Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Project / Hospital Project

[Raj_network]

It was earlier proposed that the Secretariat building would be 20 floors in height but it has now been reduced to eight floors.

FOR Old aged MLAs!

[Indian Sun]

Originally Posted by Raj_network

It was earlier proposed that the Secretariat building would be 20 floors in height but it has now been reduced to eight floors.

FOR Old aged MLAs!

this is sad....wont they be having elevators or escalators or something...???!!!!!

[Subra]

Originally Posted by Indian Sun

this is sad....wont they be having elevators or escalators or something...???!!!!!

The height reduction is not due to old aged MLA's. It was felt that the 20 storey structure will obstruct and dimnish the view of dome structure behind it. That is what I read as the reason in one of the news article.

[seaaur]

let it be any damn reason, just like to know why there is no proper futuristic plan before consolidating some projects. We are to be blamed for elevating these old age brats as the MLA and so on.

[Rasnaboy]

Originally Posted by Subra

http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/09/stor...0950380100.htm

It was earlier proposed that the Secretariat building would be 20 floors in height but it has now been reduced to eight floors.

Why the heck they tantalize people, especially skyscraper enthusiast? Let them first decide and then announce.

Sad to let go of a rare 20-storied project...

[arshyam]

20 to 8 floors....Hmmm...

That is a drastic cut in office space for our bureaucrats. They have to make do with 60% less space. How are the designers compensating for this? Is the floor space increasing for the building?

This reduction seems more to do with MK's feeling about visibility of his architectural legacy than any hard figures based deduction. I mean, initially they wanted a 20 storey secretariat, and now only 8. What was the projected demand earlier and has that changed now? Where are the figures? Will they then build another building in the future to accommodate more people (at a greater cost)? I am interested in knowing since these building will be funded out of our taxpayer pockets, a fact people forget .

And our media just conveys such news to us without asking these questions...

[Fusionist]

Originally Posted by arshyam

20 to 8 floors....Hmmm...

That is a drastic cut in office space for our bureaucrats. They have to make do with 60% less space. How are the designers compensating for this? Is the floor space increasing for the building?

This reduction seems more to do with MK's feeling about visibility of his architectural legacy than any hard figures based deduction. I mean, initially they wanted a 20 storey secretariat, and now only 8. What was the projected demand earlier and has that changed now? Where are the figures? Will they then build another building in the future to accommodate more people (at a greater cost)? I am interested in knowing since these building will be funded out of our taxpayer pockets, a fact people forget .

And our media just conveys such news to us without asking these questions...

You do raise some interesting questions. There certainly needs to be more transparency. I however think it has more to do with ineffective PR mechanism rather than any hidden agenda, but then again it could all be about poor management. Hard to tell at the moment.

[arunmani]

We should try to compile a contact information list for the PWD or other organizations and offices tasked with projects of interest that get discussed in the threads. That way we can start contacting them email or phone to find information.

Even if they don't want to respond initially, with persistence we can make them respond.

[Keeran]

Legislative Assembly Complex

The edifice for a country’s legislature is both iconic and a cynosure. Capitol in USA, Reichstag in Germany, Westminster in England, Lok Sabha in Delhi and Vidan Soudh in Bengaluru are illustrative. Tamil Nadu too will get it in two years and all look forward to it.

To go with a buildings are two other indispensable. The supporting secretariat and sprawling grounds or park surrounding the complex or adjacent to it. Can one think of Westminster without Whitehall, Lok Sabha without North and South Blocks or Vidan Soudh without the secretariat. Tamil Nadu also planned an appropriate secretariat of 20 storeys. With one stroke of the pen it’s height was reduced to 8 stroyes with no mention of the floors space. Presumably the floor space is a reduction of 60% from what was originally envisaged. The reason cited is understandable. However, the floor space computed after due deliberation needs to remain unchanged. It is believed that two blocks will replace one. The legislative complex along with landscaped gardens should be completed at one stroke. The precincts of the supreme legislature cannot become a construction site intermittently.

