2. CHANDIGARH was the first planned city after independence from British rule in 1947. It is the capital
city of the states of Punjab and Haryana.
The city is located at the picturesque junction of foothills of the Himalayas Mountain range and the
Ganges plains.
It houses a population of 1,054,600 inhabitants (2001) and is one of the richest cities of the nation
American architects Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki were the first architects to be appointed for the
project.
After the death of Novicki in 1950, Le Corbusier was commissioned.
LOCATION AND HISTORY
Fan-shaped Master Plan proposed by Albert Mayer Grid-Iron Master Plan proposed by Le
INITIAL PROPOSALS
3. The master plan by le Corbusier was broadly similar to the
one prepared by Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki, except
that the shape of the city plan was modified from one with A
curving road network to rectangular shape with A grid iron
pattern for the fast traffic roads.
All the main roads were straightened out, the dimensions and
organization of the superblocks were reformatted, A complete
hierarchy of circulation was established, the nomenclature was
changed, and the capital “head” was firmly located in place.
The metaphor of A human being was being employed in the
plan – the ‘head’ contained the capital complex, the ‘heart’ the
commercial centre, and the ‘arms’, which were perpendicular
to the main axis, had the academic and leisure facilities. The
plan incorporated le Corbusier’s principles of light, space and
greenery. What had been named an “urban village” in
Mayer’s plan, le Corbusier renamed A “sector”.
MASTER PLANNING CHANDIGARH
MASTER PLANNING AND SITING OF CAPITOL
COMPLEX ALBET MAYOR
Superimposed planning in accordance to existing contours of
the site.
LE CORBUSIER
Strictly followed grid pattern
•UPPER EDGE OF THE CITY
•PERMIT VIEWS OF THE CITY FROM WHATEVERPERSPECTIVE
•SPLENDID BACK DROP OF THE RIDGES
•SYMBOLIC HEAD OF THE CITY
ALBET MAYOR
LE CORBUSIER
4. Charles- Édouard Jeanerette, He was a Swiss architect, designer, urbanist,
writer and painter, who chose to be known as Le Corbusier . Famous for being
one of the pioneers of what now is called Modern architecture or
the International style..
He was a pioneer in studies of modern high design and was dedicated to
providing better living conditions for the residents of crowded cities.
His career spanned five decades, with his buildings constructed throughout
central Europe, India, Russia, and one each in North and South America.
He was also an urban planner, painter, sculptor, writer, and modern
furniture designer.
He was awarded the Frank P. Brown Medal in 1961.
PHILOSOPHY In the beginning of his career in architecture his work
encountered some skepticism as it was found somehow revolutionary in its
nature and subversive in its look, nevertheless Le Corbusier designs gained a
vast professional recognition, and today are regarded as some of the most valid
innovative concepts of the period between 1900 and 2000.
Le Corbusiser's designs in architecture, urban planning and furniture, are based
on his theory of functionalism and in the use of new symbols. One of these is
concept of flat roofs, that the introduction of the use of reinforced concrete in
architecture made attainable; these types of roofs have an alternative look to
that of the traditional sloping ones, and give room to creative experiments like
the realization of recreation open spaces and gardens hosted on their top. In Le
Corbusier’s philosophy the creation of new functions in design is aimed at
Le Corbusier
5. Le Corbusier
conceived the master plan of Chandigarh as analogous to human body, with a clearly defined –
Head (the Capitol Complex, Sector 1)
Heart (the city Centre, Sector 17)
Lungs (the leisure valley, innumerable open spaces and sector greens)
The intellect (the cultural and educational institutions)
The circulatory system (the network of roads, the 7Vs)
Viscera (the industrial Area).
The concept of the city is based on four major functions: living, working, care of the body and
spirit and circulation.
Residential sector constitute the living part
The Capitol Complex, city centre, Educational Zone (Post Graduate Institute, Punjab Engineering
College, Punjab University) and the Industrial Area constitute the working part.
The Leisure Valley, Gardens, Sector Greens and Open Courtyards etc. are for the care of body and
spirit.
The circulation system comprises of 7 different types of roads known as 7 Vs Later on a pathways for
cyclists called V8 were added to this circulation system.
