Ar. LE CORBUSIER

LE CORBUSIER

INTRODUCTION • • • • • •

CHARLES EDOUARD JEANNERET NOW POPULARLY KNOWN AS LE CORBUSIER BORN ON 6th OF OCTOBER’ 1887 AT LA CHAUX DE FONDS IN SWISSJURA MOUNTAINS 4 KMS FROM FRENCH BORDER HE STARTED WORKING UNDER CONTRACTER PERRET, LE CORBUSIER’S SO CALLED MASTER HE AS A CHILD PREPARED HIMSELF FOR A MANUAL OCCUPATION HE LEFT HIS SCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 13½ YRS JOINED AN ART SCHOOL LATER

IDEOLOGY  

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THE PILOTIS ROOF GARDEN FREE FLOOR PLAN ELONGATED WINDOW FREE FACADE

THE PILOTIS    

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PILOTIS MEANS COLUMNS IT HELPED TO REDEFINE THE HOUSE AS A MATTER OF FORM AND FUNCTION REINFORCED CONCRETE GAVE US THE PILOTIS IT RAISED THE BUILDING IN THE AIR, FAR FROM THE SOIL, WITH GARDENS STRETCHING BENEATH THE BUILDING FOR E.G VILLA SAVOYE,POISSY IN FRANCE IN 1929 PILOTIS USUALLY SERVED AS AN ELEMENT OF DRAMATIZATION AND VISUAL ISOLATION

PILOTIS

THE ROOF GARDEN  

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USUALLY KNOWN AS HANGING GARDEN FIRST REALIZATION OF THIS IDEA WAS IN THE SMALL HOUSE THAT THE ARCHITECT BUILT FOR HIS PARENTS ON LAKE GENEVA IN 1923 IS DESCRIBED IN A HYMNAL TONE REINFORCED CONCRETE MADE THE STRUCTURALLY HOMOGENOUS ROOF POSSIBLE REASON OF TECHNIQUE, ECONOMY AND COMFORT LEAD TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ROOF TERRACE AND THE ROOF GARDEN THE ROOF GARDEN OFTEN EQUIPPED FOR SPORTS, EMULATES THE ‘CONDITION OF NATURE’ IN HUMAN HABITAT

ROOF GARDEN

THE FLOOR PLAN 

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REINFORCED CONCRETE BROUGHT THE INNOVATION OF THE FREE PLAN IN WHICH THE INTERIORS WERE NO LONGER THE RIGIDLY DETERMINED BY THE STRUCTURAL WALLS , THEY HAD BECOME FREE IN PARIS, THE PRINCIPLE HAD BEEN BEAUTIFULLY DEMONSTRATED BY PERRET’S APARTMENT HOUSE LE CORBUISER SUGGESTED A COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE OF STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ARCHITECTURAL “INFILL” HE USED SLIDING WALLS THAT DIVIDED THE LIVING ROOM INTO THREE BEDROOMS AT NIGHT

THE ELONGATED WINDOW 

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LE CORBUSIER’S OBSESSION WITH THE FORM OF THE FACADE LONG WINDOWS THAT IS TOTALLY INDEPENDENY OF STRUCTURE ITS NO SURPRISE THAT THE ARCHITECT ONCE AGAIN PRODUCED A SCIENTIFIC DEMONSTRATION IN ORDER TO PROVE THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW WINDOW TYPE FOR EXAMPLE , ON AN INTIMATE SCALE ON THE UPPER FLOOR OF THE VILLA VAUCRESSON AND IN THE JEANNERET HOUSE ON LAKE GENEVA

ELONGATED WINDOW

THE FREE FACADE   

PILLARS RETREATED FROM THE FACADE TO THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE I.E THE FACADE BECAME NO MORE THAN LIGHT MEMBRANE CONSIST OF ISOLATING EALLS OR WINDOWS FACADE WAS NOW FREE AND THE WINDOWS COULD EXTEND WITHOUT INTERRUPTION FRON ONE END TO THE OTHER

THE REAL MOTIVATION FOR IT WAS LE CORBUSIER’S URGE TO BRING HIS OLYMPIAN STATEMENTS TO THE NUMBER FIVE

THE MODULAR 

THE MODULAR WAS A SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONINGWORKED OUT BY LE CORBUSIERESSENTIALLY THE MODULAR IS A SERIES OF PROPORTIONS NOT UNLIKE THE GOLDEN SECTION USED BY ANCIENT GREEKS. BASED ON THE MEASUREMENTS OF A SIXFOOT MAN IN VARIOUS POSITIONS, STANDING , SITTING, LYING DOWN ETC. TWO SERIES OF MEASUREMENTS WERE DEVELOPED, THE ONE DERIVED FROM A STANDING FIGURE, THE OTHER FROM A FIGURE WITH AN ARM UPRAISED.

