‘Cannot let history shackle us from upgrading infrastructure’: Architect for Pragati Maidan project

One fundamental factor, besides the scale of the project, was the footfall. We learnt that on the busiest day of the trade fair in 2015, it had 1,70,000 people. We knew we had to design our solutions around people’s behavioral patterns. Our approach had to be different, also because we had to cater to a varied audience – be it the rickshaw puller who comes as a visitor, a farmer who participates in the Aahar fair, or diplomats, the US president or even our own prime minister.

Could you give an example of a design solution on site?

We planned for a systematic drop-off area, like an airport-drop, to de-congest the entrance. That’s where the plan of the government too came in, to create a traffic improvement and integration programme. It is path-breaking in itself, to integrate the project parking with city road network. We have two drop-off lounges where visitors can wait their turn for security, and for ticketing.

Pragati Maidan has seen buildings by Raj Rewal and Mahendra Raj, Charles Correa and BV Doshi. Did its past influence your decision?

I would say history needs to be respected but it cannot be a shackle to keep you from upgrading your infrastructure. We were mindful of them but they had their constraints. The major one being city infrastructure. Should we hold the entire city hostage to pay respect to history? There are views on both sides and I will stop at that.

What is the message you wanted to convey through the design?

We wanted this project to appeal to a global audience since the G20 is going to be held here. Yet, we didn’t want it to look like something from Singapore or Sydney. We wanted it to be an icon for modern India. With Aedas Pvt Ltd as design partner, we held workshops to see what form could emerge for convention centre. The site once had the Yamuna flowing through it and so, we looked at a fluid form, no strong angles. If you go up to level four, you see Purana Quila and the canopy of India Gate. The idea was to meet the brief in a manner that it becomes an iconic structure that is not detached from its roots.

Pragati Maidan has a problem of waterlogging because it is on the riverbed. How are you dealing with it?

We have created rainwater tanks at two-three locations. These tanks will hold roof water during the rains and the overflow will get pumped out into the rainwater nullahs.

You have brought art into the building in a big way.

We wanted to work with an idiom that everyone could relate to, and one way to do that was through public art. We have themes of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Atithi Devo Bhava, India Rising…There is a depiction of ‘tree of life’ using hexagonal building blocks; the idea of five elements in Panch Mahabutas. And there are inspirations from Bidri and Kashmir crafts in furniture.

What were your challenges?

Timing was our biggest challenge followed by getting the right team and finally, the execution of the project. I think we have delivered, both in terms of quality and design. It is on par with world standards.

There is a lot of concrete paving on the site. Could it have been differently done?

Would you like to do soft paving for a 1,70,000 footfall? It’s about how you are placing the hardscape against the soft landscaping. We need 12-m wide pathways to minimise chaos. It was a functional need.