• Expressionism was an architecture movement, which started in Europe during

the first decades of the 20th century

• Expressionism was basically used to present individual perspective
• It encourages the distortion of form and use of strong colors to convey variety
of anxieties.
• Expressionism transforms reality rather than seeking to copy.

CHARATERSTICS OF EXPRESSIONISM

Subordination of realism to
Distortion of form for symbolic or stylistic
EXPRESSIONISM Visionary forms
emotional effect. expression of
inner experience.

Abundance work on papers

An underlying effort at Tendency more towards
and models with discovery
achieving the new, original gothic that the
and
and form classical style.
representation of concepts.

Brick expressionism-
Expressionism that uses
Abstract expressionism Neo expressionism
brick as main visible
building material.
HABIB RAHMAN
• Born- 1915-1995
• Place- Calcutta
• In 1945 he married to Indrani Rahman, Miss India 1952
and an Odissi dancer.
• The couple had two children, Ram Rahman and Sukanya
Rahman
• Education-
o Mechanical engineering in 1939, Calcutta University
o Completed Architecture at MIT University in 1943, USA
o Completed Master in Architecture at MIT University in
1944, USA
 • In 1950's and 1960's, Habib Rahman was invited by the
Nehru Government to develop new public building in the spirit
of Independence.
• His architecture showcased the modernist ideas of
Independent India.
• Habib Rahman's architecture mirrored the modernist ethos of
HABIB the newly Independent India
RAHMAN • Achievements:
(1915-1995)
o 1955: Padma Shri
o 1974: Padma Bhushan
o 1995: JK Cement Architect
of the Year Chairman's
Award for Life Achievement
LIF E CYCLE
 "A building becomes architecture when it not only works effectively
but moves the human soul.”

• Habib Rahman was inspired from the Bauhaus ideology and building
forms hence ,the UGC building is much like a box in overall form.

• Habib Rahaman was an enthusiastic architect.

• Habib's work were characterized by an rare sense of appropriateness and

HABIB directness.
RAHMAN'S
• Habib was deeply influenced by Bauhaus style.
PHILOSOPHY
• His work were expressive of the sensitivity and dignity which makes it
enduring and endearing quality in a city marked by harsh forms and
violent relationships.

• He emphasized on the Bauhaus style which includes the modern

technology , techniques and materials .

• He implemented the same ideology in Indian context to improve

infrastructure after independence.
 "A building becomes architecture when it not only works effectively
but moves the human soul.”

• He analysed the requirement of growing nation and tried to propose an

innovative solution.
• He developed his own architecture language and was able to merge it
with Indian context without imitating the traditional architectural
elements.
HABIB • His love for pure geometry in the building forms were clearly seen
RAHMAN'S through the rectangular from that he used in his buildings regularly.

PHILOSOPHY • He always tried to break singular forms by providing wing system and
varied facades and corner conditions that would create the play of mass
and void unlike the façade of the Bauhaus building.
• He felt that the simple imitation of old patterns was meaningless without
a true reinterpretation for our times.
• He wanted to integrate both the religion(Hindu and Muslim) giving equal
importance by proposing two blocks representing each religon and both
the blocks were connected by a bridge.
 • Brought in Bauhaus Style of Architecture in India.

• Emphasized on modern technology and mass production techniques and materials to

design and manufacture high quality and cheap goods that are accessible to many.

• Flat roofs, smooth facades, cubic shapes favoring right angles White, grey, black and beige
were the colors used primarily.

• Open floor plans with functional placement of furniture.

• Used Indian Architecture elements like chajjas, jali, dome, horizontal and vertical louvres;
and overhanging roofs

ARCHITECTURAL
STYLE

• The colors used are white, gray, black, or beige - dull colors which show the lack of
ornamentation.

• Use of steel frames, flat slab, concrete as construction material Absence of ornamentation
Importance of function Radically simplified forms Rationality and functionality.
 • Bauhaus style focused on use of modern technology and mass production
techniques and materials to redesign and produce high quality and cheap goods
which could be accessible to all.

Absence of ornamentation importance of function radically simplified forms

BAUHAUS
STYLE rationality and functionality
Simplicity , functionalism , anonymous
and its emphasis on the hard craft ethic

• Bauhaus style became one of the most influential currents in

modernist architecture and modern design.

• A core tenant Bauhaus design is " truth two materials ", which focuses on using
materials in their most natural , honest form , allowing them to be celebrated and
seen rather than covered up .
 Key features of Bauhaus style:

▪ Giving up on ornamentation to focus on simple rational and functional design.

▪ The aim was to focus on simple geometric forms such as the triangle, square, circle.

▪ Asymmetry favored over symmetry.

▪ Use of steel , glass , concrete and other modern materials .

▪ Flat roofs

▪ Glass curtain walls

BAUHAUS ▪ Smooth facades

▪ Bauhaus revolutionized the design field of the day by focusing for simple , functional
STYLE buildings and furniture .

▪ Bauhaus style influenced through modernist architecture.

