Evolution of the red sandstone Raj Rewal’s way

Red-sandstone came into use for the first time in Rewal’s

projects when he designed the Central Institution of
Educational Technology at New Delhi, in the year 1975. The
building’s façade was predominated with the red-gold with its
evident use in the spouts and the Jalis. The project followed
by this building was that of the State Trading Corporation
Complex, New Delhi where the façade was majorly cladded
with the Dholpura stone and the red-sandstone being used as a
design element. In both these buildings it appeared as if the
architect was exploring the possibilities of the material and
extents to which this material could be exploited.
Till the year 1989, the architect showcased similar use of the
sandstone in majority of his buildings including the SCOPE
Office Complex and the National Institute of Immunology,
both at New Delhi. Hence, by this time, the architect had
successfully established red-sandstone in the exterior facades
within his Office designs as well as the Educational Institutes.
After receiving massive acceptance by the general public, it
was clear that the stone demanded a better translation.
The projects followed by this realization displayed the most
amazing use of the red-sandstone in both interiors as well as
the exteriors of the buildings. Establishing a clear timeline, his
projects till the year 2000 gave grandeur in construction new
parameters when the building interiors unveiled the use of
red-sandstone in the domes, columns, floor finishing’s as well
as the staircases. The exteriors of the buildings also became
richer when the shading device, pavements and projected
balconies encountered the dramatic use of the red sandstone
during this phase. The best examples can be seen his project
of the library for the Indian Parliament and International
Centre for the Genetic Engineering and bio-technology.
Over the next few years the architect managed construction on
similar grounds but also explored other upcoming materials
like Steel and glass extensively. After having laid down the
foundation of his steel construction in the year 1971, the
architect displayed the versatile nature of his material choices
in the construction of some remarkable buildings like the
Metro Bhawan and the World Bank Regional Mission.
These minor disconnections from the red-sandstone
construction challenged the architect into exploring areas
where the use of the sandstone could further be applied. He
soon realized that it were the landscaping elements, planters
and the street furniture where this material could be put into
use. Hence, exploiting the contrasting appearance of the
material against the landscape one could see a beautiful
amalgamation of the nature and built-environment in all his
buildings till now.
Sir Rewal’s buildings are an amazing combination of his
structure, space and light and the architect follows his own
kind of brutalism by exploiting the richness and the true
essence of the red-sandstone as his signature style. An
inspiration to most, Mr Raj Rewal is a revolutionary architect
and a red-sandstone genius.