CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

15ARC 6.4

MODULE 2

4. Modern Architecture in India-3:Ideas and works of Raj Rewal and Uttam Jain (Pragati Maidan, New
Delhi and Asian Games Village, New Delhi), Achyut Kanvinde(IIT, Kanpur and Nehru Science Centre,
Mumbai), Uttam Jain(Lecture Theatres, Jodhpur and Engineering College, Kota).

5. Modern Architecture in India-4:Enrichment of Indian experience- Cost effectiveness and local

influences. Lauire Baker and Anant Raje (Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram and
St. John Cathedral at Tiruvalla) and Anant Raje(IIFM, Bhopal and Management Development Centre,
IIM-A).

6. Parallel trends in Indian architecture; a) Revivalistic- monumental, Religious b)

Experimental-Pondicherry, Belgium embassy, IITB, Sriram Centre Newdelhi c) Vernacular
influence-Cost effective concepts.
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2019 1
NOTE : This study material will act as a reference and is not the sole source of information.
Ar.Raj Rewal
Biography:

• He lived in Delhi and Shimla for a couple of

years in his childhood that is from 1939 – 1951.

• In 1951-1954, he attended Delhi School of

Architecture.

• He moved to London and attended the

architectural association for one year.

• He completed his formal professional training

at the Brixton school of building, London.

• Raj Rewal took up his first job as an assistant

stage manager for several Avante grade theatre
production in London.

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2019 2
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Principles:
• His bldg. design includes pure structural expressions, cubic volumes.
• He also provide for honesty in expression ( materials, structural elements)
• Reflects a concern for climatic sensitivity (court yards , cross ventilation, spatial orientation, use of
cavity walls )
• He has been influenced by Le Corbusier and Louis khan.
• His architectural pursuit is centered on attempts to evolve a contemporary architecture rooted in
traditional wisdom.
• He got inspired by Mughal architecture i.e. the planning of squares with chamfered corners with
exact symmetry and same elevations on four sides.
• He was also influenced by the typologies of traditional bldg. and cities like Jaiselmer (traces from the
past he transforms them into the new). Urban fabric, clusters, streets, gateways, inner courtyards, roof
gardens.
• He derives lessons from different sources (modern, technical ,tradition etc.)
• Stone as a cladding material was excessively used by Raj Rewal in his almost all buildings, he justifies
that monumental usage of stone.
• Rewal's work combines sophisticated technology and a sense of history and context

Prepared by Harshitha K V I Assistant Professor AAAD, Bengaluru

2019 3
NOTE : This study material will act as a reference and is not the sole source of information.
Hall of Nations & Hall of Industries, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

• Pragati Maidan Located in 149 acres of extensive ground is rated as the finest exhibition complex in
Asia. Besides the 15 giant exhibition halls, there is 10,000 square meters of open area for trade related
exhibitions.

• The complex has various interesting sites like the National Science Centre, Hall of Nations, the unique
Crafts Museum and the States Pavilion. The Nehru Pavilion, Atomic Energy and Defense Pavilion are
also of considerable interest.

Prepared by Harshitha K V I Assistant Professor AAAD, Bengaluru

2019 4
NOTE : This study material will act as a reference and is not the sole source of information.
 Prepared by Harshitha K V I Assistant Professor AAAD, Bengaluru
2019 5
NOTE : This study material will act as a reference and is not the sole source of information.
Design:

• Raj Rewal designed the two pavilions, hall of

Nations and hall of industries in the Pragati Maidan.

• The main Pavilion of the hall of nations has a clear

span of 78m and a height varying from 3m to 12m,
thereby providing a vast capacity for items to be
exhibited from books to bulldozers.

• The plan of these pavilions is square with

chamfered corners, providing eight anchoring
points.

• The square plan adopted permits additional units

to be added as required.

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2019 6
NOTE : This study material will act as a reference and is not the sole source of information.
• The hall of Industries on the other hand is a combination of 4 smaller pavilions interconnected by
ramps, enclosing a central area for open exhibits In the Hall of Industries the height varies from
2.5 m to 15 m.
• Utilities, toilets, and other services are located under the ramps.
• While the program set forth by the government simply stated the number of square feet of
exhibition space required, it was the architect who opted for a structure that would allow for
vast unobstructed areas.
• With the aid of a celebrated engineer, Mahendra Raj, the space frame solution emerged.
• Although each of the halls was initially conceived as a full pyramid, the truncated form was
ultimately adopted in order to avoid unnecessary construction.
• The steel for the space frame construction was expensive in India and not always available in
strengths required.
• Labor however was not expensive and contractors had experience with reinforced concrete
construction.
• As a result, this R.C.C system was conceived, analyzed by the computer and built.

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2019 7
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ASIAN GAMES VILLAGE, NEW DELHI
(1980-82)

• The Asian Games Village in New Delhi is a

housing complex built on a 14-hectare site to
house contestants from the participating
countries in the Ninth Asian Games held in
November 1982.
• It is located near the ruins of Siri Fort in South
Delhi and consists of 500 flats and 200 individual
houses in two-to four- storied construction,
achieving a density of 50 units per hectare.

Concept:
• The architect draws inspiration from the old
cities of India like Jaiselmer and Jodhpur in terms
•ofThe
spatial organization,
layout planning
simulates the and the
traditional usemorphology
urban of of North India, incorporating the mohalla as
architectural
the elements
basic module like gateways and
for planning.
•courtyards . provides for pauses, spots for rest and changing vistas evolved through a sequence of
The concept
spaces interlinked by narrow pedestrian streets.

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2019 8
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Passageways and Gateways:
• The spaces are brightened through careful mix of
recreational and commercial uses.
• The streets are purposely broken up into
comprehensible units and often defined by
gateways (These passageways are also an
inspiration from those seen in Jaisalmer).
• This provides for intermingling among the
residents to give a sense of belonging to the
neighborhood square.
• A sense of enclosure and continuity of
movement is maintained throughout the scheme,
respecting the identity of spaces.
• The houses and roof terraces often overlook the
streets and the open spaces, creating a sense of
community participation among the inhabitants.
• The dining complex forms the central node of
activities in the complex.
Movement:
• Vehicular and pedestrian movement is
intentionally segregated.
• A central pedestrian spine interconnects the
courts and street of various clusters.
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2019 9
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Clusters:

• Each mohalla or neighbourhood comprises a

cluster of 16 to 36 dwellings.
• The entrance gateways punctuate the sequence
of spaces around communal courtyards and define
clusters.
• The flats are located along the inner pedestrian
network.
• Each unit has its own independent open-to-sky
space-either a courtyard or a terrace.
Courtyards:

• The public courtyard accommodates a multiple of activities ranging from religious like marriage
ceremonies to the celebrations of secular festivals.
• Courtyards are protected by external walls and verandahs or are defined by rooms, and act as a light
and air well in which cool night air is trapped.
Material:
• The materials and color combinations have been selected meticulously.
• The external walls of the buildings are finished in stone aggregate, while the courtyard walls are of
Delhi quartzite stone. The pathways are paved with white or red sandstone. The gates, doors and
windows are painted in different colors to give a sense of identity to the dwellings units.
Prepared by Harshitha K V I Assistant Professor AAAD, Bengaluru
2019 10
NOTE : This study material will act as a reference and is not the sole source of information.