Ahmedabad has a rich history in textile trade from years back. Shortly after independence to escalate the textile industry, Swiss architect Le Corbusier was commissioned by the president of the Mill Owners’ Association to design the organization’s headquarters in Ahmedabad. With the vision of Modern India, Le Corbusier delivered a modern architectural masterpiece that now sits in the city’s heart.
Mill Owners’ Association Building, also known as ATMA House, was the first of four buildings Le Corbusier commissioned in Ahmedabad. With his sensitive and creative approach to the city’s context and climate, he developed a new set of architectural elements to address the requirements. Let’s delve into this legacy building in detail through the blog.
Le Corbusier was a legendary Swiss architect and city planner, whose designs revolved around functionality and bold expressions. He was one of the pioneers of modern architectural style. The first president invited him to India to design the city planning of Chandigarh, and the mayor of Ahmedabad commissioned him to design four buildings. Reflecting the futuristic vision for the city, Corbusier was set to fulfill it.
In 1951, when the Mill Owners’ Association proposed setting up its headquarters in Ahmedabad, Le Corbusier aimed to build a masterpiece that resonated with the city’s climate and surrounding context.
While designing the building, Corbusier considered the user group’s cohesive, collaborative nature. Therefore, the building was required to cater to private and public activities. Following this ideology while constructing in a warm climate, Corbusier introduced certain design elements in the building.
The ATMA House is located between Ashram Road on the west and Sabarmati River on the east side. With ample open space around it, the Mill Owners’ Association Building embraced a distinctly modern aesthetic, free from urban constraints.
Corbusier introduced Brises-Soleil, also known as perforated screens or louvers, while designing Mill Owners’ Association Building. He incorporated these louvers on the west facade of the building to prevent harsh sunlight from entering. This innovation was inspired by Indian vernacular architecture.
Corbusier designed the louvers in the west to be diagonally oriented and combined with thick concrete walls. This is to obstruct street views while letting indirect light and air enter the building. Here, the facade incorporates planters, allowing the splash of green to enter through the louvers. While on the eastern side of the building, the louvers are perpendicular letting in the cool river breeze in and unhindered views of the river.
Contradictory to its stark exterior facade and rigid grids in the form, the interior is more inclined towards curvilinear shapes. As, it features slender circular pilotis, convex, and concave volumes. Therefore, as one moves inside the building, one experiences the intersection of curvilinear and orthogonal planes. A conference room enclosed by curved walls and ceiling that holds a reflecting pool above, which Le Corbusier had hoped to utilize as a roof reservoir.
The entrance is led by a ramp extending from the parking to the building opening the indoor views as one approaches. The projected staircase between the main facade and the central atrium conducts the primary circulation. By taking the circulation core in the outer facade, the indoor space is open floorplates.
Le Corbusier blended reinforced concrete and brick in the construction of the Mill Owners’ Association Building, integrating modern engineering methods with elements of traditional construction. Therefore, this thoughtful selection of materials not only emphasized structural innovation but also paid homage to regional building practices, reflecting the architect’s holistic and context-sensitive approach to design.
Mill Owners’ Association Building—now an iconic landmark—was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016. Thus, ATMA House is a symbol of the post-independence modernist movement of Indian architecture. The building stands testament to Corbusier’s design philosophy and timeless elegance now, which one can consider a Building Legacy—a legacy that keeps on inspiring generations to come.
Content Writing And Research By: Ar. Rajvi Dedakiya
Located close to the historically-rich South Indian city of Mysuru, Solum embodies the endeavour towards living simply and close to nature. The client hails from a business background and yet harbours a fondness for the modesty and simplicity of an agrarian lifestyle. The young entrepreneur had always dreamt of developing a full-fledged farm self-sufficient in […]
Adorn, a home filled with earthen design and the laughter of a family of four, nestles in the peaceful neighborhood of Selvapuram, Coimbatore. “On one side, it shares boundaries with cozy family homes; meanwhile, the other side opens to expansive fields dotted with tall trees.” The fresh air scented with greenery sets a calming atmosphere […]
What if the simplest object in your home could turn into a design icon? Tectona Grandis Furniture and The Architects’ Diary come together to introduce the Chair Affair. This is India’s first-of-its-kind furniture design competition that dares architects and designers across India to rethink the most essential piece of furniture – the Chair. Beyond function, […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]
Aangan is a modern residence that seamlessly integrates with the lush environment of Kerala, showcasing a tropical home design. Designed to embrace the region’s warm climate, the house features a striking sloped terracotta roof at varying levels, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The structure is enveloped in a vibrant tropical landscape, adorned […]
Types of roof materials in India depend on the diverse climate and varied architectural styles. Each of them caters to specific needs, preferences, and environmental conditions. From traditional thatched roofs in rural areas to contemporary green roofs in urban landscapes, the evolution of the types of roofing materials reflects both cultural heritage and modern technological […]
The door design for main door is a defining feature of any Indian home, embodying both style and cultural significance. In a country rich with diverse architectural traditions, the entrance to your home reflects not only personal taste but also cultural heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate carvings of traditional Indian door designs or […]
Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]