IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section B

Abstract

Following the partition of British India into Pakistan and India in 1947 the government of India decided to build Chandigarh as a new capital for Punjab. They envisioned a modern and well-planned city that would represent the aspirations of the newly independent nation. Le Corbusier, along with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and a team of Indian architects and planners, including Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry, developed the masterplan for the city. With an urban population below 40%, India is experiencing one of the most dynamic urbanization processes globally. In addition, India has overtaken China as the most populous country in April 2023 due to the rapid population growth. The Chandigarh metropolitan region serves as an illustrative case study of these phenomena. According to projections from the United Nations, the region is expecting an increase in population of over 25% by the year 2035. There seems to be a conflict of interest between the conservation of the central part of the city as originally conceived in the master plan and the needs of future urban development. This discussion also encompasses questions regarding social justice, the right to the city and the distribution of wealth and privileges. Would it have been in Le Corbusier’s interest to design the city as a living museum or did the team of urban planners intend to create constantly renewing urban structure? This paper is based on the results of an urban design master studio at KIT and outlines the key findings regarding the urban heritage of Chandigarh. It describes what to be conserved to maintain its character and historic value and which parts might be subject to urban transformation. Based on these findings it presents scenarios on where and how new elements could be introduced to improve the urban fabric and provide adequate answers for the city of the 21st century regarding increased density, new housing, social infrastructure, mix of functions, sustainability and climate protection.