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THE MODULAR WAS BOTH A MODULE OF MEASUREMENT AND OF SCALE;IN ADDITION IT PROVIDES A MEANS OF RELATING MEASUREMENTS IN FEETAND INCHES TO THOSE OF THE METRIC SYSTEM. ‘THE MODULAR’ , LE CORBUSIER WROTE, IS A MEASURING TOOL BASED ON THE HUMAN BODY AND ON MATHEMATICS. A MAN WITH AN ARM UPRAISED PROVIDES, AT THE DETERMINING POINTS OF HIS OCCUPATION OF SPACE- FOOT, SOLAR PLEXUS, HEAD, TIPS OF FINGERS OF THE UPRAISED ARM- THREE INTERVALS WHICH GIVE RISE TO A SERIES OF GOLDEN SECTIONS CALLED THE FIBNACCI SERIES.

THE TYPICAL SPATIAL POSITIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY

VILLA SAVOYE, POISSY,FRANCE 1931

VILLA SAVOYE,POISSY- FRANCE 1929-31  

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VILLA SAVOYE IS RELATED TO THE WHOLE RANGE OF LE CORBUSIER’S ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING IT IS SITUATED ON SMOOTHLY SLOPING HILL TOP IN MIDST OF FIELDS IT ILLUSTRATES WITH EXTREME CLARITY AND IS PERHAPS THE MOST FAITHFUL IN ITS OBSERVATION OF HI FIVE POINTS I.E PILOTIS, ROOF GARDEN, FREE FLOOR PLAN , ELONGATED WINDOW, AND FREE FAÇADE PALLADIAN GRID IS FOLLOWED GOLDEN PROPOTIONS ARE ANALYSED COLUMNS OF THE BUILDINGS ARE DEFINED BY A SYSTEM OF WALLS INDEPENDENT OF STRUCTURE ENTRY TO THE PROPERTY IS THROUGH A GATE AT ONE END OF HIGH STONE WALL

PLANS

TURNING RADIUS OF THE CAR FORMING SEMI CIRCULAR RECEPTION HALL

VIEW FROM INSIDE

VIEW FROM OUTSIDE

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THERE IS SMALL GATE KEEPER’S LODGE AT THE ENTRANCE THE MAIN PORTION OF THE HOUSE IS RAISED ON THE COLUMNS WHICH ARE SET ON GRASS PLANE SECOND LEVEL WITH OPEN GARDEN TERRACE, AS THE EXTENTION OF THE MAIN ROOMS OF THE HOUSE IS LIFTED UPON COLUMNS LIVING AREA OPENS ON THE SOUTH TO THE GARDEN THROUGH LARGE FLOOR TO CEILING SLIDING GLASS DOORS GROUND FLOOR IS A PERFECT SQAURE AND IS DEFINED AS ZONE OF MOTION THE MINIMUM TURNING RADIUS OF AN AUTOMOBILE DETERMINED THE RADIUS OF THE SEMI CIRCULAR GROUND FLOOR THAT CONTAINS AN ELEGANT RECEPTION HALL, GARAGE AND THE SERVANT QUARTERS

ROOF GARDEN

SECOND LEVEL WITH

ROOF GARDEN

LIVING AREA

ABOUT 1/3RD OF THE SPACE IS OCCUPIED BY THE ROOF TERRACE

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FROM THE HALL A TWO STAGE RAMP LEAD UP INTO THE LIVING AREA ROOMS ARE ARRANGED IN L- SHAPED ABOUT 1/3RD OF THE SURFACE AREA IS OCCUPIED BY AN OPEN TERRACE ENCLOSED BY THE WALL OF THE HOUSE CORNER TO CORNER SLITS OF THE ELONGATED WINDOWS OFFERED A VIEW OF THE DISTANTS LANDSCAPE THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THE VILLA IS RAMP WHICH LEAD A SIMPLE WALK ON THE TERRACE

ELONGATED WINDOWS LIVING ROOM OPENING TOWARDS TERRACE (INTERIORS) RAMP TOWARDS TERRACE

1930-32,SWISS STUDENTS HOSTEL, 7 BOULEVARD JOURDAN,CITE UNIVERSITAIRE,PARIS 13E

1930-32,SWISS STUDENTS HOSTEL, 7 BOULEVARD JOURDAN,CITE UNIVERSITAIRE,PARIS 13E 

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LECORBUSIER ENCOUNTERED MANY DIFFICULTIES IN WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE AS A CLIENT,HENCE THIS ACCOUNTED FOR MANY OF THE ODD FEATURES OF THIS BUILDING. IT MARKS A NEW PHASE IN HIS WORK. THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING FIRM SOIL FOR THE FOUNDATION. PILOTIS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE WERE USED,WAS LEFT BARE WITH SHUTTERING MARKS DISPLAYED. THE SUPER-STRUCTURE WAS OF STEEL. THE CURVED WALL OF THE COMMON ROOM WAS OF RANDOM RUBBLE.

