URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

FUNCTIONAL AND TEMPORAL

APPROACH
CONNAUGHT PLACE

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CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION

New Delhi or Imperial Delhi was

inaugurated in 1931.

Antithesis of the Old city

The design was intended to

convey the idea of ‘ peaceful
domination and dignified rule
over the traditions and life of
India by British Raj’

Formal Planning

Government, power, order and

control.

Idealized modern life as

visualized by British

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION

Connaught Place
Railway station
India Gate

Rashtrapathi
Bhawan
Secretariat Cathedral
Building

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION

Commercial

Residential

Govt

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION
It was a grand
urban statement
with a central
park,

three circular
avenues,

two concentric
circles of
buildings divided
into blocks,

a double height
public walkway
colonnade in the
innermost circle
and radial roads
to connect the
circles.
Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION

Designed by Russel

Connaught Place was

planned to be
executed as a part of
the Imperial Delhi
construction effort.

However since the British

purse ran out of money
land was sold in parts
pie shaped to
individuals.

The construction was commenced in 1933.

Over the past Connaught Place has been built upon by a range of owners,
tenants and non status occupants.

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

INTRODUCTION

The plan was a two-storeyed colonnaded

structure where the ground floor would be
taken up by commercial establishments while
the floor above would be given over to
residents.

Delhi’s modern elite, the wealthy and powerful

British and Indians who could afford houses in
the area surrounding nearby King’s Way
(modern Rajpath), were the primary patrons
of Connaught Place in its early days

To cater to them, therefore, an array of shops

and establishments opened

Connaught Place initially planned as

residential cum commercial area but in
recent times it hosts purely commercial
activities.
Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE THEN (1961)

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE THEN

The layout of commercial precinct was envisaged as a circle with the

central portion being occupied by a dominant railway terminus.

Administrative and municipal offices the post office, shops and hotel
would be grouped in front of this railway station.

The idea was abandoned due to expense and it was built further north

The buildings were constructed with private investment and blocks were
sold individually.

Progress on building the complex was dependent on investors coming

forward.

The outer ring had large offices and institutions like the statesman paper.

Regal theatre completed in 1932, the building also housed high end shops
and restaurants.

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE THEN

The businesses that opened mostly catered to the elite- luxury watch
brands jewellery and antiquity shops, silk boutiques, Royal Hairdressing
etc.

High-end grocers specifically catering to European culinary tastes, items

like cheddar , cigars and chocolates.

Cafes, restaurants and ballrooms were setup to cater to the elite.

Other services like bookshops, chemist, Doctors office, Architects offices set
up offices in Connaught Place.

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE THEN

“Connaught Place is indeed the most fashionable shopping

center of Delhi, the stronghold of leading business houses,
and the seat of prominent social institutions. “

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE THEN

The commercial spread reached beyond the main blocks of Connaught

Place into nearby areas, Gole Market was constructed in early 1920s.

This had shops selling produce such as poultry, fish and a wide variety of
Grocers

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE THEN

Despite all these it was a relatively quiet place in its early years, since its
main clientele disappeared to Shimla during the summers.

Things changed in 1940 after outbreak of World War 11 when Delhi became
the supply hub of the war in the Pacific, the official population of Delhi
increased due to expansion and addition of government departments to
deal with new functions related to war.

American army officials too were stationed in Delhi, this again led to
flourishing of business in Connaught Place.

New businesses open up to cater to the new crowd , Eg Handmade ice

creams by Kwality

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CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE NOW

After independence there

was a huge rise in population
and this lead to adhoc
crowding of the corridors
and setting up of new
commercial shops.

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CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

CONNAUGHT PLACE NOW

APPROPRIATION

The new businesses were set up in old buildings such as

a) office buildings for British officials.
b) Provision stores to supply barracks during World War became Khan
Market
c) Central cottage industries Emporium was set up by the govt in Office
building for US Officials, ‘Theatre communication building’

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CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 3

CONNAUGHT PLACE NOW

New developments in the fields of arts and culture lead to setting up of new
cultural institutions and cafes became a hub for writers and poets
‘Triveni – classical forms of dance, music and painting started above a coffee
shop here

To cater to the housing needs of the growing population residential colonies

were setup in vacant lands.

When NDMC proposed redevelopment plan for New Delhi the area
surrounding Connaught Place was retained as is. The large plots and low rise
bungalows , wide avenues and distinctive roundabouts.

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 3

CONNAUGHT PLACE NOW

Dramatic high rise buildings coming up in and around the areas which
detract from heritage character of New Delhi s grandest shopping center.

Ironically as growth of business districts was evidenced in the area , the

shopping center itself declined since people were increasingly shopping
closer to homes.

Metro construction around the region also lead inevitably disrupted the
infrastructure.

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CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 3

CONCLUSION

Over the years many business in the region closed and several new ones
have sprung up to cater to the needs of the people.

Connaught Place has managed to reinvent itself to keep pace with

changing times.

It is a great example of an all inclusive public space and it is quite different

from the shopping malls with a lot of green spaces and parks.

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga
URBAN DESIGN MODULE 4

Ar Vijaya Hegde
CONNAUGHT PLACE Ar Deepthi R Adiga