CHANDIGARH- PARADISE LOST

BIPIN MALIK

HoD, SURYA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

PARADISE LOST

Le Corbusier earlier concepts of designing buildings what he called “PURE PRISMS” with smooth, white concrete structures, elevated above grounds changed to “NEW BRUTALISM” in Architecture when he started designing in Chandigarh using rough textured, heavy frame buildings with stone, glass, concrete etc. His works in Chandigarh (Capitol Complex, museum, Lake Club etc.) had a mix of his five principles of designing buildings which included support (Pilotis), Free Façade, Brise Soleil, Roof Gardens with basic theory of Sun, space and verdure. He manifested it by saying “THE MATERIAL FOR CITY PLANNING ARE SKY, SPACE, STEEL, and CONCRETE IN THAT ORDER AND HIERECHY.”

Paradise started losing its charm when phony and hazy interpretations were given to his theories and ideas and newly formed states out of division of Punjab started exploiting Chandigarh immediate after its birth with ill designed replicas of Chandigarh in its vicinity.

Now within its own helm in the absence of “MASTER PLAN” by the master, many projects with vast coverage areas were built on the wishes of few who thought in their wisdom that these will result into a prized feather in the cap of modernity of Chandigarh. Post modernism Architecture of IT Park buildings, number of “SHOPPING MALLS” in converted zones of otherwise Industrial Area with its make-up and even allowing architecturally controlled buildings of city centre to get prone to abstractism of this Modernity contributed loss to city’s character as envisaged by great master. Huge towers accommodating function of residence further made holes in the pious serenity of green periphery of the city. Roads approaching to the city got clogged with massive artificial so called “MARRIAGE HALLS” traffic.

While 6000 acres of phase-1 was to accommodate 1,50,000 people and 9000 acres of phase-2 was to accommodate 3,50,000, City is now choking with a unplanned settlements of 3,50,000 people with its total population rising to 1.3 million. Cars are further the main culprit which is likely to occupy “GREENERY” of the city. Can someone see the ill health of “CITY BEAUTIFUL?”