Originally called the Old Architects’ Office, this was one of the earliest buildings constructed in Chandigarh. The workplace of Le Corbusier and his team, and the space from where Chandigarh was designed, the building is of immense historic value to Chandigarh. Back in 2008, the non-permanent construction, which was in a state of neglect, was going to be demolished and in its place another building for the environment offices was being planned. “If it were not for the outcry from the residents of the city and architects, the structure, a significant resource for understanding technological, formal, and aesthetic spirit of modern architecture, and its manifestation in the context of Chandigarh would have been lost,” adds Gandhi.

Now, the good news is that the Chandigarh Administration has decided to establish a research centre at the Le Corbusier Centre, to facilitate individuals, groups of scholars and students and also educational institutes to conduct research here. Many parts of the building are slowly and steadily being restored, with plans being finalized for expansion of the museum here and setting up of a library. The proposed research centre will have cubicles for individual researchers, a seminar hall, library, scanning facilitates, documentation centre, a cafe, wi-fi connectivity etc.

Work is under way at the Le Corbusier Centre in Sector 19, Chandigarh.
Work is under way at the Le Corbusier Centre in Sector 19, Chandigarh. - Designed by Swiss architect Pierre Jeanneret, whose death anniversary was on December 4, the building is a fine example of modular and sustainable architecture, with an attention to Chandigarh’s mandate of cost-effective and climate responsive design. Demonstrating the immense creative and technical prowess of Jeanneret, the building was made with experimental and cost-effective materials and methods, such as exposed reinforced concrete shell of the porch, precast beams of sloping roofs, brick tiles for floors, jute-lac panels for doors and cupboard shutters, points out Deepika Gandhi, Director, Le Corbusier Centre.