Christopher Charles Benninger (23.11.1942 – 02.10.2024) was an American-born Indian architect who contributed significantly to the field of critical regionalism and sustainable planning in India. He studied urban planning at MIT and architecture at Harvard University, where he later taught. Despite his illustrious career in the USA, Benninger chose India as his karmbhumi and worked here for over five decades. Recently, he left this world on 2nd October 2024 at the age of 82. Before his passing, Benninger was working on the book “Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect,” which was published and released during the memorial prayer held for him on 22nd October 2024. The book is thus a last gift to all architects, planners and students.
“Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect” is a sequel to Christopher Benninger’s bestselling book, “Letters to a Young Architect.” This book is a chronicle of his life’s journey to find the spirit of architecture, replete with anecdotes and experiences from his pursuit spanning more than half a century. It captures his concerns about architectural education, design and practice. Like “Letters to a Young Architect,” this is a collection of autobiographical narratives and ideas from his articles and lectures over the past two decades. It is his story of self-discovery and a testament to his search for truth.
“Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect” reflects on contemporary architectural practice and its role in improving human conditions. It gives directions to students and practitioners alike. Benninger notes his encounters with his gurus and how their passion for humanity shaped the lives of others. He firmly believes in the guru-shishya tradition, a lineage of values, ideals, principles and practices that have matured from generation to generation. In this vein, he calls the spirit of architecture the spirit of continuity.
Christopher Benninger believed that we are at a critical juncture in the evolution of architecture as a profession. He opined that the architects of today and tomorrow hold great power and responsibility towards creating a better world for everyone. For this, he had Great Expectations.
Edited by Karan S. Gandhi and published by CEPT University Press, Ahmedabad, “Great Expectations” is a sizeable treatise of 295 pages comprising about 90,000 words. It is dedicated to Ramprasad Akkisetti, a long-time associate of Christopher Benninger. The entire text has been subdivided into four sections, i.e., 1. Architect in the Making, 2. Architect in the Studio, 3. Architect in the Labyrinth, 4. Architect in History, and followed by Postscript: The Spirit of Architecture. A noted Indian architect, Bimal Patel has written the Foreword to the book.
In the words of Christopher Benninger, “This book is a collection of things that have pulled me along in this search. Like my ‘Letters to a Young Architect,’ these ‘Notes’ are a compilation of my interactions with students and professionals over the years, which took place in locations ranging from lecture halls in architectural schools to boardrooms in my client’s offices. They span many years of my life and showcase the ideas that have inspired me, ideas I want to pass on to others. They also offer evidence of some universal truths I have discovered over the years and now want to posit to young minds with great expectations. Years ago, exploring a Mizo village near India’s border with Burma, I stumbled upon an aged sign that read, ‘You have come so far to visit us; leave something behind, good or bad!’ With great expectations, this book is my attempt to do the same.”
In the first section, ‘Architect in the Making’, the reader will get a sense of the incredible people Benninger has met, conversed and worked with. One will understand who his great teachers were and what early travel taught him. In the second section, ‘Architect in the Studio,’ readers will understand his architectural philosophy and his thoughts on practice. If one reads this book along with his “Christopher Benninger: Architecture for Modern India,” one will get a sense of the fascinating problems he has tackled and his vast body of work. The third section, ‘Architect in the Labyrinth,’ contains his musings on architecture – streams of thoughts about architecture and life. The fourth section, ‘Architect in History,’ reflects on his legacy and his thoughts on Indian Architecture.
In the Postscript ‘The Spirit of Architecture’, Benninger wrote, “The spirit of a piece of architecture is the spirit of continuity; each work is an answer to all the proceeding works; each contains all the previous experiences of the world of architecture! What is called a masterpiece lies on the cusp between the past and the future. It gathers all the lessons we are endowed with and generates a new legacy for future generations.”
“Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect” echoes Gio Ponti’s famous book “In Praise of Architecture.” It is replete with numerous quotable quotes on architecture and architectural education. Reproduction of some of them will give the readers a sufficient idea about the contents:
“Creative attempts, exploratory acts and discovery processes are modes to search for the self.”
“Just as the Olympic Torch is passed from one runner to the next and is kept burning forever. A spark of inspiration is passed on through their (teachers and gurus) humanity and brilliance.”
“We must learn from the past to formulate actions in the present that change the future.”
“A sustainable building is also poetic, uplifting, and a statement of hope.”
“Architecture is an experience of a place and not the built form.”
“Continuity and harmony should be achieved through consistency in the architectural language and the environment.”
“In aesthetics, there are no issues of right or wrong, but there are issues of balance, harmony and the golden mean.”
“Architecture is a curious craft. One structure may follow all the laws of design yet be worthless, while another may break all the principles and be profound!”
“Architecture finds its relevance by addressing the contemporary societal problems of its time.”
“The marriage between poetry and technology sets architecture aside from plain old engineering!”
“Great Expectations: Notes to an Architect” manifests Christopher Benninger’s lifelong quest for innovation and excellence. All architects and architecture students are strongly recommended to have a personal copy of this book as a lifelong companion for inspiration and motivation.
Book Details:
- ISBN: 978-93-83184-88-0
- Publisher: CEPT University Press, Ahmedabad
- Paperback: 295 pages
- Item Weight: 500 g
- Dimensions: 22 x 18.29 x 1.69 cm
- Country of Origin: India
Sarbjit Bahga (b1957) is a Chandigarh-based architect, author, photo artist, and archivist. He is the Principal Architect of Bahga Design Studio LLP. Earlier, Bahga worked in the Department of Architecture, Punjab, Punjab Health Systems Corporation, and Punjab Mandi Board in various positions.
He has more than 42 years of practical experience designing various types of buildings, complexes, and large campuses. His completed works include an eclectic range of administrative, recreational, educational, medical, residential, commercial, and agricultural buildings. A monograph on his selected works titled “MODERN REGIONALISM: The Architecture of Sarbjit Bahga” has been published.
Bahga is also a keen researcher and a prolific architectural writer. He has 12 books to his credit, which include Modern Architecture in India, New Indian Homes, Le Corbusier, and Pierre Jeanneret: The Indian Architecture, Trees in Urban Habitat, Landscaping Human Habitat, New Indian Architecture -1947-2020, and Hand-Drawn Perspectives and Sketches. Bahga’s contribution to architecture has been largely recognized. He is a three-time recipient of the World Architecture Community Awards. His name has been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for designing the “longest covered concrete corridor” in Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar.
