Hoof, Chandrashekar both choose IIMB, the only building to be picked by two leading Indian architects
17 JANUARY, 2023: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore campus is one of 12 buildings picked by 13 leading architects of India as their favourite building in the country, in an initiative undertaken by Dezeen to ask the architects to name their homeland’s most significant piece of architecture. The IIMB is the only building picked by two architects as their favourite – by Khushnu Panthaki Hoof, principal architect at Studio Sangath, and by Shalini Chandrashekar, co-founder and principal architect at Taliesyn.
The IIMB campus, completed in 1983, was the project of Balkrishna Doshi, who last year received the RIBA Royal Gold Medal.
The other buildings to figure in the list include Lotus Mahal, Hampi (14th century), Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, by Charles Correa (1982), India International Centre, New Delhi, by Joseph Allen Stein (1962), Palace of Assembly, Chandigarh, by Le Corbusier (1962), Mill Owners' Association Building, Ahmedabad, by Le Corbusier (1954), The India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, by Joseph Allen Stein (1993), Golconde House, Puducherry, by Antonin Raymond (1945) among others.
Justifying his choice of IIMB as his favourite building, Hoof said, “To me, the IIM Bangalore campus demonstrates how architecture can become a backdrop, spur activities and generate dialogues. I am personally intrigued by the way in which this campus encourages everyone to slow down, take time, look around and get immersed in oneself. Strolling through the campus is almost like a journey of self-discovery as it plays with the idea of elasticity of time, movement and activities. Moreover, it re-emphasises Doshi’s open-ended approach to architecture that renders a timeless quality to this campus.”
Chandrashekar echoed a similar sentiment and held forth on the connect between the user and the building, and the pervasive theme of nature. “It’s one of the most influential pieces of modern architecture. It has transformed how places of education are built and designed in India,” she remarked. “The most important design element to me is the connection between the user and the building, which forms the basis of architecture. Furthermore, the planning caters to varied experiences amidst nature, forming an inclusive ecosystem with the existing and built. Manoeuvring through this space, one constantly encounters changes in scale, volume and landscape, from open vistas to courtyards and the built. The materials draw tactical nuances and are understated, forming a muted backdrop for the landscape around. These materials in raw form show the ageing of the architecture beautifully. The vertical experiences through staircases have also been sculpted to enhance the user experience and pique curiosity with changes in levels and landscape.”
Dezeen is a respected online architecture, interiors and design magazine based in London, which was created by Marcus Fairs and launched in November 2006.