AH Lecture Series

• Architectural Styles of India

The research aims to create a repository or knowledge base about various old styles of architecture found in the country, with heritage as a central concern. This research relies upon the different geo-climatic regions across the country as primary indigenous sources as well as determinants of architecture in material and cultural terms. The process categorises architecture in three broad groups according to the extent of human intervention in shaping of the materials in construction of buildings and their stylistic expressions and their dispersion from local to global. This includes the so called Vernacular Architecture, Traditional Architecture and Monumental Architecture presented in fresh new format.

One of the aspects of the research is to create a database, accessible through web systems, by connecting a variety of resources on heritage buildings in our country. As part of the research on Architectural Styles of India, public lectures are organised with the help of resource persons from various parts of the country. These talks enrich the research project as well as share knowledge.

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The first Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 9th August 2019. This was by Dr Benny Kuriakose on ‘Influence of Technology, Climate, Society and Culture in Architecture with Specific Reference to Kerala’.

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The second Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 27th September 2019. This was by senior architect Hemen Sanghvi on ‘Native States and Colonialism: Kathiawar and Kutch’.

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The third Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 18th October 2019. This was by Prof. K.T. Ravindran on ‘Timber Architecture: Pan Indian-Traditions’.

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The fourth Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 15th November 2019. This was by Architect Ritu Varuni on ‘The Community, the Settlement and the Shelter: The Vernacular Architecture of Nagaland’.

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The fifth Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 7th Feb 2020. This was by senior architect Tapan K. Chakravarty on ‘A Glimpse of Uttarakhand: Studies in Vernacular Architecture’.

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The sixth Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 26th Feb 2020. This was by Dr Sanghamitra Basu on ‘Built Heritage of Bengal: A Crucible of Diversity’.

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The seventh Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on an online platform, on 17th August 2020. This was by Prof Kulbhushan Jain on ‘Structure Defining Style: A Case of Rajasthan’.

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The eighth Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on an online platform, on 19th September 2020. This was by Mr Janhwij Sharma, Jt DG, ASI, on ‘The Architecture of the Western Himalayas: In a League of its Own’.

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The Ninth Talk in AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organized on an online platform, on 14th July 2021. This was dedicated to works of Senior Architect Didi Contractor by various speakers who have been associated and worked with Didi. This was titled ‘Vernacular Processes: A Tribute to Didi Contractor’.

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The tenth talk in the AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 27th December 2022. This talk was by Dr Vandana Baweja on ‘Vernacular Architecture and Climate: Tropical Architecture in India & Florida’.

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The eleventh talk in the AH Lecture Series on Architectural Styles of India was organised on 24th March 2023. This talk was by Senior Conservator Architect, Prof. Mr Manish Chalana on ‘Continuity and Change: Valuing Everyday Places in Conservation Practice’