Diwan-i-Khas at Fatehpur Sikri. Image by Manfred Sommer

“If the received wisdom of this Western historiography is Eurocentric and subjective, how do we trace the evolution of architectural consciousness in India?”—Jaimini Mehta

Jaimini Mehta

The essay is the second of a three-part series of preview essays for Jaimini Mehta’s forthcoming book, Sense of Itihasa; Architecture and History in Modern India. He explores how colonial perspectives distorted Indian architectural history, arguing that indigenous architectural theories existed beyond Eurocentric interpretations, with the mandala symbolizing a deeper conceptual understanding of cosmic and spatial design.

“Unless you ask these questions, you will not realise that it is not history but the perception of history that needs to be revisited.”—Jaimini Mehta

Jaimini Mehta

The essay is the first of a three-part series of preview essays for Jaimini Mehta’s forthcoming book, Sense of Itihasa; Architecture and History in Modern India.
The book analyses the works of several contemporary, post-independence Indian architects to demonstrate that since independence, they have revitalized traditional architectural elements and techniques, drawing inspiration from India’s itihasa.

Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect, by Christopher Charles Benninger

ALive! Content

Christopher Benninger’s new book—Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect—reflects on contemporary architectural practice and its role in improving the human condition. It gives direction to students and practitioners alike as Prof. Benninger notes his encounters with his gurus and the manner in which their personal passion for humanity shaped the lives of others.

Non-Aesthetic Modernity: Metaphysics of Modern Architecture

Jaimini Mehta

Prof. Jaimini Mehta shares a preview of his upcoming book, Non-Aesthetic Modernity: Metaphysics of Modern Architecture.

Book Review: Paths Uncharted by Balkrishna Doshi

“The non-linear recounting almost makes one feel as if he is sitting in front of you, narrating pieces of his life as he is remembering them” – Athulya Aby reviews Paths Uncharted, book by Balkrishna Doshi

Athulya Aby

Athulya Aby reviews the book, Paths Uncharted by Balkrishna Doshi.

Unbuilt.01 | VK:a architecture | Introduction by Dwaipayan Chakravarty

VK:a Architecture

An Excerpt from Unbuilt.01- A collection of Unbuilt Works of Pune- based VK:a architecture.

Unbuilt.01 | VK:a architecture | A Foreword by Michael W. Bischoff

VK:a Architecture

An Excerpt from Unbuilt.01- A collection of Unbuilt Works of Pune- based VK:a architecture.

Book Launch: (de)Coding Mumbai | Sameep Padora

Rajesh Advani

Authored by Sameep Padora and Shreyank Khemalapure as a co-author, (de)Coding Mumbai documents the evolution of Mumbai’s housing fabric and its regulations.

Book Announcement | Gender Parity: Architecture Profession in Post-Binary India

Rajesh Advani

ArchitectureLive!, in association with launch partner Seed, is presenting its findings from the Gender Parity survey in the form of a book- Gender Parity: Architecture Profession in Post-Binary India.

Spirituality in the Design Studio – Introducing the Walton Program, by Julio Bermudez

Rajesh Advani

Focusing on the spiritual dimension of professing architecture, the Walton Program proposes that architecture can and should assist the spiritual growth of humanity in the service of tackling both our urgent and enduring challenges.

Book: Women Architects and Modernism in India, by Madhavi Desai

Madhavi Desai

Women Architects and Modernism in India, by Madhavi Desai, attempts to recover the stories of the women architects whose careers nearly parallel the development of modernism in colonial and postcolonial India.

Book: Traditional Architecture; House Form of the Islamic Community of Bohras in Gujarat, by Madhavi Desai

Madhavi Desai

Authored by Madhavi Desai, Traditional Architecture; House Form of the Islamic Community of Bohras in Gujarat is the study and documentation of Vernacular Architecture as a product of cultural and environmental factors and an expression of the way of life of the people for whom it was built.

Book: The Bungalow in Twentieth-Century India, by Madhavi Desai, Miki Desai, Jong Lang

Miki Desai and Madhavi Desai

Authored by Madhavi Desai, Miki Desai and Jong Lang, The Bungalow in Twentieth-Century India looks at the changing ways of life and aspirations in the domestic architecture of colonial and post-colonial society.

Book: Teaching Basic Design in Architecture: Exercises, Illustrations, Examples, by Miki Desai

Miki Desai

Learning the basics of design for Indian students of architecture at the entry-level can be offered through an array of methods and interpretations. Authored by Miki Desai, Teaching Basic Design in Architecture: Exercises, Illustrations, Examples, is a demonstration of one of those pedagogical stances using the Heuristic method and the teacher’s expressional guidance.

Book: Architectural Heritage of Gujarat: Interpretation, Appreciation, Values, by Miki Desai and Madhavi Desai

Miki Desai and Madhavi Desai

Authored by Miki Desai and Madhavi Desai, Architectural Heritage of Gujarat: Interpretation, Appreciation, Values, encompasses a broad spectrum of culture and history found in Gujarat, in the midst of the 21st century.

Books on Architecture

“If the received wisdom of this Western historiography is Eurocentric and subjective, how do we trace the evolution of architectural consciousness in India?”—Jaimini Mehta

“Unless you ask these questions, you will not realise that it is not history but the perception of history that needs to be revisited.”—Jaimini Mehta

Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect, by Christopher Charles Benninger

Non-Aesthetic Modernity: Metaphysics of Modern Architecture

“The non-linear recounting almost makes one feel as if he is sitting in front of you, narrating pieces of his life as he is remembering them” – Athulya Aby reviews Paths Uncharted, book by Balkrishna Doshi

Unbuilt.01 | VK:a architecture | Introduction by Dwaipayan Chakravarty

Unbuilt.01 | VK:a architecture | A Foreword by Michael W. Bischoff

Book Launch: (de)Coding Mumbai | Sameep Padora

Book Announcement | Gender Parity: Architecture Profession in Post-Binary India

Spirituality in the Design Studio – Introducing the Walton Program, by Julio Bermudez

Book: Women Architects and Modernism in India, by Madhavi Desai

Book: Traditional Architecture; House Form of the Islamic Community of Bohras in Gujarat, by Madhavi Desai

Book: The Bungalow in Twentieth-Century India, by Madhavi Desai, Miki Desai, Jong Lang

Book: Teaching Basic Design in Architecture: Exercises, Illustrations, Examples, by Miki Desai

Book: Architectural Heritage of Gujarat: Interpretation, Appreciation, Values, by Miki Desai and Madhavi Desai

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