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Building for the 21st Century
Several of the larger diplomatic representations, I find, are busy expanding or planning to build more spaciously to meet the demands of a greater travelling public in the 21st Century.
The Japanese, taking advantage of the spacious grounds of The Laurels in Chittaranjan Road, are building offices and additional residential accommodation in the gardens of the Consul-General's house. The house itself, a model of art deco architecture designed by an English architect for A.M.M. Arunachalam, was built in 1946/47 with its owner and Eric Coe of Richardson & Cruddas supervising every bit of the work to ensure the highest quality. That association led to the founding of Coramandel Engineering in 1947 by the two of them and A.M.M. Murugappa.
Later to become part of the TI Group, Coromandel Engineering was responsible for building such landmarks as the LIC building and TIAM House. The Land Ceiling Act led to Arunachalam building a new home in part of The Laurels property and selling the house he built to the Japanese. They, it is hoped, as they build in its grounds and renovate the Consul-General's house, will not change the architectural style of the 1930s and 1940s The Laurels so strikingly reflected.
Another diplomatic campus where considerable building activity has got underway is the U.S. Consulate General at Gemini Flyover. Apart from giving the interior a facelift, expansion is being planned in the tree-shaded lawn at the Cathedral Road end — with protection promised for the magnificent central tree there. But will all this expansion see the Consulate-General's auditorium buzz with activity again as it had a few years ago, before the State Department got its hands on the USIS? And if it does, will even a modicum of parking be once again available?
Meanwhile, plans have been drawn up for another property, which the U.S. Consulate General has an interest in, the American School that now functions in three places, including the Russian Cultural Centre. The School has got land from the Tamil Nadu Government in Taramani, designs have been prepared and tenders for construction will be announced shortly.
Designs have also been drawn for an expanded British Deputy High Commission office on the site of the present office, at one end of the Cottingley property in Anderson road. When this office was a built a few years ago, the MMDA had refused permission for it as it was to be raised in an area earmarked for residential use only. A Chief Secretary, not keen on creating diplomatic waves, persuaded the MMDA to use its discretionary powers and the building came up — only to have not too long life span. Work is likely to start on its more spacious replacement towards the end of next year.
The fourth set of plans drawn up is for a permanent home and office for the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner.
A garden house has been bought in Sterling Road and as soon as the new Government settles in, in Colombo, the documents will be finalised and the building on the site brought down. The newly arrived Sri Lankan DHC, the youthful looking Sumith Nakandala — whom many have mistaken for someone still in college! - hopes that the plans for the new building will reflect traditional Sri Lankan architecture. Will we get a better touch of Geoffrey Bawn in Madras than what's seen in the Connemara?
When all this work gets completed in the next couple of years, I only hope all of it will be architecture visible to the public and not hidden behind high walls.
S. MUTHIAH
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