chandigarh city planning

City PlanningOf Chandigarh

A Discussion

Department of Architecture andRegional Planning, IIT Kharagpur

Presented BySandeep Verma16AR60R18

Aim


To study the city planning of Chandigarh.

Objective• To understand historic background and planning concept of

Chandigarh.• To analyse the pros and cons of planning Chandigarh.• To understand the planning approach for a new city

planning.Scope

• Study deals with planning took place in initial phase.• Study is not a detailed investigation of any specific aspect.• Study is rather qualitative in approach with study of criticism

of various researchers.• Study focusing on sector planning and capital complex.Limitations• Study doesn’t relate to other works of Le Corbusier.• Study doesn’t deal with the present urban issues of

Chandigarh.• Study does not deal with the city evolution over the time or

the challenges encountering.

Overview

• Historical Background• Mayer’s Plan• Corbusier’s intervention and revised

plan• Discussion on Sector• Conception of plan as Human body• Road Network Planning• Capitol complex Discussion• Critical Review• Conclusion

Background

Source: Department of Architecture andRegional Planning, IIT Kharagpur

1947

Malik, B. (2004). City Planning and Realities: A Case Study of Chandigarh.International Conference on "City Futures". Chicago : University of Illinois.

India’s Partition

Something Good ComethOut of “Evil”

“Let this be a new town, symbolic of freedom of India unfetteredby the traditions of the past. An expression of the nations faith in thefuture”

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

About Site

Source:

• Mountainous region• Central location• Natural drainage• Sufficient water supply• Foothills of Shivalik• Moderate climate

• sub mountainous area of the Ambala district• 150 miles north of New Delhi• Flatter Area• gentle sloping plain of agriculture land dotted with grooves of mango trees• consisting of 59 villages


Fry, E. M., & B, J. D. (1955, April 1). Chandigarh and planningdevelopment in India. Royal Society of Arts, 103(4948), 315-333.

New Capital City and Administration Centreaccommodating half a million people and expandable to

1 million.

Mayer’s PlanAlbert Mayer and Mathew Nowicky

• Located between two boundary rivers• fan shaped plan• Govt. Centre – Northeast Side of the City• Super Block - Accommodating some 1500

families.• 3 Superblocks to make a district• Industrial area planned in southern corner• Administration area in north-east• 2 Large parkland zones across city• Future expansion in the southwest across the

plan

1500 feet

3000 Feet

SukhnaRiver

Patiala Rao

AdministrationComplex

SUPERBLOCK

Neighbourhood Unit Concept

Criticism – Lacks Monumental Symbolism


Mayer’s Plan for ChandigarhSource:

Mathew Nowicky’s Death

Turning Point

Le Corbusier’s InterventionFormulation of new plan

• Kept orientation of grids as it was• One dominant off centred doglegged axis• The grid of superblock increased in size to

1200 x 800mts (3900 x 2700 feet)• Accommodating up to 25000 inhabitants• Within superblock centralized market was

replaced by continuous bazar street acrossthe block.

• Capital Complex and high court combinedin one govt. complex

• CBD Area Remained the same• Shifted Capital complex to higher ground• Two linear parks were replaced by total of 6

later by 8.• Each Sector with its own green space around

which houses are designed• V7 Road Concept Leisure Valley

Capitol Complex

V1

IndustrialAreas

SukhnaRiver

PatialaRao River

800m

1200m


Source: Joshi, K. (1999). Documenting Chandigarh: The Indian Architecture of PierreJeanneret, Edwin Maxwell Fry, and Jane Beverly Drew, Vol. 1. Maping Publishing.

Sectors

V3

V4

Shops

School

HealthCentre

Arromhotel

SchoolV5

• Total 30 sectors - 24 residential• 70% building private• Autonomous unit including

housing, school, shops,recreational spaces.

• 3000-25000 accommodatingcapacity

• Surrounded by high speedroads

• Bus stops every 400mts• No pedestrian needs to walk

more than 10 minutes


Joshi, K. (1999). Documenting Chandigarh: TheIndian Architecture of Pierre Jeanneret, EdwinMaxwell Fry, and Jane Beverly Drew, Vol. 1. MapingPublishing.

Source: Joshi, K. (1999). Documenting Chandigarh: The Indian Architecture of Pierre Jeanneret,Edwin Maxwell Fry, and Jane Beverly Drew, Vol. 1. Maping Publishing.

Sector Plan

Criticism


• Self contained sectors – All essential services within walkingdistance.

• Sectors provide safe space for children.

• Safe, Yet boring• Confusing Streets.• Discouraging Place to go for walk.• Un-Indian and yet inspiration of architects.

Lack in Characteristics• Street Culture.• Excitement of Indian cities.• Noise of Lahore.• Intimacy of Delhi.

