C 5 The Open Hand
The Synthesis of Arts at Chandigarh
In 1950, Le Corbusier was invited by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, to design the city of Chandigarh as the new capital of the state of Punjab. After the division of India in 1947, Nehru wanted to create a modern, efficient, and people-centered city that embodied the ideals of an independent India: order, progress, education, development, and reform.
Le Corbusier took on the challenge of developing the masterplan for Chandigarh and designing the most important government buildings. He incorporated his vision of a modern city, including the division of the city into zones with various functions. However, he distanced himself from his earlier vision of serial high-rise buildings.
Le Corbusier’s cousin Pierre Jeanneret assumed primary responsibility for implementing the plans on site. Le Corbusier designed buildings for the parliament, the secretariat, and the courts in Chandigarh’s government district. Pierre Jeanneret realized numerous civil structures, including residential buildings, schools, and hotels.
In Chandigarh, Le Corbusier realized his vision of a synthesis of the arts, in which he combined architecture, design, and urban planning. He was also responsible for the interior design of the buildings, which included monumental tapestries. At the center of the city stands the “Open Hand,” a monument designed by Le Corbusier that has become a trademark of Chandigarh – and a kind of signature by the artist-architect.