The New York Museum of Modern Art added drawings and models by Raj Rewal to its permanent collection in 2018, marking the first time an Indian architect achieved this inclusion. Born in Punjab in 1934, he developed a practice that spans state-scale civic megastructures, educational campuses, and residential complexes across India, shaped by local climate, specific planning laws, and complex funding environments.
Early Education and Career Beginnings
Rewal spent his childhood years between Delhi and Shimla. He attended Harcourt Butler higher secondary school before enrolling at the Delhi School of Architecture in 1951. After completing his degree, he moved to London in 1955, where he studied at the Architectural Association School of Architecture and the Brixton School of Building until 1960. Before establishing his own firm in New Delhi in 1962, he gained professional experience at the Paris office of Michel Ecochard.
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The architect maintained a prolific output, notably including the Hall of Nations at the Pragati Maidan Exhibition Centre in New Delhi, which stood until its 2017 demolition. Other significant projects include the Asiad Village Complex, the National Institute of Immunology, the Parliament Library at Sansad Bhawan, and the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore. In 1974, he expanded his operations by opening a second office in Tehran, Iran.
Academic and Institutional Recognition
Beyond his design practice, Rewal served on the faculty at the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi from 1963 to 1972. He curated the 1986 exhibition 'Traditional Architecture in India' during the Festival of India in Paris. His contributions to the field have been documented in multiple publications, including 'Raj Rewal: Innovative Architecture and Tradition' and 'Talking Architecture: Raj Rewal in Conversation with Ramin Jahanbegloo'.
Honours and Awards
Throughout his career, Rewal has received numerous distinctions, including the 1989 Gold Medal from the Indian Institute of Architects and the 1995 Great Master's Award from the J.K. Trust. The French government awarded him the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2005, followed by the Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2024. He also holds an honorary doctorate from GD Goenka University.
Fast facts
- Born: 1934, Punjab
- Citizenship: India
- Primary Education: Delhi School of Architecture, Architectural Association School of Architecture
- Practice Established: 1962, New Delhi
- Notable Demolished Work: Hall of Nations, Pragati Maidan
- Major Recognition: Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
- Academic Tenure: School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi (1963-1972)
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of the Hall of Nations project?
The Hall of Nations was a major exhibition structure located at the Pragati Maidan Exhibition Centre in New Delhi; it was demolished in April 2017.
Which international museum holds his work?
In 2018, the New York Museum of Modern Art added his drawings and models to its permanent collection.
Achievements
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- Trained at Architectural Association School of Architecture