6. CAPITOL COMPLEX
Le Corbusier
Chandigarh capitol complex houses the seat of Government. Initially, it served as the seat only for the Govt.
of Punjab, but now it has the headquarters of both, the Govt. of Punjab and Haryana. The credit for the
awesome designing of the Capitol complex goes to Le Corbusier.
The Capital complex comprises three architectural masterpieces, the Secretariat, the High
Court and the Legislative Assembly, separated by large piazzas. In the heart of the
Capital Complex stands the giant metallic sculpture of the Open Hand, the official
emblem of Chandigarh, signifying the city’s credo of “open to give, Open to receive”.
The High Court was constructed from 1951 to 1957. The structure has a double roof, which looks like
an inverted umbrella. A huge egg-crate screen covers the façade of the building.
The Secretariat was constructed from 1953 to 1959. This building is the largest and tallest of the three
edifices. The structure resembles the shape of an eight-storied concrete slab.
The Legislative Assembly completes the complex. Located in the centre is the Open Hand
Monument. This metallic sculpture is the official emblem of Chandigarh and was also designed by Le
Corbusier.
7. In the city layout, the Capitol has the prime location on the north-western tip, somewhat aloof and
detached from the remaining grid-iron, mesh of self-sufficient neighborhood units called Sectors.
Corbusier explained this deliberate remoteness as an act of emphasising the 'sacred zone' of the city
where the pillars of democracy functioned, beyond the mundane activities of the city.
Inspired by the Greek Acropolis, he placed the Capitol, too, on a lofty plane in harmony with the elements
of nature and cosmos. The visual distance was not an act of architectural arrogance thrust by an imperial
power to convey its superiority, but one of defining symbolism and coherence of forms.
"The Capitol was placed at the top of the town so as to take good advantage of the hills and the
agricultural life, this millennial activity touching the Capitol, but connecting modern times to the magisterial
bucolic symphony," explained Corbusier.
The Capitol comprising of the four key buildings ('edifices' as called by Corbusier): Secretariat, Assembly,
High Court- -and the inbuilt Governor's Palace ( later substituted by the Museum of Knowledge, also inbuilt
) is embellished with a large number of 'monuments' like the Open Hand, Martyr's Memorial, Geometric
hill, Tower of Shades, 24 Solar Hours and Course of Sun between Solstices -some of which are still
incomplete.
The layout of the Capitol was based on Corbusier's predilection with the Golden Section and the Modular
dimensions he evolved from it. Thus all the buildings, piazzas and monuments located there, are governed by
the principle of an (invisible) intricate, geometrical composition of two squares of 8oo meters and 400
meters juxtaposed together.
The Governor's Palace is strategically placed at the north-eastern tip of the entire composition, closest to
the hills. And therefore defines the outer boundary of the 'invisible geometry' that generates the intangible and
asymmetrical visual balance intended between the buildings.
To Jane Drew, an associate of Corbusier, the composition of the Capitol buildings gives the
CONCEPT
8. CONCEPT “THE GOLDEN SECTION/RATIO”
The golden ratio is the ratio between the elements of a form such that the sum of
two elements are in the same ratio to the larger one, as are the larger and smaller
elements to each other (see the rectangle below). This ratio approximates 1.618
(or 0.618; the two numbers are the reciprocals of each other) and is found
throughout nature (for example in many seashells), art, architecture and also in the
dimensions of the human body. It is also called the golden mean, golden number,
golden section, golden proportion and divine proportion, and is closely linked to the
Fibonacci Sequence, as the ratio of numbers in this sequence converges on the
golden ratio
11. CAPITOL COMPLEX
Colors & concrete
The building material chosen for the Capitol buildings was concrete, as it was
locally available and familiar to local builders and had the raw, brute aesthetic
appeal that Corbusier called, "molten rock of the twentieth century". He
wanted to convey its truthful ruggedness through exposed surfaces with
shuttering patterns, bas-reliefs and motifs. The motif designs range from
Harappan seals, pastoral animals like bulls, cows and replicas of birds,
fish often etched out by village laborers on wet concrete surfaces. It is these that
fascinated Corbusier.
