An account of critical regionalism in diverse building types in postcolonial Indian architecture

Abstract

Critical regionalism is an architectural concept that seeks to balance local needs and capabilities with the progressive lessons of modernisation. Critical regionalism has been an influential architectural approach in postcolonial Indian architecture. Even before the term was coined in the 1980s, architects in India had subconsciously begun pursuing the ideas of critical regionalism in designing their buildings. The degree of influence of critical regionalism on postcolonial Indian architecture has varied over the course of time as a result of economic, political and social changes. This paper identifies key architectural projects realised in India since 1947 that adhere to the ideas and principles of critical regionalism. The identified regionalist projects have been categorised according to their building programmes and significant examples in each building type are discussed chronologically while bringing forth their qualities that make them regionalist in first place. By focussing on regionalist projects of significance in each building type, the paper highlights that critical regionalism is capable of producing potent architecture to cater to any building programme.