Pierre Jeanneret’s house opens to the public today

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21

In a befitting tribute to world-famous architect Pierre Jeanneret on his 121st birth anniversary, the Administration will open his house (No. 57) in Sector 5 to the public tomorrow.

Jeanneret, Chandigarh’s first Chief Architect, stayed in this house from 1954 to 1965. The house was designed by Jeanneret. Le Corbusier, too, used to stay in this house during his visits to Chandigarh every year. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore will inaugurate the museum. The museum will display Jeanneret's works, correspondence and pictures during the making of the city.

Jeanneret assisted Le Corbusier in designing all buildings in Chandigarh. Deepika Gandhi, Director, Chandigarh Architecture Museum and Le Corbusier Centre, said the house was given the original look after restoration. Some rare furniture that Jeanneret designed will also be put on display.

The design of the house is unique. An eye-shaped window on the first floor gives the view of the lawns and allows fresh air to enter. On the ground floor, a special window was designed for ventilation.

Tarun Mathur, son of BP Mathur, an architect who worked closely with Jeanneret, recalled that Jeanneret lived a life of a hermit. He lived alone. Mathur said he was soft-spoken, down to earth and dressed mostly in a white bushirt and khaki trousers. He spent his spare time at his carpentry workshop, which was housed in his garage.