Capitol Complex at Chandigarh Faces Development Challenges

Abstract

Le Corbusier’s vision for the Capitol Complex as the crown of Chandigarh city nestled in the backdrop of the Himalayas responded well to the aspirations of a modern and independent India in 1948. As recorded by several researchers of modern architecture, the Capitol Complex was strategically designed by Le Corbusier to share an intended visual transparency with its natural setting of the hills and forests in the backdrop. While Chandigarh has expanded to the south-west with the initial designed sectors now giving way to large scale housing structures on the outskirts, the original sectors and the Capitol Complex have, to a large extent, retained their authenticity well in terms of form, color, location and setting.