Interview with Tapan Chakravarty: Community, Culture and Climate

Flora Loughridge speaks with Delhi-based architect, urban designer and educator Tapan Chakravarty about building with true community impact. Tapan describes how traditional, vernacular housing in rural India mirrors the characteristics of the local environment, climate and natural materials – and how the lifestyle of villagers and their ways of using domestic spaces have been culturally inherited over many generations. Amongst other themes, Flora and Tapan explore how being curious about the past is key to understanding the built environment of today – this is a mindset that Tapan encourages in his students at the Pearl Academy’s School of Design in Delhi.

Tapan completed his Bachelor of Architecture and Masters in Urban Design from School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi; and PG Certificate in Higher Education from Nottingham-Trent University, UK. Professionally engaged since 1984 with a number of Architecture/Urban Design firms in Delhi and prestigious organisations such as UNDP and INTACH, Tapan has run his own architecture practice and worked on several interesting & innovative projects in Residential, Industrial & Interior Architecture, City Architecture & Public Precincts and Furniture & Architectural Products. He also had an award-winning entry in a national level Urban Design competition for a commercial urban infill.

Academically engaged since 1986 with a number of eminent Institutes in Delhi-NCR and in various capacities, such as Academic-Coordinator (TVB-SHS), HoD (Pearl Academy) and Dean (Sushant University), Tapan’s academic career covers many aspects of Architecture & Design Education including teaching & mentoring, curriculum development and pedagogical practices. He is also Visiting Faculty,Mentor & Examiner at several Institutes of Architecture & Design; including SPAs, IIT, NIFT, GGSIPU, DITU and ANU.