In my city...

Mona

Made in the strict European language, coloured by the vibrancy of India, when two Frenchmen from Paris came to explore Chandigarh, they were in for an awakening that tomes of books they read on City Beautiful did not prepare them for.  

Building Chandigarh is a project close to Peirrick Mouton and Benoit Santaird’s heart, the former is an artist and other a designer. Both of them are equally invested in Chandigarh’s architecture. These two Parisians take upon themselves to reinterpret Chandigarh through its history to reactivate elements from the past and present, and share them with its inhabitants. 

Their residency at Alliance Francaise that aimed to look at rebuilding the city and also how its inhabitants wish to see it grow. “Brasilia and Chandigarh are the only two cities in the world that carry the utopian vision and are marvels of modern architecture. I was rather surprised that while the world takes interest in Le Corbusier’s architecture, its inhabitants care little for its magnificent heritage.” 

Open to give, open to receive became the starting point for this duo inspired by the city’s equally famous emblem, the Open Hand. Next were interactions with residents and workshop with the final year students from Chandigarh College of Architecture. “It was interesting to see that leaving behind all other marvels, city folks prefer to frequent Rock Garden,” shares Benoit Santaird.

Both Parisians are intrigued as how the city is now the confluence of Indian culture within a very French-Swiss vision, “The very straight, plain structures brim with a liveliness that is very different from how things are in Europe.”

While interacting with its residents, Peirrick realised how pedal-boats that once represented the city have gone missing. Going through the history of how the lake came into being, they found Corbusier’s insistence on prohibition of motorboats which ultimately led to the launching of pedal-boats in Sukhna. Culling from plans, photos of Pierre Jeanneret building his boat with town planner PL Verma in 1985, the pedal-boats journey is documented and would be turned into a film.

Exploring Chandigarh, Talash Chandigarh, is a written and pictorial depiction which is the outcome of this residency. Various stages and photo projects by the students of architecture are also part of it. 

On till October 3.  

mona@tribunemail.com