LUTEYENS DELHI

• CONNAUGHT PLACE• INDIA GATE

SUBMITTED BY: RAGINI SAHUSRISHTI AGARWAL

SUBMITTED TO: AR. DEVINA AGARWAL

COMMERCIAAL CIRCLE(CONNAUGHHT PLACE)

NORTH

GOVERNMENTAL (PARLIAMENT)

INDIA GATE

• The colonial buildings in Delhi reflected a notable diffusion of indigenous architectural features with European architecture. The Council Chamber/Legislative Building (1919-1928), Viceroy House (1914-1929), War Memorial (1931), and the North and South Block (1914-1927). Administrative Buildings are some of the important 188 buildings constructed in the colonial period. In all of them there is a remarkable synthesis of British with indigenous architectural techniques.

• NEW DELHI The city designed by Sir Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker, redefined the architecture and urbanism of Delhi in the process of addressing contemporary imperatives.

• At its core is the central vista, Kingsway (now Rajpath) with iconic buildings, the Rashtrapati Bhawan located on Raisina Hill, flanked by the large blocks of Secretariat buildings at the northern end, sweeping eastward to a hexagonal roundabout, India Gate. 

• The main cross axis, Queensway (now Janpath) runs south from the business district, Connaught Place. The rest of the city has a range of avenues, from a modest 60 feet to 300 hundred feet, with the grand axis of 440 feet, and a planted parkway of several avenues of trees.

• The design blends the two dominant themes of early twentieth century city planning— the City Beautiful (vistas) and the Garden City (verdure), concepts that had world relevance in city planning of the early twentieth century.

• The genius of the design Iies in its integration of vista and verdure. In the architecture of the buildings, Indian elements and motifs were used, drawing Inspiration from Buddhist religious complexes on the one hand, and Mughal buildings and the bungalow on the other.

• The overwhelming aesthetic within which these elements were deployed captured the spirit of syncretism evident in Delhi for many centuries.

CONNAUGHT PLACE• Connaught Place is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centres in New

Delhi, India. • It is often abbreviated to CP and houses the headquarters of several noted Indian firms. • The main commercial area of the new city, New Delhi, during the erstwhile British Raj,

its environs occupy a place of pride in the city and are counted among the top heritage structures in New Delhi.

• It was developed as a showpiece of Lutyens' Delhi with a prominent Central Business District.

• Named after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, construction work began in 1929 and was completed in 1933. A metro railway station built under it is named Rajiv Chowk (after Rajiv Gandhi).

•  The design of the space was started by W.H.Nicholls, the Chief architect to the Government of India and after he left India in 1917, the design was completed by Robert Tor Russell, who was the chief architect of the PWD.

• The space is conceived of as 2 concentric circles, creating the Inner Circle, the Middle Circle & the Outer Circle and seven radial roads.

• The inner circle of CP is bounded by a two storeyed building ring all around, with a colonnaded passage at the ground level. This is home to all kinds of branded shops, eateries and restaurants, and is a favourite location for the young urbanites to hang around.

• The double height passage with the massive columns on one side creates a strong axis of movement, yet at the same time creating a comfortable space due to its semi-open nature.

• A major disorienting factor in this space is that all around the inner ring, the architecture of the double storeyed buildings with their colonnaded passages is so monotonous that one cannot orient oneself in the space. It is difficult to identify which part of the circle one is in and people often end up walking around the entire circle to find a place or to meet a friend. The only landmark which helps in giving a sense of direction is the LIC building designed by Charles Correa, which stands as a distant landmark with its red sandstone facade.

• While planning out the residences of the British officers, need of a separate market for the elite was realized. It was to be different from the usual Indian markets like Chandni Chowk and Paharganj . 

• Lutyens wanted two axes to terminate at the Viceroy’s House, that is the present day Rashtrapati Bhawan. Axis 1 : To relate the British to the Muslim masses by providing a direct axis to the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort, the capital of the Great Mughal Empire. – Parliament Street. Axis 2 : To relate the British to the Hindu masses by providing a direct axis to the legendary capital of the Pandavas, Indraprastha. – Kings Way

• They along with Janpath form a network of major roads which act as spines of Lutyens Delhi.

