The Chandigarh Administration will join hands with technical experts and architects from France for the preservation of Capitol Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A high-level delegation comprising officials from France based Fondation Le Corbusier and French Embassy are on a visit to Chandigarh to finalize an agreement in this regard.
The French delegation comprising Brigitte Bouvier, Director, Fondation Le Corbusier met UT senior officers on Monday and were apprized about the restoration process and conservation measures taken by the Administration to restore the decades old heritage buildings in Capitol Complex to its original glory.
A presentation was given by the UT Engineering Department to inform the French delegation about the progress made so far regarding the restoration of heritage buildings. The delegation also visited various sites in Capitol Complex, Sector 1 here to examine the restoration work.
The Capitol Complex is part of the group of 17 sites - across seven countries (France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Argentina, Japan and India) - designed by Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier which were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.
The Fondation Le Corbusier had earlier assisted the Administration in drafting the dossier submitted before UNESCO in 2016 for the nomination of World Heritage status for Capitol Complex.
After meeting UT senior officers, Brigitte Bouvier, Director, Fondation Le Corbusier while talking to The Pioneer said, “The purpose of the visit of French delegation is to examine the progress of restoration work of heritage buildings in Capitol Complex designed by architect Le Corbusier”.
“Architects and technical experts are part of the French delegation. We plan to collaborate with the Administration to provide expertise in preserving these heritage buildings,” she said.
More meetings will be held to explore the avenues for collaboration and signing of a formal agreement in this regard, she added.
Mukesh Anand, Special Secretary-cum-UT Chief Engineer said, “During their week-long visit to the city, the French delegation will review conservation works executed for heritage buildings and give their recommendations.”
The delegation includes technical experts who have undertaken restoration works of decades old heritage buildings across the world, he said.
The Administration will also inform the delegation about the unfinished projects of Museum of Knowledge and the Martyrs’ Memorial in the Capitol Complex, Anand said.
Notably, the UT Engineering Department is undertaking steam cleaning for restoration of decade old buildings in the Complex. Other methods have also been employed for the restoration work.
The buildings of the Capitol Complex were inaugurated in the period 1953 to 1968. The main buildings in Complex are the Secretariat complex, the Legislative assembly complex and the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The 'Open Hand' monument, the symbol of Chandigarh, is also in the Complex.
As per the operational guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the Administration has to submit its yearly report by December this year to the UNESCO elaborating about preservation measures and any new construction at the heritage site and its buffer zone.
The Administration had last year given approval to new constructions in the Complex and its buffer zone.
The approval was given to the expansion plan of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which included construction of G +1 (ground plus one floor) for setting up judicial branches and lawyers chambers and G - 3 parking (three-floor underground) near Rock Garden.