1955 Mrs. MANORAMA SARABHAI’S HOUSE, AHMEDABAD, INDIA

1955 Mrs MANORAMA SARABHAI’S HOUSE, AHMEDABAD, INDIA 

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THE HOUSE WAS SITED AND DESIGNED TO CATCH THE WINDS IN SUMMER, BUT TO BE PENETRATED BY THE SUN IN WINTER. THE STRUCTURE, ROUGH BRICK WALLS COATED WITH WHITE, SUPPORTING CONCRETE BEAMS AND, CONSISTING OF VAULTS. CRADLE VAULTS OF FLAT TILES SET IN PLASTER WITHOUT FORMWORK COUPLED WITH A ROW OF BRICKS CAST ROUGHLY IN CEMENT.

PLAN OF SARABHAI’S HOUSE

PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR

1956 SHODHAN HOUSE, AHMEDABAD,INDIA

1956 SHODHAN HOUSE, AHMEDABAD,INDIA  

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THE SIMPLE STRUCTURE IS OF EXPOSED REINFORCED CONCRETE. THE SHUTTERING FOR THE WALLS AND VERTICAL SURFACES BEING OF TIMBER, THAT FOR THE CEILINGS OF METAL SHEETING. THE CEILINGS AND A FEW OTHER SELECTED AREAS WERE TO HAVE BEEN BRIGHTLY PAINTED. A CHARATERISTIC ELEMENT IS THE RAMP WHICH LEADS TO THE MEZZANINE AND TO THE MAIN LEVEL. THE ACCOMODATION ARE DISPOSED IN THE SPACE OF A ‘HANGING GARDEN’ ON SEVERAL LEVELS CONSTITUTING 3 APARTMENTS, SEPARATE AND YET IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

PLAN OF SHODHAN HOUSE

SOUTH EAST ELEVATION

UNITE D’ HABITATION

UNITE D’ HABITATION 

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IT WAS THE TIME WHEN EUROPE WAS RISING FROM THE SMOULDERING FUNERAL PYRE OF AND ITS NEWLY LIBERATED PEOPLE WERE TO ESTABLISH SOME PROGRAMME DIRECTION OF NEW LIFE LE CORBUSIER HAD A REVOLUTIONARY EVENT, SUN, SPACE AND GREENERY WAS DEVELOPED HERE. TO UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE OF MIND OF YHE PEOPLE AROUND IT WAS LE CORBUSIER’S BEST CONTRIBUTION TO A MODERN TYPOLOGY OF SOCIAL HOUSING THE BUILDING US SITUATED ON 9 ACRE SITE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MARSEILLE IT HAS AN EAST WEST ORIENTATION IT IS 450’ LONG, 80’ WIDE AMD 185’ HIGH IT FOLLOOWS THE THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES OF LE CORBUSIER’S LOGIC OF CONSTRUCTION 4 LIFTS EACH WITH A CAPACITY OF 20 TRAVELLING WITH A SPEED AT 40 FT PER SECOND.

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IT HAS SKELETON OF REINFORCED CONCRETE AND REST ON POWERFUL PILLARS WHICH LEAVS THE GROUND FREE ALL PIPING PASSES THROUGH THESE PILLARS (PILOTIS) ALL APARTMENTS ARE BUILT IN TWO LEVELS THE NORTHEN FAÇADE IS BLANK, WHILE THE OTHER FACADES ARE ANIMATED WITH GLASS WALLS AND SUNBREAK LOGGIAS OF LIVING AREA THE PLAN IS NOT COMPLETELY FREE ; THE PARTITION WALLS BETWEEN THE APARTMENTS ARE LOAD BEARING STRONG SOUND PROOFING BETWEEN APARTMENTS IT IS 9 STOREYS HIGH THEY ARE DIVIDED INTO TWENTY THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF APARTMENTS 337 APARTMENTS IN ALL RECREATIONAL ROOMS ARE ON THE ROOF

GLASS WALL OF 12’ X 16’ DOUBLE HEIGHT BALCONIES TOO

DOUBLE HEIGHT LIVING ROOM WITH GLASS WALL HUGE PILOTIS LEAVING THE GROUND FREE

CONCRETE AS NOBLE MATERIAL

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THE LIVING ROOM HAS DOUBLE HEIGHT OF 16’ AND GLASS WALL OF 12’ X 16’ OTHER ROOMS ARE 8’ HIGH THE TERRACE ROOF HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH NUMBER OF FACILITIES FOR COLLECTIVE USE : DAY NURSERY, KINDERGARTEN, GYMNASIUM FOR ADULTS , OPEN AIR THEATER,AND THREE HUNDRED METER RACE TRACK CONCRETE IS USED AS NOBLE MATERIAL FEW DISADVANTAGES OF THIS BUILDING ARE AS FOLLOW: THE FOREST OF PILOTIS ON THE GROUND FLOOR IS SIMPLY LUGUBRIOUS THE INDIVIDUAL CELLS ARE TOO NARROW SHOPPING STREET IS TOO LARGE COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF BUILDING

HE IT

IMLEMENTED MOST OF HIS RADICAL IDEAS.

HAD A ROUGH CONCRETE FINISH TO THE COMPLEX.

