Padma Shri Achyut Purushottam Kanvinde
Introduction
Padma Shri Achyut P. Kanvinde is a quite known name in the list of contemporary Architects. He is considered as one of forefathers of modern Indian architecture. Kanvinde was born in 1916 in a small village on the Konkan coast raised in a joint family in the village. His mother died when he was two and his father was an arts teacher in Mumbai. Kanvinde was a influenced by his father, who was a portrait and landscape painter. 
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. He entered the Architecture Department at Sir J.J. School of Art in 1935 then headed by Claude Batley, who was also the premier architect of the country. He passed out in 1941. 1943, he joined the newly formed Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as architect. Achyut Kanvinde attended Harvard Graduate school of Design in 1945.
In 1947 appointed as the Chief Architect of CSIR. Formed Kanvinde and Rai with Shaukat Rai in 1955 which resulted in a unique and exemplary partnership. He practiced perfectly for 55 years and was considered the pioneer of what may be termed the modern movement in architecture in India.
Philosophies
His buildings were simple and he used to tell the students “ARCHITECTURE IS NOT A MUSEUM OF MATERIAL”
Kanvinde plays with space and forms. His designs are slender, balanced, proportionate, neat and well crafted. The building is important but most important is the gate of the user. Example is Iskcon Temple. He gave much more importance to the natural light. He would give forms to the building that could solve the problem of ventilation as well as excessive heat. He believed in vernacular architecture. He believed that the image should be such that can set the mood and interest for which the building stands for. Both inherent values and historical influences contribute towards good architecture.
All his creations were in strict conformity with these principles:
- FUNCTIONALISM
- LOGIC OF LIGHTNESS
- MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND BRUTALISM
- REGIONALISM
- RATIONALIST
- SENSE OF SPACE
“Personally and his office too, Kanvinde, Rai and Chowdhury (KRC), shaped and launched many a career in architecture, and provided many young architects an opportunity and foundation. He was one of the few architects who worked a great deal on public projects. Through his courteous personality, ability to talk and persuade, without ever being domineering, and truly compassionate nature, he was able to give a stature to the possibility of good architecture in government projects. With his partner Shaukat Rai, who was an infrastructural bedrock, they made a great pair, in the early days. In some of the buildings in Anand, Gujarat, and at IIT Kanpur, one sees his direction and signature. He explored modularity in spatial and structural grids, and had a way of modulating space and form through roofs, almost like he was poking the sky,” says architect Ashok B Lall at The Indian Express. (Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/remembering-a-master-builder/)
Presentation Details out –
Life of Padma Shri Achyut P. Kanvinde
- Education and Career
- Influences
- Architectural Principles
- Concepts
- Philosophies
- Achievements
- Projects by A P Kanvinde
