Author: Prakash Vikramaditya
Place: New Delhi
Publisher: Altrim Publishers
Year: 2014
Pages: 241
ISBN: 9789384052300
Subject: Architecture
Sub-Subject: Modern Architecture
Keyword: Chandigarh, Le Corbusier, Indian Modernism
Shelf: C9R5
Accession No: B701
Contents: Introduction, About the guide, ITINERARY I: Capitol Complex and Sukhna Lake, ITINERARY II: City Center, ITINERARY III: Museum Complex, ITINERARY IV: Government Housing I, ITINERARY V: Government Housing II, ITINERARY VI: Panjab University, ITINERARY VII: PGIMER(PGI) and University of Technology, ITINERARY VIII: V4 GERII Route, ITINERARY IX: East to West, ITINERARY X: Leisure Valley, ITINERARY XI: North to South, Facts for the Visitor, Buildings and Places Index, Architects and Projects Index, Bibliography, About the Author, Acknowledgements
Abstract: Chandigarh stands as a monumental testament to modern architecture, uniquely bringing together the visions of several pioneering architects. It is most famously home to Le Corbusier’s largest concentration of architectural works, making it a focal point for those interested in his legacy. The city also marks the creative peak of Pierre Jeanneret, whose contributions were instrumental in shaping Chandigarh’s built environment. Additionally, architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew introduced their concept of ‘tropical architecture’ here, adapting modernist ideals to the Indian climate and context. Beyond these well-known figures, Chandigarh holds special significance in the evolution of Indian modernism. It provided a critical platform for the first generation of Indian modernist architects, including Aditya Prakash, Anant Prabhawalkar, Bhanu Prakash Mathur, Harbinder Chopra, Jeet Malhotra, Manmohan Sharma, and Shivdatt Sharma. These architects, many of whom trained under or collaborated with the foreign pioneers, created a rich body of work that is scattered across the city. Their contributions reflect a unique blend of international modernism and local sensibilities. An architectural guide to Chandigarh is thus long overdue, offering insight into a city that not only embodies a global architectural experiment but also incubated a vibrant, indigenous modernist tradition.