Achyut Kanvinde-The Functionalist Architect

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  Achyut P. Kanvinde (1916 –2002), the Indian architect with functionalist approaches with elements of Brutalist architecture. He was born in Achra, in Konkan region of Maharashtra in 1916. He believed that a grid of columns forming a matrix giving structural and spatial aspect would turn a design more sophisticated and faceted. ·        1935: Studied architecture under Claude Batley in Sir J. J School of Arts ·        1945: Completed Masters from Harvard, student of Walter Gropius (Thesis on Science Laboratories) ·        1947: Chief Architect of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) ·        1955: Formed Kanvinde and Rai LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS ·         1976: Received the Padma Shree ·         1974-75: Became the president of IIA (Indian Institute of Architects) ·         1985: Winner of IIA “Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal” ·         1993: Awarded the Great Masters Award from JK Industries Ltd ·         Part of the jury on the competition for Indira
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Louvre Pyramid - The Introduction for Modern French Architecture

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Louvre Pyramid completed in1989, designed by I. M. Pei, is a large glass and metal pyramid in the main courtyard of Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) in Paris, France. The large pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum and is surrounded by three smaller pyramids. Amid the controversies that surrounded the structure, Louvre Pyramid stands in front of the world’s most visited museum and despite its relative youth, it has become a vital part of Paris’ renowned skyline.
The structure is entirely made up of glass segments and metal poles, and has a height of 21.6 meters (71 feet) and a base surface area of 1000 square meters (11,000 square feet). It has a total of 603 rhombus-shaped and 70 triangle-shaped glass segments, which was an effort to make the pyramid as transparent as possible. The main reason the Pyramid and the underground lobbies were created was the series of problems with Louvre’s original main entrance which could no longer handle the enormous number of visitors on an everyday basis. But now, the visitors enter through the pyramid, then pass the spacious lobby to enter the Louvre building. The plan was to distribute people into innumerable destinations within the building’s vast subterranean network.
Several other museums replicated this concept, one of which is the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Dolphin Centre. The modern glass structure contrasts the historic facades of the Louvre Museum which became a contemporary architectural landmark in no time.




I.M. PEI’S STYLES AND METHODS
I.M. Pei was a master of modern architecture and cubist themes. He combined traditional architectural elements with progressive designs based on simple geometric patterns. He studied Andre le Notre (France’s great landscape designer) who followed geometric patterns and Pei came up with the shape of the pyramid.
                 
No doubt the building has faced many controversies of various types and accusing Pei of not knowing anything about French Architecture and ending up creating a disaster in the name of modern architecture. But with the passing time, these controversies faded away and gave its way to the Louvre Pyramid to become one of the most famous structures of Paris.


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