Visvesvaraya Centre

Last updated
Visvesvaraya Centre
Visvesvaraya Tower Bangalore 5-31-2008 4-49-07 PM.JPG
Visvesvaraya Centre as seen from the South-West, on B. R. Ambedkar Veedhi
Visvesvaraya Centre
Alternative namesVisvesvaraya Towers, VV Towers
General information
Architectural style Brutalist
Coordinates 12°58′57″N77°35′45″E / 12.982425°N 77.595785°E / 12.982425; 77.595785
Completed1983
Owner Government of Karnataka
Height85 m (279 ft)
Technical details
Material Concrete
Floor count21
Design and construction
Architect(s) Charles Correa
Other information
Public transit access Cubbon Park metro station

The Visvesvaraya Centre (better known as Visvesvaraya Towers) is a government office complex in Bangalore. The complex was built on the site of the former house of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, after his death, and gets its name from him. [1] Initially constructed for the Life Insurance Corporation, it was later bought by the state government to house government offices.

Contents

Design

The complex was designed by Charles Correa. [2] It features two prominent concrete towers of 22 stories (southern) and 12 stories (northern), connected by a three story podium block. [3] The podium features open air stairs, and was designed to be a public meeting space, with its multi-level roofs functioning as a courtyard. The eastern section of the podium houses a canteen, where the employees in the building have lunch. B. R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Rajbhavan Road and Infantry Road bound the complex on the western, southern and northern sides. In 2021, the Directorate of Urban Land Transport proposed the construction of a public plaza in the southwest corner of the plot, called VV Towers Plaza, facing Police Thimmaiah Circle. The plaza was completed by Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Corporation in 2023, however it was not opened to the public. [4] The plaza featured a public seating area, sculptures and bicycle parking. [4]

Legacy

The towers were constructed in the 1980s, when the Bangalore Urban Art Commission (BUAC), inspired by the City Beautiful movement, insisted on low rise and neoclassical buildings. The brutalist architecture of the towers and the high rise structures stood in sharp contrast to the neoclassical architecture of Vidhana Soudha, Attara Kacheri and the General Post Office. The BUAC considered the buildings an eyesore. The towers also represented a shift in the city's expansion, from urban sprawl to high rise towers, following the lead of the Public Utility Building. [5] In 2001 the BUAC, ironically housed in the towers, was disbanded.

The towers are considered important as they are one of Charles Correa's first major projects in the country. [6]

Present status

The complex is home to various state government departments. The general public is not allowed into the premises, unless they have an appointment at one of the offices.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Plaza (Hong Kong)</span> Supertall skyscraper in Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Central Plaza is a 78-storey, 374 m (1,227 ft) skyscraper at 18 Harbour Road, in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Completed in August 1992, it is the third tallest tower in the city after 2 International Finance Centre in Central and the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon. It was the tallest building in Asia from 1992 to 1996, until the Shun Hing Square was built in Shenzhen, a neighbouring city. Central Plaza surpassed the Bank of China Tower as the tallest building in Hong Kong until the completion of 2 IFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bank of America Plaza (Atlanta)</span> Skyscraper in downtown Atlanta, GA, USA

Bank of America Plaza is a supertall skyscraper between Midtown Atlanta and Downtown Atlanta. At 311.8 m (1,023 ft), as of February 2024 the tower is the 23rd tallest building in the United States, the tallest building in the Southeastern region of the United States, and the tallest building in any U.S. state capital, overtaking the 250 m (820 ft), 50-story One Atlantic Center in height, which held the record as Georgia's tallest building. It has 55 stories of office space and was completed in 1992, when it was called NationsBank Plaza. Originally intended to be the headquarters for Citizens & Southern National Bank, it became NationsBank's property following its formation in the 1991 hostile takeover of C&S/Sovran by NCNB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaissance Center</span> Skyscraper group in Detroit, Michigan, US

