Delhi's modern architectural heritage

Hall of Nations was among the 62 buildings constructed after Independence in Delhi, which INTACH had listed as Modern Architectural Heritage of India. It was demolished amid controversy and protests l

May 07, 2017, 03:58 IST2 min

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Shiela Theatre. 1961. Habib Rahman
The first Indian to complete both under-graduate and graduate degree in Architecture from MIT, Rahman’s understanding of modern architecture shows in the theatre’s structural integrity, economy and elegance

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Crafts Museum. 1990. Charles Correa
Defying the Western concept of a museum, Correa created the ambience of a rustic street with courtyards, yet imbuing it with a modern feel by recontextualising the space

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Mazaar Of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. 1975. Habib Rahman
The concept of open linear forms - almost like line drawing in space - an ongoing experiment with Rahman was carried to its exquisite fruition in the making of this mazaar

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Alliance Francaise. 2004. Anupam Bansal, Rajesh Dongre & Stephane Paumier
To complement the verdant Lodi Gardens next door, the architects created terrace gardens, thus the area taken from the ground for erecting the building was ‘given back’ to Nature. Creating a conducive microclimate for activity outdoors was their other aim.

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Triveni Kala Sangam. 1957. Joseph Allen Stein
The American architect Stein made Delhi his home in the 1950s. His work was distinguished by its elegant spacing and landscaping that soothe and inspire. He searched for an appropriate ‘modern regionalism’, a design vocabulary born from observation of local Indian life and construction systems.

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Vigyan Bhawan. 1955. R.L.Gehlote
The simple cubical mass of a government conference hall was elevated by an entrance inspired by the stunning form of the chaitya arch at Ajanta caves. It reflected Gehlote’s preoccupations with Buddhist, Hindu and Mughal architecture. The arch motif symbolised ‘an Indian heritage of peace and culture’.

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The Garden Of Five Senses. 2003. Pradeep Sachdeva
The garden showcases Sachdeva’s expertise in planning and designing public spaces. Built around a natural rocky ridge and incorporating native plants, the park spread over 20 acres features hundreds of flowering plant species and display of commissioned art in the public realm.

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Lotus Temple. 1986. Fariborz Sahba
Commissioned by the Baha’i faith, Sahba’s stunning geometric offering - of a lotus unfolding - is the result of a vision. He was looking for a concept that would be acceptable to people of all faiths and was led to ‘a sacred flower deeply rooted in the thoughts and mythology of all Indians, a flower associated with worship through many centuries’. The temple is one of the most visited sites in the world.

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