URBAN DESIGN REPORT

Topic: URBAN DESIGN IN COLONIAL AND

POST COLONIAL INDIA

Submitted by:
Amandeep 11BAC01
Isha 11BAC13
Soumya 11BAC31
 INDEX
INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTS OF COLONIAL INDIA
CASE STUDY: MADRAS
CASE STUDY: CALCUTTA
CASE STUDY: Shimla
CIVIL LINES
CANTONMENTS
BUNGLOWS
CASE STUDY: DELHI
URBAN DESIGN IN INDEPENDENT INDIA
CASE STUDY: CHANDIGARH
 INTRODUCTION

While British supremacy did not change the fact that India was becoming rapidly
urbanized, it did lead to new alignments and priorities, since the controlling power was
now different. A number of new towns and new suburbs were built to house the British,
and the pattern of new town planning changed.
And with independence, came a new era of urban design in India, with new town
proposals that were to represent the ideology of an independent India.

AREA OF RESEARCH
Areas of Research:
Urban Design in Colonial India
o Design Principles and Influences
o Case Studies: Madras, Calcutta and Shimla
o Towns, Civil Lines, Cantonments, Bungalows
o The design of New Delhi from an urban design perspective

 Urban Design in Independent India

o Philosophies and design influences
o Aspirations of a new independent country as reflected in the design of its
new towns.
o Case Studies: Chandigarh
CONCEPTS OF COLONIAL INDIA
The main concepts during the British rule in Colonial India are listed below:

 The urban population increased from about 10 % to 13 % during the period 1900-1940.
 During the end of the 18th century Madras, Bombay and Calcutta had developed into important
ports.
 The ruling elite built racially exclusive clubs, race courses and theatres.
 The development of new modes of transportation such as horse drawn carriages, trams, buses
etc. facilitated peoples to live at distant place from the places of their work.
 The rulers everywhere try to express their power through buildings. Many Indian adopted
European styles of architecture as symbols of modernity and civilisation.
 The settlement of the local peoples were named “Black Town”. A fortification was built around
the “ White Town” to separate it from the “ Black Town”.
 Ports :- Madras, Bombay and Calcutta
 Forts :- St. George in Madras and Fort William in Calcutta.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
The planning and urban design policies of the British followed certain principles –

 Their perceptions of the nature of the Indian city,

 The fear of further revolts along the lines of the Mutiny of 1857,
 Haussmann’s plan for Paris which had become so popular in Europe and which
advocated cutting through and demolishing old city centres to make space for
new construction and boulevards, and
 planning techniques already in use for Britain’s industrial cities.
CASE STUDY: MADRAS
Madras, under Colonial rule was divided into four parts, mainly:
 Comer Pete Town
 Mutial Peta
 Black Town
 White Town

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STREETS OF WHITE TOWN AND BLACK TOWN

BLACK TOWN WHITE TOWN

 Streets of black town were running
horizontally parallel with few of vertical
intersection intersecting the horizontal
streets forming a bit of grid fashion.
 Black town were consisting of temples,
burial places, markets etc.
 Black districts were not having open
spaces parks etc
 Open spaces public spaces were outside
the walled city.
 The white town was evolved along the
fort. Streets are arranged along the fort.
 The fort was walled as well as the white
town was walled protecting the whole
township.
 Later the wall along the fort was
demolished.
 There were no burial grounds inside the
township.
LANDMARKS OF MADRAS
CHURCHES

Despite their airy porticoes and slender steeples, the walled and pillared later colonial churches,
usually avoid the insubstantiality if not always the coarseness, of detail characteristic of many secular
works. St. Martin in the Fields was to be an enduringly popular model. The most accomplished homage
paid to it was certainly in St. George’s Cathedral and St. Andrews Kirk, Madras

St. George’s Cathedral, Madras.

OTHER BUILDINGS:

GOVERNMENT HOUSE MADRAS

FORT ST. GEORGE CHENNAI

CASE STUDY : CALCUTTA
 In 1756, Sirajudula (Nawab of Bengal) sacked the small fort which the British traders had built to
house their goods. Consequently when Sirajudaula was defeated in the Battle of Plassey, the
British built a new fort, Fort William.
 Around Fort William, a vast open space was left which came to be known as the Maidan. This
was done so there would be no obstructions at the time of fire from the Fort against an
advancing enemy army.
 British began to move out of the Fort and build residences along the periphery of the Maidan.
 Settlement in Calcutta started taking shape. The vast open space around the Fort became
Calcutta’s first significant town planning measure.
 Lord Wellesley set up various committees for town planning. It was believed that creating open
places in the city would make the city healthier. Consequently many bazaars, Ghats, burial
ground and tanneries were cleared or removed.
 The committee cleared the river bank of encroachment and pushed the poor to the outskirts of
Calcutta.
 Unlike Madras and Bombay in Calcutta principals of urban design were applied here.
 Calcutta was stamped with hallmark of authority like the eras classic European capitals like St.
Petersburg.

