Assembly buildings get back Le Corbusier-designed look

Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 8

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The Assembly buildings of Punjab and Haryana have now returned to their original look as designed by world famous architect Le Corbusier.

During the past 50 years, the successive governments of both states had made several changes to the interior of the buildings. These changes have now been removed on the recommendations of a heritage consultant appointed for the purpose.

The Administration had appointed the consultant to prepare a conservation and management plan for the Capitol Complex after it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2016.

The consultant was given the task to return the buildings and monuments designed by Corbusier 60 years ago at the Capitol Complex to their original look. The three iconic buildings of the Capitol Complex — Secretariat, Legislative Assembly and the Punjab and Haryana High Court — were constructed between 1955 and 1958.

The restoration work on the outside of the buildings, Open Hand and the Punjab and Haryana High Court was completed earlier and encroachments in the buildings removed. The UT Engineering Department has now removed all changes made inside the  buildings. The  ply used  to cover the pillars  has been removed. The red carpet  laid  on the floor has also  been removed so  that one  can see the original  granite.

The tiles used  at different places were also removed. “Unnecessary  changes”  made on the  walls have also   been removed.  

The Administration had prepared a plan of over Rs 5  crore to restore the buildings to their original shape   as these had been affected by the  extreme weather conditions.

UT had appointed heritage consultant

• Changes have been removed on recommendations of heritage consultant hired for the purpose
• The restoration work on the outside of the buildings, Open Hand and the High Court was completed earlier
• The UT now removed all changes made inside the buildings
• The ply used to cover the pillars and the red carpet laid on the floor have been removed so that one can see the original granite