raj rewal tod

RAJ REWAL & HIS WORKS

Introduction RAJ REWAL WAS BORN IN HOSHIARPUR, PUNJAB IN 1934

LIVED IN DELHI AND SHIMLA AND ATTENDED HARCOURT BUTTER HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL.

ATTENDED DELHI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, NEW DELHI FROM 1951-1954

Influences of Raj Rewal

• He met with 3 encounters which shaped his architectural ideology. He developed his ideology and followed it for the rest of his life.

• First encounter, he relates to his interest in structures during which he developed during the review of his diploma projects.

• Second one accounts on his working experience that he gained while he was working as an assistant manager for several Avante Grade theatre productions in London. As a set designer for the drama shows, he learnt that each dramatic work had a particular character which he interpreted as the rasa of the building.

• Third encounter was that he worked with Michel Ecohard in Paris, before beginning his own architectural practice. In this office, he learned the principles of Urban design and Planning.

Thinking of Rewal “Unlike music or painting, architecture is a public art and deals with utilitarian objects. I think some of the best architecture of out times tends to have poetic elements as well as being utilitarian. The havelis of Jaisalmer are one of my biggest inspirations. They taught me how to keep the interiors cool in scorching heat.” He is pained to see developers are investing in glass. “Glass is for colder climate. Its transparency is nullified in hot weather as you to have to cover it with heavy curtains. As you shut the door to nature, the cost of air conditioning goes up substantially.” Rewal believes there is an ethics of architecture. “The scare of global warming is looming large and architects should bear special responsibility and energy efficiency should be a major concern. In most of the projects, I have been involved, we were able to reduce electrical power utilisation by about 10 per cent by adopting traditional sun control systems like courtyards, roof overhangs and deep set windows.”

Works Of RewalRewal has promoted a coherent and harmonious development that is in sync with the climate and culture of the place. When others were rushing for cubicles and glass effect, he kept traditional Indian craftsmen involved in contemporising traditional architectural art forms. His dialogue with the heritage continues as he creates courtyards in public buildings as the meeting spaces for the employees to have a dialogue. His built works comprise a wide range of building types, including the Nehru Pavilion, Pragati Maidan, the Scope office complex, the Central Institute of Educational Technology, the World Bank building, the National Institute of Immunology, the Asian Games Village and the Parliament Library, all located in New Delhi, as well as the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, Portugal.

HALL OF NATIONS , HALL OF INDUSTRIES,NEW DELHI

HALL OF NATIONS , HALL OF INDUSTRIES,NEW DELHI

• DESIGN TO REFLECT SYMBOLICALLY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY INDIA’S IMPORTANT PLACE IN THE MODERN, INDUSTRIALIZING INDIA

• HALL OF NATIONS HAS A CLEAR SPAN OF 78 METRES AND A HEIGHT VARYING FROM 3M TO 21

• HALL OF INDUSTRIES IS A COMBINATION OF FOUR SMALLER PAVILIONS BY RAMPS ENCLOSING A CENTRAL AREA FOR OPEN-AIR EXHIBITS. IT HAS A SPAN OF 44M. AND HEIGHT OF 16.8M

HALL OF NATIONS , HALL OF INDUSTRIES,NEW DELHI

• EACH PAVILION IS A THREE DIMENSIONAL SPACE FRAME OF CAST-IN-SITU REINFORCED CEMENT COCRETE.

• OCTAHEDRA MEASURING 5M FROM JOINT TO JOINT WERE EMPLOYED AS THE BASIC THREE-DIMENSIONAL UNIT.

• SOLID TRIANGULAR PANELS AT REGULAR INTERVAL PROVIDE SUNSCREEN RESEMBLING TRADITIONAL JALI.

HALL OF NATIONS , HALL OF INDUSTRIES,NEW DELHI

INTERIOR VIEW OF HALL OF NATIONS

STATE TRADING CORPORATION ,DELHI

STATE TRADING CORPORATION ,DELHI

• S.T.C HAS UNIQUE STRUCTURE AND SURFACE TREATMENT.

• IT IS COVERED BY BEIGE AND RED SANDSTONE PANELS.

• VERTICAL STRUCTURAL CORES CONTAINS LIFTS AND SERVICES.

• HIGH RISE BLOCKS RISE TO DIFFERENT HEIGHTS, TALLEST BEING THE ONE FORMING A JUNCTION OF THE LOWER TWO.

STATE TRADING CORPORATION ,DELHI

• THE OFFICE FLOORS HAVE A 15M SPAN AND ALLOW FOR A FLEXIBLE PARTITIONING SYSTEM BEING COLUMN FREE.

• REPETITION OF OCTAGONAL OPENINGS IN THE BRIDGE-LIKE GIRDERS BETWEEN THE VERTICAL CORESCREATES AN IMPRESSION OF TRADITION JAIL.

• NATURAL LIGHT REACHES DISPLAY AREA FROM SKYLIGHTS ON THE ROOF TERRACE

TYPICAL PLAN

SECTION

VIEWS

SCOPE OFFICE COMPLEX,NEW DELHI

SCOPE OFFICE COMPLEX,NEW DELHI

• IT IS A HIGH DENSITY BUT RELATIVELY LOW RISE CONSTRUCTION.

• EIGHT POLYGONAL INTERLOCKING BLOCKS ARE GROUPED AROUND A CENTRAL COURTYARD .

