Joseph Allen Stein was an American architect who worked extensively in India from 1952 until his death in 2001. He is known for designing several important buildings in India in a modernist style that incorporated local materials and design elements. Some of his most notable works include the Indian Habitat Centre in New Delhi, known for its courtyards and landscaping, and the India International Center, which blends modern construction with traditional influences like jalis.

1. Joseph Allen Stein
(1912 – 2001)

2. BIOGRAPHY
Beginnings, 1912
• Joseph Allen Stein was born in Omaha, Nebraska, US
into a Jewish family.
• He studied architecture at University of illinois, at
U.S.
• In 1952 he moved to India, and became head of the
department 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. • Moved to Los Angeles in the late 1930's. Worked for
Richard Neutra, Hamilton Harwell Harris and the Los
Angeles Housing Authority.
• Relocates to San Francisco in the mid- 1940's,
sharing an office with architect John Funk and
landscape architect Garrett Eckbo .
• In 1950-1952, Stein and his family visit Mexico and
Israel, and stay for a period in France and in
Switzerland.
• In 1952 he moved to India worked in New Delhi
from 1955 onwards.

5. DESIGN FEATURES
• Mr Stein’s designs 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 Tughlaq
architecture. He also used jalis in most of his works.
• He tried to merge his buildings with nature.
• Use of modern construction techniques.
• Use of courtyard.
• Interrelationships of site with landscape, structure
and materials; sun and shade.

6. • He typically designed two- to four-storey buildings
that fused with the surrounding trees, gardens and
pools; flowers.
• He would have vertical or horizontal gardens,
courtyards covered with trees and plants, ponds
blooming with lotuses, and vast landscaped lawns.
He was described as “building in the garden”.

7. HIS BELIEFS
Thus, the modern style of architecture designed by
Joseph Allen Stein adapted to varying 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.

8. WORKS
• the headquarters of the Ford Foundation, Unicef and
the World Wide Fund for Nature
• a conference center called the India International
Center (1959–62)
• the India Habitat Center for housing and environmental
studies.
• Gandhi-King Plaza, an open-air memorial in IIC
• Triveni Kala Sangam Arts center, New Delhi, India.
• the American International School
• the Australian high commission in Chanakyapuri
• Indian Institute of Management
Kozhikode campus, Kerala
• Kashmir Conference Center, srinagar
• Four factories for Escorts Ltd., Faridabad

9. His Major And Known Works In Delhi, INDIA

10. INDIAN HABITAT CENTRE
It is a multipurpose building in New Delhi, India.
Mixing work, commercial and social spaces, it is
India’s most comprehensive convention centre

11. • It is bounded by the Max
Muller Marg on west, the
Vardhman Marg on south
and the Lodhi road on the
north. The Fourth side is
flanked by Bal Bharthi
School.
• The complex is spread over an area of 9 acres.
• There are 5 main building blocks which are
interconnected by means of aerial walkways.
• The habitat centre is organized as a series of four to
seven storey blocks around linked shaded courtyards.
• The height of the building is around 30m high.
• It is monumental in scale.

13. • The external facade is of exposed red brick, exposed
concrete and glass.
• Use of horizontal and vertical ribbon windows having
slots in them for plantation purposes.

14. SHADING DEVICE
• The reflectors are installed
above the building to provide
shade and prevent sun from
entering into the building. The
reflectors are aligned at an
angle which reflect back 70% of
the sunlight and change their
angle during winter to allow
sunlight to fall on the windows.

15. THE BRIDGE
• The buildings are grouped
around semi-covered
courts and linked at the
5th and 6th floor level and
above by bridges to form
huge gateways for
entrance into various
zones/ courts. These multi
level bridges provide office
spaces as well as links
between various building
zones.

16. • The courtyards are planted with a pleasing array of greenery –
large pots and beds of evergreen shrubs and tall trees, providing
a more human feel and scale amongst the concrete
monumentality.
• The reflectors used as shading devices creates interesting
shadow patterns.
• Water ponds are provided to cut the rigidity of harsh materials.
• Palm trees have been planted to create a refreshing environment
inside.
• Sculptures have been placed at strategic points creating an
element of interest.

17. OPEN SPACES
AmphitheatrePlaza
Open Air Diner Entrance

18. INDIA INTERNATIONAL
CENTER

19. TRIVENI KALA SANGAM

20. AUSTRALIAN HIGH
COMMISSIONER’S RESIDENCE
Local design details, such as
stone jalis combined with
large expanses of glass in a
way that respected both
traditional knowledge and
modernist principles.

21. EXPRESS TOWER
The Express Towers is valuable for this was the only
high-rise Stein ever designed.

22. THANK
YOU