Dr. Avnish Jolly, Chandigarh, 6th October, 2008 : The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM, today inaugurated Le Corbusier Centre, Chandigarh in Sector 19, the work place of founder architect and his team.
It may be recalled that General Rodrigues visited this historic building, last year and asked the senior officers of the Chandgiarh Administration to renovate it and display the entire record by retrieving letters and the correspondence by Le Corbusier from different quarters, for use by researchers and students of art and architecture.
Sharing his vision with the architects, planners and professionals on the occasion, General Rodrigues said that there is a need of conducting a research based structural study by experts to throw light on the original concept and vision conceived by Le Corbusier, for undertaking this challenging job. He ordered for constitution of a multi-disciplinary team, of eminent experts, for this Project and emphasised that the endeavour must focus on establishing linkages of the conceptualization of the City, the old civilization of Harappa and the Indus Valley and its relevance to futuristic needs. He said that various aspects must be studied, as to how Le Corbusier conceptualized the planning of the City and how he proceeded with his visualized dreams, to make Chandigarh a symbol of the past and a hope for the future.
General Rodrigues said that Le Corbusier and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru visualized Chandigarh to be a dynamic & Vibrant City and we have to revalidate our approach and strike a balance between the old and the modern City, the symbol of Resurgent India in view of the changing needs of our people. He wanted this Research Center to work on creating a concept, covering different facets of Le Corbusier’s legacy and suggest ways and means for maintaining the architectural concept and basic character of the City, along with carrying out the process of growth and development, to match the changing global scenario.
The Administrator, accompanied by senior officers including Mr. Ram Niwas, Home Secretary, Mr. M.P. Singh, Secretary to Governor, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Finance Secretary and Mr. Vivek Attray, Director Tourism went around the different sections of the Research Center and took keen interest in the exhibits including plans, models, paintings, manuscripts, drawings, photographs, sculptures and documented information material displayed in nine rooms and exhibition hall. During interaction with the consultants, he emphasized that this Institution must act as the Custodian of Le Corbusier’s heritage and should be a repository of preserving his legacy and creation of the world famous architect.
Mr. V.N. Singh, the Nodal Officer of the Research Center, while explaining the objective of the center said that this Center has three sections comprising museum & display gallery, research & publication and Administration. The projects and components are: conservation of the old Architects’ office in the manner of an authentic resource that can be used for disseminating information about the experimental aim of Modern architecture of Chandigarh; establishment of a well-organised information/Interpretation Centre for dissemination of knowledge regarding the history and heritage of Chandigarh; preservation of various small-scale artifacts of ‘Movable Cultural Heritage’ such as furniture, furnishings, fittings etc ; preservation of archival resources; establishment of a research, documentation and publication centre on the Modern Heritage of Chandigarh and establishment of the ‘Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Cell’ for monitoring the conservation activity within the City.