ROOF NURSERY COLOURFUL WALLS IN BALCONIES

OPEN TERRACE NARROW ROOMS ( 8’ HIGH ROOMS)

NOTRE- DAM-DU-HAUT

RONCHAMP    

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NOTRE-DAM-DU-HAUT IS SITUATED ON SOURTHEN FOOTHILLS OF THE VOSAGES LE CORBUSIER TACKLED THE PROBLEM FIRST OF ALL AS A MATTER OF “PURE” SPACE IN THIS CONTEXT, LE CORBUSIER HIMSELF SPOKE OF LANDSCAPE ACOUSTICS THUS CREATING AN ECHO IN THE HALL THE FORM HE FINALLY CAME UP WITH EQUAL JUSTICE TO THE PRACTICLE PURPOSE OF SANCTUARY AND THE EVOCATIVE CHALLENGE OF THE LAND IT IS COVERED WITH MUSHROOM SHAPED ROOF FOLLOWING THE SHAPE OF HILL , THE NAVE OF THE CHURCH IS INCLINED TOWARDS EAST THE ROOF IS INDEPENDENT OF WALLS A THIN STRIP OF DAYLIGHT IS REVEALED BETWEEN THE CHAPEL WALLS AND THE ROOF IT CREATS A STRONG TENSION BETWEEN THE INDOORS AND OUT DOORS

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THE MAIN HALL HAS A CAPACITY OF 200 PEOPLE IT WAS THIS CHPEL THAT HE FIRST FORMULATED THE IDEA ARCHITECTURALLY IN THE FORM OF PERISCOPE LIGHT SHAFTS CAPTURING THE SUNLIGHT AND SPILLING IT OVER THE ALTARS OF THE THREE SIDED CHAPEL HE PLAYED WITH MASS AND VOID ON THE EXTERIORS OF THE WALLS

MASS VOID APPEARANCE

IRREGULAR VOIDS

INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL

1954 MILLOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, AHMEDABAD, INDIA

1954 MILLOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, AHMEDABAD, INDIA     

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IS THE HEADQUATERS OF ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT OF INDIAN COTTON MILLOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS. THE BUILDING WAS REQUIRED TO BE BOTH AN ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER AND A MEETING AND A CEREMONIAL CENTER. IT SERVERS AS A SORT OF CLUB, THE SOCIAL RITUAL OF ITS MEMBERS IS STRONGLY EXPRESSED IN ITS DESIGN. CLIMATE CONTROL WAS TAKEN IN CONSIDERATON AND THERE WAS EXPRESSION OF MATERIALS. THE EAST AND WEST FACADES, OF ROUGH-SHUTTERED EXPOSED CONCRETE ARE MADE UP OF SUN-BREAKERS, CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO SHIELD THE INTERIOR. THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES, ALMOST UNBROKEN ARE OF ROUGH BRICKWORK.

VIEW FROM 3RD FLOOR LEVEL LOOKING EAST OVER THE RIVER

SUN BREAKERS

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THE INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF PREVAILING WINDS. THE ROOF IS USED TOGETHER WITH BAR FOR EVENING ENTERTAINMENT. THE ASSEMBLY HALL IS CONSTRUCTED OF DOUBLE THIN BRICK WALLS PANELLED IN WOOD. EITHER RANDOM OR CONCRETE SEATING 2 VERTICAL TAPESTRIES ARE SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING FOR ACOUSTICAL PURPOSES. THE HALL IS INDIRECTLY LIGHTED BY REFLECTIONS FROM THE CURVED CEILING, WHICH IN TURN IS KEPT COOL BY 2 GARDENS AND A WATER BASIN ON THE ROOF.

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CIRCULATION FROM THE LOWEST LEVEL TO THE ROOF 2 ELEVATORS SERVE ALL THE FLOORS. A LONG RAMP PROVIDES PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FROM THE MAIN OFFICE TO THE PARKING LOT. THE FLOORING IS OF DELHI STONE AND ALSO SERVES AS A STONE TAPESTRY.

1954-57 MUSEUM, AHMEDABAD,INDIA

1954-57 MUSEUM, AHMEDABAD,INDIA 

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THE MUSEUM IS ON PILOTIS THROUGH WHICH THE BUILDING IS ENTERED INTO AN OPEN COURT FROM WHICH A RAMP, SIMILARLY OPENED TO THE SKY, LEADS TO THE EXHIBITION LEVELS. ONE ENTERS THE MAIN LEVEL IN A NAVE OF SPIRAL SQUARES 14 METERS WIDE, CONSISTING OF 7*7m STRUCTURAL BAYS. PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN AGAINST THE EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE OF THE DAY. ROOF CONSISTS OF 45 BASINS OF 50 sq m EACH , ALL FILLED WITH WATER TO A DEPTH OF 40cm. THIS WATER IS PROTECTED FROM THE TORRID SUN BY THE SHADE OF THICK VEGETATION.THE WATER OF THESE BASINS IS NOURISHED BY A SPECIAL POWDER WHICH INCLUDES ENORMOUS GROWTH, FAR BEYOND NORMAL PLANT SIZE.

