Achyut Pushkar Kanvinde

(1916-2002)
ACHYUT PUSHKAR KANVINDE
After independence

The post colonial search for national expression within

20th century Modernism led to constructing the
identities of young nations.

The modernization process and the expression of

national identity through modern culture was a part of
the political agenda of extremely popular leaders, like
Nehru
In this new environment, nations began to consider
developing a new architecture for a brave new
world.
The making of modern

Works of four prominent architects from India and

Bangladesh, trace the development of modern architecture in
the half century since the nations of the Indian subcontinent
gained independence.

Balkrishna Doshi(1927) in Ahmedabad

Charles Correa (1930) in Mumbai
Achyut Kanvinde (1916) in Maharashtra
Raj Rewal (1934) in Delhi

Defined their work pretty much with what Modernism in

India after Independence looked like.
Kanvinde is a man of
brilliance, a person with
so many gifts, which
make him unique.

Besides his exhaustive

body of superlative
architectural work, he
made a mark in any
area he choose to be
evolved with, whether
education, professional
issues or public matters
He was the torch bearer of the new
awakening, symbol of a vibrant
new India rediscovering itself and
its roots. He was on to pioneer of
sorts. A human being with strong
social concern, a generous heart
and kind temperament, he has
touched everyone with his warmth
and modesty. He is a father figure,
a guru to generations of
architects.
 Picking up from the
modernist tradition, he went
on to reinterpret and evolve
a more appropriate Indian
architecture, more
responsive to the culture
and climate, a more
democratic architecture.
BORN
1916, Achara (Maharashtra)
India

EDUCATION
B.Arch (Sir J.J. School of art)
M.Arch (Harvard)
Fellow of the Indian
Institute of Architects
EXPERIENCE
Worked as Principal Architect for the Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Government of India, 1948-55. Connected
with planning and design of a variety of
Scientific Research Laboratories in the
country.
Architectural practice in partnership with
Shaukat Rai and Morad Chowdhury. Was
responsible for implementation of Housing,
Industries, Institutions, Integrated Urban
Design and Town Planning.
SOME IMPORTANT PROJECTS

1964- Balkrishna harivallabhdas residence

1966- Housing for Rajasthan Atomic Power

Project, Kota (Rajasthan)

Indian institute of technology, Kanpur

1970- Campus building for National Dairy

Development board at Anand.

1974- University of Agricultural Sciences,

Bangalore
 Mahatma Phule Agricultural
University, Rahuri .

1976- Nehru Science Centre, Bombay

1982- National Institute of Bank

Management, Pune

1989- National Science Centre, New Delhi

National Insurance Academy, Pune

1990- Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical

Sciences, Soura (Kashmir)
1998- Vedic Institute and Temple Complex
for ISKCON at Delhi.

Urban Design Proposal for Central

Business

District Project at Trans

Yamuna area, Delhi - ongoing project

2001-02 -Videsh Bhavan, New Delhi

 Positions Held

1970-75 - Chairman, Scientific and Finance

Committee, Central Building Research
Institute, Roorkee

1974-79 - Member, Urban Art Commission, Delhi

- President, Indian Institute of
Architects.

1983-86 - Member, Executive Council, Structural

Engineering Research Centre, Madras.

- Member, Committee on International

union of architects and house
planning.
 Teaching

1958-60 - Visiting Professor at:

University of California,
Berkeley.

1965 - Washington University, St.

Louis.

1970-76 - University of Illinois, Urbana

1970,76 - University of California, San

Luis Obispo, U.S.A.
 Books and Publications

Author of "Campus Design in India"

Articles in:

Oct,1967 - Design Magazine (Indian)

Dec 1968 - Design Magazine (Indian)

June 1969 - DBZ (German)

Aug 1969 - Architecture Record (English)

Mar 1985 - Architecture + Design (Indian)

Sept 1989 - Technique & Architecture (French)

Aug 1990 - Indian Architect and Builder (Indian),

 Awards

1975 - Recipient of Padamshri - National

Honour of the President of India

1984 - Recipient of Gold Medal of The Indian Institute

of Architects

1990 - National Award of Institution of Engineers for

Architectural Engineering

1993 - Great Master National Award by J.K.

