STC BULDING(1971) - CONTEXT

RAJ REWAL
DESIGN FEATURE VS POST MODERNISM
State Tranding Corporation URBAN FABRIC AND COURTYARDS
building is located on the Tol- The building, inspired from Jaisalmer forts and Jodhpur (VERNACULAR) offers splendid
stoy Marg, New Delhi. Desigi- overviews of the city and also settlement patterns are visible .
ned by architect Raj Rewal,
Since the building is densly packed, it breathes though courtyards at different levels.
the building houses art gal- Cool air and shadows are witnessed in courtyards and is the achievement of high rise.
lery, emporium and offices. Courtyards provide a sense of openess and movement in a cluttered building. Court-
yards are provided at every 4-5 floors
Monumental and decorated
The building includes a pure
structural expression and He was inspired by
cubic volumes. There is a cer- Corbusiers idea of
adding open court-
tain theme from the repitition yards at every second
of cubic forms which trans- or third floor to make
forms the building as new. the space much more
interactive.
Apart from spatial expression Front Facade, STC Building
it is also very climate respon- Section, Emporium, West Facade
Semi-public space which are
sive, similar to his typology. similar to open courtyards of
Jaisalmer provided at different Central circulation space
levels.

An important aspect of this postmodern building is that it uplifts the architecture as

PLANNING ASPECTS Secretariat Building, Chandigarh both functional and artistic in nature.

With pure cubic volumes, Raj Rewal bring honesty in express- CLUSTERS
ing a building. It evolves a contemporary architecture rooted
What is interesting in this builing is that Raj Rewals always uses clusters in housing
in traditional wisdom.
projects. But in this the idea of cluster has ben used as vertical element - Facade.
There is interrelation between
Open spaces and unified pattern
every space. The retail and movement
OFFICES office are easily accesible. PLAN AND PATHWAYS
Activities spaces are desgined Similar facade treatment, using
according to time sandstone, similar proportions of
OFFICES door windows and flanking walls Exit
Entry 1
for courtyard.

DISPLAY AREA Striking colour - moved away from

Such form encourages high form of
interaction and connects whole
building as one.
neutral white.
Cluster is an enduring vernacular style. In this building,
endless repitition of shapes and extruding forms on
every level and directions make a clustered form. Its
part of vertical moevement than traditional horizontal
pathway. Entry 4
Long narrow passage around the building generates ROOF
fun movement and has surprise elements. PLAN
Entry 2

Pathways are broken up into

RETAIL small units so that there are
breather spaces and points of
INTERRACTION SPACES
This building is postmodern as its adapt-
ing diverse aesthetics which gives
emphasis on unique forms. The features
The high rise blocks rise to different heights with the tallest forming are the striking counterpoint of tradi-
tional architecture.
the juntion of the lower two. The low 3 storey volume fills the
space created by the L shaped plan of adjoining towers. PATHWAYS VIEW FROM NORTH

OCTAGONAL FORMS
GATEWAYS
Gateways of the buiding define particular zones of the building. According to Raj
Rewal each gateway opens up a new chapter. The site has 4 gateways from four sides
marking entrance of people from all sides of street.

MATERIALS
Red and beige sandstone have been used in the building.
It moves away from neutral white seen in modernism and
brings back wit and decoratoin stratergies.
Deep octagonal forms provide cooling and shad-
ing. Raj Rewal through these aspects makes the
buildings climate sensitive.
Moreover, repitition of octagonal openings
in the bridge ike girders resemble tradi-
tional jali.
Gives decoration and orna-
mented texture to the struc-
ture.
NIDHI WUPADRASTA 3A
STATE TRADING CORPORATION BUILDING (1971) HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE - 6