Deborah Thiagarajan And Benny Kuriakose - The Hindu

September 18, 2006, 6:30:00 PM

The article published in The Hindu features a conversation between Deborah Thiagarajan, founder and director of Dakshinachitra Craft Village and Dr. Benny Kuriakose. As Deborah and Benny traverse a gamut of topics, T. Krithika Reddy records their conversation at The Patio, Taj Coromandel. Deborah Thiagarajan’s journey of South India started in the early 1970s. Deborah’s journey through heritage continues. Only, her vision has broadened to include conservation of ancient towns. Deborah’s partner for the Take Two is Benny Kuriakose.

One of the few architects to explore the possibility of incorporating traditional styles into the contemporary context, Benny’s work — be it at DakshinaChitra or the Institute of Palliative Care in Kozhikode — stands out in the midst of gleaming glass and shining steel modern edifices. The talk between the two primarily discusses the need to expose the current generation to culture, heritage and art existing within the nation. Deborah believed that students should take time off to broaden their horizons, whereas Benny felt that this generation of students lacked idealism. The chat between the two also gives a brief glimpse into the future plans regarding their respective careers. Read the full conversation here!