Industries

Exhibitions

1997 - Participated in an Exhibition on selected

South Asian Architects held in New York.
 THE EARLY YEARS

Kanvinde was born in 1916 in a small

village on the Konkan coast. His mother
passed away when he was two, and he
was raised by his large extended family in
the seclusion of the village, his father
being away in Bombay where he was an
art teacher in schools. Kanvinde had the
calling of a painter and did enroll in an art
school but the family decided that
architecture would be a better profession
for him, a living could be earned more
easily.
He entered the Architecture
Department at Sir J.J. School of Art
in 1935, the first of the three
existing architecture programs in
the country then. It was then
headed by Claude Batley, who was
also the premier architect of the
country. Claudy Batley at the
J.J.School played a decisive role in
shaping young Kanvinde.
 Beginning

Kanvinde graduated with distinction in 1941,

but with the tumults of the World War and the
rapidly spreading national struggle for
independence, didnt get a steady job till
1943 when he joined the newly formed CSIR
as an architect. Starting from 1930s Indian
pioneers anticipating the inevitable
independent Indian Republic, were planning
an ambitious series of Scientific and Technical
institutions. This culminated in CSIR being
formed in 1942. Plans were made to have the
trained persons to translate these dreams to
reality,
technical education having been kept under
much control in the colonial state in contrast
with scientific or humanistic education, there
were no Indian architects and engineers
qualified to take these roles. Hence from CSIR,
Kanvinde was chosen to do studies in planning
and design of laboratory buildings and Kulwant
Rai to study Construction Management as the
first group of people under the Government of
India fellowship. Kanvinde joined Harvard
Masters programme of Architecture program
in 1945 which was then being much acclaimed
for its new fountain head of functional and
social promise of Modern Architecture under its
migr director Walter Gropius.
 Gropius Influence
Kanvinde was initially unprepared for the space
concepts taught in Gropiuss school. Having studied
under Batley, he was not conversant with the
progressive imagery and techniques of the
International style. But progressively what he was
much affected by was the social order and the
optimism implied by the Modernist paradigm.
Gropiuss insistence for using space as a tool for
expressing universal human values was what left
most lasting influence on his mind. He graduated
with a thesis on science laboratories, on which he
had worked for most of his two years of study and
as planned, returned to India in 1947 and was
appointed as the Chief Architect of CSIR. Kulwant
Rai was appointed the Chief Engineer.
 OWN PRACTICE
About the Firm

In 1955 Kanvinde established his own practice in

partnership with his engineer friend Shaukat Rai
and Morad Chowdhury and got more involved
with the architectural profession as a whole.
The firm has a staff of fifteen qualified
and experience Architects. Though it does
not have in house facilities for services it is
able to tap the best possible talent for
services depending on the nature of job
involved.
The firm uses specialist consultant for
construction management and structural
design, as also for services
such as electrical, public health, air
conditioning, Ventilation and heating,
Acoustics and landscaping which
ensures a high degree of service in each
field. Though the firm execute varied
Nature of works one of its main
strengths lies in it experience in
designing institute and campuses all over
the country .
 IDEOLOGY
Kanvinde, Rai & Choudhary always aspires
towards originality, creativity, and quality
in all projects that it has been involved in.
The firm strongly believes in an
contemporary approach, but at the same time
it respects the functional requirements, which
relates to the context, climate, landscape and
above all human scale. As design experience
is a constant learning process the firm strives
to bring fresh insights and innovation into
the design process adapting technological and
behavioral changes. It also believes in the use
of local material and tradition approach.
 The quality of our surroundings directly
Influences quality of our lives,
whether in the work place, at home
or the wide variety of public spaces in
between.

