WORKS OF RAJ REWAL

With primary case studies

An approach to architecture in the 80s that countered PLACELESSNESS and LACK OF MEANING
CRITICAL REGIONALISM

Raj Rewal emphasized on topography, light

and climate rather than scenography

Critical regionalism seeks architectural traditions deeply rooted in local conditions

that results in intelligent and appropriate architecture
 Raj Rewal has some things in common with his
contemporaries such as BV Doshi, Achyut Kanvinde- broken
up forms, open courtyards, sociable living and working
environments.

He has dealt largely with areas of similar climate such as

Delhi and Jaipur, which are hot and dry .

The main problem of critical regionalism is to

seek answers to the question of Paul Ricour:
"How to be modern and to continue the
tradition, how to revive an old dormant
civilization as part of universal civilization."
 The state trading corporation tower , in the heart of new delhi built in 1976, uses
a structural concept as the basis of architectural form.
Rewal has tuned the external wall of alternate floor into special beams with holes
in its sides, called a vierendeel girder. Windows are placed in the little holes that
the beam allows.

Figure 1: View of State trading corporation tower, new delhi.

http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html
LIVABLE SPACES
Along with being structurally innovative, Rewals housing and institutional
complexes have a greater impact on India's modernism.
He stacked apartments so that the upper floor footprint was a shifted by a module
with respect to the lower floor, giving the upper floor their own terraces.

Also creating gateways over pedestrian spaces for gatherings. This model has been
replicated by DDA in Vasant Kunj 1980- onwards.

Using the principle of traditional architecture in Rajasthan, such as projecting

upper floors, jali walls, sandstone and RCC for cladding.

Engineer's housing, new Delhi

British high commission housing, new delhi
ASIAN GAMES VILLAGE,
NEW DELHI - 1982
To house athletes for the Games.

500 housing units were designed as

a group housing in 35 acres.

In the Asiad Housing, the urban

pattern of Jaipur and Jaisalmer has
been explored.

A network of streets and squares

with vehicular access at either end of
the site, its morphology resembles a
traditional village.

Figure 1: View of Asian Games Village

http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html
 Dining complex which is now used as a
recreational and community centre.

Figure 2: Layout Plan of Asian Games Village

http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html

There is a sequence of open spaces,

interlinked with narrow pedestrian streets.
Figure 3: View of Asian Games Village
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Asian_Games_Village.html
The streets become spaces for encounter
The cubic solids and voids are
between people and the squares offer a characteristic of the Indian urban
sense of neighbourhood. fabric.
 The terraces formed on the
upper storeys provide for a
semi- private space.
Reminding us of the
characteristics of the
houses in Jaisalmer.
Figure 4: Section
http://identityhousing.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/raj-rewal-asian-games-
village-new-delhi-1980/

The central squares form a

community space for the
housing units.

Figure 5: 3-D view from top

http://identityhousing.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/raj-rewal-asian-games-
village-new-delhi-1980/
 Entrance gateways
with linked upper
terraces punctuate
the sequence of
courtyard and
Figure 3: Axonometric view
garden spaces.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Asian_Games_Village.html

The streets are consciously broken up

into visually comprehensible units, often
with gateways, so there are pauses, point
of rest and changing vistas.

The central spine of the layout is

reserved for pedestrian courts and
streets of various clusters.
 SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING - 1982

Low-rise high-density
scheme for 550 units

Designed on the basis of

self-financing scheme for
Delhi Development
Authority.

The site design is based

on the system of streets
and chowks of
traditional housing areas
in Rajasthan.

Vehicular movement
and parking is on the
periphery.

Figure 4: Site Plan

http://www.rajrewal.org/projects/housing-asian.htm
Figure 5: View of the pedestrian pathways from one of the community Figure 6: Terraces formed for the upper floors
squares http://www.rajrewal.org/projects/housing-asian.htm
http://www.rajrewal.org/projects/housing-asian.htm

Provides for interlinked square of varying scales for community activities.

The pedestrian and vehicular movement are segregated.

All the units have been provided with courtyards or roof top terraces involving an
aesthetic and volumetric play of spaces.

The structure is of reinforced concrete with brick in fill walls. The finish is of rough cast
plaster giving it a uniform but appealing texture.
 HALL OF NATIONS,
PRAGATI MAIDAN - 1972
Built for exhibition purpose, the
main pavilion has a clear span of 78
m, and a height varying from 3m to
21 m.
Hence providing space for a variety
of exhibits ranging from books to
bulldozers.
Built of reinforced concrete, its the
first construction of its kind in India.
Each of the halls was conceived as a
full pyramid, and the truncated from
supported on 8 points, was adopted
to avoid unnecessary construction.

Hall of industries is a group of Figure 1: top view of hall of nations and hall of industries
smaller pavilions enclosing a central http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html

area by ramps for open air exhibits,

toilets and other services under the
ramps.
 The plan of these pavilions is a square with
chamfered corners, providing eight
anchoring points.
A special 9 membered joint was evolved for
pre cast construction.
The hall of nations is supported on pile
foundations tied together with post
tensioned plinth beams, and the hall of
industries rests on spread footings tied
together with high tensile steel bars.

Figure 2: truncated view of hall of nations

http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Raj_Rewal.html
PARLIAMENT LIBRARY, NEW DELHI
Rewal decided to sink part of the library
underground, leaving two of the four floors above
ground. The terrace of the library aligns with thefirst
floor level of the Parliament building.
The plan of the building is inspired by
precolonial Indian architecture such as
the magnificent Taj Mahal, with its
square base and symmetrical
composition.
THANK YOU

GAGANDEEP KAUR
VANDANA