There were two main axes-

 The first one led from the civil arm of authority around an expansive square dominated by the
barrack like Writers Building, to the military arm in Maidan by Fort William.
 The second embraced the Council House, the Courts and the Town hall.
 At there perpendicular intersection stood government house, build for governor General Lord
Wellesley from 1798 by Captain Charles Wyatt of the Bengal Engineers and the Architectural
family.
 All 4 of the satellite blocks projected there were constructed here, linked to the central blocks
by quadrants galleries to full height, unlike in original the original and the rotunda in which the
central axis culminated, oddly dissected within, was expressed on the garden front.
 Wyatt’s adaptation was well attuned to the climate: the central-aisled hall on both main levels is
flanked by galleries or vestibules on all sides, maximizing ventilation, and the main staircase is
outside the main portico.
BAZAAR’s OF CALCUTTA
Bara Bazaar
 Affectionately named “Buro” Bazaar for “old” Lord Shiva, Bara bazaar (or the “Great Bazaar”)
was the oldest and richest bazaar in Kolkata, predating the British arrival in Bengal.
 New Fort William was being constructed on the site of the village of Gobindapur. While the
village residents were given compensatory land in the Barabazaar-Sutanuti area, the jungles and
marshy lands between Gobindapur and Chowringee were cleared with a view to obtaining free
firing space around the fort.
 The fort was completed around 1773, racial division was sealed by a gradual withdrawal of the
English from the Barabazaar-Sutanuti area as there was southward thrust of the European part
of the city.
 The condition of bara bazaar was getting worse time to time cause of over crowding and habits
of the “native” occupants.
 A health report on bara bazaar was prepared report’s topics of concern were circulation of air
around buildings, admission of light and air to the interior of buildings, water supply, removal of
refuse, excreta and waste water, construction of roads, provision of public conveniences, and
the control of nuisances.
 The area covered by the report included some 217 acres, which they divided into four zones . Of
these, they considered the northern, central, and certain portions of the southern to be the
most insanitary.
 E.P. Richards joined the Calcutta Improvement Trust as Chief Engineer on September 12, 1912,
and produced the first planning document for the whole of Kolkata, titled On the Condition,
Improvement and Town Planning of the City of Calcutta and Contiguous Areas.
 The report recognized the integral importance of the suburbs, and indeed the entire region
outside the municipal city limits.
 Richards analyzed the situation with respect to the roads, slums, parks and open spaces, water
supply and drainage, housing and residential conditions, and the distribution and movement of
population within the city.
 Barabazaar was first explicitly considered by the CIT during 1916. The problems of the area were
summarized in their Annual Report of that year for example width of the roads, traffic
movement etc.
 Sir Patrick Geddes was commissioned by Calcutta Corporation toward the end of 1918 to review
the CIT plan for Barabazaar. Geddes had worked in a number of Indian cities and towns since his
arrival in India in 1914.

View of a street of Bara Bazaar

 Among its principal features were the provision of
o Three broad roads east to west
o Two through roads north to south
o The improvement of existing lanes and opening up of new ones
o The development of an improved business, warehouse and office quarter
o The creation of three large open spaces and 46 small local playgrounds.

Plan of Bara Bazaar, 1756

Improvement trust plan for bara bazaar

Jaun Bazaar Street, Chowringhee, Calcutta
 Jaun Bazaar Street (now Corporation Street) was the first side street of Chowringhee Road in
Calcutta.
 On the corner of Jaun Bazaar Street was a complex of buildings housing the Secret and Political
Department, dealing with relations with the Indian and other foreign states in the region.
 Residential areas like acquired boundary walls, screens and gates to match the imposing new
buildings, many of which were based on classical styles –as if to bring the effects of Western
civilization into the alien Indian environment.
 The styles were adapted from their European models to provide greater shade and good
circulation of air.

Jaun Bazaar Street

Bazaar Of Chitpore Road

 Chitpore Road was Kolkata’s oldest road. It has existed for at least 400 years.
 It was known as Pilgrim Road and started from the North-end of the city stretched up to Kalighat
Temple on Adi Ganga.
 Apart from the aristocracy, there have been common folks engaged in various trades.
 Chitpore Road have been an integral part of Bengal’s life and culture being the centre of
supplies for jatra, magic shows and musical instruments, including English brass bands

Bazaar of Chitpore road

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STREETS OF BLACK TOWN AND WHITE TOWN

BLACK TOWN WHITE TOWN

 Streets of black towns were generally
surrounded by market place and
temples. For example on Chitpore
road there were bazaars and temples
like Kalighat temple, Nabaratna Kali
temple etc.
 On streets there where trade of
different goods, magical shows, jatra
and many other activities going on.
 Streets run beautifully facing towards
the parks and open spaces.
 Streets run along colonial residences
facing river admiring the beauty of
nature, for example Hare street .
 There were open spaces along the
river but no attempts were made to
access river banks.