The Renaissance Center, commonly known as the RenCen, is a complex of seven connected skyscrapers in downtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. Located on the Detroit International Riverfront, the RenCen is owned and used by General Motors as its world headquarters. The complex includes a 73-story Marriott hotel at its center, surrounded by four 39-story office towers, connected by a large square podium containing public spaces, a conference center, retail stores, restaurants, and a company showroom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UOB Plaza</span> Commercial offices in Downtown Core, Singapore

United Overseas Bank Plaza is a commercial complex that consists of twin tower late-modernist skyscrapers in Singapore. At completion, UOB Plaza One was one of the three tallest in the country, sharing the title with the OUB Centre and Republic Plaza; it is now the second tallest since the completion of Tanjong Pagar Centre in 2016. The building was designed by Kenzo Tange, who was commissioned to undertake several large-scale projects in Singapore in the 1980s, including the adjacent OUB Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Singapore</span>

The architecture of Singapore displays a range of influences and styles from different places and periods. These range from the eclectic styles and hybrid forms of the colonial period to the tendency of more contemporary architecture to incorporate trends from around the world. In both aesthetic and technological terms, Singapore architecture may be divided into the more traditional pre-World War II colonial period, and the largely modern post-war and post-colonial period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cubbon Park</span> Neighbourhood in Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka, India

Cubbon Park, officially Sri Chamarajendra Park, is a landmark park in Bengaluru, located in the heart of the city in the Central Administrative Area. Originally created in 1870 under Major General Richard Sankey, then British Chief Engineer of Mysore State, it covered an area of 100 acres (0.40 km2). Subsequent expansion has since taken place and the park's area is now reported to be 300 acres (1.2 km2). It has a rich recorded history of abundant flora and fauna plantations coupled with numerous impressive and aesthetically located buildings and statues of famous personages, in its precincts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor Phillip Tower</span> Skyscraper in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Governor Phillip Tower, Governor Macquarie Tower and the Museum of Sydney are the main elements of a large development in the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Completed in 1994, the property development complex occupies an elevated site in the north-east area of the central business district. The complex incorporates the site of the first Government House, one of Australia's earliest and most significant sites of European heritage. The address is 1 Farrer Place. Designed by architects Denton Corker Marshall and built by Grocon, at the time of its completion it was regarded as achieving new standards for Sydney commercial architecture in terms of finish quality and design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Festival Centre</span> Theatre and entertainment precinct

Adelaide Festival Centre, Australia's first capital city multi-purpose arts centre and the home of South Australia's performing arts, was built in the early 1970s and designed by Hassell Architects. The Festival Theatre opened in June 1973 with the rest of the centre and the Festival Plaza following soon after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Bayfront Plaza</span> Proposed skyscraper in Miami, Florida

One Bayfront Plaza is a proposed supertall skyscraper in Miami, Florida, U.S. The building, construction of which has been approved, would stand at 1,049 feet (320 m), with 93 floors,[A] becoming the tallest building in Miami and Florida. One Bayfront Plaza would primarily consist of offices and hotel space, but also would include a retail mall, condominiums, and parking garage on the lower levels, as well as possibly an observation deck at the top. The entire project consists of over 1,400,000 square feet (100,000 m2) of Class A office and hotel space, as well as a total building area of over 4,000,000 square feet (371,612 m2) including the large podium. One Bayfront Plaza is the first skyscraper over 1,000 feet (305 m) to be approved for construction in Miami. The building's primary advocate is real estate developer Tibor Hollo, who has won several awards for his 55 years as a developer in Miami, and is currently the president of Florida East Coast Realty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Toronto</span>

The architecture of Toronto is an eclectic combination of architectural styles, ranging from 19th century Georgian architecture to 21st century postmodern architecture and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Park Complex</span> Commercial, Residential in Park Road, Singapore

People's Park Complex is a high-rise commercial and residential building in Singapore, situated in Park Road off Eu Tong Sen Street in Outram, within People's Park and next to Chinatown MRT station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Mile Complex</span> Commercial and residential in Beach Road, Singapore