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THE SPACE FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION EXTENDS UNDER THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE CEILING WHICH IS PLACED IN SHADOW, AGAINST THE EFFECT OF THE SUN. THE ILLUMINATION HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MUSEUM’S IMPRESSION ON THE VISITOR . THE BUILDING HAS LOW HT. PILOTIS , THE TOP OF WHICH ARE 3.40m ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, WITH A FREE PASSAGE BETWEEN PILOTIS OF 2.5m. THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE EXTERIOR WALLS WILL BE OF WHITE PLASTER WHILE THE INTERIOR FACE OF THE WALLS AROUND THE COURT REMAINS IN UNSURFACED BRICK.

THE MUSEUM IS NOT LIMITED IN RESPECT TO GROWTH, AND THEREFORE THE 50*50m SIDES (2500sq m) CAN BE EXTENDED TO 84*84m(7000sq m) BY THE MEANS OF STANDARD ELEMENTS . 

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECTION THROUGH EXHIBITION HALL

1929-SALVATION ARMY REFUGE IN PARIS

PLANS

1.GROUND-FLOOR PLAN, RECEPTION HALL AND DINING ROOMS. 2.TYPICAL FLOOR PLANS, DOMITORIES, DAY NURSERIES AND WASHROOMS. 3.PLAN AT UPPER LEVEL, WITH INDIVIDUAL CUBICLES FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.

SALVATION ARMY REFUGE IN PARIS 

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THE REFUGE WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE SALVATION IN 1929. IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST OF LECORBUSIER’S BUILDINGS. IT WAS THE FIRST BUILDING FOR HUMAN HABITATION ENTIRELY SEALED COMPRISING 10,000 SQ.FEET OF FENESTRATION WITHOUT OPENING SECTIONS. THE VENTILATION WAS ACHIEVED BY MEANS OF FORCED AIR.THIS FORCED AIR INSTALLATION WAS EFFECTED ON A VERY SMALL BUDGET.HOWEVER,TEMPERAT URE COULD NOT BE COTROLLED.

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IT CONSISTS OF A FRAME OF CONCRETE COLUMNS AND SLABS WITH HOLLOW TERRA-COTTA WALL AND FLOOR UNITS. THE CONSTRUCTION IS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE. THE COLUMNS REST ON REINFORCED CONCRETE PILES DRIVEN TO ADEPTH OF 36-45 FEET. THE SUBSURFACE WAS INSTABLE,BEING SUBJECT TO THE UNDERGROUND WATERS OF THE SEINE.

PAINTING

PAINTING

C H A N D I G A R H

INTRODUCTION 

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SINCE PUNJAB EAS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS, THE CAPITAL WAS LEFT IN PAKISTAN THERE FORE PUNJAB IN INDIA REQUIRED NEW CAPITAL LE CORBUSIER WAS APPROACHED BY PUNJAB GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA CHANDIGARH IS A BOLD EXPERIMENT IN MODERN CIVIL DESIGN CHANDIGARH HAS PROVOKED FRESH THINKING AND IN FACT SHOWN NEW WAY OF LIFE MAXWELL FRY, JANE DREW AND PIERRE JEANNERET WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE TEAM OF ARCHITECTS WHEN LE CORBUSIER ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE CHANDIGARH PROJECT IN 1951, HOWEVER THE DESIGN OF THE CITY HAD ALREADY BEEN DEVISED BY THE NEW YORK FIRM OF MAYER, WHITTLESEY, AND GLASS WHO RECEIVED A CONTRACT FOR THE MASTER PLAN OF CHANDIGARH IN 1950

ALBERT MAYER THE MASTER PLAN  

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MAYER WAS THE FIRST ONE TO GET THE CHANDIGARH PROJECT MATTHEW NOWICKI WAS INVITED TO JOIN THE STAFF ASSEMBLED TO PLAN CHANDIGARH.HIS DITIES WERE TO TAKE THE FORM OF ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL. MAYER STATED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING”THAT REALLY APPLIES TO WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MUCH BUT WHICH HAS BEEN AT BEST DONE IN A LIMITED WAY IN RADBUBN,THE GREENBELT TOWNS AND BALDWIN HILLS. THE BASIC AIM,STATED MAYER,WAS A BEAUTIFUL CITY. THE MASTER PLAN WHICH ALBERT MAYER PRODUCED FOR CHANDIGARH ASSUMES A FAN-SHAPED OUTLINE,SPREADING GENTLY TO FILL THE FILE THE SITE BETWEEN THE TWO RIVER BEDS.

THE PROVINCIAL GOVT. BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED THE UPPER EDGE OF THE CITY WITHIN A FORK IN ONE OF THE RIVERS,WHILE THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OCCUPIES AN AREA NEAR THE CENTER.A CURVING NETWORK OF MAIN ROADS SURROUNDS THE RESIDENTIAL SUPERBLOCKS,EACH OF WHICH CONTAINS A CENTRAL AREA OF PARKLAND. 