But it's his use of bold, primary colors both on the external facades and in
the interiors of the buildings that is most striking, such as painting the 60-feet-
high majestic High Court pylons. The box-like volume of the building is marked
by the arcades of its parasol roof vaulting over the court rooms: both to give
protection from the hot summer sun and symbolize the rule of law and
justice that protects the citizen.
To create a strong visual counter-balance to the sculptural Assembly's
hyperbolic paraboloid dome, he chose to paint the three pylons with pastel
shades of green, yellow and pink salmon. These contrast powerfully with the
grey tones of the rough textured concrete facade. Since the pylons had been
initially been painted in white, the judges used to the Acropolis-like sanctity,
were at first appalled, but gradually saw the logic and beauty behind the change.
The use of bold palette of colors is based on a theory developed by Corbusier
over the years. He called this scale of color harmonies as Polychrome
architectural, with color keyboards as an analogy to musical harmonies.
"These colors bear a strong relation to Nature; and secondly introduce a new
kind of color link between inside and outside, using color as a space-defining
12. There are three bands of colors on the inside concave curving
walls — the first covered with sound-absorbing acoustic tiles
over a red painted wall. The second ring is painted in pastel yellow,
and as the eye moves upwards there are cloud-like shapes floating
over the narrowing diameter of the dome, culminating into the
skylight.
The floor is also covered with yellow carpet over which are fixed
green upholstered chairs, especially designed by the Corbusier
team.
Inside the Haryana Assembly also, bright colors have been
employed notwithstanding some recent garish modifications
undertaken. Besides the wall colors, the tapestries designed by
Corbusier for the Courts and the Assembly lounge areas are
remarkable pieces of "wall paintings in wool".
There are nine large tapestries in the High Court and three in the
Assembly (two in the Haryana chamber and one in the entry lounge
to the Punjab chamber). Common to their themes are the
rectangular patches of colors in the background, adopted from
Corbusier's Polychrome architectural, adorned with quizzical
symbols of rivers, trees, reptiles, lightening, balance and inter-
play of opposing forces in life. The sizes range from 64 to 144
sqm in the High Court and from 135 to 155 sqm in the Assembly
building. Corbusier called his tapestries, "nomadic murals," as one
could carry them to new destinations. He was also inspired by the
durree-weaving traditions of Punjab, and hoped that the village
craftsperson's would weave them in parts to be sewn together,
which though didn't mature and were instead made by a carpet
company.
CAPITOL COMPLEX
13. The secretariat building is treated as a horizontal platform like the plain of Chandigarh itself, carrying on
its roof the provincial assembly hall rising in a parabolic arch, a form echoing the distant hills
As a response to the sun, the capitol complex can be interpreted as an interlaced array of sun breakers
Inspiration from unite
It lies in the foot of Shivalik hills just next to artificial lake
Governor’s palace was supposed to be in the site but the idea was abandoned
The capitol area was designed as the great pedestrian plaza with motor traffic separated into sunken
trenches leading to parking areas
Although the site is very big, it is not designed with allowance for expansion
SITE PLAN
OPEN
HAND
GOVERNOR’S
PALACE
HIGH COURT
ASSEMBLY
SECRETARIA
T
16. RAJENDRA PARK
Spread over a sprawling area of 400 acres, the Rajendra Park adjacent to the Secretariat building is
designed by Le Corbusier himself as part of the Capitol Park.
Trees with round canopies and evergreen foliage have been planted here. The plantation has not
followed the original plan.
The park is presently being used as a helipad and is an out of bound area for the city residents. This
park has been recommended for the heritage status and needs to be completed as per the original plan in
consultation with the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee.
The proposals should include:
• Shifting of the helipad to an appropriate site in consultation with airport and security officials
• Removal of security tents and barbed wire fencing along the Uttar Marg.
• Defining the edge of the park towards village NayaGaon, Punjab side which is presently littered with
garbage and presents a very shabby appearance .
