expense list, page 1

chandigarh, monument to the open hand

I was lucky enough to visit the monument just before a rainstorm and to see it pivot wildly in the changing wind. To give the monument scale, note the children to the left.

chandigarh, high court

Another impressive example of Le Corbusier's parasol roof strategy. Behind the colored pillars rises a monumental ramp. As in the case of the Assembly, the rear of the High Court extends a full story below the central enclosure's ground level.

chandigarh, museum of architecture

Constructed posthumously according to another museum type, the building finds freedom and variation beneath a parasol roof.

chandigarh, museum of art

The most sophisticated of Le Corbusier's museum type, the building is formatted to accommodate unlimited, spiraling growth.

chandigarh, sector 17

A portico in the commercial sector reminiscent of Lutyen's Connaught Circus in Delhi.

ahmedabad, open building

Another common building practice in Ahmedabad : the building proper is lifted two or three stories above grade and small shops fill in the space created.

ahmedabad, open building

A common construction practice in Ahmedabad : the building is fully operational--and has been for some time--but the core far exceeds the usable floor height and rebar is left protruding from columns. The building is waiting to grow.

chandigarh, capitol complex

A view toward the Assembly from atop the Secretariat that begins to show the complexity of the Capitol Complex's landscape. The pavement lined in blue becomes a reflecting pool during the rainy season, and the punched holes to its right screen a series of small rooms that overlook the sunken parking area. The roof of this corridor is flush with the ground behind it and emerges as a bridge connecting to the Secretariat and to the Assembly's flank. The Assembly rises from the lower ground plane without pilotis but its main entrance is above, to the central enclosure. Its monumental curved canopy stands in front, detached from the building. In the distance, one can see the Tower of Shadows and the Monument to the Open Hand. Between the two, Le Corbusier rendered a major roadway invisible by depressing it below grade and bridging over.

chandigarh, secretariat

A view of the Secretariat. The poor girl's seen better days but she's still quite imposing and beefy as ever.

chandigarh, capitol complex

A view of the Tower of Shadows, the Assembly, and the Secretariat. The Monument to the Open Hand is to my right and the High Court is behind me.

FLAME Campus

A 1500' x 1500' view of the project I've been involved with at Sangath. Organized along a central corridor, the school--the first liberal arts university in India--will eventually form the core of a new community.

sarabai house, ahmedabad

sangath colleagues

sun temple, modhera

rani ki van stepwell, patan

*Top image scanned from Krit Mankodi's The Queen's Stepwell at Patan, pg. 29

adalaj stepwell, ahmedabad

institute of management, ahmedabad

After being denied entrance to the Mill Owners' Building I moved on to Louis Kahn's campus . . . reminded me of Rome.

mill owners' association, ahmedabad

I made it to the Mill Owners' Building this morning--I simply had to tell my rickshaw driver to take me to the McDonald's across the street. The building looks glorious from the gate but I was there too early to get in. I'll try again next week.

museum of the city, ahmedabad

I tried to get the auto-rickshaw driver to take me to the Mill Owners' Building and ended up at this Corbusian building instead. Close enough. The galleries were closed but for about seventy five cents the security guard took me up to the roof.