6th ANNUAL CHARLES CORREA MEMORIAL LECTURE ORGANIZED BY AMBUJA NEOTIA GROUP
Kolkata, 15 July, 2023:
The 6th edition of the Charles Correa Memorial Lecture was held on 15th July 2023, in the presence of distinguished guests and delegates at the Royal Bengal Room, City Centre Salt Lake.
Starting in 2016, the event marks the death anniversary of the master architect of post-Independent India and is held annually in his honour.
The Lectures were delivered by two eminent architects, Brinda Somaya from Mumbai, India, and Bibhuti Man Singh from Kathmandu, Nepal.
Bibhuti Man Singh is a renowned architect known for being the chief brain behind Technical Interface in Kathmandu, Nepal. He comes with 50 years of architectural experience, having designed diverse buildings and promoted his country’s heritage. Singh’s pursuit of functional design aligns with his passion for cosmology, symbolism, and cultural roots.
Bibhuti Man Singh graduated from the West Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore in 1972. He obtained his post-graduate training in Japan. After serving the Nepal Government for a short stint, he set up his architectural practice in 1979.
Brinda Somaya is the Principal Architect of Somaya and Kalappa Consultants (SNK) in Mumbai, India. She is a celebrated architect and urban conservationist whose work spans over four decades, integrating architecture, conservation, and social equity. From rehabilitating earthquake-affected villages to restoring an eighteenth-century Cathedral, Somaya emphasizes the harmony between progress and history.
Brinda Somaya studied architecture at Mumbai University and was awarded a Master of Arts and Honorary Doctorate from Smith College in Northampton, United States. She started her firm Somaya and Kalappa Consultants (SNK) in 1978, in Mumbai, India.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambuja Neotia chairman Harshavardhan Neotia said, “Charles Correa’s legacy lies not only in his built works but also in his visionary ideas about the relationship between architecture, society, and the environment. He believed that architecture should be a reflection of the cultural identity of a place while embracing modern technology and sustainable design principles. City Centre Salt Lake, planned and designed by him, stands testimony to this commitment and inspires other architects and urban planners to create inclusive, livable spaces that celebrate life in an organic, holistic way.”
Ashish Acharjee, architect and principal organiser of the ‘Annual Charles Correa Memorial Lecture’ said, “When we celebrate architecture, we tend to look for a symbiotic assembly of material and non-material; body and spirit; built and non-built; past and future. It is always an exciting experience when a protagonist unfolds his or her journey toward the unknown. An architectural expression that combines history, tradition, and craft with technology, innovation, and modern materials has always stood out and contributed to the collection of architectural gems at all times. The stories that Brinda Somaya and Bibhuti Man Singh had to tell were fascinating.”
Brinda Somaya and Bubhuti Man Singh joined an esteemed list of speakers from past editions of the Memorial Lecture, dating back to 2016. Previous speakers include C. Anjalendran from Sri Lanka, K.T Ravindran from India, Solano Benitez from Paraguay, Rahul Mehrotra from India, Richard Hassell from Singapore, Kamal Hadker from India, Kashef Chowdhury from Bangladesh, Uday Joshi from India, Sanjay Mohe from India, and Yung Ho Chang from China-USA.
