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PIERRE JEANNERET

CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

HOUSE TYPE 4J
House number 57 of the 4J typology
of government housing by Jeanneret
was his home for the period between
1954-1965
while
work
for
the
Chandigarh project was underway.

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

JEANNERET HOUSE
PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

Jeannerets preference towards rubble


masonry over exposed or plastered
brickwork stands on proud display at
his former home.
The intensely private character that
his houses display is best observed
here, with the massive porch and side
wall of raw stone that hinder any
intrusion into the home, yet seem to
embrace the house protectively with
their gentle curved profiles.

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

JEANNERET HOUSE
PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

The house was carved out of a cuboid


with rectangular areas of plastered,
white lime washed surfaces contrasting
with perforated brick screens.
The compact duplex structure used
minimal circulation area to achieve
segregation
between
private,
semi
pribvar=te and service spaces. Each
room opened into a garden, verandah or
terrace intelligently placed. The roof
terrace
was
used
for
open
air
activities.

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

JEANNERET HOUSE
PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

JEANNERET HOUSE
PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

JEANNERET HOUSE
PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

JEANNERET HOUSE
PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

JEANNERET HOUSE
PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

RESIDENCE FOR MS. NIRLEP KAUR


HOUSE NUMBER 33, SECTOR 4
PLOT AREA
4100 SQM.
COVERED AREA
900 SQM.

Commissioned by Ms. Nirlep Kaur, then a


prominent MP in Punjab, the Sector 4
residence was completed by Jeanneret in
1961.

MS. NIRLEP KAURS HOUSE

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

PRIVATE RESIDENCES
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

Commissioned by Ms. Nirlep Kaur, then


a prominent MP in Punjab, the Sector
4
residence
was
completed
by
Jeanneret in 1961.
The simplicity of the front faade
hardly prepares one for the dramatic
experience of stepping into the house
itself. The subdued and private front
of the house is set to guard the
cheerfully bright and large communal
space at the heart of the house that
extends over both floors and opens
out to the large rear yard with its
iconic pool, said to be the first in
the city.

MS. NIRLEP KAURS HOUSE

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

PRIVATE RESIDENCES
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

Designed 1923-1925 as a residence


for Swiss banker Raoul La Roche,
Villa Roche is the quintessence
of Le Corbusiers modern approach
to housing.
The Villa acted as an exhibition
space for Mr. Roches collection of
avant-garde artwork, and is a pure
assemblage of spatial volumes that
interlocks the dual programs of
home and gallery.

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

MS. NIRLEP KAURS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

1. the subdued frontage. 2. concrete sun shades to the


west. 3. concrete jaali. 4. the rear faade

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

MS. NIRLEP KAURS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

VILLA LA ROCHE, PARIS


Designed 1923-1925 as a residence
for Swiss banker Raoul La Roche,
Villa Roche is the quintessence
of Le Corbusiers modern approach
to housing.
The Villa acted as an exhibition
space for Mr. Roches collection of
avant-garde artwork, and is a pure
assemblage of spatial volumes that
interlocks the dual programs of
home and gallery.

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

VILLA LA ROCHE, PARIS


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

VILLA LA ROCHE, PARIS


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

MS. NIRLEP KAURS HOUSE

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

PRIVATE RESIDENCES
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

RESIDENCE FOR GAUTAM SAHGAL


HOUSE NUMBER 32, SECTOR 5
PLOT AREA
3420 SQM.
COVERED AREA
540 SQM.

Gautam Sahgal bought his piece of land n


August 1953 for the sum of Rs 22,218, and
was directed to complete the construction
of a residential unit on it within five
years.
The Sahgal home was designed as a duplex
unit with public spaces and service areas
on the ground floor, and bedrooms on the
upper floor. These were arranged in a
single row oriented towards a view of
Sukhna
lake
and
the
hills
in
the
distance.

GAUTAM AND NAYANTARA SAHGALS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

The functional and aesthetic value of


the house arises from the imaginative
regard for the whole house as a kind
of abstract sculpture.
Its most dramatic feature was a ramp
connecting the ground to the first
floor from the entrance, a bold design
statement, setting off the black
terrazzo floors and white painted
walls. The rooms reached by a ramp
from the entrance seem to be hollowed
out spaces unfolding into each other
in ever-changing patterns.
A shallow pool (built against Gautam
Sahgals wishes) separated the two
wings of the house.

