8/8/2019 framptom & correa
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CHARLES CORREA / Kenneth Frampton and Charles Correa.--New York,
N. Y.:Thames and Hudson, dist. by W. W. Norton, October 1997.--272
p.: ill.--ISBN 0-500-09268-0: $65.00.
Charles Correa is one of the best known architects of India.
Born and raised in India, he
is a Western-educated architect, who earned degrees in
architecture from both theUniversity of Michigan and Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. He returned to Indiato practice and the
body of his work has been completed there. His work reflects
thespirit of and is sensitive to the economic and spiritual needs
of his native land.
Correa's work has been featured in numerous books and journals
from around the world.He is also a prolific writer and has been
widely published. He is featured inContemporary Architects
(Chicago, Ill.: St. James Press, 1987) and The Dictionary ofArt. In
presentation, content, and format, this volume is remarkably
similar to a previousvolume about the architect, titled Charles
Correa, and written by Hasan-Uddin Khan(London, England:
Butterworth Architecture, 1987). In fact, although the publishers
are
different , this title is essentially an updated version of the
earlier title.
This latest book about Correa provides many examples of his
work. In the discussion ofeach project there are good color
photographs of each work; in addition, plans, site plans,sections,
axonometrics and elevations are often, but not always, featured for
eachproject. Inthose cases where the projects are discussed in both
books, the documentation provided isthe same as in the earlier
title. Although there are a few projects that are duplicated inboth
books, there are also many new projects presented that make this
title worthpurchasing. Accompanying each project is a brief
discussion of the work by Correahimself. This is another advantage
over the previous title, for here we are able to learn
the architect's vision or description of the work, rather than
anothers interpretation.
The book has an introduction by Kenneth Frampton, who discusses
the architecturalforms developed by Correa throughout his career.
An essay titled "The Blessings of theSky" by Correa discusses the
history of Indian architecture and its relationship to
thesurrounding environment; he posits that environment, be it
natural or man-made,influences new architecectural design and
relates this idea to his own work. This essay,not present in Khans
study, is a welcome addition to an understanding of
Correasarchitecture.
This volume also includes a chronology of works tracing Correa's
development throughbuilt and unbuilt projects from 1958 through
1996. All projects include a brief paragraphfeaturing a description
of the site and or purpose of the project and sometimes a
sentenceabout the importance of the work in his development. Nearly
all the projects areillustrated by a small black-and-white
photograph; in cases where the project wascompleted the photograph
is of the building, and in those cases where the project wasunbuilt
there are photographs of the models.The book also includes a
section titled "Biodata" which presents a listing of
Correa'sprofessional experience, works published, interviews,
essays, teaching and exhibitions.
