CPK ARCHIVES
The CPK Archives is the dedicated archival initiative of the CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence (CPKF). Rooted in the belief that architecture is a repository of culture and identity, the Archives serves as a comprehensive, methodically organized platform documenting and preserving the seminal projects and creative legacy of prolific architect C.P. Kukreja.
With an expansive career spanning over five decades, C.P. Kukreja's extensive body of work uniquely captures India's journey through modernization, industrialization, and globalization. Through meticulous archival practices, the CPKF Archives aims to create a well-structured, accessible resource of original architectural drawings, models, photographs, correspondence, and critical documents reflecting the evolution of modern architecture and urbanism in India.
Objectives of the CPK Archives:
- To systematically catalogue, digitize, and preserve the vast body of architectural projects and allied documentation created by C.P. Kukreja and his firm, CP Kukreja Architects.
- To provide an accessible and robust platform for scholarly research, educational inquiry, and professional inspiration.
- To stimulate meaningful dialogue about the evolution of modern architecture and planning practices in India and their continuing relevance.
- To encourage public engagement and appreciation of architecture as a vital cultural and historical narrative.
What the Archives Hold
The CPK Archives will gradually catalogue, digitize, and interpret a wide range of original material
- Architectural drawings – from hand-drafted plans and sections to conceptual sketches
- Photographic documentation – capturing construction phases, finished projects, and lived spaces
- Models and presentation boards – chronicling the design development of key commissions
- Written records – including project notes, correspondences, planning reports, and published texts
- Unbuilt works – a window into ideas that shaped the design imagination of the firm
Assembled directly from the CPKA studio and private collections, these materials illuminate the practice’s evolving response to climate, culture, policy, and technology — and its pivotal role in shaping India’s post-independence architectural identity.
Access and Usage
The CPK Archives welcomes students, educators, researchers, and professionals who wish to engage deeply with India’s architectural and planning heritage. We believe that archives are not just for preservation, but for activation — to inspire new ideas, inform contemporary practice, and support thoughtful inquiry.
Whether you are exploring a thesis, curating an exhibition, or simply tracing the evolution of modern architecture in India, the Archives offer a rich body of primary material waiting to be rediscovered.
Access to the CPK Archives is available by simple registration, with the intent of understanding how best to support your research or creative project. Our aim is to create a respectful and collaborative space for knowledge exchange.
Who Can Access
- Students and educators seeking material for coursework, studios, or dissertations
- Researchers and historians conducting focused studies in architecture, urbanism, or culture
- Practicing professionals looking for reference or design precedents
- Curators, journalists, and filmmakers working on cultural narratives of the built environment
- Lifelong learners with a genuine interest in India’s architectural evolution
How It Works
- Fill out a brief access form to tell us who you are and what you’re looking for.
- Select the collection(s) you’re interested in exploring.
- Use the material for your project — and share the outcome with us if you’d like!
We review each request to understand your intent and ensure we can provide the right material in the right format. Many items are already digitized; some may take time to retrieve or interpret.
Terms at a Glance
- Materials may be used for non-commercial academic, research, or cultural work.
- Credit must be given as: “Courtesy: CPK Archives / CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence.”
- For commercial, exhibition, or published use, we encourage a conversation so we can support your process and documentation.
