Why is our modern architectural legacy so suddenly and thoughtlessly being consigned to the wrecking ball?
Barely weeks after the news broke that IIM Ahmedabad had issued an expression of interest for constructing new dormitories to replace the iconic structures designed by American architect Louis Kahn, another story appeared. This spoke of the possible demolition of a number of important structures on Central Vista the vast array of Soviet-style bhavans along India Gate. All this while the demolition of Delhi’s Hall of Nations is still fresh in memory.
Why is such important modern architectural heritage suddenly and thoughtlessly being consigned to the wrecking ball? The Central Vista decision, of course, comes in the wake of the new revamp proposed by the government a unilateral idea to replace the entire stretch of 1950s’ structures with a set of sandstone blocks. Contested but uncontestable, the case of the future arena of national pride was fought in court, but its ou
Debate around IIM-A dorms demolition underscores irony of emphasising heritage while ignoring history January 29, 2021 09:57:58 IST
A few weeks ago, the debate amongst architects, as well as the popular press reporting was high on the proposed demolition of a large number of the dormitory buildings at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Ahmedabad. Within a few days, it was announced by the institute s Board of Governers that the expression of interest put out earlier has been withdrawn for the time being and that they would now deliberate on the feedback received, re-evaluate the options .
The IIM-A campus was originally designed by the architect Louis Kahn, a much-reputed figure across the world and very highly regarded in India. Kahn’s design for the large institutional buildings, especially its library and the main plaza, are the iconic images of the campus in many discussions on modern architecture in India; the institution is a kind of pilgrimage centre for a
Saving the modernist architecture of Louis Kahn’s IIM Ahmedabad dormitories
Saving the modernist architecture of Louis Kahn’s IIM Ahmedabad dormitories
Noor Dasmesh Singh (architect, urbanist and principal of award-winning NOOR Architects Consultants based in Chandigarh, India) discusses the threat posed to the dormitories at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Louis Kahn’s modernist architecture
Louis Kahn was invited to design IIM-A in 1962
As a World Heritage preservation controversy brews, the administration at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad (IIM-A), just a short time ago, was set to proceed with its plans to raze 14 out of the 18 dormitories in Louis Kahn’s modernist architecture complex for the Indian school. A row kicked off as the design community and citizens initiated a campaign against the decision of the management. It got support from global organisations and individuals including Pritzker Prize laureates, the Council
Louis Kahn dormitories in Ahmedabad saved from demolition after global protests
Plans to demolish part of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad by architect Louis Kahn have been withdrawn following an international outcry.
The management school s board of governors yesterday announced it had abandoned plans to demolish a cluster of brick dormitories that forms part of the monumental campus.
In a letter announcing the decision, the board of governors acknowledged the impact of global protests against the proposed destruction of 14 of the 18 dormitory buildings. You have sought to remind us that the dormitories designed by Louis Kahn are a cultural legacy and that these buildings are to be seen as an integral part of the ensemble of buildings that constitute the campus, said the letter.
In the wake of the recent controversy erupting around the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad putting up an Expression of Interest (EoI) for rebuilding some of the dormitories designed by Louis Kahn, the business school s board of governors (BoG) is now looking to re-evaluate its options. Writing to stakeholders of IIM Ahmedabad, the Chairman and the board of governors have said that will deliberate on the feedback received, re-evaluate the options, consult the best global conservation and structural experts, and chart out a course of action . We are sensitive to the feedback from some stakeholders who are not in agreement with this approach. We are therefore withdrawing the Expression of Interest that was put out, the IIM-A board s letter stated.