LANDSCAPE OF CAPITOL COMPLEX
LOCATION OF
RAJENDRA PARK
17. The Legislative Assembly
In the water which the pool seems to dramatically receive from the huge aqueduct-like formation, the
Vidhan Bhavan building reflects its austerity. The concrete screen which helps permeate light inside the
building also lets one in to a lobby which seems to gently receive thick circular columns from the black
ceiling as high as the building itself. A gentle ramp is what carries one gradually to the upper level where
one can see the conical mass of the assembly hall dramatically touching down, the lobby areas flowing
freely around it on all sides. On the side of the plaza, a colossal door painted by Corbusier himself, stands
shut, obstructing the plaza to almost enter the lobby directly. Divided only by some partitions, the entire
space inside the Bhavan seems to be united by the hollowness that flows on top. As the eye wanders
through this hollowness, small engravings or motifs cast within the concrete members seem to act as
moments of pleasure for one who stands gazing at the marvel.
Within the Assembly hall, one can simply just not avoid one’s eyes roll up to gaze at the ceiling, which
allows that perfect light to enter through the sculpted barriers diffusing it to fall down to illuminate the seats.
The tiled surface helps reflect the light downwards, and the large acoustical patches try to take care of
the noise. Spaces flow between the columns, up and down the ramps as freely as one would expect form
any of Corbusier’s work. The grandeur is expressed not merely by the scale of the built form, but also the
hollowness held within inside, which either gives or takes away importance from elements within the built.
18. The assembly was conceived as a rectilinear
structure
It is square in plan with a monumental portico
facing the main plaza
On the lateral facades both the portico and the
office block would be defined by solid end walls
The large chamber is in hyperbolic form of the
cooling tower with an average thickness of 15 cm.
The small council chamber are in rectilinear frame
The upper portion of the tower is extending above
the roof line
An assembly chamber is 128 ft in diameter at its
base and rises to 124 ft at its highest point
This tower was designed to insure the natural
light, ventilation and proper acoustics
Of all buildings of the capitol complex , the
assembly is the most intricate in plan
Separate circulation accommodation of all groups is
provided
Employing a system of individual entrances,
stairways, lifts and ramp a complete segregation of
members is provided
There are two separate galleries for men and
women in council chamber
The Legislative Assembly
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECTION
21. Interior of the Punjab Assembly, with
cloud-shaped acoustical material on
the concave hyperbolic surface,
topped by skylight
The Legislative Assembly - INTERIORS
A close-up view of the enameled
door painted by Corbusier for
the ceremonial entrance to the
Assembly
Vibrant colors inside the Punjab
Assembly on walls, furniture and
carpeting
The close-up of a bull, as
part of the enameled door,
painted by Corbusier
The tapestry near the entrance
lounge of the Assembly
depicting the theme of 24 solar
hours
The door itself has an painting by
Le Corbusier, in the manner of
other of his works, such as the
Assembly of Chandigarh
22. The Secretariat
The Secretariat stands as a protective wall to the Complex, a tall structure so wide that it is difficult to
capture it in a glance. It is the façade that looks like a collection uniform but innumerable voids, which gives
the building its splendid vastness of form. A tall ramp way goes straight up till the terrace level, displaying a
pattern of the slanting windows on the external façade, which from within, give and illusion of the building
itself being tilted as one walks the ramp. Lined with corridors loaded with offices on both sides, the internal
spaces for transition seem to be quite tight but the office blocks enjoy wide openings towards the plaza thus
being well lit and less claustrophobic.
23. • The first design for the secretariat presents the building as a tall thin slab carrying a surface brise soleil
divided by a central horizontal band
• The design which was accepted established the building form as a long ,horizontal concrete slab
• The secretariat, the longest building in Chandigarh, 254m long, and 42m high forms the administrative
center, with ministerial offices grouped in the center and offices for employees arranged on either side
• The building was completed in 1958
• The building is composed of six eight storey blocks separated by expansion joints
• The central pavilion, block 4, contains the offices of the ministers
• The rough concrete again interposes in the fenestration of the two main facades ; more than 2000 units of
unique design
• Approach to the building is through roadways below
ground level to a large parking area in front of the central
block, and a floor is left open at this level to form an
entrance hall
• Block 1 and 2 rises directly from the ground
• Block 3,4 and part of 5 face on the excavated area
of the parking lot and have the lower storey open between
pilotis
• For the rest part of block 5 and whole of 6 the level
goes till plaza height, and lower portion of these blocks
are left open to a height of two storyes
• The top of the building is developed as a roof garden containing
the service blocks and cafeteria for employees
• The plastic emphasis is given to the building by free standing exterior ramps enclosed in rough concrete
walls
• For supplementary communication within the building , each of six blocks is
equipped with interior stairways and limited elevator service
• Horizontal circulation is by means of a central corridors
• For minister’s block the bay size is increased and the column is thickened
The Secretariat
26. The High Court
The High Court stands distinctly away from both these buildings, maintaining an aura of independence
that comes with the freedom of the judiciary. A thick concrete wall wraps the building from two smaller sides
and the top, leaving the longer facades open to the elements.
