The most remarkable thing about this new monograph of historic images of the construction of Chandigarh is just how contemporary everything feels, from the washed out colours of the prints to the stark concrete forms rising above dusty plains.
The pictures were taken in 1956 by the Swiss photographer and publisher Ernst Scheidegger for a book that never materialised; now, over half a century later, the publishing house he founded in 1962 has finally compiled a monograph to chronicle the birth of this remarkable city.
Chandigarh was not nearly as well publicised as its contemporary, Brasilia, which had its own magazine as well as the attention of the world. As von Moos notes in his introduction, Chandigarh's 'public buildings were never part of a nationwide marketing effort on a scale or of a scope comparable to that bestowed upon Brasilia'.
Instead, Chandigarh emerged rather more organically. The book is part scrapbook, part monograph, with sketches and memoirs from Corbusier and his co-architects Drew and Fry, as well as the pencilled mock-up of Scheidegger's original publication.
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 84-85. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 77. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 92. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 101. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 102. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 166. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 169. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
’Chandigarh 1956’ by Ernst Scheidegger. Page 199. Copyright Ernst Scheidegger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
-
The Lighthouse draws on Bauhaus principles to create a new-era workspace campusThe Lighthouse, a Los Angeles office space by Warkentin Associates, brings together Bauhaus, brutalism and contemporary workspace design trends
-
Extreme Cashmere reimagines retail with its new Amsterdam store: ‘You want to take your shoes off and stay’Wallpaper* takes a tour of Extreme Cashmere’s new Amsterdam store, a space which reflects the label’s famed hospitality and unconventional approach to knitwear
-
Titanium watches are strong, light and enduring: here are some of the bestBrands including Bremont, Christopher Ward and Grand Seiko are exploring the possibilities of titanium watches
-
Ten contemporary homes that are pushing the boundaries of architectureA new book detailing 59 visually intriguing and technologically impressive contemporary houses shines a light on how architecture is evolving
-
Take a deep dive into The Palm Springs School ahead of the region’s Modernism WeekNew book ‘The Palm Springs School: Desert Modernism 1934-1975’ is the ultimate guide to exploring the midcentury gems of California, during Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 and beyond
-
Meet Minnette de Silva, the trailblazing Sri Lankan modernist architectSri Lankan architect Minnette de Silva is celebrated in a new book by author Anooradha Iyer Siddiq, who looks into the modernist's work at the intersection of ecology, heritage and craftsmanship
-
'Tropicality' explored in Indonesian architect Andra Matin’s first monograph'Tropicality' is a key theme in a new book on Indonesian architect Andra Matin, whose work blends landscape, architecture and living
-
‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a lovingly compiled photographic portrait of cars and architecture‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a celebration of the European Car of the Year and changing perceptions of modern design, pairing the best buildings of the age with their automotive contemporaries
-
Álvaro Siza’s new monograph through the lens of Duccio Malagamba is impactful and immersiveÁlvaro Siza and photographer Duccio Malagamba collaborate on a new monograph by Phaidon; ‘Before / After: Álvaro Siza Duccio Malagamba’ celebrates the Portuguese architect's work
-
Marcio Kogan’s Studio MK27 celebrated in this new monograph from Rizzoli‘The Architecture of Studio MK27. Lights, camera, action’ is a richly illustrated journey through the evolution of this famed Brazilian architecture studio
-
‘Interior sculptor’ Christophe Gevers’ oeuvre is celebrated in new book‘Christophe Gevers’ is a sleek monograph dedicated to the Belgian's life work as an interior architect, designer, sculptor and inventor, with unseen photography by Jean-Pierre Gabriel