• The Delhi Planning Commission envisioned a monumental plaza ringed by hotels, shops and businesses dominated by a railway tation at the intersection of Parliament Street and. Janpath

• The Connaught Place due to its circular shape acts as a hub between various facets of Delhi’s life.

• It and the surrounding areas are known as Central Delhi. Hence all the roads which lead out of Connaught Place are significant in terms of linkages

• Airy, stuccoed colonnades, punctuated by Palladian archways to protect shoppers from rain and sun alikeThis was compared to Nash’s Regent Crescent, London and Royal Crescent, Bath.

• Built only three stories tall, the blocks failed to achieve the intended effect of urban enclosure, even before the trees in the central park grew to obscure views across the circus.

• The shops were spacious by the standards of those days.• The shops had a standard design, with a door in the middle and show windows on both

the sides. • The upper floors were entirely residential in nature, meant for usage by the

shopkeepers and their families. 

The Collonaded walkway in the inner circleArchitecture of the inner circle buildings

Major Links of Cannaught Place

Starting with Barakhamba Road , which connects Connaught Place to the Mandi House circle, which is the cultural centre with many art galleries.

Next clockwise is Kasturba Gandhi Marg which connects it to the India Gate Hexagon and the Rajpath. 

Moving clockwise, the next road is Janpath. This is one of the most educationally and culturally important streets in all of Delhi. Its home to the Eastern and Western courts, the National Archives , IGNCA and the National Museum.

Next is Sansad Marg or Parliament Street. It has the Indian Parliament and Connaught Place. as its two terminal points. The leading monetary and financial institution of the country The Reserve Bank Of India also lies on the Sansad Marg. One would also find the medieval astronomical ‘observatory’ The Jantar Mantar here.

After Sansad Marg we have Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Panchkuian Road. Baba Kharak Singh Marg plays host to many state emporiums like Lepakshi,etc . Whereas the Panchkuian Road connects the old market of Paharganj to CP. 

The last two major roads  leading out of Connaught Place. are chelmsford road and minto road connect Connaught Place. to the railways land. 

INDIA GATE(1931)

• Historical background- it was initially planned to symbolize the gateway of Delhi for the British leaders entering the palatial grounds of the viceroy’s palace. during world war I a large number of Indian soldiers died in the battle and the need for a war memorial was felt. The foundation stone of the structure was laid in 1921 by the duke of Connaught and it was completed in the 1931.

• Over the decade , this has come to be a memorial for Indian soldiers in other wars as well, including the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 and 1999. this is in addition to the names of soldiers awarded the PARAM VIR CAKRA, in 1970,an eternal flame was installed underneath this arch in honour of the martyred solders. The shrine is known as the AMAR JAWAN JYOTI (literally, 'flame of the immortal warrior”)

• Layout- It is built in the shape of a huge gateway mounted on a low red sandstone base and looks an imitation of the Mughal style of creating massive and impressive gateways situated at the peripherals of the Palace grounds.

• Elevation- the roof of the arch rises in stages to a huge cornice, beneath which are inscribed imperial suns. Above on both sides is inscribed INDIA. The 42.35m arch has a 10m wide main opening with smaller openings on the sides. A flame s constantly lit in the centre of the arch.

• Architectural features- Topping the arch is a shallow dome with a bowl to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries to commemorate martyrs. A similar structure was installed under the arch afterwards as an eternal faldettas Is in form of a plain square shrine of a black marble atop a stepped platform of red sandstone

India gate and the india gate canopy

India gate and the india gate canopy

SHALLOW DOME WITH A BOWL

Semi circular arch

Inscriptions on the surface of the gateway

Brick pattern in sandstone

India gate canopy.Empty canopy constructeed in sandstone ,designed by lutyens. Until the independence of india 1947 it contained the statue of king jeorge v.