The main entrance lobby facing the plaza, flaunts three humungous concrete columns each painted
differently, thus automatically giving the entrance an importance in the façade, which presents itself as a
welcoming gesture. The office areas being very similar to the Secretariat building, they sit on the upper
floors, above the courtrooms at the ground floor.
The concrete cover in a way separates itself from the actual building, creating again, the hollowness that
is majorly responsible for the expression of grandeur.
27. SKETCH OF HIGH COURT BY LE CARBUSIER
PLAN EXTENSION PLAN
SECTION
The High Court
28. The high court formed a part as “ a great architectural venture using very poor materials and a labor force
quite unused to modern building techniques
An entire structure has resulted in the use of double roof.
The upper roof cantilevered out of the office block in the manner of parasol shading the lower roof
The space between the two roofs is left open to enable currents of air to move between the flat roof of the
office block and the underside of the parasol roof which slopes towards center in the form of rows of
arches
In the plan the building took the form of abbreviated l – shaped with long façade facing the capitol plaza
to contain court rooms.
The building is a rectilinear frame within which the interior functions are defined
The eight court rooms are identically expressed on the main façade and separated from the larger high
court by a monumental columned entrance rising the height of the building
Building rises directly from the earth
The main façade is defined by a full height concrete brise soleil
The arch form is restricted to the underside of the parasol roof
It is the visual drama of the piers rising sixty feet from the ground to meet the heavy outward thrust of the
roof which creates the focal emphasis of the present plan
On the main façade the deep fixed concrete brise soleil gives a strong and scale less pattern to the
building
It is the concrete screen which gives the main façade its overall unity
Behind the brise soleil , the windows of the court rooms are of fixed glass, but between are narrow
vertical spaces containing shutters which open and close on hinges
It is noted that the orientation of the high court is such that the main façade faces north west , and this
does not receive direct sunlight
The rough concrete of the building is treated in variety of manners for much of the surface including the
underside of the parasol roof and the exterior side walls , the mass of sheet metal characterize the surface
In portions of the interior and on the ramps , wooden boards have been inserted within the metal forms to
give the concrete surface the impress of their jointed pattern, while other surfaces, including those of
massive entrance piers are finished with gunnite cement
The High Court
29. Architectural features:
•Parasol roof
•Forming arches
•Double roof
•Gap left between
•Two roofs
•Colored massive pillars
•Full height entrance
•Double roof
•Approached through roads
•Rough concrete finished ramp
•The entrance lobby is paved with whitish flag
stone set in the rows of varying widths
•New scheme for painting the columns and portico
walls in bright contrasting colors
•The inside wall to the left of the piers was to be black
•The adjacent pillar painted green
•The center pier would be yellow
•The right hand pillar is red
•And the remaining portico wall is primary blue
•The great entrance hall of the high court is also been
found in lacking protection during the monsoon
season
•The narrow curving ramp at the end of the entrance
hall, which forms the main vertical circulation is
exposed
•The horizontal circulation, consisting of open
corridors on the rear facade ,is also ineffectively
sheltered
The High Court
30. Detail of tapestry in Court 6: The
‘counterbalance of complexities’
and the ‘tree as a symbol of
perfection’. Air-conditioning ducts
puncture the tapestry
indiscriminately, mutilating motifs.