This emphasis on the social dimension is an

acknowledgment that architecture is generated by
the needs of people and these are spiritual as well
as material. But architecture is a public art and
the quality of our urban design also affects our well-
being. This concern for the physical context has to
produce projects which are in sensitive to the
culture and climate of its place.
QUEST for QUALITY in
ARCHITECTURE

Urbanization
Urban environment in a given situation is the
product of continuity in the pattern of human
settlement, utilizing available resources in a
way that it tends to develop structure of form
fulfilling human aspiration.
In the present situation, in spite of the
progress of technology and changes in the
physical pattern, the urge to recognize human
values becomes the need of the time and is a
challenge before urban designers
 Cities of the past
Historical example shows that settlement
like Shajahanabad, Jaipur city, Fatehpur
Sikiri and several others did not exceed a
population of forty to fifty thousand, as a
city of more than that scale, was not
possible to support with the technology of
time and resources at hand. However,
modern technology shows the possibility to
establish an urban fabric and form that can
support a population of more than ten
million this already exists in our major
urban centers.
In present times, there are three countries
in the world where there is a positive
patronage to architecture and works of art.
These are France, Spain and Finland.

Whereas several progressive nations are

utilizing knowledge and resources
meaningfully, country like India, in spite of
technology and a cultural base, has
somehow not been able to make a mark,
which can be seen from the functioning of
our cities presently.
 Contextual Design
In the context of the India situation, the
professional role of the Architect, Planner
and Urban Designer is not primarily
recognized amongst political leaders,
Government administration, as also public in
general. A picture of urban development in
all major cities of the country shows that no
efforts are made to recognize essential
values emerging out of the site that could
give deeper meaning of achievement to the
development.
It was possible, in the case of Delhi in the early
sixties when its population had not touched the two
million mark and when the Town Planning Act had
just come into force, to think of introduction of a
system of open spaces linking Yamuna river and
the ridge, embracing an important monument
within the framework of spaces, around which the
city design could have been conceived. Ring
Railway, which was proposed during Pandit Nehru's
Government around mid the fifties, would have
resulted in trying district centers along a rail loop
with a radiation road system which would have
contributed to easing city traffic; However, such a
thing was not envisaged and a great opportunity
lost.
 Product of Time
ARCHITECTURE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
STAND ON ITS OWN MERITS.
For a country like India, a question often
raised, is about its traditional approach to
architecture. Architecture all along had been a
product of time, place and occasion, whether it
was a feudal or democratic period. Technology
of steel, concrete or glass is a resource
available at the present time, and the way
architects interpret it though their design
vocabulary is a product of their personal
cultivation and caliber.
 Architecture and democracy

BUILDING IS NOT A MUSEUM OF

ARCHITECTURAL WORKS.
Analyzing architecture with respect to fulfilling basic
physical functions though an important part of
design, an equally important aspect of function is
the psychological and biological needs and the
environment associated with it. Spaces create sense
of association as well as a sense if pride and
prestige. Though such a thing is the product of
feelings and sensitivity of the user, there is no rigid
formula for interpretation.
PROJECTS
BY
KANVINDE
Bal Krishna Harivallabhdas Residence
New Delhi

Year : 1964
A piece of land of about two and half acres was
acquired for residential accommodation. The owner, a
leading textile industrialist, wanted a residence with
distinctive qualities rather than the usual stereotype
design. The family requirements consisted of three
bedrooms , together with living, dining and kitchen.
Rather than planning the house in a conventional
manner, building was placed over a sunk garden which
is about one and half meter below ground level with a
small swimming pool. The living areas at the other
level are placed in a way that they all maintain an
association with the garden environment. Thus, the
house has garden spaces at all levels, including sunk
garden so also one at the roof level. The building has
a parasol of concrete against hot sun to create
shadow envelope around the building. Aesthetic
qualities aimed at creating gardens give quality to the
environment at all levels associated with living.
INDIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
KANPUR

