Soon, new lighting system to illuminate Capitol Complex

The move is aimed at promoting night tourism as well as at enhancing the architectural value of Capitol Complex, designed by Le Corbusier, and held as an architectural masterpiece. It includes the high court, the legislative assembly, the secretariat building, the Open Hand monument and other structures.

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has already added Capitol Complex in its list of sites to be considered for the world heritage status for the year 2016.

A UNESCO team will visit Chandigarh later this year to inspect the initiatives taken by the administration in restoration of the complex besides opening it up for the tourists.

Several recent initiatives like online registration facility and single window permission has eased entry to the Capitol Complex.

“The night lighting system is a step further in our effort to promote tourism and increase aesthetic value of Le Corbusier’s historic work,” said Chief Architect Kapil Setia, who attended the meeting that was held in the UT Guest House.

The College of Architecture has been tasked with conceptualising and planning the illumination.

At the heritage committee meeting that was held under the chairmanship of UT Adviser to Administrator Vijay Dev, the college made a detailed presentation following which the committee gave certain suggestions and asked it to take some expert’s opinion on external illumination of the buildings.

College principal Pardeep Kumar Bhagat told Newsline that he would get the project vetted from the Department of Architectural Light and Design, University of Wismar, Germany.

“We will use LED lights in a way that it increases the atheistic value of Corbusier’s design philosophy. His architectural details and elements will be given special focus through the lighting system,” he said, adding that there would be different lights for different days. For instance, Monday is for cool blue lights while Friday night will see a warmer shade.

“But these will be sober and subtle in nature,” he said.

Once the college finalises its plans, the engineering department will be roped in to call the tender and start the work on the ground.
Officials said that the project would take six to seven months to complete.