Le Corbusier designed the Governor's Palace in Chandigarh, India to sit atop the city at the base of the Himalayas, symbolizing its importance. Its pyramid shape was meant to define the boundary between nature and civilization, like the Egyptian pyramids. Despite its significance, it was the only major government building in Chandigarh that was never constructed. The document includes photos and diagrams of Le Corbusier's models and plans for the unbuilt palace, which was envisioned as a symbolic crown for the capital with distinct levels and features like brise-soleil and viewing platforms drawing on ancient influences.

1. The pyramidal mass of the Governor’s Palace was to be placed directly against the
silhouette of the Himalayas at the apex of the capital city of Chandigarh. By presenting
the palace as the “crown of the capital,” Le Corbusier emphasized its function as the
city’s symbolic focus. Its position at the edge of Chandigarh was intended, like the
Egyptian pyramids, to define the boundary between civilization and nature. Yet despite
its importance it was the single government building of the capital complex of
Legislative Assembly, High Court, and Secretariat that was not built.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE GOVERNOR’S PALACE OF
CHANDIGARH
Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner,
writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now called
modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and
became a French citizen in 1930. His career spanned five
decades, with his buildings constructed throughout
Europe, India, and the Americas.
Le Corbusier- Governor’s Palace of Chandigarh

2. THE GOVERNOR’S PALACE, CHANDIGARH. LE CORBUSIER, 1950-1953. EXPLODED MEW OF
THE MODEL. A SYMMETRICAL AXIS CLEARLY ORGANIZES EACH LEVEL, CAPPED AT THE
TOP BY THE INVERTED CURVE OF THE VIEWING PLATFORM. FROM THE BOTTOM THE
ELEMENTS ARE. BRISE-SOLEIL; COLONNADE BEHIND BRISE-SOLEIL; GLASS
CURTAIN WALL; LEVEL TWO, THE CEREMONIAL ROOMS AND SIDE WALLS; LEVEL THREE,
GUEST APARTMENTS; LEVEL FOUR, THE GOVERNOR’S APARTMENT, CHANNELS FOR
WATER DAMAGE; LEVEL FIVE, THE ROOF GARDEN; AND THE VIEWING PLATFORM
(BARSATI).

3. GOVERNOR’S PALACE, CHANDIGARH. LE CORBUSIER, 1950-1951 . THE MODEL OF THE
PALACE AND ITS SITE AT THE SCALE OF 1/8″=1′. THE RAMP OF THE MONUMENT TO THE
MARTYRS IS IN FRONT. TWO LEVELS OF GARDENS AND WATER POOLS FACE THE PALACE.
PEDESTRIANS ENTER ALONG THE SHIFTING SERIES OF SQUARES IN THE CENTER,
AUTOMOBILES ENTER ALONG THE STRAIGHT ROAD TO THE RIGHT.

4. • Plan view of the model.
• Diagram of the relationship between the Governor’s Palace to the left
and the Monument to the Open Hand to the right. Note the similarity of
form in the locking L’s and the conceptual reversal in terms of solid and
void.

5. The elements of the model of the Palace distributed over
the site.

6. •1950- 1951- LEVEL FIVE, THE ROOF GARDEN. THE LARGE HOLE IN THE
LOWER RIGHT CORNER IS FOR THE PRAYER ROOM (PUJA), THE OTHERS
FOR PLANTING.
• THE PALACE FROM THE REAR. WATER SURROUNDS THE ROOF GARDEN
ACCOMMODATING THE SURPLUS OF THE MONSOON SEASON.

7. • Sub-surface for draining surplus water in the monsoon season.
• Removing the roof garden level reveals the drainage subsurface. The
prayer room rises between two of the four columns that support the
viewing platform.