YEAR 1966
Taking into consideration the reality that
research work in the present time is a
collaborative work of varied disciplines,
curriculum of studies is worked out, with
that goal in mind. There, the effort is to
create a common stream of fresh intake
for one year to help students create
understanding and appreciation of each
others disciplines and departments and
then to work independently in their
respective specialization at graduate level.
Activities which students and faculties
share are Seminars and Lecture Hall,
Library, Cafeteria etc. Therefore, these
have been designed to encourage meeting
and interaction.
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur is a big and
prestigious Institutional project. The master plan for it
was made in year 1985, by Kanvinde, Rai, and
Choudhary, who were the planners and architect for the
project. The program of the Institute was prepared
based on departmental needs. Conventional type of
Institutes were designed as isolated islands of
departments.
A. Library building B. Library extension C. Spray pond
D. Computer science bud. E. Nuclear physics lab F. Chem. engg Lab
G. Laboratories. H. Lecture hall complex I. Tutorial complex
J. Bldg. Science & Bio Engg.
Iitk1ph.jpg
Iitk2ph.jpg
In IIT Kanpur, activities which students and
faculties share in common are environment in the
entire complex. seminar and lecture hall, library,
cafeteria etc. Therefore, this has to be designed to
encourage meetings and interactions. With such an
idea, all activities are grouped around Lecture halls
and faculty building, with laboratories and the other
specialized services organized and planned as
decentralized. All the activities are connected by
elevated walkway systems so as to allow the
student to walk at two levels, which is also
advantageous during monsoons and summer. Most
of buildings are planned on repetitive model of
certain dimension. Effort is made to create intimate
human environment in the entire complex.
1. CLASS ROOM 2.AHU ROOM
3. PANTRY 4.STORE
5. PARKING 6. STILTED AREA
SECTION THROUGH CLASSROOMS

SECTION THOUGH CORRIDORE

1.Lecture Halls :
These are the new lecture halls in IIT campus
being added meticulously to exiting ones, with
a corridor connection. It has classroom
with capacity for about hundred students. Some
of the classrooms are stilted, which functionally
creates a parking space below and aesthetically
forms a semi-covered space merging into its
surrounding landscape, creating a kind of harmony
between covered, semi-covered & open space. Also
corridors are set-aside deliberately from the
structure, which are connected to it by pergola at
roof level, adding delicacy and frothiness to
corridors. Roof of classroom are designed as a
folded plate, taking into account acoustical factors.
2. Student Interactive Centre :
This is a proposal given for the new up coming building
in the IIT campus. The main purpose of it will be to
create, a covered and open sitting area for students
during there leisure time between two successive
lectures and also at the same time it should act as a
centre for escalating student interaction. Thus covered
sitting is provided in form of cubicles, while open sitting
is provided on terrace of it, which are happening at
different level creating isolated as well as connecting
spaces. Also it will be having facilities like food stalls,
vending machines for tea-coffee, and so on which will
support student activities. As it is been located near
arterial crossing corridors of the whole campus so one
has tried to dominate the structure by designing
landscape terraces, which tired down and get merged
with the surrounding
Iitk2gfp.jpg
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
Iitktfp.jpg

TERRACE FLOOR PLAN

 iitk1secthu.jpg

SECTION A-A

SECTION B-B
MILK DAIRY & POWDER PLANT
MEHSANA

YEAR : 1973
The project was conceived in the year 1970 and
completed in 1973. It was originally designed to
handle three million liters of milk a day in the first
phase. How're, it expanded to ten million liters
presently. The site allotted was a sloping one as flat
areas were occupied by the other plants. Based on
the observation and realising the problems of other
similar dairies, two major factors dictated the design
approach:

The needs to have cross ventilation to dissipate heat

and odour in plant areas, and mechanical system
often do not work effectively.

To exploit site conditions with advantages to design.

The constrains resulted in the introduction of
ventilation ducts to allow convection of air for
air change and dissipated heat in production
and process areas. The nature of the site
also resulted in introducing an approach which
helps milk tankers reach the roof top of
processing areas, there by filling milk tanks by
gravity feed in preference to use of pumping
resulting in energy conservation.
Milk processing requirements together with
comfort conditions needed for working and
type of structure using ducts as part of
function had resulted into a form of building
with aesthetic qualities.
NEHRU SCIENCE CENTRE
MUMBAI

YEAR : 1984
The Complex is worked out of a series of
repetitive multi-dimensional modules, creating
a variation of spaces with the building in a way
that the units do not create monotony of
spaces, and stirs the minds of visitors as they
move with the Complex.
Visitors approaching the Museum enter at the
second storey atrium through a landscaped
approach. From there they can take a route and
visit exhibit areas by negotiating one floor. At
the lowest level, where the Lecture Hall, the
Library and Cafeteria area are located for
leisure, half way through the movement from
where the visitors can return back to the
entrance atrium area after completing the tour.
In designing the complex, twelve meter column spaces have
been introduced which can be sub-divided as desires, also
artificial lighting to meet the requirements of exhibition.
Realizing the climatic conditions of Mumbai, which is mainly
humid, a forced ventilation was proposed for physical comfort
in all areas.

