On July 26, a new convention centre was inaugurated called Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The new convention centre replaced the old Modernist building, the Hall of Nations, designed by architect Raj Rewal. The new building appears to be merely functional and lacks aesthetics and a clear design concept. However, the more complex and urgent issue is the loss of modernist architecture in India.
There is a lack of awareness and appreciation of modernist architecture globally. They take more time to earn attention and admiration, particularly when compared to older, more socially and culturally recognisable monuments. However, architecture historians and other heritage professionals in the world are pointing out the significance of modernism and the need to save our modern heritage.
In recent years, India has seen demolition after demolition of modernist buildings. These demolitions have been met with protests and critiques from historians and architects. Modernist Indian architecture has played a vital role in shaping the post-independence country. But, with the lack of adequate heritage protection laws, its future is uncertain.
History of Modernist Architecture.
Modernism is a global social and cultural movement that began in the early decades of the twentieth century and sought a new alignment with the experience and values of modern industrial life. Artists all throughout the world employed new imagery, materials, and techniques to create artworks that they felt better-reflected reality.
Modernism in architecture was associated with an analytical approach to the function of buildings, the use of new materials, and structural innovations. The style emphasised volume, asymmetrical compositions, and minimal ornamentation. Modernist architecture includes styles such as Bauhaus, constructivism, futurism, de Stijl, and brutalism.
Architects Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius are most associated with this movement. They advocated the use of innovative technologies inspired by modern industry. Modernist architecture became popular in the post-war period but saw a decline by the 1980s due to various maintenance issues.
Modernist Architecture in India
The advent of modernist architecture in India was significantly influenced by the country’s struggle for independence from the British Raj, as well as the subsequent goal of nation-building and modernisation.
Modern architecture has had a profound impact on the built environment in post-independence India, influencing the country’s urban landscapes and changing how people live and work. India was introduced to modernist architecture by Le Corbusier when he was invited to design the city of Chandigarh. The city became a symbol of post-colonial India’s progressive and modern vision.
Le Corbusier popularised the use of reinforced concrete, open floor plans, and the concept of breathing spaces. The design elements focused on functionality, simplicity, and innovation, unlike the existing traditional architectural styles in the country.
Indian architects such as Charles Correa, B.V. Doshi and Raj Rewal were heavily influenced by the principles of modernism. Their works significantly impacted the development of architecture and town planning in India.
Protecting Modernist Architecture.
Brazil was one of the first countries in the world to pass legislation to protect and converse modernist architecture. They listed several buildings within a few years of completion. The Church of Pampulha, designed by Architect Oscar Niemeyer, was completed in 1944 and listed three years later. Likewise, the Ministry of Education and Health (MES), designed by Lucio Costa, was completed in 1945 and listed in 1948.
In Germany, the Bauhaus Archive in Berlin, built in 1979, has been protected since 1997. The building is considered a monument not only because of the history of Bauhaus but also the uniqueness of the building.
In the UK some modernist buildings such as the Royal Festival Hall and Lloyd’s Building (also known as inside-out building) are listed as Grade – I heritage.
In 2022, UNESCO launched the Modern Heritage Programme. The programme will provide a framework for the protection and conservation of vulnerable buildings as well as create awareness about modernist architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture.
Does India need to expand the built heritage list to include Modernist architecture?
Under current built heritage legislation, buildings can be only considered in the scope of heritage protection if they are sixty years or older. This is very restrictive as age or time period can not be the sole criterion for determining the value of a building.
The modernist movement has great global significance. It acknowledges a time of authoritarianism in some parts of the world. But it has also helped newly independent nations establish an identity as well as encouraged architectural innovations like the glass curtain. The loss of Modernist architecture is erasing the temporal layers and creating a void in the history of places.
It is the need of the hour for a policy and legislation that will allow broader categorisation of heritage to protect modernist buildings in India. Modernist architecture represents India’s scientific growth in the post-colonial era. It reflects the ambitions of the people to create a new collective identity. The criteria must account for not just age but also historical importance, socio-cultural impact, and collective identities of the people.