As important as the Secretariat is a large park. Theevu Thidal is ready at hand for magnificent development. What TN needs is the sense for it. How many such vast spaces strategically located, have a river circling them? Hope the legislative assembly, two blocks for the secretariat , Theevu Thidal as a park and Couvam to add beauty are taken up as a single composite project. Over an year back , a forummer posted a well thought out plan, excellent as a first draft to be duly developed. If a German firm noted for a perfect job, can do a turnkey , mid- course deviations may not be interminable and the time line will not be eternity. One is prompted to ask this question having seen in recent times the vicissitudes surrounding this project . “Ennith thunika Karumam” “ponder well before embarking on a project “, is the wisdom of Kural.

[Raj_network]

Keeran,

Whenever you post something or any thing, please give us the source link. Without link, your postings will be taken into consideration as it is your own voice and views!

gud work, keep it up..

[Keeran]

Raj,
I wish to clarify that my posts are off my own bat. The thought and word are mine and they derive from personal study an reflection. Thanks for the suggestion and may I say that I appreciate your posts which are quite frequent.

Thanks,
Keeran

[ramvaradan]

Originally Posted by Keeran

Legislative Assembly Complex

The edifice for a country’s legislature is both iconic and a cynosure. Capitol in USA, Reichstag in Germany, Westminster in England, Lok Sabha in Delhi and Vidan Soudh in Bengaluru are illustrative. Tamil Nadu too will get it in two years and all look forward to it.

To go with a buildings are two other indispensable. The supporting secretariat and sprawling grounds or park surrounding the complex or adjacent to it. Can one think of Westminster without Whitehall, Lok Sabha without North and South Blocks or Vidan Soudh without the secretariat. Tamil Nadu also planned an appropriate secretariat of 20 storeys. With one stroke of the pen it’s height was reduced to 8 stroyes with no mention of the floors space. Presumably the floor space is a reduction of 60% from what was originally envisaged. The reason cited is understandable. However, the floor space computed after due deliberation needs to remain unchanged. It is believed that two blocks will replace one. The legislative complex along with landscaped gardens should be completed at one stroke. The precincts of the supreme legislature cannot become a construction site intermittently.

As important as the Secretariat is a large park. Theevu Thidal is ready at hand for magnificent development. What TN needs is the sense for it. How many such vast spaces strategically located, have a river circling them? Hope the legislative assembly, two blocks for the secretariat , Theevu Thidal as a park and Couvam to add beauty are taken up as a single composite project. Over an year back , a forummer posted a well thought out plan, excellent as a first draft to be duly developed. If a German firm noted for a perfect job, can do a turnkey , mid- course deviations may not be interminable and the time line will not be eternity. One is prompted to ask this question having seen in recent times the vicissitudes surrounding this project . “Ennith thunika Karumam” “ponder well before embarking on a project “, is the wisdom of Kural.

I wish for the 'cynosure' to be a representative of our own tradition & of our unique style of architecture. Not to deny any modern amenities etc .. we could impart all that yet not giving up on our historic values.

Of all the structures risen in the capital, one would think that this is the most central & focal landmark.. and its a pity that we are resolute on resorting to the western building styles.

How about a spatial planning akin to Raja Raja Chola era's or roof design matching a miniature of 'Aayiram Kaal Mandapam' or a dome design rip-off of hundres of classic Gopurams ? Why are we so fixated about floating tenders to foreign architects who do an excellent job of creating their own footprint ... without any sensitivity to locale ? Its OK even to go ahead and try some interesting cross breeds of time past, present and future .... Does'nt even have to be stuck in the past. But this drooling attraction towards anything foreign is not healthy not in the sense of just of 'parochial' regionalism but it curbs our creativity.

[Raj_network]

Originally Posted by Keeran

Raj,
I wish to clarify that my posts are off my own bat. The thought and word are mine and they derive from personal study an reflection. Thanks for the suggestion and may I say that I appreciate your posts which are quite frequent.

Thanks,
Keeran

Good deal!. letz jump into ground and rock!!

[Raj_network]

CHENNAI: Four companies have submitted their bids for the State government’s prestigious project of building the Assembly-Secretariat complex on Government Estate.

They are Larsen & Toubro, Consolidated Construction Consortium, ECCI and Shapoorji Pallonji and Co.

The bids were opened on the evening of September 5. Though the Public Works Department had made a provision for submission of tender documents online, all the bidders presented their documents manually.

Estimated to cost Rs. 200 crore, the project is likely to be completed by 2010.

At a function to mark laying of the foundation stone for the project three months ago, Public Works Minister Durai Murugan said the 2010-2011 State budget would be presented from the new complex.

