families and author as panellists, and Ar. Advait M. Sambhare as moderator.
(Pictures: courtesy IIA-Brihanmumbai Centre)
Archicon 2023, Agra; 15th-17th Sep, 2023
The book was launched nationally at Archicon 2023, an international conference organised by Architects Association Agra (AAA). The book was unveiled by Prof. Christopher Benninger, Ar. Shirish Beri, Ar. Sangeet Sharma, Ar. Purnima Sharma, and Ar. Samir Gupta (AAA President) . The unveiling was followed by Ar. Sangeet Sharma and Prof Christopher Benninger sharing their thoughts.
(Pictures: courtesy AAA)
IIA Leadership Conclave & Design Carnival 2023, Bhubaneswar; 9th-10th Sep, 2023
The book was launched nationally by the National Council of Indian Institute of Architects as a part of the IIA Leadership Conclave held at Bhubaneswar.
AESA Pune – Architects, Engineers & Surveyors Association, Pune; 14th July 2023
The book was unveiled by Prof. Abhay Purohit (COA President), Ar. Vishvas Kulkarni, Er. Parag Lakade (AESA President) and senior dignitaries of AESA. The book’s unveiling was followed by a presentation by Apurva on the book and a dialogue on the book between her and Prof Mahesh Bangad, AESA Chairman.
(Pictures: courtesy AESA Pune)
D-arc BUILD EXPO 2023 organised by Zion Exhibitions at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru – Event curated by Institute of Indian Interior Designers (Bengaluru Chapter); 2nd June 2023
The book was launched by Prof. Ar. Krishnarao Jaisim, Prof. Charanjit Shah, Ar. Nita Kembhavi and Ar. Kavita Sastry, Chairperson, Institute of Indian Interior Designers – Bengaluru Chapter. The book’s unveiling was followed by a presentation by Apurva and short talks by Prof Jaisim, who has written the book’s foreword, and Ar. Nita Kembhavi, who features in the book in the chapter on her family, The Kembhavis.