8. • SUB-SURFACE FOR DRAINING SURPLUS WATER IN THE MONSOON
SEASON.
• REMOVING THE ROOF GARDEN LEVEL REVEALS THE DRAINAGE
SUBSURFACE. THE PRAYER ROOM RISES BETWEEN TWO OF THE FOUR
COLUMNS THAT SUPPORT THE VIEWING PLATFORM

9. • THE GOVERNOR’S APARTMENT LOOKING DOWN FROM THE FRONT.
• THE GOVERNOR’S APARTMENT FROM THE REAR

10. • LEVEL TWO, THE CEREMONIAL ROOMS. THE PRINCIPAL FAÇADE IS
AT THE BOTTOM.
• VIEW OVER THE GOVERNOR’S PRIVATE OFFICE TO THE DOUBLE
HEIGHT RECEPTION HALL BEYOND.

11. •LEVEL TWO, ROOMS FOR STATE RECEPTIONS, ENTRANCE HALL FOR
PEDESTRIANS TO THE FRONT. THE MUSICIAN’S MEZZANINE LEADS TO THE
GOVERNOR’S PRIVATE OFFICE. THE ELEVATOR SHAFT RISES IN THE BACK.
• LEVEL ONE, VIEW SHOWING VEHICULAR ENTRY PASSING BENEATH MAIN
SUPPORT COLUMNS TO THE VIEWING PLATFORM (BARSATI).

12. •GOVERNOR’S PALACE, CHANDIGARH. LE CORBUSIER, 1950-1953. VIEW FROM LOWER
REFLECTING POOL, PALACE ON ACROPOLIS-LIKE PODIUM. THE FRAGMENTED FORM
OF THE RAMP AND THE ACCOMPANYING SHADOWS ARE COMPLETED AS IMAGES
THROUGH REFLECTION IN THE WATER.
• DIAGRAM OF THE GARDEN PLAN SHOWING ITS CONCEPTUAL DERIVATION FROM THE
PINWHEEL FORM.

13. •GOVERNOR’S PALACE FROM ELEVATION OF THE PALACE SHOWING THE
CHANGE FROM THE OPEN GRID OF THE BRISE-SOLEIL TO THE CLOSED FORM
OF THE GOVERNOR’S APARTMENT ABOVE. THIS COMPOSITIONAL CONTRAST IS
TERMINATED BY THE VIEWING PLATFORM.
• THE VIEWING PLATFORM ATOP IT FOUR COLUMNS. AS THE MODEL IS
DISASSEMBLED, THE IMAGERY BECOMES MORE ANCIENT.

14. •MODEL OF THE MUSEUM ON KNOWLEDGE PROPOSED BY
LE CORBUSIER FOR THE SITE OF THE PALACE AFTER THE
LATTER SCHEME WAS REJECTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

15. •SKETCHES BY LE CORBUSIER OF
BULLS, AN ICONOGRAPHIC SOURCE
OF CHANDIGARH’S IMAGERY.
• INITIAL SKETCHES FOR THE
GOVERNOR’S PALACE, OPEN HAND,
HIGH COURT, AND ASSEMBLY
BUILDINGS.

16. •THE PRAYER ROOM’S OPENING IS ANGLES TO THE MORNING
LIGHT.
•THE COLUMNS, OBELISK, AND WALLS RECALL THE IMAGERY
OF PERSEPOLIS

17. •DETAIL OF A CORNER OF THE MODEL SHOWING THE PRAYER ROOM
RISING FROM THE UPPER CURVING WALL.
•THE SIGN OF OM. ITS SHAPE RECALLS THE CURVILINEAR WALLS OF THE
PLAN OF THE GOVERNOR’S APARTMENT.

18. •VIEWING PLATFORM ATOP ITS
COLUMNS.
•THE EGYPTIAN BOAT OF THE SUN
HELD ALOFT BY RA, WITH THE
SCARAB PUSHING UP THE SUN DISK.

19. STRUCTURAL BODY ELEMENT OF GOVERNER’S PALACE

20. SCHEMATIC DRAWING BY LE CORBUSIER

21. SCHEMATIC DRAWINGS OF GOVERNER’S PALACE,CHANDIGARH

22. SECTIONAL ELEVATION OF PALACE

23. VIEWS OF INTERIORS AND EXTERIOR OUT LOOK OF PALACE

24. SCHEMATIC MODEL OF GOVERNER’S PALACE, CHANDIGARH

25. PRESENTED BY
TEJA
RAVI
SWATHI
ANUSHA
FATHIMA
MANGALA
PRATHYUSHA