Jan. 29, 2010

Catholic University's School of Architecture and Planning explores the architecture of India in its 2010 Spring Lecture Series, which starts Feb. 1 with a lecture titled "Bombay - Past Present Future."

As part of the lecture series, "Crossing Boundaries: Modernism and Indian Cultural Traditions," the first talk focuses on Bombay, now called Mumbai, a city whose population of approximately 14 million ranks among the largest in the world. The architecture and planning school presents the series in partnership with the Embassy of India and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

The spring 2010 lectures are the latest in the school's annual series, which explores the architecture of different countries in partnership with embassies in D.C. Past lecture series have explored the architecture of Peru, Norway, Austria, Finland, Switzerland and Japan.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Indian Embassy to bring such an eminent panel of speakers on the culture of India to our school," says Randall Ott, dean of architecture and planning. "As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is a country about which every architectural student will need to be very aware."

All lectures start at 5:30 p.m. The lecture dates, speakers and locations follow:

  • Monday, Feb. 1, Dhiru A. Thadani, principal at Thadani Architect, Washington, D.C., "Bombay - Past Present Future," Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies, Koubek Auditorium
  • Monday, Feb. 22, James L. Wescoat Jr., Aga Kahn Professor of Architecture at Massachusetts Institute of technology, "From Gaze to Gaz: A New Interpretation of Humayun's Tomb-Garden and the Nizamuddin Area of Delhi," Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies, Koubek Auditorium
  • Wednesday, March 31, Brinda Chinnappa Somaya, Somya & Kalappa Consultants, India, "India's Changing Landscape: Building and Beyond," Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies, Koubek Auditorium
  • Tuesday, April 6, Nimish Patel of Abhikram, a planning, architecture, conservation and interiors consultancy firm in India, "Relevance of Traditional Materials, Technology and Craftsmanship in Contemporary Architecture and Interior Design," Embassy of India, 2107 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.
  • Monday, April 12, Rahul Mehrotra, RMA Architects, India, "Architecture and Cultural Significance: Conservation and Contemporary Projects," Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies, Koubek Auditorium

A reception will follow. The lectures are free, open to the public and offer AIA continuing education learning units. For more information, call 202-319-5188.

MEDIA: To cover the lectures, reporters must contact Katie Lee or Mary McCarthy in CUA's Office of Public Affairs at 202-319-5600.

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