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A Tale of Two Cities…

April 9, 2013 | David McFadden

… Washington D.C. and New Delhi

The more you travel, the more you realize the similarities between different parts of the world. Each time I visit Washington D.C. it reminds me of New Delhi. So I thought of penning down these similarities and share them on this blog.

To begin with, both are capitals of two democratic nations (U.S.A. and India), that have many buildings housing government offices. The urban scale on which they were built and the urban image that they present, have many strikingly beautiful similarities. These include low-rise structures, tree-lined avenues, round-abouts and plenty of well-maintained green open spaces. In New Delhi Rajpath connects Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate. It provides a strong axis of symmetry with green parks and water bodies on both sides. In Washington D.C. the open space between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington monument is symmetrical with a large water body in the middle and green parks beyond.

The government buildings in both the cities have a regal grandeur created with classical architecture and the choice of the building materials (beige and rust sandstone in New Delhi, white marble in Washington D.C.). Both cities house very elegant memorials in the midst of serene landscapes. New Delhi has Raj Ghat, Shantivan, Vijay Ghat and Shakti Sthal. Washington D.C. has the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial etc.

Well, I am sure there are many more similarities but the most delightful similarity is in the choice of its trees. Both have lovely trees that were thoughtfully chosen and planted. Washington D.C. has Cherry trees with an abundance of blossoms (see above) that attract many visitors. New Delhi has Jamun trees that bear jamun fruits. The suburbs have plenty of Gulmohar (Delonix Regia) and Amaltas (Golden Shower) trees. These are a visual feast with flowers in orange and yellow colors respectively.

Before I wrap up, here is a bit about the Cherry blossom festival in Washington. Its normally from March 27 to April 11. It transforms the outdoors in Washington D.C. into heaven. Cheers to Spring!

Ratna Dalal

Architect | Author | Artist | Blogger

Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning | New Delhi, Washington D.C. | Comments Off

Winners of the 2011 Skyscraper Competition

March 8, 2011 | David McFadden

eVolo magazine has run a tidy little competition for the last five years, inviting architects to innovative new skyscraper typologies. Today, the winners of the 2011 Skyscraper Competition were announced and we’ve got a recycling wind turbine, an energy- and water-harvesting horizontal tower, and a re-imagining of the Hoover Dam.

Jury members included SOFTlab principals Jose Gonzalez and Michael Svizos, architecture critic John Hill, Mitchell Joachim of Terreform One, CarloMaria Ciampoli of Live Architecture Network, and a host of other working and teaching architects (see the full list here).

FIRST PLACE: ‘LO2P Recycling Skyscraper’ by Atelier CMJN (Julien Combes, Gaël Brulé)

“The idea behind this skyscraper is to recycle the old cars and use them as building material for the new structure. The building is designed as a giant lung that would clean New Delhi’s air through a series of large-scale greenhouses that serve as filters. Another set of rotating filters capture the suspended particles in the air while the waste heat and carbon dioxide from the recycling center are used to grow plants that in turn produce bio-fuels.”

SECOND PLACE: ‘Flat Tower’ by Yoann Mescam, Paul-Eric Schirr-Bonnans, and Xavier Schirr-Bonnans

Imagined for medium-size cities where vertical skyscrapers do not fit the skyline, the flat tower is a “new high-density typology that deviates from the traditional skyscraper. The medium-height dome structure is perforated with cell-like skylights that provide direct sunlight to the agricultural fields and to the interior spaces. The dome’s large surface area is perfect to harvest solar energy and rainwater collection.”