Book documenting contemporary architecture of Chennai released

A new book documenting contemporary architecture in Chennai was released on Monday. Published by the Chennai Architecture Foundation (CAF) and The Hindu Group, the book has been curated by architects A. Srivathsan and Fiona Evangeline S.

Titled ‘Chennai Contemporary Architecture: A Guide’, the book was released by renowned architecture expert P.T. Krishnan in the presence of N. Murali, Chairman, The Hindu Group, N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group, Suresh Nambath, Editor, The Hindu, historian V. Sriram, and architect Pramod Balakrishnan.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Ram said the book was not a conventional “then versus now” account of Chennai’s architecture. He described it as a balanced and accessible guide that documented the city’s architectural evolution, particularly after the economic liberalisation of the 1990s.

Mr. Ram said the book would be useful not only to architecture students and professionals but also to others interested in the city and its built environment.

Of the 52 buildings featured in the book, 28 were mostly constructed after 1995, and have detailed descriptions, drawings, and interviews with architects. Another 24 buildings provide a broader view of the city’s architectural development.

Tracing the evolution of modern architecture in India, Mr. Krishnan said Chennai’s relative distance from dominant architectural schools had also given its architects a degree of freedom. “There are advantages to being in the wilderness because it offers you total freedom,” he said, adding that this freedom had been used productively by architects in the city. Mr. Krishnan said the book documented what he described as an “enlightenment” in the architectural scene, where external factors such as environmental conditions and human behaviour were increasingly shaping buildings. “This gives a new meaning to the idea that form follows function. I think the whole concept needs to be re-understood. If we understand this new interpretation of ‘form follows function’, I think we are ready for the future,” he said.

Historian V. Sriram welcomed the book’s attention to structural elements and the ways in which buildings responded to local requirements. “It just shows that creativity is not stopped, and it is not correct to trash everything as concrete and glass and cement and say that’s all finished,” he said.

Mr. Srivathsan said the book was conceived fundamentally as “an historical record of the present”. The decision to focus largely on buildings from 1995 onwards, he said, was driven by the significant changes in Chennai’s architectural landscape following economic reforms and the emergence of new generations of architects.

The cover price of the book is ₹699. As a launch offer, it is available at ₹550 for a limited period. The book can be purchased at https://publications.thehindugroup.com/ or by scanning the QR code.