About
CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence’ has been instrumental in nurturing and promoting design in India. Named after the renowned architect and founder, Mr. C.P. Kukreja, the Foundation provides a platform for aspiring designers, students and amateurs to unleash their creative potential and contribute to the field of design. The Foundation's primary objective is to create a conducive environment for design education, research, and innovation. It operates with the belief that design plays a crucial role in shaping the world around us, and therefore, fostering design excellence is essential for sustainable development and societal progress.
The Foundation organizes various events, workshops, and seminars throughout the year to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration within the design community. These platforms provide students, educators, and professionals with opportunities to interact with industry experts, gain valuable insights, and stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the field of design. Some of the recent initiatives include the ‘NASA’s CP Kukreja Design Trophy’ that motivated students to find solutions to re-imagine India’s urban spaces while keeping sustainable goals in mind. The trophy received a record-breaking 800+ entries in its first year of commencement, which was judged by more than 22 globally recognized jury members from across the world.
HIGHLIGHTS
CP Kukreja Design Trophy 2024-25
The CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence, in collaboration with NASA, kicked off the 3rd edition of the NASA-CP Kukreja Design Trophy at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, with an electrifying showcase of creativity! This year's theme, "Urban Harmony: Reimagining Community Spaces," challenged students to breathe new life into neglected urban spaces, turning them into vibrant, sustainable community hubs.
With Chief Guest Mr. Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, and Guests of Honour H.E. Ms. Jacqueline Mukangira, High Commissioner of Rwanda, and Architect Ashish Gupta, Chairman of the IIA - Northern Chapter, the event was a celebration of innovation. The jury panel-featuring Architect Shhilpi Sinha, Architect Manu Mahajan, Mr. Jamal Sheikh, Architect Tapan K. Chakravarty, and Artist Jatin Das-led a thought-provoking panel discussion on the Interdisciplinarity of Design, moderated by Dikshu C. Kukreja, bringing fresh perspectives on the future of urban spaces and design!
An Odyssey of India's Architecture': Exhibition at Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania
The exhibition "An Odyssey of India's Architecture", curated by the CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence, was inaugurated at the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania. It offered a comprehensive overview of India's architectural journey over the past five decades, with a special focus on the contributions of CP Kukreja Architects in tackling global challenges such as climate change and sustainable urbanization. Supported by the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation of Albania and the Faculty of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Tirana, the exhibition was inaugurated by Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation. This event underscored the importance of cultural and architectural exchanges between India and Albania, fostering a deeper understanding and collaboration in the realms of design and sustainability.
Re-imagining Architectural Transformations in Post-Independent India
The much-anticipated exhibition Reimagining Architectural Transformations in Post-Independent India concluded successfully on 30th September 2024, with an engaging evening at the iconic Nehru Centre, London. Hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the High Commission of India in London and CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence, the the event highlighted five decades of India's architectural journey, post-independence, offering attendees an immersive exploration of the country's evolving built environment.
The event was graced by a keynote address from Dr. Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE, Chief Executive of RIBA.
An insightful dialogue titled "Empire to Expression - Transition from Colonial to Independent Architectural Styles" featured Mr. Dikshu C. Kukreja, Managing Principal of CP Kukreja Architects, alongside Ar. Sumita Singha OBE, RIBA Trustee, Architect, and Author. Moderated by Anmol Ahuja, Features Editor at STIR, the discussion delved into the critical shifts in India's architectural identity.
The Masterplan at CEPT University, Ahmedabad
'The Masterplan' delve into the early days of JNU, showcasing how its design reflected India's democratic aspirations and national policies. It explored how C. P. Kukreja's vision transformed the university into a sanctuary within the Aravalli hills of New Delhi, harmonizing with its geological and ecological context. This retrospective highlighted the role of JNU's architecture in nation-building and its legacy of blending modern innovation with traditional wisdom.
The event was held at the Lilavati Lalbhai Library, CEPT University
India Art Fair, New Delhi
'The Masterplan', an Exhibition which was commissioned by CP Kukreja Foundation and curated by Vishal K Dar, celebrated 55 years of Jawaharlal Nehru University and the work of Late Master Architect, CP Kukreja. The exhibition captivated its audience with narratives that have been integral to India's architectural evolution. Seamlessly blending art, architecture, and design, it unveiled the history of Modern India through original hand-drawn sketches, architectural models and archival documents.
Jawaharlal Nehru University rose to prominence in the 1970s. The retrospective exhibition guided visitors through various chapters of its evolution, illuminating the intersections between architecture, citizenship, and nationhood. At its heart, the exhibition delved into the beginning of the first South Asian endeavor to forge a truly Indian university archetype. Envisioned as a microcosm within the southern foothills of New Delhi's Aravalli range, the institution symbolized India's aspiration to have correspondence with the world. It unraveled the architectural intricacies of JNU, contextualizing its symbiotic relationship with the surrounding ecology. A standout feature was a sprawling, ten-foot hybrid exhibit, projecting JNU's Masterplan.
Arunima Kukreja, Director at CPKF and the ideator behind the exhibition, remarked, "This marks a milestone as CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence's inaugural exhibition dedicated to Jawaharlal Nehru University. Securing this monumental project through a national competition in 1969, Architect CP Kukreja laid the foundation for Indian Modernism. Spanning over a thousand acres, the university stands as a testament to growth, learning, and innovation, embodied within its spatial and earthly design."
CP Kukreja Design Trophy 2023-24
We are proud to announce the winners of the CP Kukreja Trophy 2023-24.
1. First Prize: Swabhanu B, Suneha Chandrashekar, and Prasuna Chandrika Yeleti from SPA, Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University.
2. Second Place: Nandana Menon, S Sruthi, and Vishnu K Saseendra from SCMS School of Architecture.
3. Third Place: Joyron Carvalho and Srushti Joshi from DY Patil School of Architecture, Pune.
The theme of the trophy this year focused on 'Revitalization of History.' Participants were challenged to reimagine India's iconic historical structures, aiming to infuse new life into our cities while preserving their heritage. The jurors, including Jayendra Shah, Bhawna Dandona, Divya Kush, Sapna Srivastava, Prashant Sutaria, and Marius Andreas Ryrko, provided valuable insights and expertise in evaluating the submissions, further enriching the dialogue on architectural innovation and heritage preservation in India.
