CASE STUDY OF CITY CENTRE AT SECTOR 17, CHANDIGARH

• Chandigarh is the first city post independence designed by Le Corbusier on the basis of grid- iron pattern and the city is thus divided into sectors.
• The unknown fact about the same remains that form base codes are used to create visual aspects of development: building height and bulk,
facade treatment, the location of parking and the relationships of the buildings to the street. It simply focuses on public realm.
• Most of the sectors in Chandigarh neighbourhood centre comprising of residential housing, commercial and other basic amenities like dispensary,
schools etc.
• Sector 17 thus designed as city centre for the entire city.Urban Control in Chandigarh were to operate at three levels, The Periphery, The Master
Plan and Architectural control on 7Vs, city centers and housing (conceived areas include two major V2 roads (Madhya and Jan Marg) the city
center (Sec 17 and Sec.34) and neighbourhood shopping on V4.
FORM BASED CODES IN CITY CENTRE
Form based codes have been designed for Sector -17 for creating architectural character of “City center”, a commercial and cultural hub of city.
There are specific codes for 4 storeyed and 5 storeyed R.C.C building blocks; brick faced building blocks, peripheral blocks, cinemas and
petrol pump.
FOUR STOREYED SHOPS CUM OFFICE BUILDINGS:
A uniform four-story height was established for all commercial buildings. A basic reinforced concrete frame of the most economical bay size
(17’-3") and capable of interior modification was specified. Around the outside of every building block would be a 12 feet wide compulsory
verandah and a unifying exterior pattern of columns and standardized concrete balustrades.
•SHOPS CUM OFFICE (BRICK FACED) BUILDINGS:

These are the buildings which have been built very early and these buildings break the monotonous of RCC buildings of sector -17.
These are 4 storyed structures and each shop has 3 bays i.e. 33’x78’6’. These shops are planned on a grid of 11’x11’ and have 11’ verandah in
front of shop. The shops have only one side frontage and other side opens on service road and parking. The ground floor was designed for shop, 1st
and 2nd floor for shops and offices and 4th floor for residence of essential staff. The height of these blocks is restricted to 48’-9”. There is no
provision of basement but the provision of mezzanine is allowed. This is straight façade with exposed bricks and column and the upper floors have
recessed balconies to create play of solid and void. There is provision of ½ “thick groove on façade to separate each shop visually and the
provision of advertisement is specified.
•PERIPHERIAL BLOCKS (OFFICE AND HOTELS):
 
The peripheral blocks are designed in such a fashion at
inclination to get better view from the main road. On the south
east road i.e Udyog path , the office buildings such State bank of
India building, income tax department, Udyog bhawan creates
interesting view due to specific form based codes in these
buildings and on north west side road i.e. the Himalayan Marg ,
the various hotels such as Taj ,Park etc also create interesting
view due to specific form based codes .

•CINEMA HALLS:
There were five cinema proposed in sector -17 city centre .
The two cinema Neelam and Jagat has been placed on axis of
piazza opposite to each other and their character also remain
more or less same with minor variation . The KC and Anand
were having very different form and being placed on the same
road of jagat cinema. These cinemas are designed through
“Schematic Design” produced by the Capital Project Office .

•PETROL PUMPS:
The two petrol pumps are located opposite to neelam cinema
and other petrol pumps on Madhya Marg. A “schematic design”
proposed by Capitol Project office governed special buildings
such as the petrol pump was also being made.

•SIGNAGES:
No structure shall be constructed to carry on advertisement
except in the area shown on the zoning plan/ architectural
control sheet/ standard design. (Notification dated 22.01.1993
amending Rule -33)
This notification has lost its relevance in modern context and
users of the shops are using different types of methods for
advertisement in the building façade.
• INCORPORATING BUILDING SERVICES
The City Centre building needs new services such as air conditioned spaces, mobile towers, electric wiring etc but there is no provision to incorporate
these present needs of users, so users have done the things as per their conveniences.