Comparative Study on

Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar

POST INDEPENDENT ARCHITECTURE INDIA

Karthikeyan Desa

COMPARATIVE
STUDY ON
CHANDIGARH AND
BHUBANESWAR
Karthikeyan Desa
ABSTRACT
The scenario of India after independence was it
needed a better planning for the cities to improvise
the status of the country and the people. Thus,
famous modern architects across the world were
brought to India to plan according to the climate and
governmental necessities. The great planning of the
cities is illustrated with the planning of Chandigarh by
Le- Corbusier and Bhubaneswar by Koeingsberger.
PLANNING OF CHANDIGARH
Chandigarh is one of the most significant urban planning
experiments of the 20th century. It is the only one of the
numerous urban planning schemes of Le Corbusier, the
famous French architect-planner, to have actually been
executed.It is also the site of some of his greatest
architectural creations. The city has had far-reaching
impact, ushering in a modern idiom of architecture and
city planning all over India and has become a symbol of
planned urbanism. It is as famous for its landscaping as
for its architectural ambience. Most of the buildings are
inpure, cubical form, geometrically subdivided with
emphasis on proportion, scale and detail.Le Corbusier
summed up his work on the city in an "edict", quoting the
following:
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 Comparative Study on Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar
EDICT OF CHANDIGARH
The object of this edict is to enlighten the present and
future citizens of Chandigarh about the basic concepts of
planning of the city so that they become its guardians and
save it from whims of individuals. This edict sets out the
following basic ideas underlying the planning of the city
1. HUMAN SCALE
The city of Chandigarh is planned to human scale. It puts
us in touch with the infinite cosmos and nature. It provides
one with places and buildings for all human activities by
which the citizens can live a full and harmonious life. The
radiance of nature and heart are within our reach.
2. SECTORS
This city is composed of sectors. Each sector is 800
meters by 1,200 meters, enclosed byroads allocated to
fast mechanized transport and sealed to direct access
from the houses. Each sector caters to the daily needs of
its inhabitants, which vary from 5,000 to 25,000 and has
a green strip oriented longitudinally stretching centrally
along the sector in the direction of the mountains. The
green strip should stay uninterrupted and accommodate
schools, sports fields, walks and recreational facilities for
the sector. Vehicular traffic is completely forbidden in the
green strips, where tranquility shall reign and the curse of
noise shall not penetrate.
3. ROADS
The roads of the city are classified into seven categories,
known as the system of 7 Vs, as below: V-1 -- Fast roads
connecting Chandigarh to other towns; V-2 -- arterial
roads; V-3 -- Fast vehicular roads; V-4 -- Meandering
shopping streets; V-5 -- Sector circulation roads; V-6
Access roads to houses; V-7 -- footpaths and cycle tracks.
Buses will ply only on V-1, V-2, V-3 and V-4 roads. A wall
shall seal the V-3 roads from thesectors.
 Comparative Study on Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar
4. AREAS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL
INTEREST
Certain areas of Chandigarh are of special architectural
interest. Where harmonized and unified construction of
buildings is aimed at, absolute architectural and zoning
control should remain operative. Along V-2 central, dual
carriageways Madhya Marg and Uttar Marg, where
skyline, heights, character and architecture of buildings as
planned shall not be altered. No building shall be
constructed north of the Capitol Complex. Along V-2
beyond dual carriageway areas are reserved for cultural
institutions only and shall never have any residential
buildings
5. CITY CENTRE
The central plaza in Sector 17 was designed by Le
Corbusier as "Pedestrian's Paradise". No vehicular traffic
will be permitted in the plaza.
6. INDUSTRIAL AREA
Only such industry as is powered by electricity would be
permitted in the Industrial Area, So that atmosphere is
saved from pollution.
7. LAKE
The Lake is a gift of the creators of Chandigarh to the
citizens to be at one with the lake and
its environments and its tranquility shall be guaranteed by
banning noises.
8.LANDSCAPING
The landscaping of this city is based on careful
observation of the vegetation of India.Selected ornamental
trees, shrubs and climbers have been planted according to
colour schemes to beautify it. In future planting and
replacements, these principles must be kept in view.
There should be no haphazard replacements, so that the
avenues retain their harmony and beauty.The Leisure
Valley, the Rajendra Park and other parks shall be
developed as parks only and no building other than
already planned shall be permitted.
9.NO PERSONAL STATUES SHALL BE ERECTED
The age of personal statues is gone. No personal statues
shall be erected in the city or parks
of Chandigarh. The city is planned to breathe the new
sublimated spirit of art.
Commemoration of persons shall be confined to suitably
placed bronze plaques.
10. TRUTHFULNESS OF BUILDING SHOULD BE
MAINTED
The truthfulness of materials of constructions, concrete,
bricks and stone, shall be maintained in all buildings
constructed or to be constructed.
PLANING BHUBANESWAR
PLANNING OF BHUBANESHWAR – OTTO
KOENIGSBERGER
Bhubaneswar – capital of Orissa is located 48km from
the sea. Between Mahanadi Delta and gently
undulating woodland. Foundation laid by Jawaharlal
Nehru on April 13, 1948.The city was designed for
40,000 people.Original idea by Arturo Soria Y Mata -
Spanish planner.Otto Koenigsberger – Main designer
SITE SPECIFICATION Selected in Feb 1948 for a new
capital
Characterized by salient features like an air field, a
railway line.Original town of Bhubaneswar had
12,000 population.A Major Shaivite center of India
with 300 Temples. Important temple – Lingaraja
Temple.Main Road to the Site linked with NH from
Chennai to Calcutta towards north.The site has road
links to Cuttack and Puri.
KEY FACTORS
Based on Nehru’s policies on Social Agenda
Neither caste nor socio-economic segregation to exist.
Gender equality to be stressed. Education to be
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  Comparative Study on Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar

