Christopher Charles Benninger (born 23 November 1942) is an Indian architect and urban planner. Born in the US, he permanently migrated to India in 1971. Benninger contributed to the field of critical regionalism[1][2] and sustainable planning in India.[3]
He has worked with various banks concerning policies, and with various countries and states to create development plans.
Benninger has written two books, Christopher Benninger: Architecture for a Modern India, a collection of his works, and Letters to a Young Architect, a collection of lectures and articles, which is a bestseller in India [7]
Benninger's architectural studio CCBA Designs is based out of Pune, which specialises in sustainable design solutions.
Personal life and education
Benninger was able to attend United Nations Security Council Meetings as an observer. Sir Robert Jackson, a friend of Benninger's uncle Adlai Stevenson II gifted Benninger a lifetime subscription to the development journal Ekistics, introducing him to a science of human settlement centered around Constantinos Apostolos Doxiadis's theories. Barbara Ward became Benninger's lifelong mentor, inviting him to the 1967 Delos Symposium in Greece.[8][9]
Benninger graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida in 1966. While at the University of Florida, he was a student founder of the Freedom Party. Under Martin Luther King's leadership, he and his sister, Judith Benninger Brown, actively supported the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), entering segregated cinema halls and restaurants with their African-American friends, and forcing the owners to allow access to African-Americans into their establishments.[10]
One of Benninger's first projects was an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) township in Jamnagar developed with the Gujarat Housing Board in 1972. In 1973, he worked with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and developed a site-and-services approach to EWS housing in Arunbakkam. In 1976, Benninger assisted Hyderabad Urban Development Authority in its first project, a 2000-unit township for government employees.[17] He designed the SOS Children's Villages in Bawana in 1975 and in Kolkatta three years later in 1978.[2] In 1976, designed the Alliance Fraincase Centre in Ahmedabad. In 1984, he designed the campus for the Center for Development Studies and Activities which he had founded in 1976.[18]
Planning
As a World Bank consultant, Benninger planned out the site and services, core housing, and slum upgradation programmes for the Calcutta Metropolitan Development in 1974. In 1979, he was a part of the team to design and programme Indonesia's first National Rural Development Program, in collaboration with the newly established Urban Development Ministry. Later that year, under Christopher Benninger and Aneeta Benninger, CDSA developed India's pilot Integrated Rural Development Program.[19][20] In this period, CDSA also prepared social inputs for Area Development Plans in Goa and Almora.[21] With UNICEF, he led a CDSA team to prepare a plan of actionfor the development of Bhutan (1979–80).[15] He was engaged by the UNCHS to develop plans for six cities in Sri Lanka: Jafna, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Hambantota, Galle and Matara.[22] In 1986, Benninger worked on the development plan for Thane and Kalyan with a focus on urban management and poverty upliftment.[23] In 2001, Benninger was appointed to prepare the structure plan for Thimphu.[24][25] In 2004, the Government of Bhutan along with the Government of India appointed him again to prepare plans for three towns along their shared border.[26][27] In 2012, he designed the new town of Denchi in East Bhutan. Benninger's work in urban design, city management and town planning resulted in his principles of intelligent urbanism.[28]
Mahindra United World College of India won the Designer of the Year Award[31] in 1999. It also was the recipient of the Business WeekArchitectural Record Award for Excellence in 2000. Business Week called the Mahindra United World College of India one of the ten super structures of the world in 2000.[32]
Publications
Benninger, C. (2011). Letters to a Young Architect. ISBN9788192156804
Christopher Benninger: Architecture for Modern India. Italy, Skira editore S.p.A, 2015. ISBN9788857226873
Awards
2024
Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal - Indian Institute of Architects[33]
2024
Honarary Doctorate of Philosophy in Architecture - CEPT University, Ahmedabad[33]
2023
India’s Top 10 Architects Awards - Construction World Architect and Builder (CWAB) Awards[33]
2019
Excellence in Architecture for Industrial category - Indian Institute of Architects[33]
2017
AD 50 Most Influential Architects & Interior Designers - Architectural Digest [33]
2015
Lifetime Achievement Award - BERG Awards for Real Estate(Singapore)[33]
2014
Excellence in Architecture for Industrial category - Indian Institute of Architects[33]
2013
Excellence in Architecture Green Architecture - Indian Institute of Architects[33]
2000
Excellence in Architecture for Public Building - Indian Institute of Architects[33]
^Jain, AK (2019). Housing for All. Khanna Publishing House. pp. 74, 78. ISBN9789386173560.
^Lang, Jon (2002). A concise history of modern architecture in India. New Delhi: Permanent Black : Distributed by Orient Longman Ltd. ISBN978-81-7824-017-6.
^George, Kolanjiyil Kuriakose; Oommen, Malayil A., eds. (1997). Economics, development, and the quest for alternatives: essays in honour of professor M. A. Oommen (1. publ ed.). New Delhi: Concept Publ. Co. ISBN978-81-7022-678-9.
^Centre, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development; Centre, Asian and Pacific Development; Pacific, Association of Development Research and Training Institutes of Asia and the (1989). Register of Development Research Projects in Asia and the Pacific. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. ISBN978-92-64-03237-8.
^Tzonis, Alexander; Lefaivre, Liane (2003). Critical regionalism: architecture and identity in a globalised world. Architecture in focus. Munich New York: Prestel. ISBN978-3-7913-2972-7.