▪ The Bauhaus school influenced the modern materials like glass , Steel and concrete.
TIMELINE
 GHANDHI GHAT

UNIVERSITY GRANT COMMISSION

HABIB'S WORK

SECRETARIAT

RK PURAM
RABINDRA BHAWAN
 GANDHI GHAT, KOLKATA
• The brief demanded the reflection of the personality and philosophy of the
Mahatma Gandhi.
• A tower – A simplified profile of a temple shikhara, capped with an Islamic Dome
and a horizontal projecting cantilevered slab projecting from both sides
appearing in silhouette somewhat like a cross which the ghat steps descend to
the river.

HABIB'S WORK
G A N D H I G H A T , K O L K A T A

• The memorial was to be elegant and modest , reflecting the personality and
philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, along with the bathing guard attached to it .
• He was inspired by Gandhiji's respect and love for all religions that led him to
built a structure that harmoniously and aesthetically reflected and symbolised
the three main religions of India (Hinduism,Islam and Christianity).
• He built a tower that represented a simplified profile of the temple "shikhara"
that was , capped with an Islamic dome.
• Horizontal cantilevered slab projected from both sides appeared in silhouette.
 NEW SECRETARIAT,CALCUTTA,1949-1954

• It was the first steel framed skyscraper built in India.

• Introduction of steel framed structure resting on concrete piles
• Introduction of horizontal and vertical concrete louvers as sun breakers.
• Building designed in 3 blocks – to take advantage of the site.
• 14 storey high - tallest at that time in India - Rahman was the first
architect to introduce skyscraper to India.

HABIB'S WORK
N E W
S E C R E T A R I A T, C A L C U T T A

• To obtain uniform illumination and max, ventilation, the blocks have been
• comparatively narrow
• Continuous glass windows have been used throughout
• Horizontal and vertical louvere have been used on the east ,west and south side
of the blocks in order to cut down glare and prevent direct sun rays into the
room.
• Use of structural expressionism by using steel frame structure.
 University Grants Commission,New Delhi,1954
• Rahman was inspired from the Bauhaus ideology and building forms; hence, the
UGC building is much like a box shape in overall form.
• Rahman broke the building into two blocks, to fit the site.
• He used R.C.C framed structure , the grid was simple and due to that the form
was linear.
• The columns were either visible as ribs or were free standing.

HABIB'S WORK
U N I V E R S I T Y
G R A N T S C O M M I S S I O N , N E W
D E L H I

• Free standing columns were rectangular in shape with semi-circular ends giving
the illusion of slenderness-heavy structure resting on very little support
• The projected slabs and void space create a floating effect on the ground floor.
• The facades were divided into horizontal chajjas and vertical louvers – were
used as a skin protecting the building.
• Rather than using the same articulation on back façade of the building, he
provided two continuous overhangs on the windows .
• This expression was something new that any architect had used during that time
• This would protect rooms from direct sunlight and also help cut down the heat
load on AC system .
 University Grants Commision,New Delhi,1954
• He protected the building from extreme climate of the regions by creating
surface of smaller units consisting vertical and horizontal
• louvers and hangovers.
• Closely placed vertical louvers and thin hangovers with cut-outs at every interval
space create the perfect play of mass and void in the facade of the building.
• Not much ornamentation is done except the use of concrete jaali.
• Instead of going overboard , he used very limited amount of
expression at few places , end of corridors and at the ground floor parking of
the North wing.

U
HABIB'S WORK
N I V E R S I T Y G R A N T S C O M M I S S I O N
, N E W D E L H I
 RABINDRA BHAWAN
• Shape and positioning of the wings follows the shape of the site Use of pure geometry
in overall form of the building.
• Rahman created an interconnected structure free from Gropius’s box shapes and the
Bauhaus factory aesthetics.
• The building is divided into three major blocks- administrative building, exhibition
gallery and theatre.
• The administrative block, which is the biggest of all, occupies prominent amount of
space on the site.
• The architects vision was to make a bold statement and hold itself on the huge site-
hence the monumental scale of the block.
• The other modernists tried to design their building like a piece of art and created
HABIB'S WORK large open spaces to view the building , Rahman broke his building into different
blocks to create gali-like greets – which he borrowed from Indian architecture.
R A B I N D R A B H A W A N • Reinterpreted form of chajjas in continuous horizontal louvers.
• Composite structure of the building of brick load bearing walls and RCC framed
structure .
• INDIAN ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS:
o Jalis
o Chajjas
o Dome
 RK PURAM
• The rectangular box form of each wing still depicts his love for pure geometry in
the building form.

• He always tried to break this singular form by providing wing systems and varied
facades and corner conditions that would create the play of mass and void unlike
the flat façade of the Bauhaus building.

HABIB'S WORK
RK PURAM

• He tilted each of the apartments in relation to the existing road. The idea behind
such orientation was most importantly climate and also to give best possible non
obstructive view to the maximum number of rooms in each block.

• He wanted to provide the large open spaces between the blocks to promote a
feeling of openness with good air and light .

• R.C.C framework was used with brick filler walls.

 RK PURAM
• DETAIL ELEMENTS :

• The external walls of the apartment are painted without any plaster underneath.

• The joints of brick masonry on the facades of building were clearly visible .

• The alternatively cantilevered balconies, concrete jaali, projecting chajjas and

exposed brick masonry, all together creates a harmonious combinations of the
architectural language that Rahman has used in his design.

HABIB'S WORK • Alternatively cantilevered balconies Jaali work Jaali pattern for staircase area
RK PURAM Jaali pattern for the apartment area .