Listen "7. The Assembly"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, we explore the Assembly building in Chandigarh. We discuss the evolution of its design, examining how it became the focal point of the Capitol Complex. We also critique the sculptural form of the building and the symbolic significance of the painted enamel door. TIMESTAMPS: 1:07 - Why does the Assembly building seem to be in the centre of the Capitol? Was this always the case? 3:51 - How did the scrapping of the Governor's Palace change the design and significance of the Assembly? 5:58 - Hyperbolic paraboloid connection to cooling towers of thermal power stations in Ahmedabad 9:44 - Assembly as self-conscious structure - the 'bull' metaphor 11:25 - Relationship to the cosmos in the Assembly building 13:47 - Developing a modernist ethics of living 18:10 - The sense of the sacred and divine in the Assembly chamber 24:32 - The roof of the Assembly with the amphitheater and bridge 26:19 - The painted enamel door and its visual concepts 28:43 - Corbusier's fascination with the right angle 32:32 - The 'potato' cutouts as portholes or eyes 34:13 - The presence of the hand and its connection to arts and crafts 36:29 - Chandigarh, democracy and the embodiment of the Nehruvian state as a counterpoint to Lutyens' Delhi.
More episodes of the podcast Story of Chandigarh
10. The Museum Complex
07/03/2025
9. The Open Hand & Other Monuments
07/02/2025
6. The Secretariat
02/11/2024
5. The High Court
02/10/2024
4. The Capitol Complex
01/09/2024
3. The Masterplan
01/09/2024
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