Born in the middle of unprecedented times in India, The Statesman building is a testament to the truth always coming out, no matter how hard it has been stopped. Sitting on the Barakhamba Road, it is a symbol of sentiment for Delhiites, an iconic building standing as the testament of time.
The Statesman is an English-language Indian newspaper established in 1875 by Robert Knight in Kolkata. The paper was of national importance along with The Hindu and The Hindustan Times. (Adam, 2024) The Statesman was a liberal independent editorial that included opinions of leaders and intellectuals throughout the Indian subcontinent.
The officials wanted to establish its roots in central Delhi around the 1980s. The current building stands 72 metres tall and has three basements which provide parking to the users. It has 17 floors and is centrally air-conditioned. Initially meant for only the officials of The Statesman, today the building is used by multiple companies for their office space.
Delhi’s Iconic Skyline
Having a cult-like following, The Statesman is an iconic landmark in the urban fabric of Delhi. Having been featured in many Bollywood films, it has been repeatedly shown to highlight the protagonist’s journey in the capital or to point out Connaught Place as the leading venue.
Ever since its inception, the building has been an important part of the skyline, it helped define the architecture of the 80’s. Even today, a tour of the city is not complete without a brief view of The Statesman, its sandstone-covered facade, and a shy glimpse into its troubled past.
Road to construction paved with politicians
The statesman had a troubled birth. Because of its blatant vocalness about corruption and comments on the ruling government, its inception was rumoured to have been sabotaged by Satish Sharma and Rajiv Gandhi.
The building stands on the ruins of an old barrack structure. Since 1980 the company had been trying to get clearance to construct the building. But the New Delhi Municipal Committee kept delaying their permission using a neat trick, they would approve the plans fast enough, stamp it with a validity period, and inform The Statesman only a few days before the expiration of the validity period. Exacerbated to his wits end, the company approached the High Court, which then ordered the NDMC to approve the plans. Objections were made which were overruled, thus leading to the birth of the iconic building.
Planning and modelling
With a circular plan at the bottom which reduces into segments of a circle as we move further up, the building has a total built-up of 29,600 metre square. The central void allows cross ventilation into the building and supports a central courtyard which promotes social interaction in the otherwise bustling building.
The building is classified as Grade A with 65% efficiency having efficient metro connectivity via Barakhamba Road. With very minimal architectural data available about the structure, Hafeez Contractor is the architect of the structure.
Despite its age, The Statesman still manages to lure some of the biggest companies towards its office spaces. The classical feel of the building invokes the feeling of the culmination of old times and modern vibes. Till date, it remains one of the most aesthetically pleasing buildings in Delhi.
References:
- The Statesman House (2024), Author
- The Statesman Floor Plans, Floor Plans [digital]
https://www.cbre.co.in/properties/office/details/IN-SMPL-888/statesman-house-barakhamba-road-delhi-dl-110001
- The Statesman Floor Plans, Evacuation Plans [digital]
- https://www.cbre.co.in/properties/flex/details/IN-SMPL-16568/avanta-statesman-house-barakhamba-road-new-delhi-dl-110001
Bibliography:
- Augustyn, Adam. “The Statesman | National, Politics & News | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/The-Statesman Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.
- “Statesman House Building, Connaught Place – Office Space in Delhi.” Office Space in Delhi, 26 Mar. 2020, www.officespaceindelhi.com/statesman-house-building-connaught-place/ . Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.
