PALACE OF ASSEMBLY, CHANDIGARH ARCHITECT – LE CORBUSIER

‘He flies through the air with the greatest of ease. That daring old man on the flying trapeze.’

Jasmeen Singh3 – A

USAP

Palace of assembly lies in the capitol complex – which comprises of legislative assembly (palace of assembly), secretariat and high court.

Chandigarh

Capitol complex

3

2

1

KEY1 – LEGISLATIVE BUILDING ( ASSEMBLY BUILDING/ PALACE OF BUILDING)2 – SECRETARIAT BUILDING 3- HIGH COURT

CAPITOL COMPLEX

PLAN

SECTION

SECTIONAL ELEVATION

PALACE OF ASSEMBLY Conceived as a horizontal rectilinear structure square in plan with a monumental portico facing the main plaza.

Architectural style

The two legislative buildings were conceived as free standing, curvilinear forms enclosed within a rectilinear shell, carrying on one side the entrance portico and on the opposite side of band of offices.

The most impressive part of the assembly is the assembly chamber(Punjab assembly), which is crowned by a massive hyperbolic tower, extending above the roofline and providing a sculptural and dramatic look against the backdrop of distant hills 128 ft. in diameter at the base the assembly chamber rises to 124 ft. at its highest point.

Punjab assembly

Hyperbolic tower

-versatility and plasticity of concrete as a building material.

Similarly the smaller council chamber ( Haryana assembly) conceived in a rectilinear frame is crowned by a pyramidal roof, provided with a north light.

Sun protection louvers ‘brise soleil’ have been provided on lateral walls for protecting glazing against sun. The two legislative chambers are surrounded by a space ‘forum’ which serves for circulation as well as informal meetings.

Haryana assembly

Pyramidal roof

The adoption of a circular form for the hall is for the development of good acoustics.

The assembly hall is made in a hyperbolic shell with an average thickness of 15 cm, constant throughout its surface, resulting in a very low cost and a minimum of weight.

The shell does not terminate in a horizontal but in an oblique section which shall receive a metallic framework (aluminum). Interplay of natural lighting, artificial lighting, ventilation and acoustic is seen.

Le Corbusier’s five points of architecture can be found within the design from its open plan to the view of the Himalayan landscape. The program features a circular assembly chamber, a forum for conversation and transactions, and stair free circulation.

The use of pilotis (piers - columns, pillars, or stilts - that lift a building above ground or water) to lift the structure off the ground. Pilotis allow the form to express the grandiose release of space precisely as Corbusier intended.

The other various facades of the building also bestow the free façade via brise – soleil formed from the golden ratio.

Reinforced concrete columns are utilized in a grid throughout the palace of the assembly and are slightly altered to raise a large swooping concrete form high above the entrance. This form represents the second point of le corbusier’s list – a free façade.

Brise – soleil

Golden ratio

Corbusier’s desire for views is then apparent from all facades. The sun shading along the offices provides a frame for inhabitants into the surrounding site while the portico opens to the adjacent landscape and the distant Himalayas.

• The open plan structural grid of reinforced concrete columns manipulates the program freely and place offices and other private programming along the outside of the plan and leave the centre open for public use. On top of the building lies an accessible roof supported by the pilotis. Providing usable space on the roof of a structure complies with le corbusier’s fifth ideal of architecture by giving occupants vertical means of connecting to nature and compensating for the habitat removed by the building.

SOURCES

www.greatbuildings.comwww.wikipedia.comwww.chandigarh.gov.inwww.charlescorrea.netwww.archdaily.comwww.wikiarquitectura.comwww.architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.com