Renowned architect and urban planner Charles Correa breathed his last on Tuesday night, following a brief illness in Mumbai. He was 84
Renowned architect and urban planner Charles Correa breathed his last on Tuesday night, following a brief illness in Mumbai. He was 84.
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Correa has been credited for the creation of modern architecture in post-Independence India.
Charles Correa. Pic/AFP
He was the Chief Architect for Navi Mumbai from 1970-75 and was involved in extensive urban planning of the city. Charles Correa was appointed Chairman of the National Commission on Urbanization in 1985 by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Some of his notable contributions include, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Museum at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Kanchanjunga Apartment tower in Mumbai, the Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, MIT'S Brain and Cognitive Sciences Centre in Boston, and most recently, the Champalimad Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon. He designed the Parumala Church as well.
Charles Correa founded the Urban Design Research Institute in Bombay in 1984 and dedicated it to the protection of the built environment and improvement of urban communities.
Charles Correa was bestowed with Goa's highest civilian honour, the Gomant Vibhushan on 18 December 2011, the eve of the Golden Jubiliee of Liberation of Goa. The Royal Institute of British Architects held an retrospective exhibition, "Charles Correa – India's Greatest Architect" in 2013. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972, and second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan in 2006 by Government of India. He also received the 1984 Royal Gold Medal for architecture, by the Royal Institute of British Architects.