GAUTAM AND NAYANTARA SAHGALS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

Jeanneret arrives small, bald, with fringe of


longish white hair at base of skull. Bow tie, bellbottom trousers.
You and me combat? he asks. I assure him no
combat. Then why this here? This is Ranjits
chest-expander lying on stool, which I assure
Jeanneret is not preparation for combat. We study
ramp. Gautam gives alternative solution which he had
propounded two nights earlier when he, I, and Shiv
returned from Bill Mathulas dinner. Solution: Wall
to break up hall. Lower half of ramp to be replaced
by staircase. Solution presented by Gautam as mine.
Jeanneret
aghast.
Pronounces
it
architectural
imbecility.Le ramp est le ramp! Cannot be half
stair, half ramp! Adds: Le ramp est signature of
house! Adds: This no bourgeois conception like
every other house of staircase. Says Gautam: My
wife thinks entrance dominated by ramp resembles
airport. Jeanneret burst out: But airport one very
modern building! I venture to say airport inside
house rather inconvenient. Feel I am culprit as
Gautam declares he loves ramp. Argument back where
we started.
Anokha (so named by Nehru) was built with Nayantara in mind, but she was
far from happy with its design. She disliked the ramp intensely, said it
made her feel as if she were in an airport, and complained about the
sheer impracticality of the whole house. But Anokha had its pluses
too: the children loved it, the garden was a pure pleasure, and the
views were spectacular.
She listed the houses absurdities: it assumed its owners great
wealth, the presence of a retinue of servants, and high maintenance
miles of black floors and glass doors and windows. She decided to beard
the lion in his den and speak to Jeanneret about a compromise solution
to The Ramp.

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.

We repair to drawing room to resume drink, then


again
to
corridor
to
study
ramp.
Le
ramp
majestique! One beautiful view of whole corridor
upon entrance, says Jeanneret. Much discussion, at
end of which Jeanneret says, Only for you will
think of syst`EAme. But very difficile. Must keep la
v`E9rite. I agree. So grateful that Jeanneret will
think of syst`EAme that I invite him to soup and
salad on 9th. The ramp stayed.

GAUTAM AND NAYANTARA SAHGALS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

RESIDENCE FOR MRS. I D OBEROI

HOUSE NUMBER 22, SECTOR 5


PLOT AREA
2600 SQM.
COVERED AREA
640 SQM.

Originally designed for the family owning


the Oberoi chain of hotels, the house
currently lies in the ownership of Mr R K
Garg, a local industrialist.
While the interior of the house was
treated
more
lavishly
in
terms
of
specifications,
the
exterior
is
essentially low key with liberal use of
red sandstone and exposed brick. The
dramatic
triangular
porch
is
a
beautifully
dramatic
element
employed
here.

MRS. I D OBEROIS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

As in the case of Nirlep Kaurs house, the


central zone was assigned to the living
room which opened into a swimming pool set
within the rear garden. The pool was
further connected via a free standing
staircase to a roof garden.
While the bedrooms were set along the
southeast,
the
kitchens,
garage
and
servants rooms were placed in a separate
zone in the northwest. Each bedroom had a
private
verandah
oriented
towards
the
hills.

MRS. I D OBEROIS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

RESIDENCE FOR MR. P L VARMA


HOUSE NUMBER 28, SECTOR 5
PLOT AREA
3700 SQM.
COVERED AREA
490 SQM.
Gautam Sahgal bought his piece of land n
August 1953 for the sum of Rs 22,218, and
was directed to complete the construction
of a residential unit on it within five
years.
The Sahgal home was designed as a duplex
unit with public spaces and service areas
on the ground floor, and bedrooms on the
upper floor. These were arranged in a
single row oriented towards a view of
Sukhna lake and the hills in the distance.

MR. P L VARMAS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.
4.

PIERRE JEANNERET
CONTRIBUTION TO THE URBAN FABRIC OF CHANDIGARH

Gautam Sahgal bought his piece of land n


August 1953 for the sum of Rs 22,218, and
was directed to complete the construction
of a residential unit on it within five
years.
The Sahgal home was designed as a duplex
unit with public spaces and service areas
on the ground floor, and bedrooms on the
upper floor. These were arranged in a
single row oriented towards a view of
Sukhna lake and the hills in the distance.

MR. P L VARMAS HOUSE


PRIVATE RESIDENCES

COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP
UNIVERSITY OF BEZALEL | CHANDIGARH COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE.
4.

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