Golden Mile Complex is a high-rise commercial and residential building on Beach Road in Kallang, Singapore, within walking distance to Nicoll Highway MRT station. The building was formerly known as Woh Hup Complex. Prior to collective sale, the complex contained 411 shops and 500 parking spaces. The building was largely an ethnic enclave for the Thai population in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Concourse</span> Commercial and Residential in Beach Road, Singapore

The Concourse is a post-modern high-rise commercial and residential building on Beach Road Kallang, Singapore opposite Nicoll Highway MRT station. The Concourse is located in Singapore's "Golden Mile", which refers to the strip of land between Nicoll Highway and Beach Road. It was planned by the Singapore Government as a high-rise spine fronting Kallang Basin. The area used to be occupied by squatters and small marine industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Colombia</span>

Colombia's architectural heritage includes Spanish colonial architecture, such as Catholic churches. Its modern architecture represents various International Style architecture. In the postmodern architecture era, a wave of innovate and striking buildings have been designed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Plaza (Singapore)</span> Commercial offices, Residential condominiums in Anson Road, Singapore

International Plaza is a high-rise commercial and residential building at 10 Anson Road in Tanjong Pagar, within the Downtown Core of Singapore, next to Tanjong Pagar MRT station on the East West line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakland City Hall</span> Government offices in Oakland, California

Oakland City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Oakland, California. The current building was completed in 1914, and replaced a prior building that stood on what is now Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. Standing at the height of 320 feet (98 m), it was the first high-rise government building in the United States. At the time it was built, it was also the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. The City Hall is depicted on the city seal of Oakland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RCBC Plaza</span> Office in Makati, Philippines

RCBC Plaza is an office skyscraper complex located in Makati, Philippines. It is home to the offices of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and is composed of two buildings: the taller RCBC Plaza Yuchengco Tower and the smaller RCBC Plaza Tower 2. The taller tower stands at 192 meters (630 ft) from the ground to its architectural top, and is currently the 8th tallest complete building in Makati, and is the 16th-tallest building in the Philippines, while the shorter tower stands at 170 meters (560 ft). At the time of its completion, the complex, as a whole, was considered by its developers to be the largest and most modern office development in the country.

The Bangalore disturbances of 1928, also known as Ganapati Galabhe and Hindu-Muslim Gharshane, were a series of Hindu-Muslim clashes which took place in the city of Bengaluru in June – July 1928 over construction of a niche on a Ganesha idol in a school premises. These were the first major communal disturbances of Bengaluru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taipei Nan Shan Plaza</span> Office building, department store in Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei Nan Shan Plaza is a skyscraper in Xinyi Special District, Xinyi, Taipei, Taiwan. It is the second tallest building in Taipei and the fourth tallest building in Taiwan. As of 2019, it is the 146th-tallest building in Asia and 248th-tallest building in the world. The building was constructed by Nan Shan Insurance, which gives it its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attara Kacheri</span> Seat of the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore

Attara Kacheri in Bangalore, India, is the seat of the principal bench of the Karnataka High Court, the highest judicial authority in the state of Karnataka. It is a neoclassical red-painted stone and brick building in Cubbon Park, located on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Road opposite the Vidhana Soudha. It previously housed the secretariat of the princely state of Mysore and then that of independent India's Mysore State.

References

  1. "An Architectural Gem". India Times. Bangalore Mirror. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  2. "A master architect". The Hindu. 2015-06-18. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  3. Nair, Janaki (2002). "Past Perfect: Architecture and Public Life in Bangalore". The Journal of Asian Studies. 61 (4): 1205–1236. doi:10.2307/3096440 . Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. 1 2 Reddy, Y Maheswara (2023-04-23). "Space Conquest". India Times. Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  5. Nair, Janaki (2007). The Promise of the Metropolis (Paperback ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 222. ISBN   0-19-569044-3.
  6. "Correa will be remembered best for VV towers". Deccan Herald. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2024.