Connaught Place was designed in 1929 by Architect Robert Tor Russel and completed in 1933. It is a circular, white, two-storey structure with muted Classical detailing based on the Classical and Renaissance Style of Europe complete with Palladian pillars and wide verandahs. It was named after Prince Arthur, The 1st Duke of Connaught and third son of Queen Victoria.
The Design
Robert Tor Russell, Consulting Architect to the Government of India from 1919, designed the shops, post-offices, police stations, hospitals and official housing in the new city.
Connaught Place was planned as a commercial hub, a European antithesis to the native, colorful, vibrant and densely populated Chandni Chowk Bazaar. Midway between Old Delhi and the boulevards of power around Raj Path, it was meant to provide a tasteful shopping destination housing the most important restaurants cafes and shops in the new city. The design draws references from the residential street of 30 houses called the Royal Crescent in Bath, England.
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| Aerial view of the Royal Crescent in Bath, England Source: http://ceur-ws.org/ |
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| Source: http://www.stockhillhouse.co.uk/ |
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| Panoramic View of the Royal Crescent in Bath, England Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 |
Why Lutyen's Bungalow Zone?
The design of Connaught Place is often mistakenly attributed to Sir Edwin Lutyens.
When the British Raj shifted their capital from Calcutta to Delhi, Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to plan a new city. He planned the great processional axis of King's Way (now known as Raj Path) and designed the spectacular Viceroy's House, now known as Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Viceroy's House was the supreme symbol of authority with all other buildings designed to respect the order. Though Lutyen's built only four other bungalows in the city, all the work done by architects Herbert Baker and Robert Tor Russell are hence bundled under the name Lutyen's Bungalow Zone.
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| Aerial View of Connaught Place, Source: http://bhardwajme.blogspot.in/ |
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| Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/ |
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| Connaught Place (or Rajiv Chowk) in modern times |
The original site was populated by kikar trees before it was developed as part of the new city.
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| Kikar tree, Source: http://www.fotopedia.com/ |
In Modern Times
Envisioned in 2005, the restoration of Connaught Place finally began in May 2009. The NDMC (New delhi Municipal Corporation) was awarded the same with the budget fixed at 400 crores. Having missed the deadline before the Commonwealth Games in 2010, NDMC officials have now shifted the deadline to April-May 2013.
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| Restoration work at Connaught Place, now slated for completion by May 2013, Source: http://www.thehindu.com/ Photo: V. V. Krishnan |
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