Chipore Road Street Old Court Street

Chaoringhee lane
LANDMARKS OF CALCULATTA

Victoria Memorial

St. Pauls Cathedral

Government House and Missionary Buildings, Calcutta

CASE STUDY: SHIMLA
Perceived and established by the British during colonial period in first half of 19th century as their
Summer Capital, Shimla acquired global fame by the time they left in the year 1947. At the dawn of
independence, Shimla was known as ‘Capua of India’, the Indian Mount Olympus, the Viceroy’s
“shooting box”.
It was popularly known as Jewel of Orient”, “Queen of Hill Stations”, “Star of Hill Resorts” and
“Town of Dreams”. Located at a commanding site in the interior Himalayas, connected by road, rail
and air, it has traditionally been a preferred destination for tourists from all over the world. Thousands
of miles away from their mother land, amidst picturesque Himalayan environs, Shimla can be called ‘a
Wonder of Colonial Era’. The British established many architectural masterpieces such as Vice Regal
Lodge, Gorton Castle, Railway Board Building, Gaiety Theatre, Town Hall, Auckland House,
Ellerglie, Barnes Court, Bungalows, Churches and Challet Day School.

NOMENCLATURE
Shimla, prior to its development as a hill station was described as an “obscure village. The village was
named ‘Shimla’ after the temple of Goddess Shyamala located in the village. In 1817, it was “a middling
village”, where a fakir used to give water to the travelers. Another legend is that ‘ Shimla’ or Simla’ is
named as is pronounced by the hill people. According to Mr. W.H. Carrey the original village of Shimla
was situated on the ground lying to the east of present secretariat buildings, above the road leading to
the Ripon hospital, and immediately below the Roman Catholic chapel,
S. Michael’s school, and the Court house.
Shimla, the Summer Capital of British India, is popularly known as ‘Jewel of the Orient’. Amidst the
Central Himalayas, it is a charming hill resort for tourists from all over the globe. Ever established by
the British on hill top, with unique urban design, it is known as ‘Queen of Hill Stations’. Shimla
possesses distinct British heritage. During recent decades, after acquiring the status of state capital of
Himachal Pradesh, it emerged as a major cultural, educational and institutional centre.
th
Still considered as the star of India’s hill resorts, Shimla is dominated by 19 Century colonial
buildings.
 STORY OF GLORY
Shimla town has a very interesting history of its origin, gradual growth and development. At the
beginning of last century, Shimla was taken from the Jhind Rana in 1815 and given to the Patiala Raja for
assistance rendered by him to the British in the Nepal War. Subsequently, it was used by the Raja for a
sanatorium. It is said that the first person who brought Shimla to notice was a British officer, who, when
moving Gurkha troops from Sabathu to Kotegarh in about 1816, passed through Shimla was impressed
by its cool climate. It was a dense jungle infested with wild beasts. It is however, claimed by Mr. A.
Wilson in his ‘Abode of Snow’ that the hill on which Shimla is situated was first made known by Gerard
brothers. These two Scotch officers were engaged in the survey of the Sutlej valley. Their diary, dated
August 30th, 1817, Shimla, a middling sized village where a fakir is situated and gives water to travelers.
They encamped on the side of Jakhu, and had a very extensive and beautiful view.
In 1819, Lt. Ross Assistant Political Agent in the Hill States built a cottage of wood and thatch. This was
probably the first British House in Shimla. By 1824, invalids from the plains had been given permission to
establish themselves in the locality on rent free sites provided by the Maharaja of Patiala and Rana of
Keionthal. In 1825, a political agent, Major Kennedy constructed a permanent house on a rent free site.
It was named as Kennedy House. In 1827, Lord Amherst, the then Governor General of India, after
completing progress through North-West proceeded for the summer months to Shimla. This was the
foundation of Shimla’s Greatness. In 1828, Lord Combermere with his staff and the whole establishment
of Army Head Quarters came upto Shimla. During his stay, he superintended the construction of a
bridge known as ‘Combermere Bridge’ and also a fine broad level road about three miles in length
around Mt. Jakhu. In 1829, a house named ‘Bentick Castle’ was built for the Governor General, Lord
William Bentick. Later on, it was known as ‘Pleti’s Grand Hote.”