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TWO LARGER PARKS MAY BE SEEN STRETCHING THROUGH THE CITY.

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THE FLATNESS OF THE SITE ALLOWED ALMOST COMPLETE FREEDOM IN CREATING STREET LAYOUT AND IT IS OF INTEREST TO NOTE HAT THE OVERALL PATTERN DELIBERATELY AVOIDS A GEOMETRIC GRID IN FAVOUR OF A LOOSELY CURVING SYSTEM. THE DEATH OF NOWICKI NECESSITATED THE SELECTION OF A NEW ARCHITECT FOR CHANDIGARH. IT WAS THE MINISTER OF PLANNING WHO SUGGISTED LE-CORBUISER AND WHO ALSO RECOMMENDED THE INCLUSION OF PIERRE JEANNERET WHOM HE TERMED A’’ GOOD DETAIL MAN.’’

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THE PROVINCIAL GOVT. BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED THE UPPER EDGE OF THE CITY WITHIN A FORK IN ONE OF THE RIVERS,WHILE THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OCCUPIES AN AREA NEAR THE CENTER.A CURVING NETWORK OF MAIN ROADS SURROUNDS THE RESIDENTIAL SUPERBLOCKS,EACH OF WHICH CONTAINS A CENTRAL AREA OF PARKLAND. 

MASTER PLAN  

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IN 1951 IT WAS GIVEN TO LE CORBUSIER IN CHANDIGARH LE CORBUSIER SYTEM OF SELF SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOOD UNIT KNOWN AS A SECTOR HAS WORKED VERY WELL SECTOR WHICH IS INTROVERTED IN CHARACTER COMMUNICATES ONLY AT 4 JUNCTIONS WITH THE ADJOINING NEIGHBOURHOOD UNITS ALL THE HOUSES OPEN UP INSIDE GRID PLANNING IS DONE CHANDIGARH PLANNING WAS DONE IN AN MANNER THAT EVERYTHING WAS EASILY CLEAR ABOUT THE ROUTES AND SECTORS 7 V’S ROAD SYSTEM IS USED THE ROADS ARE CLASSIFIED AS V1 ,V2 ,V3………V7 V1 CONNECTS CHANDIGARH TO OTHER CITIES

PLAN OF THE CITY

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V2 ARE THE MAJOR AVENUES OF THE CITY E.G MADHYA MARG ETC V3 ARE THE CORRIDORS STREETS FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ONLY V4…..V7 ARE THE ROADS WITHIN THE SECTORS CHANDI GARH HAS BEEN PLANNED ON THE SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND TO APPRISE THE COMING GENERATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES THE MAIN FEATURE OF THIS EDICT ARE ITSHUMAN SCALE SELF SUFFICIENT SECTORS ROADS SYSTEM AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL

THREE DISCIPLINES 

THE DISCIPLINE OF MONEY

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LE CORBUISER ONCE REMARKED THAT”INDIA HASTHE TREASURES OF A PROUD CULTURE,BUT HER COFFERS ARE EMPTY.” AND THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT THE DESIRE FOR GRANDNESS WAS HAMPERED BY THE NEED FOR STRICT ECONOMY. IN WORKING UP HIS DESIGNS,LE CORBUISER CONSULTED THE PROGRAM FOR EACH BUILDING AS GIVEN IN THE BUDGET AND THEN PREPARED THE INITIAL PROJECT.

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THE DISCIPLINE OF TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE IN QUANTITY,HOWEVER,WAS GOOD CLAY STONE AND SAND,AND,ABOVE ALL’HUMAN LABOUR. THE MATERIALS OF WHICH CHANDIGARH HAS BEN CONSTRUCTED ARE ROUGH CONCRETE IN THE CAPITOL COMPLEX AND THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND FOR MOST OF THE CITY,ESPECIALLY IN HOUSING,LOCALLY PRODUCED BRICK.

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THE DISCIPLINE OF CLIMATE

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BESIDES THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL REGULATONS THERE WAS A LAW OF THE SUN IN INDIA. THE ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEM CONSISTS;FIRST TO MAKE SHADE,SECOND TO MAKE A CURRENT OF AIR[TO VENTILATE],THIRD TO CONTROL HYDRAULICS.

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THE SECTOR 

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TAKING CHANDIGARH AS AN EXAMPLE,WE MAY SEE AT ONCE THE DEMOCRATIC IDEA WHICH ALLOWS US TO DEVOTE AN EQUAL CARE TO HOUSING ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY TO SEK NEW SOCIAL GROUPINGS, NEW PATTERNS OF EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WELFARE,AND MADE MORE POSSIBLE BY PRACTICAL APLICATOIN OF THE SCIENTIFIC IDEA WHICH THROUGH INDUSTRIALISM,GIVES US SUCH BENEFITS AS PIPED WATER,ELECRICITY AND CHEAP TRANSPORT. EACH SECTOR IS DESIGNATED BY NUMBER,THE CAPITAL COMPLEX BEING NUMBER 1,WITH THE REMAINING SECTORS NUMBERED CONSECUTIVELY BEGINNING AT THE NORTH CORNER OF THE CITY. AT PRESENT THERE ARE 30 SECTORS IN CHANDIGARH,OF WHICH 24 ARE RESIDENTIAL. THE SECTORS AT THE UPPER EDGE OF THE CITY ARE OF ABBREVIATED SIZE.

