The 7th edition of the Annual Charles Correa Memorial Lecture was held on 6th July, 2024, in the presence of distinguished guests and delegates at Royal Bengal Room, City Centre Salt Lake.
Started in 2016, the event marks the death anniversary of the master architect of post-Independent India and is held annually in his honour.
The Lecture, supported by Charles Correa Foundation, was delivered by eminent architect Andra Matin from Indonesia.
Isandra (Andra) Matin, a major force within contemporary Indonesian and Asian architecture, is often described as “an extraordinary architect with an extraordinary vision.” With a rich portfolio comprising a variety of works, Andra Matin was awarded with five IAI (Indonesian Institute of Architects) Awards in 1999, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. In 2012, he was invited to take part in an architecture exhibition at GA Gallery, Tokyo. To date, Andra Matin has designed and built over a hundred projects throughout Indonesia which include houses, museums, galleries, restaurants, public parks, mosques and a multitude of other projects. Andra Matin has been one of the winners of The Aga Khan Award for Architecture’s 2020-2022 cycle, for designing the Banyuwangi Airport in Indonesia.
Born in Bandung in 1962, Andra Matin graduated in Architecture from Parahyangan University, Bandung, in 1981. After working as an architect from 1990-1998 in Grahacipta Hadiprana, he founded Andra Matin Architects, a studio based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Andra Matin has consistently attached himself to different forms of cultural expression through his projects till date. Recently celebrating his 62nd birthday, he shows no signs of slowing down, with a lot of ground-breaking projects still in the works.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambuja Neotia chairman Harshavardhan Neotia said, “Charles Correa’s legacy transcends the structures he had designed. His visionary ideas about architecture’s connection to society and the environment continue to inspire us. He championed architecture that reflects a place’s cultural soul while integrating modern advancements and sustainable practices. City Centre Salt Lake, a testament to this philosophy, stands as a beacon for architects and urban planners, urging them to create inclusive, liveable spaces that organically and holistically celebrate life.”
Ashish Acharjee, architect and Principal Organiser of the ‘Annual Charles Correa Memorial Lecture’, said, “First, I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to Ambuja Neotia chairman Harshavardhan Neotia, without whose unflinching support and passion this event would not have been possible. We invite architects from India and abroad who have demonstrated their skills and grip on the profession in a profound sort of a way, who have been coming here and showcasing their projects and also establishing a connect with the Correan values of society, culture, art and craft and above all critical regionalism. Andra Matin’s architecture has been establishing a serious connect with humans, the climate and the culture of the region that he has been practising his architecture in. His use of concrete, wood and exposed bricks in a myriad set of combinations to produce architecture is truly path-breaking and has been celebrated not only in his own country but across the world.”
Andra Matin joined an esteemed list of speakers of past editions of the Memorial Lecture, dating back to 2016. Previous speakers include Brinda Somaya from India, Bubhuti Man Singh from Nepal, C. Anjalendran from Sri Lanka, K.T Ravindran from India, Solano Benitez from Paraguay, Rahul Mehrotra from India, Richard Hassell from Singapore, Kamal Hadker from India, Kashef Chowdhury from Bangladesh, Uday Joshi from India, Sanjay Mohe from India, and Yung Ho Chang from China-USA.