• STRONG, FORTRESS LIKE MASS HAS BEEN EMPHASIZED BY THE REPEATED USE OF CORNER COLUMNS AND STONE FACING .

SCOPE OFFICE COMPLEX,NEW DELHI

• EACH OF INTERLOCKING PAVILION HAS A CENTRAL CORE CONTAINING LIFTS, STAIRS, LAVATORY FACILITIES AND HAVING ACCESS TO THE OFFICES AND MEETING ROOMS ON EACH FLOOR.

• NATURAL LIGHT REACHES DEEP INTO THE INTERIORS AS A RESULT OF THE RECESSES ON THE PRINCIPAL FAÇADE.

• THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM CONSISTS OF FOUR COLUMNS SUPPORTING A SQUARE DIAGRID OF STRUCTURAL SLABS WITH 12M CENTRES OR 16M AT THE TWO UPPERMOST LEVELS

PLAN

SECTION

TOP VIEW

ASIAD VILLAGE HOUSING,NEW DELHI

ASIAD VILLAGE HOUSING

• HOUSING COMMISSIONED AND BUILT FOR THE GUESTS OF ASIAN GAMES HELD IN 1982.

• LATER ON SOLD TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS• THERE ARE 510 HOUSING UNITS,

COMPRISING 200 INDIVIDUAL TOWN HOUSES AND 300 APARTMENTS IN TWO STOREY TO FOUR STOREY.

• THE CONCEPT IS BASED UPON A SEQUENCE OF OPEN SPACES LINKED BY NARROW, SHADED PEDESTRIAN STREETS CONTAINING RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES.

• INSPIRATION FROM TRADITIONAL STREET SCALE CAN BE SEEN IN NARROW STREETS LINKING THE HOUSING UNITS.

SITE PLAN

SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING,NEW DELHI

• HOUSING OF 550 APARTMENTS WITH SIX DIFFERENT TYPES OF UNITS .

• ORGANISED INTO TWO DISTINCT CLUSTERS OF THREE AND FOUR STOREYS IN HEIGHT.

• BASED ON THE HAVELI TYPOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL PATTERNS OF URBAN SPACES. NARROW SHADED STREETS WITH VARIETY OF CLUSTERS.

PLANS

SITE PLAN

VIEW

LISBON ISLMAILI CENTRE,PORTUGAL

• Design is based on three interconnected enclosed gardens.

• The entrance courtyard is derived on the principle of ‘Char bagh’ with flowering plants and running water to transform the mood of the vistor.

• Pink granite is used in conjunction with steel as a structural material.

PLAN

SECTIONS

PARLIAMENT LIBRARY,NEW DELHI

• THE CENTRAL HALL OF THE EXISTING PARLIAMENT IS LINKED TO THE CENTRAL CORE OF THE COMPLEX SYMBOLISING KNOWLEDGE ON A CENTRAL AXIS, THROUGH A SEQUENCE OF SPACES CULMINATING IN A NEW AUDITORIUM FOR 1,100 PERSONS

• THE HEIGHT OF BUILDING IS RESTRICTED TO PODIUM LEVEL OF PARLIAMENT EXCEPT OF GLAZED CRYSTALLINE FORMS OR DOMES WHICH PROTRUDE ABOVE IT

• FIRST COURT ADJOINS THE MP’S READING ROOM AND BPST COMMITTEE ROOM SYMBOLISING THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT, EXPRESSION,BELIEF, FAITH AND WORSHIP.

• SECOND COURT IS ENCLOSED BY THE M.P.’S DINING HALL CLUB ROOM AND THE AUDITORIUM. THE COURTYARD HAS A BIG TREE SYMBOLIZING JUSTICE-SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL.

• THIRD COURT SURROUNDED BY THE MUSEUM AND AUDITORIUM AND ITS SPACE CAN BE UTILIZED FOR OUTDOOR EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WATER WHICH REPRESENTS EQUALITY STATUS AND OPPORTUNITY.

British High Commission Housing-New DelhiI

• The two-storey houses are arranged around a square, which contains a circular pathway giving access to all units. The demarcation of central enclosures is clearly established by framed gateways with pedestrian passages connecting the site to garages on two ends adjoining peripheral roads.

• • Each dwelling unit has a private enclosed garden at the rear, which reflects the

traditional British terrace housing.• • The architectural language of the housing complex is based on energy saving

devices, e.g. deep set windows, shaded balconies verandahs, roof umbrellas and overhangs which keep the walls roof and glazing protected from the harsh glare of the sun.

• • The texture of stone and its changing colours forms an important feature of

design complimenting the natural foliage on the site.

Nehru Memorial Pavilion, New Delhi, India

Building Type - Exhibition Year - 1972 The Pavilion is designed to house exhibits on the life and times of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The building is embedded in a grassy mound of earth.

The design for the Pavilion is inspired by the earliest Buddhist Stupa's in Nepal, earth mounds containing relics of Buddha. The circulation system for the exhibition is based on 'Parikrama', the movement around the central structure and the plan resembles Cosmo-graphs called 'Mandalas'.

The exhibition hall itself is arranged on two levels, with the upper level containing the Audio Visual room around the perimeter, and a stepped roof in the centre for exhibitions. Four corner windows at the upper level allow ventilation for the lower spaces, while the stepped roof, in form of a natural pyramid, has glass bricks providing subdued natural light.