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IN ALL TYPE OF HOUSING ,PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE GLAZING EXPENSE,PARTLY TO KEEP OUT SUN. AS THE MOST ECONOMICAL AND READILY AVAILABLE MATERIAL FOR BUILDING AT CHANDIGARH WAS LOCALLY MADE BRICK. THIS BECAME THE MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION. THE FLAT ROOF WAS EMPLOYED THROUGH OUT IN CHANDIGARH HOUSING BECAUSE OF ITS USEFULNESS AS A SLEEPING AREA 70% OF THE BUILDING WOULD BE PRIVATE IN ALL THE SECTORS. RESIDENTIAL PLOTS RANGING IN DIMENSIONS FROM 75 SQ. YARDS TO 5000 SQ YARDS.

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THIS IS BECAUSE THE CAPITOL COMPLEX IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF SECTOR 3 EXTENTED TO ITS FULL DIMENSIONS. GOVERNMENT HOUSING LE-CORBUISER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENERAL OUTLINES OF THE MASTER PLAN AND THE CREATION OF THE MONUMENTAL BUILDLINGS,WHILE PIERRE JEANNERET,MAXWELL FRY AND JANE DREW WERE CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF DEVELOPING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SECTORS WITH THEIR SCHOOLS,SHOPPING BAZAARS,AND THE TRACTS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSING. IN THE PROGRAM PRESENTED TO THE ARCHITECTS,13 CATEGORIES OF HOUSES WERE SPECIFIED,EACH CORRESPONDING TO A LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT. SMALL WINDOWS OPENINGS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY EMPLOYED

THE CAPITOL COMPLEX 

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THE AREA OF THE GREATEST SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE IN CHANDIGARH WAS THE CAPITOL COMPLEX , WHICH IN ITS FINAL FORM WAS BASED ON THE DESIGN OF A GRAET CROSS AXIS THE MOST IMPORTANT GROUP OF THE BUILDINGS CONSTITUTING THE CAPITOL- RIGHT, THE PARLIAMENT, LEFT,IN THE BACKGROUND, THE SECRETARIAT IN THE FOREGROUND, THE POOL OF THE PALACE OF JUSTICE THE ARTIFICIAL HILLS IN THE FRONT OF THE SECRETARIAT HAVE NOT BEEN CREATED AND LAID OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH COEBUSIER;S CONCEPTIONS ALTHOUGH THE SCENE IS HARMONIUS IN EFFECT, THERE ARE STILL MISSING THE BUILDINGS THAT BELONG HERE ,SUCH AS , FOR INSTANCE, THE TOWERS OF SHADOWS

SITE PLAN

OPEN HAND

GOVERNOR,S PALACE HIGH COURT ASSEMBLY

SECRETARIAT

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HERE 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 INTERPERATED AS AN INTERLACED ARRAY OF SUN BREAKERS INSPIRATION FROM L,UNITE IT LIES IN THE FOOT OF SHIVALIK HILLSJUST 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 PEDISTRIAN PLAZA WITH MOTOR TRAFFIC SEPARATED INTO SUNKEN TRENCHES LEADING TO PARKING AREAS ALTHOUGH THE SITE IS VERY BIG,IT IS NOT DESIGNED WITH ALLOWENCE FOR EXPANSION

THE SECRETARIAT,1958

THE SECRETARIAT 

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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 FORN AS A LONG ,HORIZONTAL CONCRETE SLAB THE SECRETARIAT, THE LONGEST BUILDING IN CHANDIGARH, 254M LONG,AND 42M HIGHFORMS THE ADMINSTRATIVE CENTER,WITH MINISTERAL 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 SEPARETED BY EXPANSION JOINTS THE CENTRAL PAVILION, BLOCK 4, CONTAINS THE OFFICES OF THE MINISTERS

RAMP ENCLOCURE SQUARE WINDOWS

ROUGH CONCRETE FINISH

FREE FACADE

PROJECTED PORTICOS SMALL ENTRANCE BIG ENTRANCE

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THE ROUGH CONCRETE AGAIN INTERPOSES IN THE FENESTRATION OF THE TWO MAIN FACADES ; MORE THAN 2000 UNITS OF UNIQUE DESIGN APPRAOCH 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

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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

HT OF 2 STOREYS LEFT OPEN

COLUMNS SUPPORTING 1 ½ BLOCK

THE HIGH COURT

THE HIGH COURT, 

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THE HIGH COURT FORMED A PART AS “ A GRAT ARCHITECTURAL VENTURE USING VERY POOR MATERIALS AND A LABOUR FORCEQUITE UNUSED TO MODERN BUILDING TECHNIQUES AN ENTIRE STUCTURE 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

