Case Study -Chandigarh 3

CASE STUDY 2
CONT.......
CHANDIGARH PARLIAMENT IN
INDIA BY LE COBUSIER
i) Construction Technology
e) The drama of the building
The Assembly Hall has a square plan. The Assembly chamber, in the form of a
The drama of the building starts with its skyline. Le Corbusier has always placed the greatest hyperbolic shell, is surrounded by ceremonial space. This circulation space is
emphasis on the total volume of a building and its silhouette against the sky; as, for instance, the planned as a dimly lit, triple height, columned hall for informal meetings and
three elements on the roof of the Assembly; the hyperboloid, the pyramid and the lift-tower play out discussions. The side of the hall facing the high court has a great portico and has
a dance-drama against the sky. The hyperboloid is inexpressibly beautiful from a distance-white in eight thin piers. These piers frame a view of glimpses of the Shivalik Hills. It has a
the sunlight, yet soft as snow. The three elements pirouette around each other as we approach the seating capacity for 252 persons. Additional galleries are provided for ladies,
building, exchanging positions and crossing back and forth. Finally they recede behind the enormous journalists, and officials.
sweep of the portico.
A ceremonial pivoting door is placed in an off-centre
bay of the portico. Le Corbusier was inspired by the
form of the cooling towers of a power station near
Ahmedabad. The architect designed the hyperbolic
shell of the Assembly chamber with a base diameter
of 39.6m. This shell is 38m and terminates in an
oblique section with a metallic framework at the top.
This framework directs the interplay of natural and
artificial lighting, ventilation, and acoustics. The
A pyramidal pork "smokehouse," in Jura
hyperbolic shell is only 15cm thick, which helped in
Source: http://www.history.org/almanack
reducing the cost and the weight of structure.
The other three façades are simple; necessarily so, for they must also provide counterpoint to the
façade of the Secretariat next door. And so it is the gargantuan portico which gives the building
Acoustical
direction, turning it to face the High Court. One enters under the 50 ft. high canopy and through the
Assembly Chamber to modulate and control the
pivoting door (25 ft. square!) and the drama of the interior spaces commences.
sound levels by providing sound absorbing panels in
treatment
has
been
given
to
the
bright colours and random curvilinear shapes.
The Parliament or Assembly was designed as a large box with the entrance portico on one side,
concrete piers on the other, and a repetitive pattern on the façade. Sculptural forms on the roof, a
The Council chamber, is crowned by a pyramid,
dramatic ‘funnel’ top light over the Assembly, and a tilted pyramid over the Senate chambers
which admits light from the north into its interior.
completed the composition.
The construction of the entire structure is in exposed
The forms used are from very varied backgrounds, and it seems as if the building condensed both
reinforced concrete.
visual experience of the architect as his reflection on the cosmic forces. The coverage of legislatures
is the most significant aspect of the building up of a pyramid prism for the Chamber of City Hall and a
sculptural paralleloide hyperbolic in the House of Assembly. It is said Le Corbusier was inspired by
h) The main entrance
some cooling vents in Ahmedabad, but also evokes the reason pyramidal "smokehouse," where the
g) The Council Chamber
farmers of the Jura smoked pork and drew much attention to the young Jeanneret.
The Council chamber, with a capacity of 70 seats is crowned by a pyramid,
a gift from France to Punjab, in which Le Corbusier
which admits light from the north into its interior. A ladies gallery with 90
has drawn numerous sources across the plastic arts
seats, a men’s gallery with 104 seats, and a press gallery with 24 seats are
such as "Le poème de l'angle droit."
Around the square is a huge umbrella of concrete, which is reflected on how monumental a patina of
water, a resource used by Le Corbusier to give lightness to the building, giving the impression of a
large ship.
The main entrance is closed by a glazed steel door,
also provided in this chamber.
CHANDIGARH PARLIAMENT 3
f)The Assembly Chamber
and Materials
The three elements on the roof of the
Assembly; the hyperboloid, the pyramid and
the lift-tower play out a dance-drama against
the sky.
Source: stuartfreedman.photoshelter.com
PROPOSED MACHAKOS COUNTY ASSEMBLY (2012-2013)
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Case Study 2-Chandigarh3
MUNYAO VERONICA M.
B02/2595/2007
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