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Habib Rahman

Habib Rahman was one of the first Indian architects to bring modernism to India in the 1950s. He studied under Bauhaus pioneers like Walter Gropius and introduced their principles of simplicity and functionalism to his works in India. Some of his notable projects include the New Secretariat in Kolkata, the University Grants Commission building in New Delhi, which featured a simple box shape and use of jalis and chajjas to incorporate Indian elements, and DakTar Bhawan in New Delhi, with its curved facade and inner courtyard design. He helped establish India's new architectural identity after independence.

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205 views

Habib Rahman

Habib Rahman was one of the first Indian architects to bring modernism to India in the 1950s. He studied under Bauhaus pioneers like Walter Gropius and introduced their principles of simplicity and functionalism to his works in India. Some of his notable projects include the New Secretariat in Kolkata, the University Grants Commission building in New Delhi, which featured a simple box shape and use of jalis and chajjas to incorporate Indian elements, and DakTar Bhawan in New Delhi, with its curved facade and inner courtyard design. He helped establish India's new architectural identity after independence.

Uploaded by

KaushikJain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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• Born in 1915 in Kolkata

• •He was also a classical dancer

• •Did mechanical engineering from Bengal in 1939 and finished


bachelors along with masters in Architecture from MIT in
three and half year in 1944 and became first Indian to study
architecture in America
Habib Rahman
His Works
• •Walter Gropius was one of his professor and influenced by
•New Secretariat, Kolkata 1949 –54
his work he learned the philosophy of simplicity and
functionalism •University Grant Commision, New Delhi 1954

•DakTar Bhawan, New Delhi 1955


• •Due to world war II he was not able to come India so for two
and half years he worked Architects like Konrad Wachsman, •Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi 1961
Ely Kahn, Walter Gropius and Lawrence Anderson
•Zoological Park, New Delhi, 1955-74

• •Practising under them established his identity in newly •Ramakrishnapuram, New Delhi, 1965
Independent India •WHO Headquaters, New Delhi, 1962

•Vikas Minar DDA Office, New Delhi, 1969


INTRODUCTION
• Habib Rahman - One of the first generation architects to bring in
Modernism to India
• 1950s – Post Independence – Political change, cultural ethos of India
• Nehru’s philosophy – drove the nation politically and architecturally
• Nehru was set to embrace modernism as the vehicle to represent
the agenda of the unfolding future
• Habib Rahmn introduced the Bauhaus style in the Indian context
THE USE OF INDIAN ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
•   Jalis
• Chajjas
• Dome
• Overhanging roof
• Horizontal and vertical louvers

New Secretariat, Kolkata Use of jali at Rabindra Mazzar of Zakir Hussain Residential flats,
Bhavan Ramkrishnapuram, Delhi
UGC BUILDING
Aim of the project:
To provide accommodation to house all
the offices of the University Grants
Commission, New Delhi.
 Rahman was inspired from the Bauhaus
ideology and building forms; hence, the
UGC building is much like a box shape in
overall form
 Being a Modernist building, it was
designed for a functional purpose
(classification of spaces being rational)

 Rahman broke the building into two


blocks, to fit the site
• Being true to his modernist roots, he used The columns are either visible as ribs or are free
R.C.C framed structure the grid was simple standing.Free standing columns are rectangular In
and thus, the linear form shape with semi circular ends giving the illusion of
slenderness-heavy structure resting on very little
support

The projected slabs and void space create a floating


effect on the ground floor
• Funds were less- so AC not installed during time of construction; but Rahman
designed the building in such a way that it could later adapt the AC system
The facades were divided into horizontal chajjas n vertical louvers - almost like a skin
protecting the building.

Rather than using the same articulation on back façade of the building, he provided two continuous overhangs
on the windows- this expression was something new that any architect had used during that time - this would
protect rooms from direct sunlight and also help cut down the heat load on ac system Façade detail of front
elevation Façade detail of rear elevation
• Here he has protected the building from extreme climate of the regions by
creating surface of smaller units consisting vertical and horizontal louvers and
hangovers. Closely placed vertical louvers and thin hangovers with cut-outs at
every interval space create the perfect play of mass and void in the façade of
the building.
• Not much ornamentation is done except the
use of concrete jaali. Rather than going
overboard with it, Rahman has used very
limited amount of this expression at few
places - end of corridors and at the ground
floor parking of the North wing.
DakTar Bhavan
NewDelhi,1955
• Designed in 1954 to house the GPO and the
Posts and Telegraphs Directorate, this building
has a facade which follows the curve of
Patelchowk.
• The main lobby level contains the public
postoffice area with one long curved counter.
• The roof of the back section of the building has
open verandas and covered terraces with staff
lunchrooms a library and recreationhall.
• The inner courtyard made it possible for all
offices and cubicles to have their own windows.

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