The architecture of a city tells many stories. Similar is the case with Delhi, the Indian capital, that has a history dating back centuries. It has embraced multiple and diverse cultural influences and has been a site of political importance and an urban centre since the eleventh century.

Architecturally, modern Delhi is very different from historical Delhi, as different rulers - Sultans of Delhi, Mughal Emperors, colonial and postcolonial governments introduced their architectural styles to the city. The present face of Delhi has evolved through time and has taken cultural influences from the various societies that resided in it. As a site of a built environment, each culture and context has led to Delhi becoming a mosaic of architectural influences.

The earliest architectural influence was Islamic during the Delhi Sultanate period. The well-known structures from this period include the Qutub Minar and the Alai Darwaza. A confluence of two different cultural contexts and practices came together - the architectural concepts suited to religious ideas of Islam while, the craftsmen involved in construction were local Hindus. These structures introduced pointed arches which were not seen in Indian/Hindu architecture till then. The buildings thus presented a fusion called Indo-Islamic architecture.

The architectural style of the Mughal period had elements like the engraving and carving details on the surfaces with inlaid stonework and tile work. The focus was on decorative architectural features. It was grandiose architecture with delicate ornamentation. This is evidently observed in Jama Masjid, Humayun's Tomb and Red Fort. These have features like  the large bulbous onion domes, the use of white marble and red sandstone, delicate ornamentation work and large buildings surrounded by gardens on all four sides. With time, Mughal Architecture was Persianized.

After becoming the British capital of India with George V laying the foundation of New Delhi, colonial architecture dominated. The emphasis shifted to building forms like bungalows, churches and government buildings. The British invited Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker to design the government buildings.The city was planned by Lutyens and thus came to be known as Lutyens’ Delhi. Working from 1912 to 1931 Lutyens forged a new style of architecture for the city, combining the neo-classical with accents borrowed from India’s Mughal and Buddhist past. Post-Independence, the planning of Delhi was based on the Western style infused with Indo-Islamic Architecture. Also, modernist architecture became prevalent in Delhi after the influence of Le Corbusier.

As the foregoing description indicates, there are glimpses of different architectural elements at different sites of Delhi, but the architecture of Central Vista presents a striking concentrated mosaic of architectural styles. Planned by Lutyens, the main devices used were - an axis, a processional route (King's way/Rajpath) in the middle; gardens flanking the two sides; a focal point and a termination point.

The plan had influence from the European classicism (constructive and geometric) and Garden City principle. At the same time, Lutyens borrowed freely from Indian architectural elements using them to create a contextual continuity. The first among the Indian architectural elements at The Central Vista is the Chattri, which is a cupola like structure that accentuates the sky line. Innovative detailing using Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic elements are abundant in these buildings.

In addition to the Chhatris, stone trelliswork, Chajjas (sun-shaded balonies) supported by stone brackets, characteristic door and window details, cornices and mouldings are executed in combinations of red and pink sandstone. There is a consistent use of sandstone, a local material, with the visually heavier red stone at the base of buildings and lighter pink stone on the upper parts. This is another dominant factor that lends visual cohesion to the entire group of buildings.

The warm hues of stone complement the vast green background in Central Vista. Water is used as a landscape element - as was used by the Mughals in Mughal Gardens. Two large fountains placed symmetrically below the office blocks mark the beginning of water bodies that flank Rajpath on either side. These are less than a metre deep and terminate near India Gate with another two symmetrically placed fountains. A small water body surrounds the chhatri further east of India Gate, axially placed on the Vista.

Thus, Delhi is one of the oldest cities of the world which has absorbed and manifested multiple influences from the rulers and dynasties in distinct periods. Existing individually or in combination, the amalgamation of  these influences  has offered the city a unique character. This has led to the city of Delhi becoming a rich  site which exhibits  a mosaic of architecture styles. 

Article by : Pun: chat Team

Dr. Vandana Talegaonkar, Ar. Nisha Parikh & Ar. Anushka Juneja