SHIMLA OVER TIME

The movement of British Officers to Shimla in the summers became a regular phenomenon. This was
perhaps the basic contributing factor to the evolution of “Shimla Village” into a proper town and its
fame as a hill station and convalescent depot. Another factor that enhanced the popularity of Shimla
was its health giving attribute- ‘climate’, which combined with every imaginable beauty of nature-
terrain, natural vegetation, springs and streams presented a very homely atmosphere to the British. By
1831, Shimla had about sixty permanent houses and a bazaar. Communication between these was
secured by well-formed narrow but quite safe communication routes. Following the example of British
Officers, native chief also started visiting Shimla in the summers. An announcement regarding summer
movement to Shimla reads-“should the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief come up next
season, it will consist of British subjects-200, and native 8000 and when the tributary chieftons and
followers come in, it will be nearly 20,000. Again in winter, when but few remain, it will probably not
exceed-British subject 20, natives-2000”. Despite the two distinctly different faces, one in summers and
the other in winters, Shimla had achieved fame as a reputed hill station within a short span of time.
Shimla during this period was accessible from Kalka by bridle path, passing through Kasauli, Kakkarhatti,
Hurreepore and Syree covering 43 miles and entering the town at Boileauganj, one of the suburbs of
Shimla. A distance of 43 miles up the hills from Kalka had to be accomplished in a two wheel cart drawn
by a couple of ponies under the auspices of the ‘Mountain Car Company’. Jhampan and dandy were the
other means of travel.

Despite of the difficulties of traveling over this track, the British used to visit Shimla every summer
season like a flock of the faithful, to escape the scorching heat of the plains and to smoothen their home
sick feelings and were considered “wise to surround themselves as far as they can with an English
atmosphere”. By 1844, the number of houses in Shimla had risen to 100 as compared to 60 residences
reported in 1831. Rapid growth led to necessity of providing amenities and services. Some of the social
institutions through a central authority promoted the Municipal Committee at Shimla in 1851. The
Committee was responsible for establishment of the Town Hall with a library, Gaiety Theatre, and Police
Station. Municipal Market and Fire Brigade Services were also provided in subsequent years. Shimla was
declared the Summer Capital of Indian Govt. in 1864. In the following years, the older, narrower track
from Kalka to Shimla was improved. A new road named Grand Hindustan-Tibet road, 58 miles in length,
passing through Dharampur, Solan and Kiaree Ghat was built.
SETTING- A NATURAL BLESSING

0 0
Shimla, the Mountain City of India” located at 30 6`N latitude, 77 13` E longitude and at 2100
metres above sea level, extends along a ridge and its several flanking spurs. The prominent relief
features of Shimla town are- The Ridge, Elysium Hill (2257 m), Summer Hill (2070 m) Jakhu(2449
m), Pleasant (2160 m), Prospect Hill (2175 m), Observatory Hill (2135 m) and Annandale (1860
m).Majesty of Shimla can be viewed from commanding sites alike Jakhu, Kamna Devi, Tara Devi,
Parimahal Kamna Devi, Tara Devi, Parimahal and Elysium Hill . The site of Shimla is highly dissected
by a number of seasonal insequent, obsequent and subsequent tributaries joining the consequent
streams. Health giving attribute-‘Climate’, which combined with every imaginable beauty of nature-
terrain, natural vegetation, springs and streams presented a very homely atmosphere to the British.
According to G.P. Thomas Simla was a “Good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and
deoths, that spring out of the valleys”.

INDELIBLE SPATIAL PLANNING IMPRESSION

Shimla town was planned and developed in accordance with its ecological imperatives by the British for
living, work and play. Institutional, British residential and tourist use on the top, commercial
establishments along the middle contours and Indian residential down below was the general pattern of
development. The community facilities like schools, hospitals, postal and other amenities were located
amidst the said uses according to requirements. British bungalows were located on top of the ridges at
commanding locations. Sinuous roads in between various uses and pockets of development were laid in
accordance with the alignment of contours. These still hold their bearing to sustain the city traffic, in
spite of long journey of the city through a mugged course of development, as the consumerism forces
have played havoc with the city-scape during the post-statehood period- the last thirty years. The
various pockets of thick development are interspersed by green cover and forests. The climate,
vegetation, environment, heritage, landscape, streams, rivulets and grasslands, add to attractions of the
City whereby it becomes most preferred destination of the tourists. There are unforgettable walks in the
city. The colonial community thus left behind an indelible impact in the form of typical urban planning of
Shimla.
Ground Plans
British planned Shimla strictly in consonance with contours and levels of topography. All out-efforts
have been made to orient the plans in such a fashion so that maximum sun is brought even inside the
building.
The British took utmost care of the natural scenery and did not prefer to raise any construction
against the view, vision and vista. Rectangular buildings on various levels, specious environs
thereof and accessibility by roads and pedestrian paths were the essential features of the layouts of
those days.

Layout of Vice Regal Lodge

Layout of Railway board and SBI area

Layout of Chaura Maidan

Urban Form
The climate of the area and the need to make the urban structure as close to “home” as possible in
th th
building forms, resulted in architecture of 18 century England translated into India in the 20 century.
These Tudor, Victorian and Edwardian style translations provided Shimla with a unique architectural
cohesion and European look. The colonial imperial space concept is manifested in Bandstand, The Mall
and pedestrian domination. Limitation of structural material and lack of innovative potential of British
engineers provided Shimla with a rare architectural homogeneity. Vice Regal Lodge was the lone
exception of a building made entirely of stone and slate roofing perhaps to set it apart for its
importance. Life style was more suited to holiday spirit, than business of serious governance, as
evidenced by chronicles of that period written by various authors. The Britishers were busy partying,
horse racing and dancing. Thus government buildings had a domestic appearance with the
monumentality, normally associated with public buildings.

