CHARLES CORREA

Charles Mark Correa, (born September 1, 1930, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, British India [now in
Telangana state, India] died June 16, 2015, Mumbai, India), Indian architect and urban planner
known for his adaptation of Modernist tenets to local climates and building styles. In the realm
of urban planning, he is particularly noted for his sensitivity to the needs of the urban poor and
for his use of traditional methods and materials.

HIS PRINCIPLES
Correa’s early work combined traditional architectural values as embodied in the bungalow with
its veranda and the open air courtyard—with the Modernist use of materials. In the late 1960s
Correa began his career as an urban planner, creating New Bombay (now Navi Mumbai).
When designing in the midst of overpopulated cities, he tried to create quasi-rural housing
environments, as is evident in his low-cost Belapur housing sector (1983–86) in Navi Mumbai.
In all of his urban planning commissions, Correa avoided high-rise housing solutions, focusing
instead on low-rise solutions that, in combination with common spaces and facilities, emphasized
the human scale and created a sense of community.

His principles of designing include prevailing resources, energy and climatic aspects to create
and determine order of space. In the late 1960s Correa began his career as an urban planner,
creating New Bombay (now Navi Mumbai), an urban area that provided housing and job
opportunities for many who lived across the harbour from the original city. When designing in
the midst of overpopulated cities, he tried to create quasi-rural housing environments, as is
evident in his low-cost Belapur housing sector (1983–86) in Navi Mumbai. In all of his urban
planning commissions, Correa avoided high-rise housing solutions, focusing instead on low-rise
solutions that, in combination with common spaces and facilities, emphasized the human scale
and created a sense of community.
His later works, which continued his long-standing interests, include Surya Kund (1986) in
Delhi; the Inter-University Centre for Astrology and Astrophysics (1988–92) in Pune,
Maharashtra; and the Jawahar Kala Kendra arts complex (1986–92) in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
From 1985 to 1988 he served as chairman of India’s National Commission on Urbanisation, and
from 1999 he served as a consulting architect to the government of Goa.
An open to sky space plays a very vital role in the works on Correa and can be seen in most of
them. He believes that an open to sky space is very important in a housing, where it can make a
decisive difference between a liveable habitat and claustrophobia- particularly in low income
housing. In planning for neighbourhoods his ideas focussed on the individual identity and hierarchy
of open spaces.
In terms of design there seems to be two major concerns. The first being the cosmological
approach in single buildings. He used a system of mandala as a system of organisation. The
second deals with the idea of enclosure by a wall i.e. the vertical element of the structure as an
element to define a space as opposed to horizontal platforms.
Correa’s work in India also shows a careful development, understanding and adaptation of
modernism to a non-western culture. His works attempt to use a vernacular approach. Some of the
components that he uses in his buildings are courtyards, terraces, ritualistic pathways, gardens, etc.
He believes that there should be a subtle transition from one space to another. For example, a private
room opening into a verandah which then leads to an open terrace or a courtyard which is probably
shaded by a tree.
Complementing the site in its context was also a constant approach in Correa’s works.
NOTABLE WORKS OF CHARLES CORREA

1. Ismaili Centre, Toronto, 2014

2. Our Lady of Salvation Church, Mumbai 1974-77
3. Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, 2013
4. Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, 1993
5. IUCAA, Pune, 1992
6. National Craft Museum in Delhi, 1990
7. The MIT Neuroscience Centre, 2005
8. Incremental Housing, New Bombay, 1986
9. Kanchenjunga Apartments, Mumbai, 1983
10. MRF Headquarters, Chennai, 1992

CASE STUDY
Established in 1999
Vidhan Bhavan is a public building which should say something very powerful about
democracy. He Won prestigious AGA KHAN award for this in 1999.

The building is located in the centre of Bhopal. Since the main access road isnot axial , but
swings towards the site in a rather casual manner , the plan of thebuilding developed is as a
circle, so it could have an autonous unity and presence, regardless of the direction from which it
is approached.
References of his circular form are – parliament building in New Delhi, Buddhist stupa near
Sanchi
The plan is a pattern of gardens within gardens, divided into 9 squares . The five central ones are
halls and courtyards , while the 4 corner positions are occupied by The Vidhan Sabha ,
The Vidhan Parishad, Central library, and Combined hall.
It also contains a host of other facilities : offices, cabinet rooms, cafeterias, common rooms for
security staff etc..
According to the requirements there are 3 main entrances for public, VP’s, MLA’s
While moving along verandah and overlooking courtyards and gardens – as in traditional
architecture of India.
KANCHENJUNGA APARTMENTS

Superficially, this 28- story tower, with its concrete construction

and large areas of white panels, bears a strong resemblance to modern
apartment buildings in the West Tower’s proportion 1:4 (21 sqm and 84 m high)
Completed in : 1983
Garden terraces actually a modern interpretation of a
feature of the traditional Indian bungalow: the verandah
Each apartment provided with a deep, two story- high garden terrace that is oriented away from
the sun so as to afford protection from the elements

The building is a 32 story reinforced concrete structure with 6.3m cantilevered open
terraces. The central core is composed of lifts and provides the main structural element for
resisting lateral loads. The central core was constructed ahead of the main structure by slip
method of construction. This technique was used for the first time in India for a multistory
building.

The concrete construction and large areas of white panels bears a strong resemblance to
modern apartment buildings in the West, perhaps due to Correa's western education.
However, the garden terraces of the Kanchanjunga Apartments are actually a modern
interpretation of a feature of the traditional Indian bungalow: the veranda.
CONCLUTION
Charles Correa’s approach is very natural; he creates a built environment which reflects the traditional
as well modern element together in much unified way. In Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, he beautifully
created village like atmosphere through series of courtyards, building materials like bricks etc but at the
same time he had used the modular grid in plan as well in façade reflects very rational and modern
approach. National crafts museum, he has taken aspiration from ancient architecture to create path
(spine) and arrangement of courtyards around it but he has used in minimalistic architecture of
modernism to avoid unnecessary ornamentation of ancient architecture. he was naturally inclined
towards the ancient, vernacular and traditional architecture from very beginning but at the same time
,he also understand the present context of buildings , the present needs and aspiration of people. He
was most of time trying to link the past with present so that through architecture he can establish the
lost identity or the new identity of Independent India.

REFERENCES

1. The Blessings of the Sky , Charles Correa

2. Charles Correa: Seeking new Identity of Indian Architecture through " Critical
Regionalism "February 2016 by Ar. Gaurav Gangwar and Prabhjot Kaur

3. Remembering Charles Correa, one of the pioneers of sustainable architecture, By Avikal

Somvanshi September 2015