The High Court - INTERIORS
Detail of Tapestry for the Court of
the Chief Justice
Description by Le Corbusier – “In
the middle, top part, the sky with a
starlit night and a sun. The clouds
around open on a blue sky. On
the left, the meander of the rivers
that signifies that its run may
sometimes be very long, very
agitated, very unreasonable. It is
the meander of complications and
of complexities.”
Corbusier design for courtroom tapestry
32. Le Corbusier proposed a governor’s palace which would have crowned the capitol complex at the
highest point, almost touching the foothills. But on the advice of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the Punjab
government decided to use the circuit house as the governor's palace. Nehru felt that such a luxurious
building within the capitol complex itself was symbolically incommensurate with a democracy , and
therefore the idea was abandoned.
As this decision could have seriously damaged the architectural composition of the capitol complex, the
architect came out with a fresh idea on April 6,1959 which took the form of the MUSEUM OF
KNOWLEDGE. He suggested that a building, to research and study in various fields, should be
constructed keeping in mind the future industrialization and development of Punjab.
The crowning monument at the apex of the city was to be the Museum of Knowledge in place of the
Raj Bhavan, both designed by Corbusier. The Museum of Knowledge, as envisaged by Corbusier, was
intended to be a scientific tool using audio-visual techniques and cybernetics to aid in arriving at effective
decisions within resources.
This project has remained unrealized despite the fact that a top-level committee of technical experts in
the field appointed by the Government of India recommended the project in the mid-seventies.
Not building the Governor's Palace in such a finely poised composition, is thus akin to conceiving the Taj
Mahal without its dome or locating Lutyen's Rashtrapati Bhawan without the balancing counterpoint
of India Gate!
The ensemble of the edifices and monuments in the Capitol is a teasing interplay of landscape, skylines,
silhouettes and pedestrian esplanades connecting the floor plane to one another. Corbusier planned a
playful series of reflecting water pools between the Governor's Palace and the remaining edifices to
connect to the vastness of the main esplanade, and reduce the enormity of the scale. The abstract
engagement with cosmic elements echo skylines of Maharaja Jai Singh's Jantar Mantar observatories in
Jaipur and the yonder blue hills of the Aravalis. It is recorded that when Corbusier visited the place, he was
The Governor’s Palace/ Museum of Knowledge
33. "The absence of Governor's palace is like a betrayal of the promise India made to Corbusier to give
concrete shape to his masterful strokes of genius," opines architectural critic Caroline Constant.
Ironically, the Governor's Palace is the smallest of the four buildings of the Capitol, but provides the
proverbial finishing touch or a crescendo to the symphonic composition of sculptural concrete buildings, playful
sculptural forms, landscapes (natural and designed) and the symbolism of the monuments. The total area of
this smallest of the Capitol edifices is perhaps lesser than a contemporary shopping Mall being erected in the
city nowadays! Surely we can afford to build it.
Its massing of the five floors of cuboids forms over pillared halls, recessed floors in between and then a
floating mass-to be culminated by a curving canopy akin to an Indian 'barsati' at the rooftop, to connect to the
stars, heavens and the distant ethereal Kasauli lights, is a mesmerizing concept.
The Governor’s Palace/ Museum of Knowledge
37. The Open Hand
The most thoroughly developed of the Chandigarh
monuments as well as the most important as a
compositional element in the capitol complex is the
monument of the open hand. A sign for him of "peace
and reconciliation. It says "open to give, open to
receive". The open hand, like the museum of
knowledge, serves to define the outer edge of the
capitol complex and to uphold a man made sculptural
from against the rugged profile the Himalayas .
The hand rises 85 feet from an excavated plaza
termed the fosse de la consideration, the pit of
contemplation, which is provided for debate on public
affairs. The giant hand is designed to turn on ball
bearings to indicate symbolically the direction of the
wind that is the state of affairs. The surface of the hand
was to be coated with baked enamel in orange, white
and green the colors of the Indian flag
The Open Hand, the most prominent monument
measures 12.5 mt by 9.0 mt. apart from being an
architectural cynosure, it defines the northern fringe of
the Capitol Complex and shows a man-made sculptural
form against the backdrop presented by the rugged
profile of the ageless splendid Shivalik Hills. It crowns
an excavated plaza called the Trench of
Consideration.