General Pattern of development of Shimla

BUILT HERITAGE
The various facets of built heritage are elaborated in the succeeding text.

The Ridge-A Public Promenade

The Ridge, located in the centre, commandtown and the snow covered peaks of the Grein the West,
Lakkar Bazar, Library and Chirst Church in the East, alongwith Town Hall and Goofa on the Southern
side, the Ridge is a commanding site s a glorious panoramic view of the ater Himalayas. With Scandal
Point in the West, Lakkar Bazar, Library and Chirst Church in the East, alongwith Town Hall and Goofa
on the Southern side, the Ridge is a commanding site having unique view of distant Greater
Himalayas. It is a place of congregation and socio-cultural space for National and State level events.
Its width ranges from 10.00 metres to 40.00 metres. Whosoever visits Shimla, enjoys the stroll on
the Ridge.

The Ridge view

MALL – A RARE EXPERIENCE

With a languorous pace of activity-free from fear of being run over by vehicles, the Mall has a distinct
personality of its own and is symbolic of the quintessential spirit of the colonial city. The concept of
Mall, borrowed from the west, meaning ‘a sheltered walk’ or ‘promenade’, generally bordered with
trees clearly indicates its social function as the centre of interaction. Starting from Boileauganj along
Vice Regal Lodge (Indian Institute of Advanced Studies) and linking Peter Hoff, Cecil Hotel, Gorton
Castle Building, Railway Building, State Bank of India, Telegraph Building, Town Hall, Gaiety Theatre,
Clarkes Hotel, Chalet Day School Building, Oak Over and Post Office, it joins the Cart road at Chhota
Shimla. The important commanding locations of the Mall from where view of high snow clad Greater
Himalayas in the North and Outer Himalayas in the South is visible are namely University- Boileauganj
road junction in front of Vice Regal Lodge, Chaura Maidan, Scandal Point and the Ridge. The 6.00 Km.
Long Mall road walk, covered in about one and half hour, makes any body or tourist fully satisfied.
The variable scenery throughout, comprising of lush green Deodars, Parks, Open Spaces, Heritage
Buildings and Shopping Centre makes one spell-bound.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENGLISH TOWNS AND INDIAN TOWNS
ENGLISH BAZAAR (THE MALL)
•On the upper level.
•Typically English in style.
•most of the shops along the Mall are
uniformly of double storey heights with
gabled roofs in timber framed construction.
•Here the street architecture has a direct
interaction with the shoppers and creates a
social dialogue.
•Cater to the particular requirements of the
colonial inhabitants.
•For the English it was functional and
morphological unit, as an area of vice,
physical and social mood
THE MALL OR ENGLISH BAZAAR
NATIVE BAZAAR (CHOTTA BAZAAR)
•On the lower level in the native part of the
town.
•Very Indian in character.
•Every verandah communicates with another
verandah, alley way with alley way.
•They are lower in elevation than the mall with
no hoo-haa about the structures. yet create an
image of the entire street.
•Day to day retailing and market activity goes
on.
•It was their place of living and source of
livelihood, very modest and humane in nature.
NATIVE SHIMLA OR CHOTTA SHIMLA
NATURAL HERITAGE OF SHIMLA
Natural vegetation caught the attention of some of the visitors. Prominent among these were the
thick growths of Acer ablongum Ushan in Valley near Chhota Shimla. At Mt. Jakhu there are white
oaks and rohododendron. The valley commencing at Elysium Hill is thriving with Pinus Excelsa.
Several St. Helena weeping willows can be seen growing in and around Shimla. Himalayan Holly (ilax
dipyrena) is much commoner in Shimla along the Mall on the northern side of Jakhu. The elegant
pines, stately deodars, large oaks, interspersed with hilly shrubs ‘gave an idea of looking over a
gaudy carpet of scarlet and green”.

THE GREEN BELTS OF SHIMLA

 COLONIAL TOWNS

British supremacy did not change the fact that India was becoming rapidly urbanized, it lead to new
alignments and priorities, since the controlling power was now different.
A number of new towns and new suburbs were built to house the British, and the pattern of new town
planning changed.
India was still divided into administrative districts as under the Mughals, and the towns which
functioned as district headquarters were the ones where most of the new architecture was built. These
towns, under the British control were known as Colonial Towns.