For constructing a modern State Library, six companies – Consolidated Construction Consortium, ECCI, Shapoorji Pallonji and Co., Engineering Project India, B.E. Billimoria and Co. and B.G. Shirke Construction Technology – have submitted bids.

The cost of the project is around Rs.120 crore, of which the Local Library Authority and the government will plough funds in the ratio of 80:20. This project is also likely to be completed by early 2010.

Two-cover bid system
In the case of the two projects, the two-cover bid system was followed. Those who clear the technical bids will qualify for price bids. The contract for the two projects is likely to be finalised in a month, an official said.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/09/stor...0960610800.htm

[Raj_network]

http://tenders.tn.gov.in/innerpage.a...wd17484&work=1

it says

Tender Value (INR if not mentioned): Rs 2,90,00,00,000/-

cost increased guys??

[Keeran]

Ramavaradan,
Some observations on your comments:

If there is one area in human activity where there can be as many judgments as there are people, it is the field of architecture. There is no correct selection or a wrong one. The choice of architectural design derives from a person’s taste and sense of beauty. A building that is exquisitely chaste will rivet our attention. It is elevating to the soul. The Taj Mahal, Bhahai temple at Delhi and Madir mandir at Auroville are examples. Rashtrapathi Bhavan, and Lok Saba together with the layout of Delhi metropolis are a tribute to Lutyens, Baker and the British. Chandigar is Le Corbusier’s contribution to India’s cityscape. It was perhaps Nehru’s legacy to Punjab to serve as a model to the cities of India. The Bhahai temple symbolizing a white lotus of 27 petals is the admirable work of a Persian architect. Madir Mandir is mother’s vision. German design and execution did justice to the concept. All of them plumbed new ground. They are a departure from the indigenous and India is the richer by them.

The Tamils have marvels from Mahabalipuram to Velur. They course through Rameshwaram, Madurai, Chidamparam, Thiruvannamalai, Tanjore, Srirangam and Auroville, to name a few. They are unmatched in temple architecture and sculptural excellence. The temptation to graft a salient feature from them onto the modern may result in the incongruous.

Tamil Nadu and her principal cities are on the threshold of an ultramodern future. All new constructions have to last a century or two. At least a billion square feet of floor space will be delivered in the next quarter century. They will comprise public buildings, office buildings, commercial structures and residential property. The best among them will be adequate to compose the template for future buildings, a few decades from now. A merciless tearing down of the crumbling structures and a relentless pursuit of the modern will bring the cities of Tamil Nadu on par with the best in other countries. It is quite rational if Tamil Nadu is not weighed down by the lack luster past.

The word drool applies perfectly only to the laceration of Tamil. The use of English along with Tamil(45% Tamil+55%English) has given birth to ‘Tamilish’-the frankenstein monster. It’s an iron in the soul. For the legatees of a classical language- oldest living language-it is heart rending. One of the finest literatures that any ethnic entity would wish for. One does not know of a single linguistic group in the whole of humanity that has an addiction for the use of English words. Such a frailty is FIXATION. Great will be the day when Tamils turn purist in spoken and written Tamil.

There are a thousand flowers the world over. Tamil Nadu can have her pick. Tamils would wish to benefit from the best of them all. To my mind, modern architecture of the west and from the far east is superior. Little wonder that Singapore has opted for the best. How great Tamil Nadu will be when she becomes a microcosm of the world in architecture.

[satishanu]

Keeran, It is Matri Mandir not Madir Mandir(shown in red below) in Auroville that was founded by Mother in 1968.

Originally Posted by Keeran

Ramavaradan,
Some observations on your comments:

If there is one area in human activity where there can be as many judgments as there are people, it is the field of architecture. There is no correct selection or a wrong one. The choice of architectural design derives from a person’s taste and sense of beauty. A building that is exquisitely chaste will rivet our attention. It is elevating to the soul. The Taj Mahal, Bhahai temple at Delhi and Madir mandir at Auroville are examples. Rashtrapathi Bhavan, and Lok Saba together with the layout of Delhi metropolis are a tribute to Lutyens, Baker and the British. Chandigar is Le Corbusier’s contribution to India’s cityscape. It was perhaps Nehru’s legacy to Punjab to serve as a model to the cities of India. The Bhahai temple symbolizing a white lotus of 27 petals is the admirable work of a Persian architect. Madir Mandir is mother’s vision. German design and execution did justice to the concept. All of them plumbed new ground. They are a departure from the indigenous and India is the richer by them.

