Christopher Charles Benninger: Difference between revisions

{{Multiple issues|{{COI|date=December 2023}}}}

'''Christopher Charles Benninger''' (born 23 November 1942) is an [[India]]n [[architect]] and [[urban planner]]. Born in the US, he permanently migrated to India in 1971. Benninger is noted for his contributionscontributed to the evolutionfield of [[critical regionalism]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-16 |title=Critical Regionalism in the Post-Colonial Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |first=Sumantra |last=Misra |publisher=[[Issuu]] |url=https://issuu.com/sumantramisra/docs/critical_regionalism_in_the_post-co |access-date=2023-08-17}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Bahga |first=Sanyam |last2=Raheja |first2=Gaurav |date=2018-12-01 |title=An account of critical regionalism in diverse building types in postcolonial Indian architecture |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263518300530 |journal=Frontiers of Architectural Research |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=473–496 |doi=10.1016/j.foar.2018.09.001 |issn=2095-2635}}</ref> and sustainable planning in India.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rajput |first=Aman Singh |date=2020 |editor-last=Ahmed |editor-first=Sirajuddin |editor2-last=Abbas |editor2-first=S. M. |editor3-last=Zia |editor3-first=Hina |title=Intelligent Urbanism Guiding the Smart City Region Development: Case Study of Bhopal |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-2545-2_36 |journal=Smart Cities—Opportunities and Challenges |series=Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering |language=en |location=Singapore |publisher=Springer |pages=423–442 |doi=10.1007/978-981-15-2545-2_36 |isbn=978-981-15-2545-2}}</ref>

Following his departure from the position of professor at [[Harvard University|Harvard]] in 1971, Benninger came to [[Ahmedabad]], where he was appointed as a [[Ford Foundation]] advisor to the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CEPT University |url=https://cept.ac.in/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=[[CEPT University]]}}</ref> In collaborationHe withalso founded the [[B.Center V.for Development Studies Doshiand Activities]], hein co-founded1976 with Aneeta Gokhale Benninger. He serves on the Facultyboard of Planningdirectors atof [[CEPT University]], wherewhich he currentlyfounded serveswith on[[B. theV. board of management.Doshi]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 October 2017 |title=Board of Management CEPT University |date=5 October 2017 |url=https://architecture.live/cept-university-academic-hub-ahmedabad-christopher-charles-benninger/}}</ref> He also founded the [[Center for Development Studies and Activities]] in 1976 with Aneeta Gokhale Benninger. In 2024, he was awarded a [[Honorary degree|Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa)]] in Architecture from [[CEPT University]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=CEPT University: Honorary doctorates for noted urban planner Bertaud and architect Benninger |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/cept-university-honorary-doctorates-for-noted-urban-planner-bertaud-and-architect-benninger-9091080/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Benninger is also an author in the field of architecture and urbanism. He 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 <ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-12 |title=Acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger launches book on architecture |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/acclaimed-architect-christopher-benninger-launches-book-on-architecture-2908090/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Benninger's architectural studio CCBA Designs is based out of [[Pune]], which specialises in [[sustainable design]] solutions.

==EarlyPersonal lifeLife and education==

Benninger is married to Aneeta Gokhale Benninger, an [[environmentalist]], and has one son.<ref>{{Cite web |title=People |url=https://cdsaindia.org/people/ |website= CDSA}}</ref>

In 1971, Benninger returned to India as a [[Ford Foundation]] consultant to the [[Ahmedabad Education Society]] to help set up the [[CEPT University|School of Planning]] in 1972 along with [[Yoginder K Alagh|Yoginder Alagh]] and [[B. V. Doshi|B.V. Doshi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cept School of Planning founders look back over 40 years |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-cept-school-of-planning-founders-look-back-over-40-years-1798697 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref> Benninger shifted to [[Pune]] in 1976 where he founded the [[Center for Development Studies and Activities]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Apurva Bose |last=Dutta|url=http://www.archpresspk.com/m10_interview.htm |title=Christopher Charles Benninger speaks on Architecture |website=Archi Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707160139/http://www.archpresspk.com/m10_interview.htm |archive-date=2011-07-07}}</ref> In 1983, Benninger wrote the theme paper for the [[United Nations Human Settlements Programme|United Nations Commission on Human Settlements]] 1984. In 1986, he wassuccessfully engagedargued byto the [[Asian Development Bank]] to author their position paper on [[urban development]], successfully arguing the case for extending financial assistance to the urban development sector.<ref name="Benninger 1988 12–30">{{Cite journal |last=Benninger |first=Christopher C. |date=1988 |title=Human resources development for the improvement of human settlements |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43622047 |journal=Ekistics |volume=55 |issue=328/329/330 |pages=12–30 |issn=0013-2942}}</ref> Benninger is on the board of editors of ''[[Cities (journal)|Cities]]'' journal, published in the UK.<ref>[http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaleditorialboard.cws_home/30396/editorialboard Elsevier.com]</ref>

