The Hall of Nations and Nehru Pavilion were constructed in 1972 in New Delhi to mark India's 25th anniversary of independence. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unveiled the structures, which were designed by Indian architect Raj Rewal. The Hall of Nations had the world's largest clear span of 78 meters and a height of 30 meters. It was constructed using a space frame structure of tetrahedrons and hexagons over a 22 month period. The complex comprised four interconnected exhibition halls supported by pile foundations and used reinforced concrete for its economical construction.

1. HALL OF NATIONS AND NEHRU PAVILION (1972)
● URVASHI VIHOL

2. INTRODUCTION
● On August 15, 1947, India became an independent
state, free from Britain’s colonial rule. In 1972, to
mark the 25th anniversary of this momentous
occasion, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unveiled the
Hall of Nations, designed by Indian architect Raj
Rewal.
● It was the world’s first and largest-span space-frame
structure .
● The Permanent Exhibition Complex is designed to
form the focus of 130 acres of Exhibition ground
designed by Raj Rewal in New Delhi.
● It was constructed in 22 months .
● It had a clear span of 78 metres and height 30
meters.
● Engineer : - Er. Mahendra raj

3. SITE
ANALYSIS
Dimenssions : 316 m X 251.2 m
Road geometry Type of soil
North – 25 M road silt loam soil
South – 25 M road
East – 25 M road Annual wind speed- 8 km/hr
West – 25 M road wind direction – south-west
south-east .

4. Site Accessibility
Total Gates – 3 Nos
Service Entry , Public Entry , Vip Entry
SITE
ANALYSISSITE ● Area and Ratios
Site area : 316 m x 251.2 m
19.61 acre.
Built up area : 9.41% of area
1.7 acre .
Green space : 24.3% of site
area.
Pedestrian pavement surface
area : 0.66% of area.
parking area : 30% of area
Parking
Staff parking : 65 cars , 71 bikes
Vip parking : 76 cars ,
Visitor’s parking : 149 cars , 254
bikes
Service parking : 4 Truck
Helipad : capacity - 1
40 m dia .

5. THE DESIGN :
● Raj Rewal leaned on geometry and
proposed four halls linked by ramps.
● The hall of nations is a structure based
on tetrahedrons , triangulated forms and
hexagons, which is seen in jails' in India.
● He used space frames as both, roof and
wall combined to diffuse the harsh
sunlight in Delhi. Hence the structure
itself becomes a sun-breaker. hall of
industries is a combination of 4 smaller
pavilions by ramps enclosing a The
central area for open air exhibits,
utilities, toilets, and other services are
located underthe ramps.
● Although each of the halls was initially
conceived as a full pyramid the
truncated form was adopted in order to
avoid unnecessary constructions.

6. ● Each of the four Halls ofIndustries is
similar in design and is 44m x 44 m x
16m high.
● Free standing coffered mezzanine floors
cantilevering out of cylindrical shafts
provideadditional exhibition area in each
hall.
● A special 9 member joint was evolved
for The Hall of Industries rest on spread
precast construction but the builder
footings tied together with high tensile
preferred in-situ construction. The joint
steel bars. The entire complex was was
modified to suit the adopted analysed,
designed and built in a period of
technique.
● The Halls of Nations is fifteen months.
supported on pile foundations
tiedtogether with post tensioned plinth

7. THE DESIGN :
● Investigating 2 alternative systems
Lamellas – The smaller hall (Hall of industries) was
possible with a system of intersecting ribs , the bigger hall
required intersecting heavy trusses .
Space frame – it had the flexibility that with a different
cross section and different member length the same
system could be used for the biggest as well as the
smaller halls .
The enclosure as well as the roof of both types of halls
could be created with the same system .
Selection of construction material : Materials of construction
considered were tabular steel pipes , structural steel members and concrete.
On the basis of an approximate analysis the cost of construction with
steel pipes , structrual steel members and reinforced concrete was evaluated.
This evalution indicated that the alternative with reinforcement
concrete was the most economical with structural steel about 30% more
expensive than concrete and with steel pipes even more.
It was decided to use R.C.C. as material .

8. Exterior wall details
Space frame details :
● Exterior - wall details :
The bottom 2 rows of each floor are cladded with concrete plates at
the height 2m.
And remaining rows above the opaque frames are not cladded so
as to give window appearance .
● Interior – wall details
The other face of the space frames, the bottom 2 rows of each floor
are cladded with concrete plates at the height 2m.
And the remaining rows above the opaque frames are diagonally
seperated and different types of cladding.
Interior wall details

9. Working
drawings

10. Working
drawings

11. ● https://archipedia.online/topic-to-give-tribute-to-the-the-hall-of-nations-
delhi/#
● https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-182294
● https://www.slideshare.net/MayurWaghulde3/hall-of-nations-pragati-
maidan-delhi
● https://www.slideshare.net/aanchalmehta93/hall-of-industries
Sources

12. Thank you