The nature of structural system of modular units with

mechanical areas is organized in a way to contribute to
aesthetic qualities and character of this building, also
generate excitement amongst young visitors.
NEHRU SCIENCE CENTER MUMBAI

K A N V I N D E, RAI & CHOWDHURY

NATIONAL INSURANCE ACADEMY PUNE

YEAR : 1989
This is thirty acres site, located on the outskirts of
Pune city having a sloping terrain of nine meters
between the highest and the lowest areas of the site.
The program consists of the administrative offices,
faculty areas, seminar rooms, Library and computer
centre with hostel accommodation for about one
hundred participants, along with guest rooms.
Housing for faculties and staff together with
community needs have been provided.
In order to take advantage of the site condition the
main complex is located purposefully at the lowest
level of the site mainly to take advantage of the
storm water collection and to create landscape
environmental qualities associated with institutional
complex.
Since the complex has been comparatively
of a small nature, it was felt desirable to
tie up hostel and Academic area together
in a way to create compact community in
association with landscaped environment.

In doing this, the normal movement of

participants between living and work areas
are made minimal. Library zone connects
Academic and residential areas to create a
feeling of self contained and as a one
whole.
A- ADMINISTRATIVE
B- TEACHING BLOCK
C- COMPUTER
CENTER
D- LIBRARY
E- CANTEEN
F- CONFERENCE
HALL
G- HOSTELS BLOCK
H- GYMNASIYAM
I- MULTIPORPOSE
HALL
J- COMMUNITY
CENTER
There were two considerations behind the
concepts. One that teaching and living has
been grouped together with the reason as by
doing so both Library and academic areas
always remain alive with activates. Secondly
such a thing has the association of
traditional Gurukul Ashram system, where
living learning use to be under one roof. The
introduction of a link in the form of bridge
overlooking landscape is mainly to create
meeting place and opportunity for
interaction amongst participants in
association.
Conference Centre :

As per the site plan, location of conference centre is

at the entrance of the campus in front of
multipurpose hall. It will cater programmed like a
meetings, slide show, cultural event etc. This may
be followed by dinner or lunch. It has auditorium for
capacity of two hundred people and also a meeting
room for discussion of ten to fifteen people.

Auditorium has tiered sitting which respects the

site cantors. Also octagonal form of auditorium in its
plan is been evolved considering the acoustical
parameters. Court is planned in such a way that it
act as a spill over space for both auditorium as well
as dinning.
1. ENTRANCE
FOYER
2. STORE
3. MEETING
ROOM
4. OFFICE
5. COURT
6. DINNING
7. KITCHEN
8. DISH WASH
9. POT WASH
10.SERVICE
ENTRANCE
11.AUDOTORIUM
12.STAGE
13.GREEN ROOM
14.AHU ROOM
CROSS SECTION

