THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF

LUTYENS DELHI

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Image Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/12/29/delhi-journal-the-
Image source: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-lutyens-delhi
 The capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in

Image 1 Image 2

Reasons for the shifting of the capital:

Controversial partitioning of Bengal In 1905 - right to vote between

Bengali Hindus n Muslims.
Delhis geographical position at the centre of northern India (rough
equidistant from Bombay and Calcutta)
Delhis historic importance (Important seat of the Mughal empire) (For
Hindus maharbharata-era city of Indraprastah)
Perceived political need to rearticulate british power.

Image 1 Source: http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?

md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=713
 1911 Foundation stone for New Delhi
at Delhi Darbar
On December 15, 1911, King George V and Queen Mary laid
the foundation stone for New Delhi, at a Darbar under a
purposely built Shah Jahani dome. The message was clear:
the British were the legitimate successors of the
Mughals and their new capital was intended to express the
power of the Raj,just as Shah Jahans capital had expressed
the authority of the Mughals.

Image Source: http://www.iicdelhi.nic.in/publications/uploads_diary_files/491816November112011_IIC

%20Occasional%20Publication%2032&33.pdf
 The initial
design of
New Delhi

Lutyens had initially

designed Delhi with all the
streets
crossing at right angles,
much like in New York.
However, Lord Hardinge told
him of the dust storms that
sweep the landscape in
these parts, insisting on
roundabouts, hedges and
trees to break their force,
Image Source:
http://www.wmf.org/sites/default/files/wmf_article/pg_38- giving him the plans of
Image source: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-
Image source: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-
Intentions of the
Layout:
Lutyens Delhi was planned on the most
spacious garden
The layout city lines
of Lutyens Delhiwith
wasthe great by
governed
avenues decorated
three major with classical
visual corridors, buildings
linking the with
lush landscape.
government complex with :

Jama Masjid
Indraprastha
Safdarjungs Tomb
Image 1

Image 2

Image Source (Image 1 and Image 2): http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-

 Features
1. The plan reflects Lutyens transcendent fervour for geometric
symmetry, which is expressed through amazing sequences of
triangles
and hexagons, through sightlines and axes.
2. Lutyens plan is also
remarkable
for the generous green
spaces,
lawns, watercourses,
flower and
fruit-bearing trees,
and their
integration with
the parks developed
around
monuments.

3. The attempt was to

include all
natural and historical
wonders in
Image Source: http://www.srmuniv.ac.in/downloads/townplaning.pdf the new city.
The Road Network
Besides the major Pathway,
there were extremely wide
avenues. The original
design of the road network
was capable of
accommodating 6000
vehicles, however these
avenues, had the
potential of increasing
their carriageway-the
reason why the road layout
has survived till today.

In general the road network

consisted of diagonals
and radials, at 30
degree/ 60 degree
angles to the main axis,
forming triangles and
hexagons.
Image source: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-
Lutyens Delhi - Zoning
GOVERNME
NT COMPLX

BUNGLOW
ZONE
COMMERCI
AL
DISTRICT
 GOVERNMENT
COMPLEX

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Image source: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-
Image source: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-
 The Government Complex/ Administrative
area
1. Lutyens laid out the central administrative area of the city.
2. At the heart of the city was the impressive Rashtrapati
Bhawan, located on the top of Raisina Hill. The Rajpath connects
India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan, while Janpath, which
crosses it at a right angle, connects South end with
Connaught Place.
3. The Secretariat Building, which houses various ministries of
the Government of India including Prime Minister's Office are
beside the Rashtrapati Bhawan and were designed by Herbert
Baker.
4. Also designed by Baker was the Parliament House, located on
the Sansad Marg, running parallel with the Rajpath.

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Image Source: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1158/changing-image-of-lutyens-delhi
 The Rashtrapati
Bhawan
Lutyen's grandiose Government House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) -
located on Raisina Hill, and one of New Delhi's major thoroughfares,
Rajpath, connects it to the Purana Qila

Lord Hardinge chose the Raisina Hill for

locating the viceroys palace because:

It was a well drained.
Constituted of slopes and
plains between the ridge and
the river.
Its eastern and southern Image 1
margins were studded with
monuments of vanished
empires.A broad crescent
from Shahjahanabad and
Kotla Firoz Shah, south to
Tughlaqabad and the Qutub
with tombs of Safdarjung and
Lodhis as well as Jantar
Mantar in the foreground Image 2
Image 2
could
Source (Image be Image
1 and viewed from the
2): http://www.indiansecretsrevealed.com/rashtrapati-bhavan-trip/
Image Source: http://www.indiansecretsrevealed.com/rashtrapati-bhavan-trip/
 The Secretariat
The Secretariat Building was designed
by architectHerbert BakerinIndo-
Saracenic Revival architecture.
Much of the building is in classical
architectural style, yet it
incorporatedMughalandRajasthan
i architecturestyle and motifs in its
architecture.
Image 1
These are visible in the use ofJali.
Another feature of the building is a
The style
dome-like structure knownof architecture
as
theChatri. used in Secretariat
Building is unique to
Raisina Hill. In front of
the main gates on
buildings are the four
"dominion columns",
given by Canada,
Australia, New Zealand Image 2
Image 3
and South Africa.
Image Source (Image 1 and Image 2): http://www.indiansecretsrevealed.com/secratariat-building-
trip/
Image Source (Image 3):
The Parliament House
The Parliament Hous was designed
byEdwin LutyensandHerbert
Baker.

It was built with indigenous

materials and by Indian labour
and the architecture of the building
bears a close imprint of the Indian
tradition.

The layout of fountains both

inside and outside the building, the
use of Indian symbols, the
"Chhajjas and the varied forms of
"Jali" in marble are reminders of the
story of the craftsmanship displayed
in ancient monuments and
memorials.
COMMON
FEATURES THICK
BAND

http://www.hindustantimes.com/The-Budget-s-journey-
JALIS through-Parliament/Article1-1056413.aspx

BUDDHIST
DOME
THICK
BAND
JALIS

http://monuments-in-india.blogspot.in/2009/12/rashtrapati-
bhavan.html

BUDDHIST
DOME
THICK
BAND
JALI
S
http://www.indiansecretsrevealed.com/secratariat-