MONUMENTS
38. The idea of an Open Hand first came to le Corbusier in paris in 1948. the symbolism, he wrote, arose
spontaneously, as a result of reflections and spiritual struggle of people arising from the feeling of anguish
and disharmony which separate mankind and in the process quite often creates enemies.
According to him, since its inception, "it occupied my mind and developed through the years that
followed. Little by little, the open hand symbol appeared as a possibility in great architectural compositions.
Le Corbusier interpreted the symbol in the following words, “The Open Hand symbolizes- open for
receiving the created richness- open for distribution to her people and to others. And the still more blessing
hand of the Almighty for Peace and Prosperity. The open hand will affirm that the second era of mechanist
civilization-an era of harmony has started.”
The Open Hand
39. Martyrs’ Memorial
The Martyrs’ Memorial is sited on the side of the esplanade between the Assembly Hall and the High
court, defining an axial entrance to the Museum of Knowledge and the monument to the twenty Four
Solar Hours on the opposite side.
This is a memorial to the martyrs of Punjab partition and consists of a square enclosure with one side
elongated into a ramp by which one mounts the enclosing wall, Within the enclosure are to be symbolic
figures of a prone man, a snake, and a lion set amid ruins, The concrete ramp permits one to see, from
above, the Capitol in its entirety and creates a promenade -rising and descending.
40. Tower of Shadows
Designed to study the solar movement, this building served to Le Corbusier to support his thesis that "it
is possible to control the sunlight in the 4 corners of a building, play with it even in a hot country
and finally obtain low temperatures" .
Just beyond the solar monument is the tower of shadows a demonstration of Corbusier's theories of sun
control, consisting of a series of platforms oriented to the Cardinal points and containing sun breakers on
three sides (except north). This concrete structure is a culmination of the in depth studies of Corbusier on
the path of the sun and ways to control its penetration in to the built up space.
41. Geometric H ill
Situated adjacent to the memorial, this was to be a huge earth tilled hill, which will have its lower half in
concrete relief work, and the top covered with grass turf. The relief will be in the form of Corbusier’s
diagram of daily balance of light and darkness, which in his words "rules man's activity"
42. ARTICLES ON THREATS TO CAPITOL COMPLEX
Le Corbusier’s Capitol Complex a mess, in dire need of facelift
Damaged facades, violations and poor maintenance of buildings are hampering the most renowned
creation of Le Corbusier — the Capitol Complex. The report on Chandigarh Heritage, prepared by the sub-
committee for "Identification, Conservation, Management and Maintenance of Chandigarh Heritage"
highlights the violations being faced by the Complex.
The Capitol Complex comprises three buildings — Legislative Assembly, Secretariat and High Court. The
fourth building, Museum of Knowledge, is yet to be constructed. Monuments at the complex, like Geometric
Hill, Tower of Shadows, Open Hand and Martyrs Memorial, are also in a state of neglect.
Secretariat
According to the report, though Le Corbusier's edifice retains some of its pristine majesty, it is under
constant threat of abusive tinkering by insensitive users, who are altering its facade with impunity. It added
that since they are tenants of the Chandigarh Administration, it should act fast and firm to stem the rot. Due
to security reasons, the circulation system at the Secretariat has been reoriented as to nullify Corbusier's
concept. Moreover, tents for security personnel give it a "keep-of-me" appearance of a citadel. A shed has
been constructed in front of the ramp and additional porch has been added in front of the main block. The
verandas have also been covered. Glazing has damaged the facade. Other problems being faced by the
building included dumping of garbage and poor maintenance.
Legislative Assembly
The poor condition of roof-terracing has resulted in seepage and leakage, thereby damaging large parts of
the ceiling. External changes like painting of the pyramid and weathering of shuttered concrete also plague
the building. Internal wooden partitions have been raised in the main foyer. Changes in material of the
flooring, additional of partition walls, false ceilings in rooms and corridors and painting of concrete surfaces
have been carried out.
