Parliament Library, New Delhi

Aniruddh Jain 10110006Jha Ashutosh S. 10110029

Project Details

Client: Lok Sabha Secretariat, GOI Architect: Raj Rewal Associates, New

Delhi Structural Engineer: CPWD, GOI Contractor: L&T Ltd., ECC Construction

Division Built Area: 60’460 m² Cost: INR 270 crore Design 1993 - 1994 Completed 2003

Raj Rewal

• Raj Rewal was born in Hoshiarpur, Punjab in1934.• School of arts in Delhi for 6 months before joining School of

Architecture in Delhi.• AA London for post graduation.• Gold medallist IIA ’89 | Robert Mathew Award by CWAA

Philosophy

• Le Corbusier Inspired.• Inspired by the Rasa theory.

• Raj Rewal believes that contemporary architecture should take advantage of all the most advanced technologies that modernity has to offer. However this does not stop him from taking from traditional everything that can hold value.

History

• 1921 small library constructed in Central Legislative Assembly

• Parliament building an appendage as earlier Viceroys house was the authority center

Design Requirements

• The Library was expected to be ‘apt for the 21st century’ (Eapen 2002, 144) while also complementing the majestic heritage from the British.

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How were the architects chosen?

• A limited competition for the new addition to India’s Parliament was organised by the government in 1989

• The winner, announced in 1991, was the renowned architect Raj Rewal, author of many prominent works throughout India

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Functional requirements

Library functions – a main reading; AV library, research and computer divisions; conservation laboratory; archival room with temperature below freezing pointParliamentary functions – the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (BPST), Library Committee Room, Parliament Museum; Media, press briefing roomMeeting halls - 1,100-seat auditorium

Surroundings

Parliament

• NeoColonial Indian Architecture• Designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in the first

half of the 20th century, the city plan includes India Gate (War Memorial), Rajpath (parade route), and the Rashtrapati Bhavan

Architectural influences

• Adinath Temple, Ranakpur

Architectural influences

• Adinath Temple, Ranakpur

Architectural influences

• Adinath Temple, Ranakpur

• Mandalas

Architectural influences

• Datia Palace, MP

• Adinath Temple, Ranakpur

• Mandalas

Architectural influences

• Datia Palace, MP

• Adinath Temple, Ranakpur

• Mandalas

• Taj Mahal

Architectural influences

• Datia Palace, MP

• Adinath Temple, Ranakpur

• Mandalas

• Taj Mahal

• FINALLY

• The sub-structure of the Library makes use of innovative foundation systems based on diaphragm walls that go to a depth of 14 metres below ground.

Structures

• The structure of standard floors is a reinforced concrete frame system with coffered concrete slabs, supported by circular reinforced concrete columns

Structures

• There are five types of structural lattice, each designed to carry a cluster of shallow bubble domes made of lightweight concrete. Spanning five metres each (less in the auditorium), these domes are precast shell structures in fibro-cement, termed ‘fibre-reinforced concrete’ (FRC)

Structures

Columns are mostly concrete, except for the detached steel columns around the building’s periphery. The basic infill materials are brick and glass brick

Structural lattices are essentially made of tubular elements, with a combination of steel tubes, solid and hollow steel castings. Volumetric space lattices on larger spaces have high tensile bars in addition

Materials

The ingredients of the FRC shell domes, all precast on site, include steel fibres, cement,aggregate, reinforced steel, micro-silica fumes, blast furnace slag, super plasticiser and water

The glass dome over the Focal Centre is made of stainless steel pipes of different diameter and curvatures.

Materials

Planning

Planning

PlannIng

PlannIng

South-west courtyard with amphitheatre, surfaces clad in red and white sandstone.

South-west courtyard with amphitheatre, surfaces clad in red and white sandstone.

South-east courtyard, view towards the dome of theVIP entrance facing the Parliament’s colonnade.

Design Aspects

Lights

Jalis

Use of handcrafted stone grills, or jalis. In precolonial Indian architecture, jalis were used for decoration and to separate the outside from the inside, to diffuse the harsh sunlight, and to visually and audibly connect two spaces while physically separating them.

Jalis

Roofing

Roofing

Continuity and Change

Continuity and Change

Interiors

Comparison

JFK Library - 1979

Comparison

US Library of Congress

Comparison

Salt Lake City Public Library - 2003

Comparison

Stockholm Public Library - 1928

Comparison

Vancouver Public Libraries

Critiques

Fissures on a Toad’s back!

Light Changes are annoying.

Grand Atrium causes noise pollution from inside.

Analysis

Everything Copied

Analysis

Objects don’t fit in together