More with Less: The Architecture of P. K. Venkataramanan was a research, editorial, and curatorial initiative undertaken by Mod Foundation to document and critically examine the life, ideas, and architectural legacy of architect P. K. Venkataramanan (PKV), one of South India’s most significant modern architects.

Spanning architecture, education, institutional building, and public practice, PKV’s work offers important insights into questions of climate, materiality, economy, construction, and regional identity. His architecture demonstrates how meaningful and enduring spaces can be created through restraint, careful detailing, and a deep engagement with context.

The project involved extensive archival research, field documentation, oral histories, and critical writing to assemble a comprehensive account of PKV’s contributions to Indian architecture. Through the study of drawings, photographs, correspondence, and built works, the research sought to situate PKV’s practice within broader debates on modern architecture, sustainability, and regionalism in India.

The project culminated in the publication of More with Less: The Architecture of P. K. Venkataramanan, a book that brings together original research, archival material, essays, and contemporary reflections on PKV’s work. The publication contributes to the growing discourse on Indian modernism and seeks to ensure that the legacy of this influential architect remains accessible to practitioners, scholars, and future generations.

By documenting and disseminating PKV’s work, the project underscores Mod Foundation’s commitment to research, editorial practice, and the preservation and interpretation of significant architectural histories.

Project

More with Less: The architecture of PK Venkataramanan

Year

2023

What We Did

Archiving, Research and Documentation, Curation, Publication Design

Status

Completed