The main effort for making colonial towns was to physically and socially separate the Europeans from
the indigenous populace – the so-called ‘White’ and ‘Black’ towns of Madras and Calcutta being an
example. This being done an effort, though sometimes belated, was also made to enforce sanitary and
developmental guidelines on the old towns, though these had little effect as in the main they failed to
take into account traditional ways of community life. In some cases new urban design smacked of
retribution – Delhi and Lucknow in particular, being the centers of the Mutiny of 1857, lost large parts of
their historic areas to new British planning and city-core demolitions.
 CIVIL LINES

Civil Lines (archaically White Town) is a term used for the residential neighborhoods developed during
the British Raj for its senior officers. These townships were built all over the Indian subcontinent and
were allotted to civil officers in the respective countries
The civil lines and the cantonments which remain today a major evidence of 19th century British
presence, and which in turn have influenced much middle-class housing development in modern India.
After the Revolt of 1857, British attitudes in India were shaped by a constant fear of rebellion.
They felt that towns needed to be better defended, and white people had to live in more secure and
segregated enclaves, away from the threat of the “natives”.
Pasturelands and agricultural fields around the older towns were cleared, and new urban spaces called
“Civil Lines” were set up. White people began to live in the Civil Lines.

Example: Civil Lines, Delhi

MAIDENS HOTEL, DELHI

 CANTONMENTS
The Cantonment was a British military settlement which was to spread out all over India wherever the
British were present in sizable numbers.
Originally conceived as a military base for British troops, the cantonment also began to house civilians
who were associated with servicing the military, and developed into a full-fledged mini-city of its own.
The second half of the 19th century saw this transformation complete. Bangalore cantonment had, for
example, a population of 100,000 by the early 20th century and consisted of public offices, churches,
parks, shops and schools.
It was an entity distinct from the old city – traffic between the two had to stop at a toll-gate and pay
entry tax.
The cantonment thus developed into a European town in India, whose main house type was the
bungalow.
 BUNGLOWS
The bungalow’s design evolved as a type over a hundred years. While the actual model for a bungalow
remains controversial, it appears to have dual origins: the detached rural Bengal house sitting in its
compound (from the word root bangla – from Bengal), and the British suburban villa. It was a fusion of
these two types that led to a building form which would later become an enduring symbol of the Raj.

A typical colonial bungolow

PRINCIPALS OF BUNGLOW

 Europeans had modified the Bengali dwelling for themselves, and had incorporated the term
"bungalow".
 Secondly, developments in design, plan, materials and construction appropriate to a form of
"tropical dwelling" seem to have been introduced by Company military engineers using
experience not only from India but perhaps from the West Indies and elsewhere.
 They incorporated there style of architecture like Doric and Tuscan order and combined the
climatic requirement of tropical dwelling.
 Raised on a base of brick (1/2/3 feet), consist of only one storey; the plan of them usually is a
large room in the centre for an eating and sitting room, and rooms at each corner for sleeping;
the whole is covered with one general thatch ,the spaces between the angle rooms are verandas
or open porticos to sit in during the evenings; the centre hall is lighted from the sides
withwindowsand a large door in the centre. Sometimes the centre verandas at each end are
converted into rooms.
 Various devices for thermal control, such as the jaump ( horizontally suspended screen over the
verandah), adopted from the local culture.
CASE STUDY: DELHI
Delhi remains one of the oldest surviving cities in the world today. It is in fact, an amalgam of eight
cities, each built in a different era on a different site – each era leaving its mark, and adding character to
it – and each ruler leaving a personal layer of architectural identity. It has evolved into a culturally
secular city – absorbing different religions, diverse cultures, both foreign and indigenous, and yet
functioning as one organic entity. It was known for its riches – both material and cultural.
Delhi had been the centre of power for over thousand years; but with some gaps in between.
Right from the days of the Rajput kings up to the Mughal dynasty, Delhi used to be the centre of power.
Cities developed in different parts on the left bank of river Yamuna during the reign of different
dynasties. Remnants of all those cities can still be seen in different parts of the modern Delhi.

Topics covered in the case study of study:

1. City of Shahjahabad
 Planning
 Landmarks
2. Lutyen’s Delhi
 Planning
 Landmarks
3. Difference between Shahjanabad and Lutyens Delhi on the basis of:
 Streets
 Markets
 SHAHJANABAD

The old city of Shahjahanabad, a compact high-density settlement, had its foci in the Red Fort and Jama
Masjid, the two major building complexes, and in the bursting business street of Chandni Chowk.
The city was walled by high masonry walls, punctured by strategic entrance gates linking it with other
major towns in the region. Winding streets from these gates meandered into the close-grained built-
form, creating a hierarchy of streets leading upto the major ceremonial and commercial thoroughfare of
Chandni Chowk.
The sky-line was, however, dominated by Jama Masjid, placed symbolically atop a hill and complimented
by a large urban open space befitting the scale and prestige of the city.
The surrounding built-form was originally divided into introverted clusters reflecting the socio-economic
structure and supporting a high degree of functional mix.
LANDMARKS OF SHAHJAHANABAD

