ADITYA PRAKASH(1924 – 2OO8) SUBMITTED BY, ASWIN VISHNU

Aditya Prakash, Architect and Painter (Le Corbusier’s associate in Chandigarh, India.) An associate of Le Corbusier’s in Chandigarh, architect, academic, painter and theatre enthusiast, Aditya

Prakash died on Aug 12, 2008.

Born on March 10, 1923 in Muzaffarnagar, India, Aditya Prakash was on his way to Mumbai by train to

perform a play {“Life never retires”) when he suffered a heart attack. He was cremated on August 13, 2008

in Chandigarh. His ashes were immersed in the Ganges at Haridwar on August 21, 2008. He is survived by

his wife Savitri, and his three children Chetna, Vandana and Vikramaditya.

Aditya Prakash studied architecture at the London Polytechnic, becoming an A.R.I.B.A. in 1951. He joined the team of the Chandigarh Capital Project on 1st November 1952 where he worked with Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew.

He worked closely with Le Corbusier on the design of the School of Art, Chandigarh in the mid-1950s. In 1961-62 he adapted the same design for the Chandigarh College of Architecture.

Aditya Prakash helped define the characteristic visual identity of Chandigarh as a modern city by creating the “frame controls” of the several of the markets and housing types.

He also designed the petrol pumps and the some of the major cinema theatres of the city (Jagat, Neelam and KC.) Some of his other projects in Chandigarh are the District Courts, Central Scientific Instruments Organization Hostels, the Treasury Building, the Central Bus Stand, Military Rest House,Central Crafts Institute,the Jang Garh, Indo-Swiss Training Center and the Cable Factory.

His most significant project in Chandigarh was the Tagore Theater which was constructed to celebrate Rabindrnath Tagore birth Centenary in 1961.

From 1963-1968, Aditya Prakash was the Architect of the Panjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. At this time he also designed the campuses of the Agricultural Universities in Hissar and Palampur.

From 1968 to 1982, Aditya Prakash served as Principal of the Chandigarh College of Architecture, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

As an academic, Aditya Prakash was an early advocate of urban ecological design, or “self-sustaining settlements.” He described Chandigarh’s planning as ‘escapist’ and published several papers and three books advocating extensive recycling, mixed use developments, development of the informal sector, integration of agriculture and animal husbandry into the urban system, and rigorous separation of motorized and all forms of non-motorized traffic.

The Indian Institute of Architects awarded Aditya Prakash its Gold Medal in 1996.

Ideas…

•Frame Control : Aditya Prakash designed the visual character for the city by developing frame controls. This strategy manifests itself through the 'frame' as the organizing element of the city, producing an intersection of gridlines that are superimposed onto the various scales that comprise the public realm. The building frame scale is regulated by Chandigarh's architectural control. Along the V2 streets and in the commercial city center, a system of architectural and construction controls were placed on all buildings. Residential and commercial structures along the V4 market streets are regulated by full architectural controls. Residential plots up to 10 sq m area in size are governed by frame controls concerning the façade. Schematic controls are applied to special purpose buildings like petrol pumps and cinemas that do not fall under other categories

•Self-Sustaining Urbanism – Aditya Prakash described the planning in Chandigarh as “escapist” and championed the idea of self-sustaining cities with “extensive recycling, mixed-use developments, stimulation of the informal sector, integration of agriculture and animal husbandry into the urban system, and rigorous separation of motorised and all forms of non-motorised traffic.”

•Linear city – The design proposal for Haryana was one where Prakash sought to empower the pedestrians by proposing to raise the vehicular transit by about 10 to 12 feet above the main road network. In his opinion, that would give the pedestrian and the non-motorized vehicles the necessary relief in an otherwise vehicle intense route. The central part of the sector was important to him as he envisioned a completely self-sustaining city. He commented: “It is important for a city to be self-sustaining in terms of free air, water and the basic necessities like food. All the waste materials of the city can come to this particular area to get recycled, even excess water for that matter…. The informal sector can also be utilized for animal husbandry to a lesser degree.

PAINTERAditya Prakash painted for two to three hours every morning. Though he studied art at the Glasgow School of Art, Aditya Prakash really began to paint under the influence of Le Corbusier in Chandigarh in the 1950s. An early interest in intersecting the Modulor with free-flowing curves, evolved into a style exploring Indian birds, animals and figures within a modernist perspective.Aditya Prakash served two terms as President of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy. He exhibited in several major cities in India. His paintings are in private collections throughout the world.

Some of his paintings…,

Tagore theatreTagore Theatre, Chandigarh is a center for cultural performances located in Sector 18, Chandigarh.

It was designed by architect Aditya Prakash, who was part of Chandigarh Capital Project Team, headed by Le Corbusier, and also the principal of Chandigarh College of Architecture. 

Aditya Prakash has also designed a few residences in the city, one of which is in the same sector and is called Kailash Bhavan.

HISTORY

Named after Rabindranath Tagore, India’s Nobel laureate, Tagore Theatre, being the sole theatre in Chandigarh for a long time, had become an important hub of cultural activities for the citizens of Chandigarh.

Now it has been converted into an auditorium

DESIGN

Tagore theater with its blank brick walled cuboid structure, embodied the straight-line, had, over the years become an integral part of Chandigarh’s Cityscape

Chandigarh College of Architecture

Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA), Chandigarh was established in 1961 and was set up as a part of the great Chandigarh Experiment to impart education in Architecture.

 It has an international reputation for excellence in agriculture .

It pioneered the Green Revolution in India[2]in the 1960s and is considered as one of the best agricultural universities in India.

Facilities at Chandigarh College of Architecture -Library

Computer Center

Workshops

Museum

Laboratories

Audio-Visual Section

HISTORY

Chandigarh College of Architecture was established on 7 August 1961 in Chandigarh, India, and was set up to impart education in architecture. Le Corbusier, who developed Chandigarh's master plan in 1951, got CCA established as a part of the Chandigarh Experiment.

CAMPUS

The campus is housed inside the PEC University of Technology (formerly Punjab Engineering College) Campus, Sector 12 in Chandigarh. CCA is widely spread in 5-acre (20,000 m2) campus with its own cricket ground, basketball court, volleyball court and a gym.

Punjab Agricultural UniversityThe Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, Punjab is one of the State Agricultural Universities in India.

It was established in 1962 and is the nation's oldest agricultural university.

It pioneered the Green Revolution in India[2]in the 1960s and is considered as one of the best agricultural universities in India.