J.A.Stein History of Architecture

1. J . A . STEIN

2. BIOGRAPHY
 Joseph Allen Stein was born on April 10,
1912, in OMAHA, NEBRASKA. He studied
architecture at the University of Illinois.
 In 1952 he moved to india, and becam
head of the dpartment of architecture at
the Bengal Engineering College in
Calcutta.
 He worked in New Delhi from 1955
onwards.
 He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's
fourth highest civilian honor, in 1992.

3. He is noted for designing
several important buildings
in India, most notably in
lodhi estate in central Delhi,
nicknamed “Steinabad”
after him, and where today
the 'Joseph Stein Lane', is
the only road in Delhi
named after an architect.

4. Selected projects
• India Habitat Centre (IHC), Lodhi Road, New Delhi, in typical Stein architecture, constructed in
the late 1980s.
• 1940: "One Family Defense House" (with Gregory Ain), unbuilt[7]
• 1940: "Low-Cost House", unbuilt[8]
• 1947: Ladera Cooperative (with John Funk; landscape architect: Garrett Eckbo), Palo Alto,
California
• 1968: Indian Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai,[9] relandscaping of Lodhi Gardens,
along with Garrett Eckbo.[10]

5. PHILOSOPHY
• Mr. stein brought a california modernism
sensitivity to the country . His approach is
called modern regionalism .
• According to him “regional without modern is
reactionary, and modern without regional is
insensitive , inappropriate”.
• His second guiding factor was to seek the
character of the solution in the nature of the
problem.
• He realised the impact development was
having on the ecology and his design sought to
find harmony. The only possible solution was
along Gandhian lines-simple and ecologically
gentle solution.
India Habitat Centre (IHC), Lodhi Road, New Delhi,
in typical Stein architecture, constructed in the late
1980s.

6. • Mr.Stein's design were modernistic, but inspired by
India's past.
• He was good at working with local materials, be it
granite or glazed tiles, both influences of Tughluq
architecture. He also used JALIES in most of his works.
• In the wider landscape of nature, he used local
materials where he tried to merge his buildings with
nature.
• He typically designed two-to-four storey buildings that
fused with the surrounding trees, gardens and pools;
flowers and vines would spill over the walls.
• He would have vertical gardens, courtyards covered
with trees and plants, ponds blooming with lotuses, and
vast landscaped lawns. He was described as “building in
the garden”.
• The influence on Stein, was a view, which incorporated
organic materials, brick, stone and wood, with a
willingness to decorate through texture and volume, yet
retaining a simplicity and human scale.
Triveni Kala Sangam and Shridharani Art Gallery facade
on the left, New Delhi, 1963.

7. design features • interrelationship of site with landscape,
structure and materials; sun and shade.
• Horizontal and vertical garden.
• Use of local materials.
• Use of jali.
• Use of courtyard. Blend of built and
garden that makess the space extended.
• Use of modern construction techniques.
• Shell geometries-Dome, vaults and
factory roof system.

8. HIS BELIEFS...
Thus, the modern style of
architecture designed by
Joseph Allen Stein adapted to
varrying geological and
climatic conditions.
• Stein believed in using building
materials in their original form-like
he never covered stone with plaster.
• There is a strong relationship and
harmony between the immediate
environment and the buildings.
• His works were based on American
Empiricist tradition.

9. INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Founded in 1958
Inaugurated in 1962
It is a unique eastablishment in that it
serves as a meeting place for the
various cultural and intellectual
offerings the city has to offer.

10. LOCATION

14. Detail: Vertical Sliding Louvers
The building has a
unique ‘assembled’
quality about itself
with meticulous
detailing of
concrete and steel
fixing and
extensive use of
traditional Jaalis,
that accentuate
the soft quality of
light captured
beautifully by the
architect.

15. Detail: Jaali
While the buildings is assembled and constructed in the
traditional labour intensive process common to India ;
precast construction is extensively used for the
Modular façade Jaalis, railings, window and dome
elements and the large span vaulted roof over the
auditorium. The auditorium roof is made entirely of “Y”
shaped precast elements assembled together at joint to
form a 6 sided domical structure.This dome too, derives
its historical inspiration form the octagonal domes of
the Lodhi tombs next door.

16. View of Vaulted Roof composed of precast
elements
• Optimal use of building mass to protect heat
gain, Use of well engineered shading
elements and screens, Light weight precast
construction techniques which optimize
material usage and material textures which
are true to its character are some of the
major takeaways for me, from this project.
This was done at a time when buzz words like-
Green Building ratings, Rapid construction &
Passive ventilation did not exist. This was just
architecture at its purest created by an
architect whose understanding of the context,
the climate and the goal of the building was
complete.

23. • plants in courtyard
• paving pattern
• fountain sculptures
• exposed brickwork
• precast concrete panels
• window and shading devices of different
sizes
• the surfaces and materials Stein used:
local stone, cast concrete JALIS, blue and
green ceramic tiles as highlights, were an
updating of the sultanate architecture of
Delhi, which Stein had learned to love
and admire through weekly exploration.

30. CONCLUSION
• his legancy is that of living architecture - human in scale with spaces,
which soothe and inspire.
• in a world of falling standards, his work remains exceptional.