Chandni Chowk

THE RED FORT

Jama Masjid
 THE SHIFT FROM OLD DELHI TO NEW DELHI

The British gained control of Delhi in 1803; after defeating the Marathas. At that time, Calcutta was the
capital of British India.
Before 1857, Delhi did not hold much importance from the British perspective. During the first half of
the nineteenth century, the British lived along with the wealthier Indians in the Walled City of
Shahjahanabad.
During the revolt of 1857, they recognized the importance and power of the Mughal rule and the
symbolic importance of Delhi. The area around the Fort was completely cleared of gardens, pavilions
and mosques.
In the 1870s, the western walls of Shahjahanabad were broken to establish the railway and to allow the
city to expand beyond the walls.
With the decision to establish a new capital, the British found a location south of the old city, leaving a
large buffer open space between the two cities.
The site chosen was a sparsely populated area, sloping up gently from the Yamuna river and Purana
Quila towards the west, culminating in a mound called Raisina Hill. The new site enjoyed “aspect,
altitude, water, virgin soil”, and afforded an excellent view of Shahjahanabad and other remains of the
older Delhi’s.
In 1911, Britishers announced the shift of capital from Calcutta to Delhi and this led to the formation of
New Delhi.
 PLANNING OF LUTYENS DELHI

Lutyen’s plan for New Delhi, conceived and constructed between 1912 and 1931, was very much the
genre of Versailles and L’ Enfant’s Washington. Characterized by formally laid out axial movement net-
works, strongly articulated terminal vistas and a low-density, low-rise physical fabric, New Delhi was the
prestigious capital of Britain’s Indian Empire, accommodating its governmental and other auxiliary
functions.

Plan of New Delhi Plan of Washigton DC

The plan establishes two major visual corridors, one with the Jama Masjid of Shahjahanabad and the
other with Purana Qila, an even older fortification of Delhi, culminating in the Capitol Complex.
Along the Purana Qila axis, in the east-west direction, is the major ceremonial green called the Central
Vista with the King’s Way penetrating the Capitol Complex between two major office blocks, and
terminating in the Vice regal Palace.
The integrated mass of the Capitol Complex provides a visual climax to this dramatic linear open space,
criss-crossed by lateral roads and punctuated by India Gate and a small but very ingeniously designed
pavilion to shelter the statue of King George.
Even though the New Delhi plan was alien in spirit to indigenous planning practices, Lutyen’s attempted
an interesting mixture of architectural styles blending Indian and European vocabularies.
Innovative detailing using Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic elements abound in these buildings. Aware of the
fact that local laborers had to be employed in the actual construction process using materials and
techniques familiar to them, the designers adopted a vocabulary that was familiar to them.
The careful blending of alien elements expressed in red and pink sandstone has resulted in a unique
style that at once has the gravity of European Classicism and the humane charm of indigenous
architecture.
 EVOLUTION OF NEW DELHI

It took nearly 20 years to build New Delhi. A new city was to be built as a stark contrast to
Shahjahandab.
New Delhi had to represent a sense of law and order; in contrast to the chaos of Old Delhi.
Overcrowded spaces were seen by the British as unhygienic and unhealthy; the source of disease.
Hence, New Delhi had to have better water supply, sewage disposal and drainage facility.
The city was New Delhi was built to overpower the old city of Shahjahanabad to demonstrate the
superiority of British rule over Mughal emperors.
ZONING OF LUTYENS DELHI
 LANDMARKS OF NEW DELHI

ROAD NETWORKS OF LUTYENS DELHI

Besides the major Pathway, there were extremely wide avenues.
The original design of the road network was capable of accommodating 6000 vehicles, however these
avenues, had the potential of increasing their carriageway-the reason why the road layout has survived
till today.
In general the road network consisted of diagonals and radials, at 30 degree/ 60 degree angles to the
main axis, forming triangles and hexagons.
 COMPARING NEW DELHI AND OLD DELHI

1. STREETS

OLD DELHI NEW DEHI

 The streets of Old Delhi were mostly
crowded mohallas and mazes of
narrow by lanes.
 The streets of Old Delhi represent a
sense of chaos.
 The streets of Old Delhi were built at
a monumental scale in order to allow
the passing of huge carriages of the
emperors.
 The streets of New Delhi were broad
and straight.
 The streets of New Delhi had to
represent a sense of law and order.
 The streets of New Delhi were built
at a huge monumental scale in order
to overpower the streets of Old
Delhi.

