AHMEDABAD

AHMEDABAD CITY

Ahmedabad , the former capital of Gujarat, traditionally a major center for industries as well as commerce, was also called the Manchester of India’ on account of its textile industry. It is the seventh largest city in India, the largest of Gujarat and also its commercial capital. It is Located on the banks of the River Sabarmati

CITY GROWTH:

The history of Ahmedabad stretches as far back as in the  11^th century and linking it self with old towns of Ashaval and Karnavati about 1000years ago. In the year 1411 AD, Sultan Ahmed Shah built citadel and encouraged development of trade and commerce. In 1456 AD,an enclosing well was constructed defining a periphery to the city –limits. The city within this wall got structured into wards, organized by 12 main roads each terminating at a gate in the wall.

With the coming of the railway around 1860, development began to spill over towards the northeast and southeast of the walled city. This also resulted in the industrial and residential development across the western side of Sabarmati River. Construction of 5bridges accelerated these development .But by and large the industrial development has remained  concentrated on the  eastern side and the walled city has continued to grow in density due to incorporation of fringe areas into the city limits.

ARCHITECTURE OF AHMEDABAD:

Ahmedabad is often called the Mecca of architecture in India. And not without reason. The master of modern architecture, from Bernard Kohn, Louis Kahn and Le Corbusier to Charles Correa and Achyut Kanvinde not only worked here but has also left an enduring legacy of their buildings. Above image shows mill owner’s building of Le corbusier(top left), shodan house done by Le corbusier (Le Corbusier), Gandhi labour institute done by B.V.Doshi (bottom left) and IIM done by Louis Kahn (bottom right).Even today some of the most widely respected Indian Architects hall from this city including Bal Krishna Doshi, Kamal Mangaldas, Louis Perrier and Bimal Patel. Besides, Ahmedabad is home to one of the most respected architecture schools: Center for Environment Planning and Technology.