43. Le Corbusier’s Capitol Complex a mess, in dire need of facelift
High Court
External changes have increased manifold in the courtrooms and has resulted in new constructions —
including two and four-storey lawyer chambers, judicial record room, advocate general's block and addition to
the extension block. Construction of multi-level parking and other construction is in violation of the original
concept. Use of pedestrian plaza for parking the vehicles of judges has necessitated the re carpeting of the
concrete floor. Renovation in all courtrooms and judges lounge in the form of false ceilings, wall-to-wall
wooden dais, air conditioning and partitions, etc has been carried out. Heritage furniture has been dumped on
the terrace of the building.
Monuments
The city's official emblem installed in the Capitol Complex is in need of repair. The 14-metre high hand,
weighing around 50 tones, is suffering from weathering.
Incomplete projects
The fourth building proposed for the Capitol Complex — the Museum of Knowledge — is yet to see the light
of the day. The building was to be the focal point of the complex. The Martyrs' Memorial is incomplete. The
sculptures for the memorial are ready but yet to be installed.
Recommendations
* Security arrangements be rationalized and appropriate land developed to accommodate them in a way that
these do not create visual blight.
* Cleaning and restoration of concrete surfaces
* Violations like balcony covering, provision of grills be checked
* Proper landscaping in consonance with original concept be undertaken
* No additional buildings, which were not in the original plan, be sanctioned
* Upkeep and maintenance be given to central authority
* Buildings and monuments be completed
* The Plaza area be given a facelift
ARTICLES ON THREATS TO CAPITOL COMPLEX
44. ARTICLES ON THREATS TO CAPITOL COMPLEX
City might lose its stake to be nominated for the UNESCO’s World Heritage status.
The basic character of the Capitol Complex may soon fade out, so it seems if the alterations being done on
this “core zone” are any indication.
Cocking a snook at the Chandigarh Heritage regulations, the rooftops of all the three main architectural
masterpieces, designed by Le Corbusier in Sector 1 Capitol Complex – the Secretariat, the Legislative
Assembly and the High Court – are being “tempered” with by applying paint on them.
If experts are to be believed, Chandigarh might lose its stake to be nominated for the UNESCO’s World
Heritage status.
When the Tribune team visited the spot, it was observed that the silver-white paint was applied on the
cupola parabola extending above the roofline of the Legislative Assembly.
Former principal, Chandigarh College of Architecture, and Doctorate of Architectural Legacy of Chandigarh
S.S. Bhatti criticized the “irresponsible” act of the authorities.
“All the creations of Le Corbusier have been developed with instructions to use settled concrete. He had
stressed that the building should not be touched up with any external material to maintain architectural
finesse. Using any other material such as paint is to clearly ruin the unique architectural legacy of modern
times,” he said.
To preserve the tinge of Le Corbusier touch, the Chandigarh Heritage rules demand that no intervention of
any sort will be allowed in areas and buildings included in the core zones, but efforts would be made to
conserve them without changing its basic character.
45. City might lose its stake to be nominated for the UNESCO’s World Heritage status.
All interventions in the core zones, like Capitol Complex, is monitored by the Heritage Committee which,
besides key functionaries of the administration, including representatives from the Archaeological Survey
of India, Le Corbusier Foundation and the office of UNESCO in India.
Chief Engineer Krishanjit Singh, when contacted, expressed ignorance about this development at Capitol
Complex. “It’s not in my knowledge. I am out of the city. I will inquire into the matter when I return,” said
Krishanjit, before referring to ask the XEN, CP Division No 6, Balwan Singh.
But Balwan Singh preferred keep mum on the issue. He assured to speak later but did not pick the
phone despite repeated attempts.
The lackadaisical attitude of the administration could well be imagined from the fact that after failing to
submit the nomination for this coveted status on time, the administration, apparently, is still leaving no
stone unturned to walk off the race for World Heritage status.
It is pertinent to mention that only those countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention and
pledged to protect their original cultural heritage would be eligible to submit nomination proposals for
properties on their province to be considered for UNESCO’s world heritage list.
Chandigarh is the only place where a complete plan of urban settlement was implemented as envisioned
by Le Corbusier. “Nowhere else in the world are such hallowed shrines as in Chandigarh, and it is the duty
of the administration to preserve their sanctity,” said Bhatti.
ARTICLES ON THREATS TO CAPITOL COMPLEX
