In this episode, I sit down with Neelkanth Chhaya, architect and academic, to talk about the Gandhi Memorial Museum - and how Charles Correa embedded Gandhi’s values into its very form.

We explore how the building reflects humility through materials, structure, and sequencing - and how it echoes the Indian tradition of open courtyards and sky as a central space. Neelkanth shares both personal insights and a grounded analysis of what makes the Ashram feel so profound.

Key Topics:

● Gandhi’s philosophy translated into built form

● Open courtyards and sky as compositional tools

● Material humility and ethical restraint

● How Correa’s architecture resists spectacle

● The museum as a site of memory and daily life

Guest Info:

Neelkanth Chhaya is a prominent Indian architect and former Dean of Architecture at CEPT University. His work and teaching focus on vernacular wisdom, cultural continuity, and ethics in architecture.

Quotes from the Episode:

On humility in design: "There are no grand gestures here. Just space, light, and a deep sense of purpose."

On the building’s presence: "It doesn’t speak loudly. It speaks with moral clarity - like Gandhi himself."

On learning from tradition: "Architecture isn’t about invention. It’s about listening to what’s already there."

Website: www.jameshamiltonarchitects.com

Instagram: @jameshamiltonarchitects

Production: OneFinePlay.com