Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Post Independence Architecture

Ar. Hena Tiwari

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

The first train to Pakistan, which ran from Delhi to Lahore

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

The day India got its Independence!- 15th Aug 1947

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

 Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India salutes the Indian National Flag

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

 Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the First Indian President

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the

independent India is widely known for his far vision, he was

a modernist who favored state intervention.

A new era of architecture began when the very famous

architect Le Corbusier was invited to design the capital of the

Punjab state, Chandigarh. Le Corbusier’s uncompromising

functionalism consciously broke with the past ‘historicism’ of

imperial architecture.

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Other invited architect, the very notable Louis Kahn

created the avant-garde architecture with the little spice of

the ‘Mughal’, in Ahmedabad.  

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

POST INDEPENDENCE SCENARIO

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

India and

Independence

Realization of freedom

in following fronts:

Cultural, political,

social, economic

These were the

yardsticks set for the

future development.

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Tagore

Gandhi

Nehru

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Gandhi / Tagore

Poorna Swaraj

Absolute belief in science and technology but passionate

about rural India.

Villages to be self dependent.

Local materials and local skills, cost effective

architecture.

Going back to roots.

Belief in traditional rural essence based in agriculture

production.

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Sabarmati Ashram, Sabarmati, Gujarat

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

NEHRU

Very Forward looking.

Interested in what science and

technology have to offer.

Strength of industrialization.

Believed in a liberal, modern,

progressive, industrialized India.

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Architecturally

Nehru, championed a vision of architecture that

embraced the current western centric practices namely

modernism.

Knew Albert Mayer and approved the choice for a

foreign architect for planning Chandigarh

Revivalism had a limited role to play

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Tremendous sense of urgency to build

Newly independent country, required new infrastructure

Urbanization demanded creation of new cities and

towns

Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar

Demand for new built form types: schools , hospitals

etc.

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Style of New India

Shaped by the sentiments of

_anti-colonialism

_patriotism

_revivalism

_traditionalismAs well as the sentiments of

_development

_modernity

_progress

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Architecture colleges based in cities like Bombay, Calcutta,

Madras.

British architects designing the buildings. Catholic influence.

Walter George, St. Stephens College, Delhi

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

Clients

Biggest client : Government

Public and semi-public bodies : HOUSING BOARDS,

improvement trusts, development authorities

Political leaders : who had interest in architecture.

Non- Govt. clients : Private trusts like TATA, business

houses and individuals

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

The Philosophies

1950 – witnessed battle of architecture ideologies

3 trends identified

1. Revivalism: going back to seek inspiration from the past

2. Modernism: according to western ideologies

3. Continuity: before independence, colonial style to be

continued

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

REVIVALISM

It was an immediate architectural response after the

independence.

It had replication of traditional forms.

Red Sand stone used

Trademark of colonial

Delhi.

B.E. Doctor, Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi

Vidhan soudha, Bangalore

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

MODERNISM

Inspired by the contemporary spirit of the age.

Patronized by Nehru.

Advocated chiefly by America educated Indian architects

working for PWD.

Perceived as forward looking, symbolizing an awakened India.

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

ATIRA Building, Ahmedabad, AP Kanvinde

New Secretariat Building, Calcutta , Habib Rehman

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

CONTINUITY

Advocated by govt. builders like CPWD, and state PWD

Found favor with the older generation of architects

who were skeptical about modernism

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

National Museum, CPWD,New Delhi

Supreme Court, CPWD,New Delhi

Ar. Hena Tiwari/G.C.A.D,Sonipat

The battle of styles was won by

Modernism

With no less a person that the PM of India, Nehru, ruling in its

favor.

Nehru Invited Le- Corbusier to India to design the new capital

city of Punjab

CHANDIGARH…