The Tamils have marvels from Mahabalipuram to Velur. They course through Rameshwaram, Madurai, Chidamparam, Thiruvannamalai, Tanjore, Srirangam and Auroville, to name a few. They are unmatched in temple architecture and sculptural excellence. The temptation to graft a salient feature from them onto the modern may result in the incongruous.

Tamil Nadu and her principal cities are on the threshold of an ultramodern future. All new constructions have to last a century or two. At least a billion square feet of floor space will be delivered in the next quarter century. They will comprise public buildings, office buildings, commercial structures and residential property. The best among them will be adequate to compose the template for future buildings, a few decades from now. A merciless tearing down of the crumbling structures and a relentless pursuit of the modern will bring the cities of Tamil Nadu on par with the best in other countries. It is quite rational if Tamil Nadu is not weighed down by the lack luster past.

The word drool applies perfectly only to the laceration of Tamil. The use of English along with Tamil(45% Tamil+55%English) has given birth to ‘Tamilish’-the frankenstein monster. It’s an iron in the soul. For the legatees of a classical language- oldest living language-it is heart rending. One of the finest literatures that any ethnic entity would wish for. One does not know of a single linguistic group in the whole of humanity that has an addiction for the use of English words. Such a frailty is FIXATION. Great will be the day when Tamils turn purist in spoken and written Tamil.

There are a thousand flowers the world over. Tamil Nadu can have her pick. Tamils would wish to benefit from the best of them all. To my mind, modern architecture of the west and from the far east is superior. Little wonder that Singapore has opted for the best. How great Tamil Nadu will be when she becomes a microcosm of the world in architecture.

[ramvaradan]

Keeran

My post might have sounded as a purist's point of view. But the objective was far from it. It has survivalist underpinning.

The adulation of the western designs is almost unanimous and that is NOT the bone of my contention. My gripe is that we have not attempted to promulgate our own way of doing things or re-kindle the lost soul of the past. This does not mean necessarily to renege to the old or archaic styles. Importing ideas and not churning some of our own, in my opinion, is the quick-sand to the turbulent hell of lost identity.

Singapore does look glossy and shiny, but the social and cultural milieu resonated well to embrace it. While I've felt chill-down-the-spine visiting and being in awe of Singapore ... I've also felt proud of my own milieu, whether in Koyambedu Sandhai or Mylapore Ther-adi. There is much to be desired in health & hygiene, but we seek the best of 2 worlds. So what if I hope to have the cake and eat it too.

Much as your understandable chagrin towards the laceration of Tamil, it is painful that we've stagnated in the realm of architecture over the past few centuries producing or even consuming much less of anything significant. I think it is not too much to ask for good 'ol public servants to think out-of-the-box and do something special in making it an exquisite cultural expose rather than an imported specimen of fashion contest. After all, they are building the courtyard for the elected folks to reign... What better place & time to sow some seeds of renaissance ? And, to take a cue from the west --most of the assembly buildings in western states have a clear symbolic styles not the glittery looks. Lets follow them after all !!

[Arasu]

It is my understanding that Ramvaradan aspired for the local architectural underpinnings only for the would be iconic Legistlative Assembly building in order to relfect the architectural and cultural history of TN. I don't think that he desired all the cities and buildings in TN to include/incorporate the local designs.

[ramvaradan]

Originally Posted by Arasu

It is my understanding that Ramvaradan aspired for the local architectural underpinnings only for the would be iconic Legistlative Assembly building in order to relfect the architectural and cultural history of TN. I don't think that he desired all the cities and buildings in TN to include/incorporate the local designs.

Yes, that alone was my point. It would be a step-back in the civilization for anyone to suggest to ignore western designs as a soceity. On the other hand, if the govt. were to spend tax-payers money to raise a landmark purported to stand as a cynosure for the eons to come, then it might as well be an end-product of our own creativity --past or present or futuristic impressions. The trend is really coming a whole circle, the old-fashioned gets space-warped in time to be rejuvenated or rehashed. How many of us really enjoy eating in a simple Udipi/Kaiyendhi Bavan rather than the 4-5 star hotels ... The frills and thrills are luring at best but the classic substance is what really fits the bill.