Raj Rewal was an Indian architect known for his approach called "critical regionalism" which emphasized local topography, climate, and traditions rather than scenography. Some of Rewal's notable works that exemplified this approach included the State Trading Corporation Tower in New Delhi which used a structural concept as the basis for its architectural form. Rewal also designed housing complexes that created livable spaces through techniques like stacked apartments with shifted footprints to allow for private terraces and pedestrian pathways and gathering spaces. One such housing development was the Asian Games Village in New Delhi from 1982 which took inspiration from traditional villages in Rajasthan through its network of streets, squares and urban morphology.

1. With primary case studies
WORKS OF RAJ REWAL

2. An approach to architecture in the 80’s that countered PLACELESSNESS and LACK OF MEANING
CRITICAL REGIONALISM
Raj Rewal emphasized on topography, light
and climate rather than scenography
Critical regionalism seeks architectural traditions deeply rooted in local conditions
that results in intelligent and appropriate architecture

3. • Raj Rewal has some things in common with his
contemporaries such as BV Doshi, Achyut Kanvinde- broken
up forms, open courtyards, sociable living and working
environments.
• He has dealt largely with areas of similar climate such as
Delhi and Jaipur, which are hot and dry .
• The main problem of critical regionalism is to
seek answers to the question of Paul Ricour:
"How to be modern and to continue the
tradition, how to revive an old dormant
civilization as part of universal civilization."

4. • The state trading corporation tower , in the heart of new delhi built in 1976, uses
a structural concept as the basis of architectural form.
• Rewal has tuned the external wall of alternate floor into special beams with holes
in its sides, called a vierendeel girder. Windows are placed in the little holes that
the beam allows.
Figure 1: View of State trading corporation tower, new delhi.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html

5. LIVABLE SPACES
• Along with being structurally innovative, Rewals housing and institutional
complexes have a greater impact on India's modernism.
• He stacked apartments so that the upper floor footprint was a shifted by a module
with respect to the lower floor, giving the upper floor their own terraces.
• Also creating gateways over pedestrian spaces for gatherings. This model has been
replicated by DDA in Vasant Kunj 1980- onwards.
• Using the principle of traditional architecture in Rajasthan, such as projecting
upper floors, jali walls, sandstone and RCC for cladding.
British high commission housing, new delhi
Engineer's housing, new Delhi

6. ASIAN GAMES VILLAGE,
NEW DELHI - 1982
• To house athletes for the Games.
• 500 housing units were designed as
a group housing in 35 acres.
• In the Asiad Housing, the urban
pattern of Jaipur and Jaisalmer has
been explored.
• A network of streets and squares
with vehicular access at either end of
the site, its morphology resembles a
traditional village.
Figure 1: View of Asian Games Village
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html

7. • There is a sequence of open spaces,
interlinked with narrow pedestrian streets.
• The streets become spaces for encounter
between people and the squares offer a
sense of neighbourhood.
• The cubic solids and voids are
characteristic of the Indian urban
fabric.
Dining complex which is now used as a
recreational and community centre.
Figure 2: Layout Plan of Asian Games Village
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html
Figure 3: View of Asian Games Village
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Asian_Games_Village.html

8. Figure 4: Section
http://identityhousing.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/raj-rewal-asian-games-
village-new-delhi-1980/
Figure 5: 3-D view from top
http://identityhousing.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/raj-rewal-asian-games-
village-new-delhi-1980/
The terraces formed on the
upper storeys provide for a
semi- private space.
Reminding us of the
characteristics of the
houses in Jaisalmer.
The central squares form a
community space for the
housing units.

9. • The streets are consciously broken up
into visually comprehensible units, often
with gateways, so there are pauses, point
of rest and changing vistas.
• The central spine of the layout is
reserved for pedestrian courts and
streets of various clusters.
Entrance gateways
with linked upper
terraces punctuate
the sequence of
courtyard and
garden spaces.Figure 3: Axonometric view
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Asian_Games_Village.html

10. •Low-rise high-density
scheme for 550 units
• Designed on the basis of
self-financing scheme for
Delhi Development
Authority.
• The site design is based
on the system of streets
and chowks of
traditional housing areas
in Rajasthan.
• Vehicular movement
and parking is on the
periphery.
SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING - 1982
Figure 4: Site Plan
http://www.rajrewal.org/projects/housing-asian.htm

11. • Provides for interlinked square of varying scales for community activities.
• The pedestrian and vehicular movement are segregated.
• All the units have been provided with courtyards or roof top terraces involving an
aesthetic and volumetric play of spaces.
•The structure is of reinforced concrete with brick in fill walls. The finish is of rough cast
plaster giving it a uniform but appealing texture.
Figure 5: View of the pedestrian pathways from one of the community
squares
http://www.rajrewal.org/projects/housing-asian.htm
Figure 6: Terraces formed for the upper floors
http://www.rajrewal.org/projects/housing-asian.htm

12. HALL OF NATIONS,
PRAGATI MAIDAN - 1972
• Built for exhibition purpose, the
main pavilion has a clear span of 78
m, and a height varying from 3m to
21 m.
• Hence providing space for a variety
of exhibits ranging from books to
bulldozers.
• Built of reinforced concrete, it’s the
first construction of its kind in India.
• Each of the halls was conceived as a
full pyramid, and the truncated from
supported on 8 points, was adopted
to avoid unnecessary construction.
• Hall of industries is a group of
smaller pavilions enclosing a central
area by ramps for open air
exhibits, toilets and other services
under the ramps.
Figure 1: top view of hall of nations and hall of industries
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html

13. • The plan of these pavilions is a square with
chamfered corners, providing eight
anchoring points.
• A special 9 membered joint was evolved for
pre cast construction.
• The hall of nations is supported on pile
foundations tied together with post
tensioned plinth beams, and the hall of
industries rests on spread footings tied
together with high tensile steel bars.
Figure 2: truncated view of hall of nations
http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html

14. Rewal decided to sink part of the library
underground, leaving two of the four floors above
ground. The terrace of the library aligns with thefirst
floor level of the Parliament building.
The plan of the building is inspired by
precolonial Indian architecture such as
the magnificent Taj Mahal, with its
square base and symmetrical
composition.
PARLIAMENT LIBRARY, NEW DELHI

15. THANK YOU
GAGANDEEP KAUR
VANDANA