Master architect’s works come alive

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9

In the backdrop of the Shivalik Hills, illuminated imposing architectural creations of the great master architect, Le Corbusier, at the Capitol Complex came alive as a four-day international symposium, “50 years after the master”, kicked off here today.

Over five decades after the French architect created the architectural marvels, hundreds of national and international visitors were “virtually taken down memory lane” to the days when the facade of these masterpieces was being built. The illumination showcased the Capitol Complex as a “crown of the City Beautiful” as Le Corbusier had planned.

Several visitors got a chance to be part of this prestigious event as they coincidentally turned up at the information centre to have a heritage walk at the Capitol Complex.

As the piazza in front of the main facade of the HC building welcomed the visitors with the Open Hand monument in the backdrop, the area echoed with words of appreciation from eminent personalities of national and international fame in the field of architecture.

UT Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki appreciated the efforts of officials of the Administration “because of whom the Capitol Complex was open to the public”.

UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev said the Administration was trying to maintain the prestigious heritage in its original form.

William JR Curtis, an international expert on Le Corbusier, architect Raj Rewal, architect Jacques Sbriglio, architect John Bass, architect Sumit Kaur, Michele Richard, founder of the Le Corbusier Foundation, the Swiss Ambassador, Dr Linus von Castelmur, and Madame Francois Gardies were present on the occasion.

A couple from Colombia — Carlosu Urrego, an architect, and his wife Sara, a designer — had made a casual plan to visit the Capitol Complex and have a heritage walk. They were pleasantly surprised to be part of the “big show”. Three friends from Surat, who travelled for 24 hours to attend the symposium, were astonished to see the stunning view of the structures about which they had studied in their books. Ian Christian from Surat was thrilled to be able to touch the monument constructed by Le Corbusier.

A detailed presentation on the Capitol Complex, “Chandigarh’s crowning glory restored”, was presented at the complex by Kavita Singh, Director, Tourism, Chandigarh. The event is being organised by the UT Administration, the Chandigarh College of Architecture and the departments of Tourism and Urban Planning.