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.
Featured in the "15 Architects and Firms who MUST Be On Your Reading List" by Abir Pothi, the article explores the literary works of the Master Architect and Planner Prof. 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 book when released in 2011 by the Hindu for 18 weeks, making it the most popular book on Architecture amongst students till 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."
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