THE STREETS OF OLD DELHI

THE STREETS OF NEW DELHI

 URBAN DESIGN IN INDEPENDENT INDIA
INFLUENCES AND PHILOSOPHIES OF DESIGN IN INDEPENDENT INDIA:

Nehru wanted to bring modernism in architecture and town planning in India but it did not mean a
complete break from what was in India.
Attempt was that it should be Indian in spirit and yet it should have the best which other countries have
developed.
Town planning in the early decades after independence was not as architect-centered as was the case in
the past, but was also an outcome of the visions of several parties that included the state government
via the local bureaucracy, the national government, and the architects and town planners involved in
the project.
Thus there were competing and contested visions about what constituted “modernity” and
“Indianness”.
One of the major influences were after Indian independence on 15 August 1947 saw millions of
refugees enter India . Along India’s western border, they entered the Punjab and along the eastern side,
West Bengal State.
About one-fourth of them headed for urban areas, and so there was an immediate need to create large-
scale urban housing to accommodate the newcomers.
Existing urban towns and suburbs were not enough so the in towns has to be build to accommodate
refugees.

ASPIRATIONS OF INDEPENDENT INDIA

The principal of planning suggests incorporating the following essential aspects while preparing plans:

 Provision of basic amenities to all the residents.

 City should consist of varying densities with high densities in the centre and around traffic nodes
and other central activities.
 There should be a variety of housing sizes to suit the different requirements of the people. In
fact, provision of shelter for all, affordable housing the prime objective of a plan.
 Public transport should be given high priority and cities need to be expanded in the light of the
public transport facilities.
 Traffic management, traffic planning and policing with the involvement of different
organizations.
 Preservation and conservation of heritage areas, environment sensitive areas.
 Creating and preserving green spaces, agricultural product supply areas, create nearness to
nature for all residents.
 Project planning and detailing in consultation with community requirements, in fact
identification of the projects by the community and with wider participation.
CASE STUDY: CHANDIGARH
Chandigarh, the dream city of India's first Prime Minister, Sh. Jawahar Lal Nehru, was planned by the
famous French architect Le Corbusier .
The foundation stone of the city was laid in 1952. Picturesquely located at the foothills of Shivaliks.
It is known as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture in the twentieth
century in India.
Chandigarh exists on gentle sloping plains and has a pre-historic past , having a wide lake ringed by a
marsh along a large variety of aquatic and amphibian life .
The location of the city site was a part of the erstwhile Ambala district as per the 1892-93 gazetteer of
District Ambala.

In this case study of Chandigarh, the following topics have been covered:
 Planning Concepts
 Landscape
 Road Networks
 Building typologies
 Landmarks
 Public Spaces
 BASIC PLANNING CONCEPTS OF CHANDIGARH

The city plan was conceived as post war ‘Garden City’* wherein vertical and high rise buildings were
ruled out, keeping in view the living habits of the people.
Le Corbusier conceived the master plan of Chandigarh as analogous to human body, with a clearly
defined
 Head (the Capitol Complex, Sector 1),
 Heart (the City Centre Sector-17),
 Lungs (the leisure valley, innumerable open spaces and sector greens),
 intellect (the cultural and educational institutions),
 Circulatory system (the network of roads, the 7Vs) and
 Viscera (the Industrial Area).

GARDEN CITY CONCEPT: The garden city conceot is a method of urban planning that was initiated
in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be
planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts", containing proportionate
areas of residences, industry and agriculture.

PLAN OF CHANDIGARH
LANDSCAPE

1. City Level Public Green Space with Artificial Water Body

2. Free- Flowing Green Space, connecting the entire site
3. Semi-Private Green Areas for neighbourhood pockets
4. Private Green Areas for Residential Units

 The Leisure Valley is a green sprawling space extending North-East to South-West along a
seasonal river let gradient and was conceived by Le Corbusier as the lungs of the city.
 Apart from large Public Parks and special Botanical Gardens, it houses series of Fitness Trails,
amphitheatres and spaces for open-air exhibitions.
LANDSCAPE

PLAN OF CHANDIGARH CITY SHOWING THE GREEN AREA

CENTRAL PUBLIC COMPLEX
 A Large Central Complex was to be proposed at the centre of the site housing the Church and
other public facilities like Sports Complex, Assembly Hall, etc
 The Central Sector of the city, Sector 17, is the main Public Congregation area of the city.
 It houses all major Shopping Complexes, Sports Facilities and Congregation Spaces.

QT8 CHANDIGARH
ROAD NETWORK

• The primary module of city’s design is a Sector, a neighbourhood unit of size 800 meters x 1200
meters.
• Each SECTOR is a self-sufficient unit having shops, school, health centres and places of
recreations and worship.

ROAD NETWORKS AND TERMINALS OF CHANDIGARH

BUILDING TYPOLOGY
The Basic Building Typology is observed as extremely Rectilinear with similar proportions.
Building typology of Chandigarh is similar to that of QT8.
In both the developments the smaller individual Residential Units are arranged around central common
Green Spaces, although the shapes are different.

QT8 CHANDIGARH
LANDMARKS OF CHANDIGARH

OPEN HAND MONUMENT CAPITOL COMPLEX

 ROCK GARDEN

PUBLIC SPACES

ASSEMBLY BUILDING, CHANDIGARH

ROCK GARDEN

SECTOR 17 PLAZA