A STAY-HOME CITY

Source- Kalia, R. (1985). Chandigarh: A Planned City. Habitat International,9, 135-150.

Sector PlanSource: Joshi, K. (1999). Documenting Chandigarh: The Indian Architecture of PierreJeanneret, Edwin Maxwell Fry, and Jane Beverly Drew, Vol. 1. Maping Publishing.

City totally EuropeanDesigned without regard of fierce north Indian climate orIndian ways of life.

City segregated by income, and civil ranksInappropriate decision of hiring western designers to plancities for non western culture

Sector 17 - not valued much as would have valued inEurope

Decorative

Peter Hall


Source - Turner, T. (Director). (2015). Chandigarh 1 (of 4): Le Corbusier’s urbandesign and planning [Motion Picture].

Philosophy

Brain - Capitol ComplexHeart – City centre (Sector 17)Lungs – Leisure valleyIntellect – Educational AreasVeins - Circulation System V7Viscera – Industrial area

N


V7 ROAD CONCEPT

V1 ARTERIAL ROADS


V2 MAJOR BOULEVARDSV3 SECTOR DEFINERS


City A City A

V4 SHOPPING STREETSV5 CIRCULATION ROADWITHIN SECTORS

N

V6 PROVIDING ACCESS TO THEHOUSES


V5

GREEN AREASV7 PEDESTRIAN PATHS


Parklands

V8 CYCLE TRACKS


CAPITOL COMPLEXWORLD HERITAGE SITE,JULY 2016


Plan of Chandigarh



Shows Corbusier's interest insymbols.

Capital landscape as a sacredplace with layers of cosmicsignificance

Complex as head ofvastupurush.

linked the site as microcosmwith the cosmos.

Tower of Shadows

High court Building

Assembly Building Secretariat Building Pedestrian Plaza




High Court Building


Assembly Building with giant plaza

A great pedestrian plaza which embodies spirit of exultation, power and permanence, experienced by Indianson acquiring self governance.

• Neglected space and Empty• Area treated as high security zone and

controlled by military• Emptier than intended• Museum of knowledge ( Governors palace)

never built• Huge Expense

Corbusier to be blamed?



Martus Memorial

Source - Turner, T. (Director). (2015). Chandigarh 1 (of 4): Le Corbusier’s urban design and planning [Motion Picture].

Swastika Symbol



Open Hand

Trench of Consideration


Conclusions

Ideal Cities

Amarna by Akhenaten Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar Brazilia by Oscar Niemeyer and Lucio costa Broadacre city, FLW Radiant city, Le corbusier

Chandigarh Wealthiest town of India. No 1 in terms of Human Development Index. 3rd highest GDP growth rate 9.64%. Cleanest and Greenest City in India. Good Governance- A compact, efficient Administration having

Quick Decision making system

(Over a million population )

Conclusions

1. Technology should be part of planning process, shouldn’t be the basis of it.2. City as settlement of community can not be standardize as the multiple of

“generic” like sectors.3. New city planning should establish the relationship of site with people and

their roots who put soul to the city otherwise it’s a dead city.4. People must be given expression in terms of planning and designing where

they live in or where they work.5. Urban character can only come out of collective will of people6. Icon status is not achieved by city due to designers vocabulary it is achieved

by the adaptiveness of people.

1.Shaw, A. (2009). Town Planning in Post Colonial India, 1947-1965: Chandigarh Re-Examined . Urban Geography, 857-876.

2.Fry, E. M., & B, J. D. (1955, April 1). Chandigarh and planning development in India. Royal Society of Arts,103(4948), 315-333.

3.Malik, B. (2004). City Planning and Realities: A Case Study of Chandigarh. International Conference on "CityFutures". Chicago : University of Illinois.

4. Fitting, P. (2002). Urban Planning/Utopian Dreaming Le Corbusier's Chandigarh Today. Utopian Studies, 69-93.

5.Gethin, C. (1973). Chandigarh: A memorial to arrogance. Built Environment, 291-294.

6.Kalia, R. (1985). Chandigarh: A Planned City. Habitat International, 9, 135-150.

7.Morris, A. E. (1975). Chandigarh: The plan Corb tore up? Built Environment Quarterly December , 229-234.

8.Turner, T. (Director). (2015). Chandigarh 1 (of 4): Le Corbusier’s urban design and planning [Motion Picture].

9. D'Souza, V. S. (1976, Sept 18). People Prevail over Plan. Economic and Political Weekly Vol 11 No.11(38), 1626-1528.

10. Joshi, K. (1999). Documenting Chandigarh: The Indian Architecture of Pierre Jeanneret, Edwin Maxwell Fry,and Jane Beverly Drew, Vol. 1. Maping Publishing.

References

Thank YouSource - Turner, T. (Director). (2015). Chandigarh 1 (of 4): Le Corbusier’s urbandesign and planning [Motion Picture].