Architect Sen Kapadia and a tale of 5 cities

Sen Kapadia, an architect rooted in modernism, belongs to the generation that left a mark on contemporary Indian architecture. “The book is a first-person account by the architect, who was now ‘re-looking’ at his practice of more than 40 years through a selection of eight seminal projects, along with new essays that shared and reflected on his philosophy and values.”Pinkish ShahArchitect-editor When Kapadia develops concepts for projects, there is a great relevance on the exploratory image. Over the course of his practice, Sen has used various devices like collages of Indian miniatures, serigraphs, flat projections, axonometrics, colour blocking, early wire frame computer models, three dimensional renders, and combinations thereof, in the unwavering search for alternate conceptions of space and form. That architecture spoke of place rather than a space, one that is deeply rooted in the psyche of the user.” The conception of ‘place’ holds a central location in Kapadia’s vision for design. These cities make Sen who he is: Bombay, for the fearlessness of growing up in a joint family in Girgaon amidst a rapidly transforming city; Nathdwara, for his deep roots and search for Indianness; Ahmedabad, for the freedom that came from his love of flying kites in the dense inner-city pols ; Pondicherry, for his spiritual awakening and a search for higher meaning; and finally New York, for transforming him into the modern man he likes to think he is.