Present Tense

Architects explore Chandigarh,inside-out

Talk Chandigarh and there’s no way you can go beyond Corbusier. It starts from him,revolves around him,appreciates him,criticizes him and even the changes recommended are related to him. And when we take seat at the Government Museum and Art Gallery,Sector 10 for a seminar on ‘Chandigarh: Beyond Corbusierism’ the notion is just reinforced. This,particularly with the leading figures in the field of architecture endorsing this very thought. “We are too possessive about the French architect to do otherwise. Besides,he is the foundation that conceptualized the city and all the changes that are to be made are made to his designs,” smiles architect SL Kaushal,one of the chairpersons of the meet. Organised by the local chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects,(IIA) and attended by renowned architects,town-planners and engineers,“problems and prospects of future of Chandigarh are to be deliberated here,” told Surinder Bagha,chairman of the chapter. A discussion that turned successful with many a noteworthy recommendations. “A central controlling authority should be constituted for the development of Chandigarh and its periphery wherein only technocrats are members,” suggested architect-planner Jit Kumar Gupta,who also proposed a long term master plan for Chandigarh and its periphery.