The document summarizes contemporary architecture in India between 1950-1960, beginning with the impact of British colonial rule prior to independence. After independence, there was a tension between modernist and traditional Indian approaches. Three main trends emerged - revivalism, drawing inspiration from historical styles; modernism following Western ideologies; and continuity of colonial-era styles. Notable works included the Vigyan Bhavan building, Le Corbusier's planning of Chandigarh as the first planned modern city in India, and buildings combining modern functions with revivalist elements that expressed the new Indian identity.

1. CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
[1950 –1960]
SUBMITTED TO –
Ar. FARAH NAAZ
PRESENTED BY –
RIZWAN UL ABIDIN
MD. SHADAB RAZVI

2. PRE-INDEPENDENCE ERA: Impact of British Imperialism
• British Rule governed the Indian Architecture before Independence: emblem of
power
• Influence of colonialism
• Insensitivity to native art traditions as a result of British dominance:
Company Style
ARCHITECTURE STYLE
• Colonial Architeture
•Indo-Saracenic Revival
North Block of the Secretariat Building, New Delhi,
designed by Herbert Baker.
The former British Residency building,
Hyderabad

3. SOCIAL DYNAMICS
CULTURAL IMPACT
• Introduction to Western reforms and
culture
• To make India part of modern,
progressive world of science.
• Negligence to the rich Indian cultural
history
ECONOMICAL IMPACT
• monopoly of East India company
• import of machine made British goods
threat to the handicraft industry
• Land revenue policies: zamindari
system, commercialisation of agriculture
POLITICAL IMPACT
• Change of power led to change of ideology: From rich Indian heritage to
British progressive and modern values.
• Direct and Indirect rule
• Mass movements as retaliation to the foreign invasion

4. POST INDEPENDENCE SCENARIO

5. • Development of modernism in the country also created some anxiety in the
architects as it was tough at that time to cope with the modern thought of
architects and the old heritage of the nation.
• Differences of opinion emerged among the people belonging to the architecture
community.
• Western and colonial architectural styles were perceived foreign and hence anti-
national.
• The idea of modernisation as their point was that modern India required modern
architectural symbols, forms and functions to achieve economic and social
development.
MODERN THOUGHT OF ARCHITECTS AND THE
OLD HERITAGE OF THE NATION

6. • 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.
GANDHI / TAGORE :POORNA SWARAJ

7. Realization of freedom in following fronts:
• Cultural, political, social, economic.
These were the yardsticks set for the future development:
LEADERS AND THEIR IDEOLOGIES IN ARCHITECTURE

8. • Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the independent
India is widely known for his far vision, he was a modernist
who favoured state intervention.
• He suggested that one percent of cost of a public building
should go towards its decoration with painting, murals and
sculptures.
• A new era of architecture began when the very famous
architect Le Corbusier was invited to design the capital of the
Punjab state, Chandigarh.
• Other invited architect, the very notable Louis Kahn created
the avant-garde architecture with the little spice of the
‘Mughal’, in Ahmedabad.
POST INDEPENDENCE ARCHITECTURE : A NEW ERA

9. • The tension between the modern and the prominent
Indian thoughts was solved for the first time by the
internationally acclaimed architect Charles Correa.
• Correa found the solution in the revival of earlier
practices, exploring the functions of Indian buildings,
rather than their decoration, in his search of authenticity.
• He was the one to develop the low cost housing, ‘open
to sky’ spaces and innovation to cope with different sort
of climates.
• Correa inspired other budding architects to design
keeping the traditional ways in mind while working with
modern aspects as well.
RESOLUTION OF THOUGHTS
National Crafts Museum, New Delhi, 1956

10. HABIB REHMAN
(1915-1995)
• Pioneer of Low Cost Housing
• Simple and clear structure using modern materials
like Steel and Glass
• Emphasis on functional aspect
• Conventional Bauhaus approach
Gandhi Ghat. Barrackpore, 1949.
New Secretariat Building,
Calcutta , 1953Rehman’s Low Cost Housing designs of 50s

