1. Margot Thomaidis & Kate Hale Wilkes
Chandigarh
Margot Thomaidis & Kate Hale Wilkes

2. The City Beautiful
-union terr history, Le Corbusier history, administration background, built form

4. History Formed after India’s independence in 1947.
City was created to replace previous capital of Punjab, Lahore.
Became Capital of Union Territory between Punjab and Haryana in 1966.
Government commissioned Le Corbusier, a French modernist architect to plan the built form of the city.

5. Le Corbusier’s planned city
the iconic hand- conveying a social message of peace and unity, that is open to give and receive
le Corbusier and Lucien Herve at the High Court 1965

6. construction of Chandigarh
the palace of justice, Chandigarh

8. “Chandigarh is not a city of India, but a city of the whole world…”
-S.S. Bhatti
(Chandigarh College of Architecture)

9. Three Key Themes:
1) Built Form
2) Economic Development and Investment
3) Demographic Tensions

10. Built Form in Chandigarh
-preserving Le Corbusier/UNESCO
-building the city into a global city
-infrastructure investment
-city periphery development (buildings, slums, etc.)
-Efforts: Urban Lab, airport/infrastructure, Master Plan 2031

11. Chandigarh Master Plan 2031
people by 2031 requires the city and its outlying areas to accommodate changes and growth.
guidelines for housing, commercial, industrial, social infrastructure and offices, open spaces and landscaping, traffic and transportation, ecology and environment, disaster management, heritage, and zoning.
It also discusses development controls and regulations in the villages and in Manimajra.

12. Chandigarh Urban Lab (CUL)
CUL is focused on the built form in Chandigarh
-preserving furniture, when there’s been threat of auctioning prized pieces (see next slide)
-hybrid housing project tries to combine Indian modernism and practical needs of density and function
Conceptualizes how to preserve Chandigarh’s unique history and design, while designing for the future
Heritage Furniture
Indian Modernism
Modern Indian Cinema

13. Airport and Infrastructure
Need infrastructure that can accommodate the city’s international ambitions
-roads and airport with greater capacity
International airport necessary for international status
Needs infrastructure to fit with both demands and ambitions

14. Economic Development -moving away from its administrative past
-IT industry, film industry, agriculture industry
-what economic activity is happening in the nearby slums?
-Cinema Circle, RGCTP, MTM, CITCO, Infosys, Infra/Airport, Education City

15. Current Economic Development Projects:
Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park
CITCO - (Tourism)
Education City
Film Industry

16. Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park
Enormous tech park introduced to attract IT companies and professionals, to turn Chandigarh into an enormous IT hub
Design anchored by large IT firms, but still difficult attracting and keeping firms- turns ghostly!

17. Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO)
Some completed projects, others ongoing; Responsible for developing, promoting, and improving a strong tourism and hospitality sector in Chandigarh, through developing and renovating restaurants, hotels, shops, and oil stations. Hotel Shivalik Views new restaurant and bar, as well as event space within the hotel lobby is an example of a successful project through this government-initiated tourism corporation.

18. Education City
The vision of the project is to set-up a large education centre in the city to support the growing economy and equip youth in the region with better skills for entering the economy and improving employability in the region

19. Film Industry
prominent within the City

20. Creative Cinema Circle
-Focuses on learning, engagement, festivals, support for independent filmmakers, marketing of Indian films, and funding for cinema projects within Chandigarh.
-Showcases short films and documentary films at the Government Museum and Art Gallery.
-Topics of films sometimes include taboo social and equity issues within India

21. Demographic Tensions

22. Citizen Chandigarh Video link:

23. Demographic Tensions
Occupations: attracting professionals, maintaining students, accommodating and caring for seniors
Cultures: Punjab vs. Haryana
Social Geography: High-income Chandigarh City vs. periphery

25. Panchkula

26. Current Projects: Addressing Demographic Change
Infosys- Catch Them Young
Modern Terminal Market
Citizen Chandigarh
Armed Forces Retirement Home

27. Infosys- Catch Them Young
Infosys, a private IT company, hosts most promising students for two-week intensive program; introduces them to IT industry
Effort to familiarize and train students in IT early, to secure promising IT workforce

28. Modern Terminal Market
Integrate farmer with downtown buyers
Downtown hub, and other satellite locations
Increase in agricultural marketing and distribution practices
Yet to happen, need PPP
Crosses occupations and geographies
Bridging diversity

30. Conclusion Is enough being done? Why aren’t projects being completed?
What investments are smart investments?

31. Questions and Discussion
Do you see similar challenges in your cities, with respect to
Built Form
Economics
Demographics
How are current PPPs problematic, and how might they be changed to deliver more promising results?
Considering its history, current projects and future needs, should Chandigarh maintain itself as a controlled administrative centre, or begin to develop more production and cultural industries?