Spaces Between Ourselves

Lutyens made his name with scores of country houses that he designed for the aristocracy and the wealthy during the Edwardian period. He would have been remembered chiefly for the Cenotaph in London and Hampstead Garden Suburb, extraordinary works both. It is, however, in his work on imperial New Delhi that he rose far above the ordinary. Robert Grant Irving has earlier documented the story of the building of New Delhi. Ridley tells it from the perspective of Lutyens, and allows him to tell the story through his vivid, detailed, and often-hilarious letters.

Lutyens had a blinkered view of Indian architecture. This is what he thought of the Taj Mahal: 8216;8216;It is wonderful, but it is not architecture and its beauty begins where its architecture ends.8217;8217; The basic idea for the Viceroy8217;s House can be found in his sketchbooks dating back to 1893. He elaborated his drawings and finalised them in surprisingly little time. This resulted in an extraordinary design difficult to classify, though I have heard one architect describe it as an overgrown country house. I would say that it is an unintended tribute to India8217;s synthesising tradition.

Delhi burned out Lutyens. He aged suddenly, and died in 1940, with no other real work of creation. Though many of us will have heard the name of Lutyens, it will be difficult to put a face to the name. Ridley has recreated a witty, complex, and intelligent man. The best thing about Ridley8217;s book is that it helps make New Delhi seem more human, a true monument to the brilliance of its creator.

Curated For You

For a month and a half, I was just in my room: When Sania Mirza reflected on struggling with depression after a career-changing injury

She worked for only two years, delivered only classics and blockbusters; Mohanlal once saved her life at Kodaikanals Suicide Point

Jana Nayagan Release Date Hearing LIVE Updates: Decision on CBFC certification for Vijays final film soon; hearing resumes