ROAD SIDE ELEVATION

NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE
NEW DELHI

YEAR : 1990
The project is located in the heart of the city and is
meant to orient young school going students and to
expose them to scientific development having bearing
on living needs of the society. The building is standing
on a piece of land measuring about 7000 sq.m. with a
total built-up area of 14000sq.m. to meet the needs
of Administration, a small Auditorium, Conference
and Seminar rooms, Lecture Hall, Cafeteria in
addition to exhibit areas. Laboratories, Depositories,
work area etc. Extremely tight conditions of the site
in the shape of a trapezium, with high floor area ratio
resulted in a multi-level building from also the needs
for indoor and outdoor exhibits created a system of
terraces and vertical shafts for services.
Although the building is a multilevel one, the
visitors first enter the main atrium at the second
storey level through a landscape area from where
the escalator takes them to the fourth storey
atrium. Then they move through exhibits, and
negotiating only one floor after which they
continue descending, till they arrive at ground
level where Lecture, Conference, also common
facilities including Cafeteria are located. The
visitors can return to the atrium and depart from
here.
While fulfilling the user's needs with respect to
circulation and overall working associated with
the project, certain design ideology in relation to
site location and design needs was also kept in
view.
Since the site has an association with historical
surrounding of the city, an element in the form of
heritage plaza at the point of entry has been proposed
depicting certain outstanding elements associated with
past, from where people could enter the building in
order to help them orient and relate past with present
scientific endeavor.
Terraces have been introduced at different levels in
order to get relief from movement within closed
spaces, and see outdoor exhibits associated with the
solar energy, botanical information etc. Terrace
gardens also become a part of the design philosophy
and form. They tend to present cascading green
planters supported by as vertical tower shafts as a
system in the form expression of design.
ISKON TEMPLE & VEDIC INSTITUTION
NEW DELHI

YEAR : 1998
The project is located on a sloping site
having an area of three acres with a
slope of eight meters in relation to road
level. The Programme consists of the
main Temple Complex with a
congregational hall for four hundred
persons. Deity spaces are located at the
highest level. Taking advantage of
service spaces like Kitchen, dining areas
for devotees, offices, also mechanical
areas are located at the lower level.
Other activities associated withy the
Institutional areas consist of multi-media
cultural centre, auditorium, anima tic
presentation museum, dormitory for devotees,
small shopping areas, restaurant and offices.
The whole Complex is organized around an
informal court with sunk garden spaces
cascading around with water fall, where all the
above activities are placed in a way to create
ambience that goes with Temple architecture.
The building was constructed of reinforced
concrete frame structure and clad with red and
white stone finish. It was completed in the year
1998.
VIDESH BHAVAN (New Delhi)

Vb1sktch.jpg

Year : 2001-02
The ministry of External Affairs, India had
recently aborted a limited architectural invited
competition for there new office building
VIDESH BHAVAN .
The Videsh Bhavan competition invited fifteen architects from a
shortlist furnished by the council of architecture. Among them
Kanvinde,Rai and Choudhury was been selected among top five.
The complex is conceived as an aggregation of modules in varying
heights around a series of interlinked open space, the resultant
built from encompassing east and west blocks connected together
with the ground floor by a plaza double story stilted areas and a
series of bridges at higher level.
A. ADMINISTRATION B. MEETING ROOMS
C. LIBRARY D. TOILET BLOCKS
The east & west blocks have their individual semi
enclosed arrival and courts distinguished by double-
height porticos signifying the point of
arrival. Considering the requirement of parking and
services two basement have been provided. The
structural grid system adopted facilitates efficient
parking at the basement and flexible office grid at the
upper levels.
Computing the composition of the built form of
the two blocks is a solid base or podium
respecting the line of the basement below. It is
punctuated by a series of chatris respecting the
rhythm of the superstructure behind and
serving as markers along the peripheral road.

There is attempt to recall and reinterpret the urban

landscape elements of the secretariat complex.
Also single water element such as channels and
pools serve an environmental as well as functional
element by highlighting visually the Architectural
axis, which is focus of whole arrangement.
SECTIONAL ELEVATION M-M

SECTIONAL ELEVATIONAL L-L

ELEVATION FROM MOULANA AZAD ROAD
Conclusion
He has over five decades of untiring meaningful participation
in the field of Indian Architecture. His total devotion has
produced creative processes with observation, assimilation,
self discovery and commitment- these are the elements of his
design process which resulted in success and recognition
throughout his long creative life. His success so far is a
worthy example for several Architect colleagues, to derive
inspiration and to emulate. His meticulous approach and
commitment to the finer aspect of contemporary Architecture
in modern India has created anew era in Indian Architecture.
His Architecture is par excellence in creation due to his
complete devotion to the profession, and education as as
also to his honesty, sincerity and integrity. His humble and
modest nature- combine with a calm, quite and unassuming
attitude and aptitude has charmed the large no. of admirers
throughout India and abroad.
For these qualities Ar. Kanvinde will always remain a source
of great inspiration to the fraternity of Architects.