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THE EIGHT COURT ROOMS ARE IDENTICALLY EXPRESSED ON THE MAIN FAÇADE AND SEPARETED 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 SCALELESS PATTERN TO THE BUILDING IT IS THE CONCRETE SCREEN WHICH GIVES THE MAIN FAÇADE ITS OVER ALL UNITY

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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 WITH IN 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

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

PARASOL ROOF FORMING ARCHES DOUBLE ROOF GAP LEFT BETWEEN TWO ROOFS

COLOURED MASSIVE PILLARS FULL HT ENTRANCE

REAR VIEW

DOUBLE ROOF

APPROACHED THROUGH ROADS

ROUGH CONCRETE FINISHED RAMP

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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 COLOURS 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 GRAET 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 POEN CORRIDORS ON THR REAR FACADE ,IS ALSO INEFFECTIVELY SHELTERED

THE ASSEMBLY HALL

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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 CMS 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

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OF ALL BUILDINGS OF THE CAPITOL COMPLEX , THE ASSEMBLY IS THE MOST INTERIOR INTRICATE IN PLAN VIEW OF A SEPARATE CIRCULATION CHAMBER ACCOMMODATION OF ALL GROUPS IS PROVIDED EMPLOYING A SYSTEM OF INDIVIDUAL ENTRANCES, MUSHROOM STAIRWAYS, LIFTS AND RAMP ACOLUMN COMPLETE SEGREGATION OF SUPPORTING MEMBERS IS PROVIDED ROOF THER ARE TWO SEPARATE GALLERIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN COUNCIL CHAMBER

SECTOR-17,CHANDIGARH 

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THE CITY CENTER CONSISTS OF DIFFERENT SQUARES TIED TOGETHER BY BROAD AVENUES. AT THE PRESENT TIME,WHEN THIS CENTER IS STILL DEVOID OF ANY SORT OF VEGETATION,THE UNSHADED OPEN AREAS CAN BE QUITE UNPLEASANT. THIS SECTOR-17 IS VIRTUALLY UNINHABITED,BUT IT IS ENLIVENED DURING THE DAYTIME BY THE MANY SHOPS,BAZARS, RESTAURANT,CAFES,BANKS AND DEPARTMENT STORES.

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THERE IS DOUBT THAT AT PRESENT THE CITY CENTER STILL LOOKS LIKE AN EXPERIMENT . THE URBAN CIRCULATION HERE IS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE ‘ORIENTAL’ BAZAAR STREETS,THE NARROW ALLEYS FUL OF NOISE AND PLUNGED IN SHADOW . OF ALL THE CITIES OF INDIA , ONLY CHANDIGARH CAN CLAIM TO BE AN ABSOLUTELY MODERN TOWN , ”UNTOUCHED BY THE TRADITION OF THE PAST,” AS JAWAHARLAL NEHRU SO APTLY REMARKED .

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THE EXECUTION OF THE BUILDINGS FOR THE CITY CENTRE WAS ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT ARCHITECTS. PIERRE JEANNERET CONSCIENTIOUSLY SUPERVISED AND ORGANIZED THE SCHEMES DETERMINED BY LECORBUSIER

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SUKHNA LAKE, CHANDIGARH 

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THE CLUB HOUSE- NORTH OF THE CAPITOL NO ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES WERE TO BE ERECTED,IN ORDER NOT TO IMPEDE THE VIEW OF THE HIMALAYA. THIS WAS AN EXPRESS CONDITION LAID DOWN BY LE CORBUSIER. THE CLUB HOUSE WAS HOWEVER NECESSITY. LE CORBUSIER DESIGNED A COMPLEX LYING 3METERS BENEATH ROAD LEVEL,SO THAT THE HOUSE IS SCARSELY VISIBLE FROM THE PROMENADE.

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THE CAUSEWAY- CHANDIGARH IS SURROUNDED BY THE RIVERS PATIALI AND MANIMAJRA, WHICH CARRY WATER ONLY DURING THE MONSOON SEASON. THE REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION IS SIMPLE AND PLAIN, AND ITS SEVERE LINES HARMONIZE ENTIRELY WITH THE NATURAL SETTING. AT ALL OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR THEY ARE DRY.

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DURING THE HOT MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE, ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF DUST USED TO BLOW INTO THE CITY. TREES AND SHRUBS WERE PLANTED AS A PROTECTIVE ZONE ALONG THESE RIVERS, SO THAT THE CITY IS NOW FREE OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF THIS FLYING SAND. ONE OF THESE RIVERS HAS BEEN DAMMED. IN 1955 THE WATER BOULEVARD WAS EXTENDED IN THE SHAPE OF A CAUSEWAY, OR DAM, THE RETAINING WALL BEING MORE THAN

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20 METERS HIGH AND 4 KILOMETERS LONG. THIS DAM,WITH ITS WIDTH ON TOP OF 24METERS, THUS YIELDED A PROMENADE. THE ARTIFICIAL LAKE CREATED BEHIND THE DAM HAS MODIFIED THE CLIMATE OF THE CITY.