A Paragon of Virtue

A Tribute to my Late Father

Atchyut R Chundur

1930 -2010

Chennai has come a long way from the city it once was. The journey of this city through time, meant a change to the skyline, including many new buildings you now see and recognise as landmarks. One of the key Architects, responsible for the city’s growing landscape was my father, Shri. Atchyut Chundur. On the 10th Anniversary of his passing, there cannot be a better tribute to his creations, made in concrete, than to showcase his journey through time and how they intertwined with his life and profession.

Post his graduation in Baroda, Shri. Atchyut commenced his architectural practice in Chennai in the early 60’s, with the formation of his architectural firm Atchyut and Associates. His professional journey took off with a commendable start when he designed the famous Centenary University building and was almost immediately recognized as one of the successful and upcoming architects of the city.

Shri. Atchyut was entrusted with the responsibility of designing the Anna Memorial on the Marina, the final resting place of the famous scholar turned politician, C.N. Annadurai. Even today, this famous monument symbolises a piece of the city’s political history, celebrating one of the most iconic personalities the world has ever seen.

Another notable highlight in his career was his association with Sri Sathya Baba Trust in the early 70s. He worked closely with The Baba Himself, doing projects in Anantpur and Putaparthi. He designed the famous Sri Satya Sai University, apart from other auditorium buildings in and around those districts. The transition over the years from being just an architect of the Trust to becoming a close friend and aide to The Baba, marked a highlight for him, professionally as well as personally.

Shri. Atchyut worked with many hospitality enthusiasts and changed the city’s skyline which was then flourishing with several burgeoning hotel projects. Popularly known as the “Hotel Architect” of the late 60’s/70’s he designed many hotels; names of which are today synonymous with the city’s urban history. Hotels such as Maris, Swagath, Shrilekha Intercontinental, Kanchi, New Woodlands, to name a few, were some of his works besides many others in Vishakapatanam and Rajahmundry. His career reached a new pinnacle during the 70s and 80s when he sprinkled the city’s skyline with several diverse projects, catering to a wide spectrum of businesses ranging from hospitality, healthcare, educational institutions to commercial and public buildings.

He was appointed as the chief architect for the Tirumala Tirupati Devesthanam (TTD) group during the late 90s. Shri. Atchyut designed many buildings in both Tirupati and Tirumala and was involved in the development of several projects undertaken by TTD that covered educational, healthcare and hospitality sectors. The famous Sree Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences that housed a super speciality hospital and other ancillary buildings within it, was designed and developed by him. He was also the man behind several accommodation complexes in Tirumala, like the popular 1000 rooms Sapthagiri Choultry and Ram Bagicha Guest House.

As the official architect for the YMCA group, Chennai, he worked with them on several of their institutional projects, recreational clubs and hostel facilities. The brain behind the design of the Hindustan College of Engineering building in Chennai, his involvement in education went beyond just designing the buildings; he contributed extensively to the field by being on the advisory team for various educational institutes and projects.

His fame and his penchant for quality led him to design many of the City’s important landmarks; again, names that every Chennai resident will recognize - Parsn complex, Apex plaza, Jhaver plaza and the famous Indian Bank building on Rajaji Salai. The concept of “supermarkets” in Chennai city was pioneered by him and it was with this vision he designed the famous supermarket chain Kamadehenu. He undertook several residential projects during his long career span and designed signature homes for eminent public figures and celebrities across various cities.

Angular lines, curved surfaces and arches were some of the key features he incorporated in most of his designs. He was particularly fond of skeletal walls and cantilevered structures that eventually became his signature style and adorned the facades of many buildings he passionately designed. Dramatic entrance ways, podiums and landscape elements were natural inclusions in his blueprints. He boldly experimented using indigenous building materials, intricate elevational details, and various design elements in his buildings. They symbolically conveyed that form followed function and that functionality was the key element in making any design successful.

Blessed with an artistic flare, he would freely sketch a building perspective within minutes of taking a design brief from his client; a much-forgotten skill that would make any modern-day “rendering software” pale in comparison. His clients respected him for his professional and principled approach he portrayed at work, same time, fondly remembering him for his warm, generous and friendly nature that he hid behind the drawing board. What sets Shri. Atchyut apart from the others was that he did not commit his energies into projects just as an architect; he came to be respected as a trusted advisor and a valued friend.

My family has been blessed and fortunate in carrying the same creative gene in us; my brother is pursuing a career in the film industry while I run my own architectural and design firm in the city. We fondly remember our father as we survey a city that was dear to him, transforming over the years, around his own architectural masterpieces.