‘Everything in Chandigarh breathes of Le Corbusier’s art’

Japan is one of the participants in the project for Trans-border Nomination of Le Corbusier Urban and Architectural Work to UNESCO’S World Heritage List.

The delegation, which comprises five students apart from Professor Yamana, is on an eight-day visit to the city.

Talking to Newsline at the Government Art Museum and Gallery in Sector 10, Professor Yamana said the Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, built by Corbusier, is the same prototype of those built by him in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. “Our area of research is the comparative study of the three museums. These buildings are categorised as modern heritage as we are putting them to use as well as trying to conserve them,” he said.

Despite belonging to the same prototype, the buildings also have some variations which the delegation will be studying. “We are trying to know how the museum is being utilised and what restoration exercises can be undertaken in Tokyo to retain Corbusier’s heritage. For instance, the reception and the undulatory windows of the museum in Tokyo were demolished a few years ago. We have, therefore, taken their detailed measurements so as to reconstruct them there,” he said.

Other than Corbusier, it is the Indian food that has the Japanese hooked. “The spices and the aroma of Punjabi cuisine are completely irresistible. We have been relishing the food everyday,” says Okawa Hirushi, another student.

Professor Kiran Joshi of Chitkara School of Planning and Architecture says students from the college too will go for an exchange programme to Tokyo to study Corbusier’s work. “Our students will acquire more knowledge about the legend and his work in Japan through the exchange.”