Modern architecture in India did not arrive as a single style or moment. It unfolded gradually, shaped by post-Independence aspirations, climate realities, local materials, and a search for identity. From housing complexes to spiritual centres, these buildings show how modernism in India became layered, contextual, and deeply rooted. Here are seven defining examples that continue to influence how the country thinks about space and form.
1. Asian Games Village, Delhi – Raj Rewal
Built for the 1982 Asian Games, Asian Games Village was among India’s earliest large-scale modern housing developments. Designed by Raj Rewal, the complex housed over 800 residences for senior government officials and public servants. What set it apart was its thoughtful planning: clean building lines, linear detailing, carefully designed railings, and strong peripheral zoning. The project proved that modern housing could be both functional and humane, setting a benchmark for urban residential design in India.
2. India International Centre, New Delhi – Joseph Allen Stein
Commissioned with the idea of creating an “international house” for India, Joseph Allen Stein’s India International Centre remains one of Delhi’s most refined modern structures. Stein deliberately avoided marble, choosing local materials instead. His aim was not to design a monument, but a place of relationships and dialogue. The result is a calm, understated campus where courtyards, corridors, and shaded spaces work together seamlessly, embodying modernism rooted in restraint and climate sensitivity.
3. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad – Louis Kahn
Spread across 102 acres, IIM Ahmedabad is one of the most influential modern campuses in India. Louis Kahn used locally sourced exposed brick to create monumental yet grounded architecture. Characterised by arches, wide corridors, and strong geometric forms, the campus balances global modernist principles with vernacular elements. Decades later, it remains a masterclass in how educational spaces can inspire reflection and community.
4. Lotus Temple, New Delhi – Fariborz Sahba
Inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower, the Lotus Temple is among the country’s most recognisable modern structures. Designed by Fariborz Sahba, the temple comprises 27 marble-clad petals arranged in three layers, forming nine entrances. The structure feels both sculptural and spiritual, proving that modern architecture can evoke emotion and symbolism without relying on traditional religious forms.
5. Indian Coffee House, Thiruvananthapuram – Laurie Baker
Laurie Baker’s Indian Coffee House in Thiruvananthapuram is a landmark of neo-vernacular modernism. Designed as a spiralling structure with perforated brick walls, it uses local materials to allow light, ventilation, and acoustic control. The building responds directly to its urban context while offering an intimate interior experience, showing how modern architecture can be economical, sustainable, and deeply local.
6. Matrimandir, Auroville – Roger Anger
The Matrimandir is less a building and more a meditative experience. Designed by Roger Anger, this geodesic dome took 37 years to complete. Covered with golden discs that reflect sunlight, it sits atop four pillars symbolising aspects of the divine feminine. Both futuristic and spiritual, the structure pushes the boundaries of what modern architecture can represent.
- Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School, Jaisalmer – Diana Kellogg Architects
One of the most talked-about contemporary examples, this girls’ school in Jaisalmer redefines modern architecture for social impact. Designed by Diana Kellogg Architects, the oval sandstone structure surrounds a central courtyard, with classrooms along the perimeter. Built entirely from locally sourced stone, the school demonstrates how modern design can empower marginalised communities while remaining climate-responsive and contextually sensitive.
