Walter Griffin: Common link between India, US, Australia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared with US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the story of architect Walter Burley Griffin during an informal interaction on the margins of the G20 summit Saturday.

"The PM shared with @TonyAbbottMHR & @BarackObama the story of Walter Burley Griffin, the renowned architect," a PMO India tweet said.

American architect Griffin is credited with designing Australia's capital city Canberra.

He was deeply inspired by the culture and architecture of India and also spent time there. He was laid to rest at the Lucknow Christian Cemetery in India after his death in 1937.

The life of Walter Burley Griffin is a common link between the US, Australia and India, which the leaders appreciated.

Griffin originally hailed from Chicago and spent the final 15 months of his life in India. In addition to other landmark buildings, he designed the prestigious University of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.

He was inspired by the Indian tradition to create an expressive architecture reflecting both the "stamp of the place" and the "spirit of the times".

He worked in partnership with his wife Marion Mahony Griffin and in 28 years, they designed over 350 buildings, landscape and urban-design projects as well as construction materials, furniture and other household items.

"I am what may be termed a naturalist in architecture. I do not believe in any school of architecture. I believe in architecture that is the logical outgrowth of the environment in which the building in mind is to be located," The New York Times June 2, 1912, quoted Griffin as saying.