Stressed. Climate and context to be emphasized. Idea 13, 1948

of reducing differences between rich and poor. AREA Chandigarh Bhubaneswar
covers an area (20 degree 15'N
of latitude and 85
approximately degree 50'E
FEATURES 44.5 sq mi or longitude) is the
City laid out in a linear fashion. Central artery forming 114 km².The name, which
the main spine. Neighborhood units are attached to exact has been given
main spine. Each Neighborhood unit accommodates cartographic to a area
major amenities of life – schools, clinics, shopping co-ordinates of covering
centers, libraries, etc., Easy walking distance even for Chandigarh are 91.9414 square
a child. Fairly high density unit can hold up to 5000 to 30.74°N kilometers
6000 people.Each unit planned around educational & 76.79°E.[14]
recreational area. Shopping center for every two POPULATION The city was The city was
units. Central shopping district near railway station. designed for designed for
Every second housing site was allocated for ‘non- 500,000 People 40,000 people
officials’. Standard amenities provided for both ‘old’ & ARCHITECT Le Corbusier, OTTO
‘new’ towns. the famous KOENIGSBERGE
French R, architect,
architect- planner and
planner, to Egyptologist,
CONCEPT AND DESIGN have actually enjoyed a long
been executed and remarkable
The city was to be the administrative town for 40- It is also the career that
50,000 population. It was not conceived as an site of some of began with
industrial town but however provisions were given for his greatest work as a
small and light service industries. The Capitol Complex architectural government
with the Assembly hall and the Secretariat is located creations. architect in
on the ridge overlooking the residential areas on the Berlin in the
eastern and the southern slopes and is so 1930s.
designed to bring in the cool prevailing breeze. CONCEPT Le Corbusier The concept of
The road follows a T-pattern. The crossbar of the T conceived the "action
links 2 rows of the residential areas while the stem of master plan of planning" -
the T,forming broad avenues connects the Capitol Chandigarh as community-
Complex with the business centre in front analogous to based schemes
of the railway station. human body supported by
government
achievements which use nature as an element involved in agencies - into
the design. This microcosm idea is notable for front wall of many parts of
the temple, which usually has pictures of a certain divine the Third World.
religious significance, replaced with a more vivid and ZONING The primary Each
eloquent representation of the Creator: nature itself. module of Neighborhood
city’s design is unit
INGREDIENTS Chandigarh Bhubaneshvar a Sector, a accommodates
YEAR Foundation laid Foundation laid neighborhood major amenities
by Nehru in the by Jawaharlal unit of size 800 of life – schools,
year 1947. Nehru on April meters x 1200 clinics, shopping

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 Comparative Study on Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar

meters. centers, TRANSPORTATIO The roads of Four categories

Each SECTOR libraries, etc., N the city are of roads have
is a self- Easy walking classified into been adopted
sufficient unit distance even seven for the city viz.
having shops, for a child. categories, (a) Arterial
school, health Fairly high known as the Road,
centers and density unit can system of 7 Vs, (b) Major Unit
places of hold up to 5000 as Road,
recreations and to 6000 people. below: V-1 -- (c) Major
worship. Fast roads Housing Street
The population connecting and
of a sector Chandigarh to (d) Minor
varies between other towns; V- Housing street.
3000 and 2 -- arterial
20000 roads; V-3 --
depending Fast vehicular
upon the sizes roads; V-4 --
of plots and Meandering
the shopping
topography of streets; V-5 --
the Sector
area. circulation
RESIDENTIAL Modular type To avoid roads; V-
residence boredom and 6 Access roads
uniformity the to houses; V-7 -
neighborhood - footpaths and
units are cycle tracks
designed Buses will ply
individually with only on V-1, V-
the object of 2, V-3 and V-4
giving it a roads. A wall
distinct shall seal the V-
character. 3 roads from
INSDUSTRIAL Industrial Less the
sector has been concentration sectors.
concentrated has been given
more. to industrial
sectors REFERENCE
COMMERCIAL Main Each residential
Bhubaneswar: From a Temple Town to a Capital City
commercial zone was
zone has been designed with Author-Ravi Kalia
designed and small
http://landlab.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/chandigarh-
each residential commercial
zone was complex qt8.pdf
designed with
small http://www.slideshare.net/ctlachu/planning-of-chandigarh-
commercial by-le-corbusier
complex

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