'Architecture needs spirit, not spectacle': Peter Stutchbury at Charles Correa Memorial Lecture

Time of India

3 days ago

'Architecture is not just about building. It's about belonging.' That message echoed through a city venue on Saturday evening as Australian architect Peter Stutchbury delivered the keynote address at the 8th Charles Correa Memorial Lecture—an event that continues to attract some of the sharpest minds in architecture and design.
Speaking to a packed hall of architects, students, and enthusiasts, Stutchbury later sat down with us for an in-depth conversation on Indian architecture. Here's what he had to say.
"If I were to work in India, I wouldn't bring my light nature—I'd bring a different kind of thinking. Architecture here must grow from its own soil, its own spirit."
— Peter Stutchbury
Lessons in listening
Stutchbury spoke about his work in different parts of the world, especially his context-sensitive projects in Brazil and rural Australia.
'The more foreign the land, the more you need to listen,' he said, pointing to how local topography, culture, and climate should inform design. These projects, unlike concrete-heavy urban builds, were shaped by silence, nature and how communities actually live. He praised India's architectural legacy — especially structures like stepwells — for their ingenuity and deep ecological thinking.
'There's a different nature to thinking here.
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That's what needs to come forward again,' he said.
'India has the right minds — but needs cultural commitment'
In a candid post-lecture conversation, Stutchbury shared his thoughts on Indian architecture. 'There's a growing culture of architecture here. I've had the privilege of meeting some incredibly thoughtful and talented Indian architects,' he said. But he also cautioned that building a meaningful architectural future in a country as large and diverse as India would require more than just talent.
'It will need commitment from the culture at large — not just from the profession,' he stressed.
The AI warning: 'We're losing the ability to climb a tree'
One of the most animated parts of the evening was Stutchbury's critique of the growing influence of artificial intelligence. 'If you're educated by AI, how would you even know how to fight a war?' he asked, half-wryly, half-worried. He likened this detachment from physical experience to forgetting how to climb a tree — something that requires balance, judgement, and trial-and-error.
'You don't just jump up. You have to know how you'll get down too.
That's what we're losing — and it will show in our buildings,' he warned.
'Context, climate, community'—The crowd responds
The lecture left a lasting impression on attendees across disciplines. 'Context, climate, and community — this lecture brought back all three,' said Saheli Ghosh, a former student of Jadavpur University and a regular at the series since 2016, who called it one of the most inspiring talks he has attended.
Ashmita Sadhu, now working in finance, was drawn to the session by her early love for art. 'Even though I don't work in architecture, talks like these pull me in.
They leave you thinking,' she said. For Sayan Chatterjee, a young professor teaching in Kolkata, the evening was a reminder of what's missing closer home. 'We need a better pedagogical system. Too many buildings look dull — they don't excite young minds. But what we saw today had poetry in it.'
'AI is replacing our intuition. If you're educated by it, you lose your ability to think on your feet—like climbing a tree without knowing how to get down. That loss is already showing in our buildings.'
— Peter Stutchbury
'Kolkata has always held space for thoughtful architecture. From Correa's legacy to ongoing projects like the Golf Township, the city continues to invite ideas that blend context, sustainability, and soul.' —
Harshavardhan Neotia,
chairman of the Ambuja Neotia Group