11. A. P KANVINDE
(1915-1995)
• One of the forefathers of Modern Architecture in India
• Functionalist Style Of Design
Design characteristics:
• Asymmetry • Blocky
• Cubic shapes •Flat roofs
• Smooth, flat plain, undecorated surfaces
IIT Kanpur, 1959.
Ahmedabad Textile Industries Association

12. Architects and their Style of different period

13. • 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.
• 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.
VISION OF MODERN INDIA

14. • Shaped by the sentiments of
_anti-colonialism
_patriotism
_revivalism
_traditionalism
As well as the sentiments of
_development
_modernity
_progress
STYLE OF NEW INDIA

15. 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.
The Philosophies
1950 – witnessed battle of architecture ideologies

16. • It was an immediate architectural response after the independence.
•In 1959, a group of architects chose modernist free expression over a state-driven
revivalist style.
•Revival buildings of the 1950s demonstrate India's formation of a national identity.
• Revivalism took many forms:
• Replication of traditional forms .
• The abstraction of past forms.
Revivalism

17. Revivalism
The Vigyan Bhavan designed in 1955 by R.L.Gehlote
• Incorporating elements of British Raj architecture
• Elements of the nearby buildings of the Central
Secretariat and of Lutyens' Delhi along with Hindu
and Mughal architecture
• The overall style of the building remains modernistic
with revivalist elements.
•The first five-star hotel to be built in India, the Hotel
Ashoka (1957) was also influenced by revivalism but
tried to express the new Indian identity and remains
an important example of a modern building that
showcases Indian architectural elements.
• Colors chosen were different from the colonial
palette. (creams & whites). The new buildings were
painted pink to look like sandstone.
The hotel ashoka (1957)
The Vigyan Bhavan (1955)

18. CONTINUITY
.
• Advocated by govt. builders like CPWD, and state PWD.
• Found favor with the older generation of architects who were sceptical about modernism.
•The supreme court by Ar. Ganesh Bhikaji
Deolalikar.
•Architectural style: Indo – British.
The supreme court, New Delhi (1954) The National Museum , New Delhi (1949)
•The National Museun, New Delhi
• pre-historic era to modern works of art

19. MODERNISM
.
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…
•Modernism in India was more like an overall approach to life.
• It meant designing the world positively, improving it, doing better than the required
standard, being progressive and inventive, and this certainly included great visionary
minds like Tagore and Nehru.
• The Nehru era was clearly dominated by the Modernist movement in architecture
• A break with the colonial past.

20. .
Le Corbusier planning strategies
• Planned with focus on urban design
• Architectural aesthetics,
• Preservation of natural environment
• conservation of buildings and open spaces ,
• hierarchical road network.
• Divided the human functions into work, living and leisure with strict zoning.
• City planning was against the traditional Indian cities.
• Replaced the native Indian town plan into superblocks .
PLANNING OF CHANDIGARH BY LE CORBUSIER

21. A Tentative List of Post-Independence Buildings to be
notified as Modern Heritage Buildings of India
BUILDINGS ARCHITECT/FIRM YEAR
1) Vigyan Bhawan R. L. Gehlote (CPWD) 1955
2) Dak Tar Bhawan Habib Rahman 1955
3) Ashok Hotel EB Doctor 1955
4) Triveni Kala Sangam J. A Stein 1957
5) Supreme Court of India CPWD, Ganesh Bhikaji Deolalikar 1958
6) Maulana Azad Memorial Habib Rahman 1959
7) Rabindra Bhavan Habib Rahman 1961
8) Shiela Theatre Habib Rahman 1961
9) Gandhi Memorial Hall Achyut Kanvinde 1961
10) India International Centre J. A. Stein 1962

22. SOME NOTABLE WORKS
Dak Bhawan, 1955
Triveni Kala Sangam, 1957
Laxmibai Nagar
Housing
Supreme Court of India, 1958
Mazar of Maulana Azad, 1959Ashok Hotel, 1955

23. • THANK YOU