The Man Behind the Structures: Raj Rewalโs Architectural Journey
Raj Rewal is a leading Indian architect. He is a distinguished doyen of architecture from India. He has, for long, set global precedents with his urban narratives of design that have been integrally and richly steeped in their contextual inferences.
Early life and education
Raj was born on 24th November 1934 in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. His father, Kewal Krishan Rewal, was a freedom fighter and later served as a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. As a child, Raj Rewal was fascinated by art and drawing, and he was encouraged by his parents to pursue his artistic interests.
Rewal lived in Delhi and Shimla from 1934โ1951. He attended Harcourt Butler higher secondary school. During 1951 to 1954, he attended the Delhi School of Architecture in New Delhi. After completing a degree in architecture in New Delhi, he moved to London in 1955. There he lived until 1961.
He also attended the Architectural Association School of Architecture for one year and the Brixton School of Building, London from 1956-60. GD Goenka University also honour architect Raj Rewal with an honorary doctorate at a special convocation organised by University in India Habitat Centre.
Career
Raj Rewal worked at Michel Ecochardโs office in Paris before starting his practice in New Delhi in 1962. During 1963-72, he taught at the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. He opened a second office at Tehran, Iran in 1974.
His better known projects are
- The Hall of Nations (Hall 6) at the Pragati Maidan Exhibition Centre, it was demolished in April 2017
- Asiad Village Complex,
- National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi;
- The Parliament Library in New Delhi
- NCBS (National Centre for Biological Sciences) campus at Bangalore.
In 1986, he became the curator of the exhibition โTraditional Architecture in Indiaโ for the Government of India organized festival of India in Paris. He also designed an architectural college (SIUPA) in Rohtak, he is the head of members in academic council. In 2018 his drawings and models were added to the New York Museum of Modern Art permanent collection, making him the first Indian architect represented.
Recognition and Awards
- He received Gold Medal in 1989 by the Indian Institute of Architects.
- Robert Mathew Award 1989 by the Commonwealth Association of Architects.
- Mexican Association of Architects award in 1993 for regional values.
- Architect of the Year 1994 Award by J.K. Trust for the design of World Bank Resident Mission building in New Delhi.
- Great Masterโs Award 1995 by J.K. Trust for lifetime contribution to Modern Architecture in the post-independence era in India.
- Lifetime achievement award 2001 by the Institution of Engineers (India).
- IBC award 2002 by the Indian Building Congress for Excellence in Built Environment for Parliament Library building, New Delhi.
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- John Michael Kohler Life Time Achievement Award
Some of his Projects are
- Asian Games Village, New Delhi
- Bio Port, Sohna
- Central Institute of Education Technology, New Delhi
- Cidco Housing, Navi Mumbai
- Coal India Complex, Kolkata
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Headquarters, New Delhi
- Energy Technologies Center, NTPC Limited, Greater NOIDA
- Engineers India House, New Delhi
- Gas Training Institute, NOIDA
- French Embassy Staff Quarters, New Delhi
- Satish Gujral House, New Delhi
- Hall of Nations, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
- Indian Embassy, Beijing (China)
- Jang-e-Azadi Memorial and Museum, Kartarpur, Punjab
- National Brain Research Institute, New Delhi
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, New Delhi
- NTPC Tower, NOIDA
- Parliament Library at Sansad Bhawan, New Delhi
- Rewal House, New Delhi
- Sahu Jain Pavilion, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
- State Trading Corporation building, New Delhi etcโฆ
Books
- Raj Rewal by Brain Brace Taylor
- Raj Rewal Selected Architecture Work
- Library for the Indian Parliament]
- Raj Rewal: Innovative Architecture and Tradition
- Talking Architecture: Raj Rewal in Conversation with Ramin Jahanbegloo
- Raj Rewal : Architecture climatiqu
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