One of Benninger's first projects was an [[Economically Weaker Section|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|site-and-services]] approach to EWS housing in [[Arumbakkam|Arunbakkam]]. In 1976, Benninger assisted [[Hyderabad Urban Development Authority]] in its first project, a 2000-unit township for government employees.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jain |first=AK |title=Housing for All |publisher=Khanna Publishing House |year=2019 |isbn=9789386173560 |pages=74, 78}}</ref> He designed the [[SOS Children's Villages]] in [[Bawana]] (in 1975) and a village in [[Kolkata|Kolkatta]] (three years later in 1978).<ref name=":0" /> In 1976, designed the [[Alliance française|Alliance Fraincase]] Centre in Ahmedabad in the [[Modern architecture|modern style]]. In 1984, he designed the campus for the [[Center for Development Studies and Activities]] which he had founded in 1976.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lang |first=Jon |title=A concise history of modern architecture in India |date=2002 |publisher=Permanent Black : Distributed by Orient Longman Ltd |isbn=978-81-7824-017-6 |location=New Delhi}}</ref>

As a World Bank consultant, Benninger planned out the site and services, core housing, and slum upgradation programmes for the [[Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority|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 [[Ministry of National Development Planning|Urban Development Ministry]]. AlsoLater inthat 1979year, under Christopher Benninger and Aneeta Benninger, CDSA developed India's pilot Integrated Rural Development Program.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Benninger |first=Christopher C. |date=1987-01-01 |title=Training for the improvement of human settlements |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0197397587900440 |journal=Habitat International |series=Special Issue Land Use Control |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=145–160 |doi=10.1016/0197-3975(87)90044-0 |issn=0197-3975}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Settlements |first=United Nations Centre for Human |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8QgHFBtQzsC&newbks=0&hl=en |title=Women and Human Settlements Development |date=1989 |publisher=UN-HABITAT |isbn=978-92-1-131118-1 |language=en}}</ref> This program was replicated in [[Etawah]] in 1981. In this period, CDSA also prepared social inputs for Area Development Plans in Goa and Almora.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Economics, development, and the quest for alternatives: essays in honour of professor M. A. Oommen |date=1997 |publisher=Concept Publ. Co |isbn=978-81-7022-678-9 |editor-last=George |editor-first=Kolanjiyil Kuriakose |edition=1. publ |location=New Delhi |editor-last2=Oommen |editor-first2=Malayil A.}}</ref> With UNICEF, he led a CDSA team to prepare a plan of actionfor the development of Bhutan (1979–80).<ref name="Benninger 1988 12–30"/> He was engaged by the [[United Nations Human Settlements Programme|UNCHS]] to develop plans for six cities in Sri Lanka: [[Jaffna|Jafna]], [[Ratnapura]], [[Kalutara]], [[Hambantota]], [[Galle]] and [[Matara, Sri Lanka|Matara]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Benninger |first=Christopher C. |date=1988 |title=Seminar on urban management and finance for South Asian countries |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0264-2751(88)90008-x |journal=Cities |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=194–199 |doi=10.1016/0264-2751(88)90008-x |issn=0264-2751}}</ref> In 1986, Benninger worked on the development plan for [[Thane]] and [[Kalyan]] with a focus on [[urban management]] and poverty upliftment.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Centre |first=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZgtAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&hl=en |title=Register of Development Research Projects in Asia and the Pacific |last2=Centre |first2=Asian and Pacific Development |last3=Pacific |first3=Association of Development Research and Training Institutes of Asia and the |date=1989 |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development |isbn=978-92-64-03237-8 |language=en}}</ref> In 2001, Benninger was appointed to prepare the [[structure plan]] for [[Thimphu]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Benninger |first=Christopher Charles |date=2002 |title=Principles of intelligent urbanism: The case of the new Capital Plan for Bhutan |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43619538 |journal=Ekistics |volume=69 |issue=412/413/414 |pages=60–80 |issn=0013-2942}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=SONAM |first=DHENDUP |last2=SHERAB |first2=JATSHO |last3=SONAM |first3=TSHERING |date=2021 |title=EXPLORING TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A RESEARCH STUDY UNDERTAKEN IN THIMPHU DISTRICT SCHOOLS |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.14.3.17523 |journal=i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=29 |doi=10.26634/jpsy.14.3.17523 |issn=0973-8827}}</ref> 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.<ref>Benninger Architectonics USA Inc. (2004) Gelephu Structure Plan, Bhutan</ref><ref>Benninger Architectonics USA Inc. (2004) Samtse Structure Plan, Bhutan</ref> In 2012, he designed the new town of [[Denchi Bhutan|Denchi]] in East Bhutan. Benninger's work in urban design, city management and town planning resulted in his [[principles of intelligent urbanism]].<ref>[http://www.dudh.gov.bt/Thimphustructural/Index.html Dudh.gov.bt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623013525/http://www.dudh.gov.bt/Thimphustructural/Index.html|date=2010-06-23}}</ref>

Benninger's designs include the [[Mahindra United World College of India]], the [[Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies]], the [[YMCA International Camp, Nilshi, India|YMCA International Camp in Nilshi, India]], the Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies, [[Azim Premji University]], Bengaluru and the International School Aamby. The Centre for Life Sciences Health and Medicine in Pune radically departs from his earlier work.{{How|date=January 2024}}<ref>[http://www.g-therapy.org/index.php/center-campus.html G-therapy.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512195745/http://www.g-therapy.org/index.php/center-campus.html |date=2010-05-12}}</ref> [[Liane Lefaivre]] and [[Alexander Tzonis]] have noted Benninger's work as one of the first instances of critical regionalism in India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tzonis |first=Alexander |title=Critical regionalism: architecture and identity in a globalised world |last2=Lefaivre |first2=Liane |date=2003 |publisher=Prestel |isbn=978-3-7913-2972-7 |series=Architecture in focus |location=Munich New York}}</ref>