For an architect, it is always a great achievement if his creations are imprinted in the minds of the people. This kind of feat was achieved by Architect Pradeep Sachdeva when he designed iconic public spaces like The Garden of Five Senses and Delhi Haat. An alumni of IIT-Roorkee, he was an expert in designing public spaces and giving an urban outlook to the heritage precincts while retaining their soul, Ar Sachdeva left for heavenly abode during the early hours of May 31st, 2020 due to heart attack. Surfaces Reporter (SR) feels it is a great loss to the Indian Architecture Fraternity, a void which cannot be filled.
A trailblazer in true sense
He was a man who gave public spaces a new meaning as his spaces rediscovered the Indian roots through the local crafts and indigenous materials and bringing them to the urban setting. An unconventional design approach and bringing alive some of the most mundane sites is one of the biggest quality of his works.
One of his most famous creations, Delhi Haat at Aurobindo Marg, the food and crafts Bazaar has emerged as one of Delhi’s most loved urban leisure spaces.
Designed to be a public spaceit is a platform for showcasing regional crafts and food of India.
The popularity of the space is such that every state in the country wants to emulate at least one Delhi Haat in their city.
He had also received National Award for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment in 2005 for the same. Later, he also designed another Delhi Haat in Pitampura area of North-West Delhi.
Ar Pradeep Sachdeva grew up in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and schooled in Mussorie. Post his graduation from IIT-Roorkee in 1980, he worked with some of the prominent names of that time including Christopher Charles Benninger. He came from the generation of architects who found and created some of the most interesting buildings in the village settlements nestled in and around prominent urban sprawls.
His office first in Khirki extension and later in Aya Nagar was an institution in itself for the budding architects. Many notable figures condoled his sudden demise including Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who tweeted, “The spaces he created have become architectural landmarks for our city brought alive by his imaginative design.”
Describing his nature, notable sustainable architect, Yatin Pandya, Principal, FOOTPRINTS E.A.R.T.H, said, “There are some who talk of what to do. There are some who talk about what they do. There are some who do what others only talk of and yet not talk about it. Pradeepji was one such gentle soul who believed in human values and then believed in doing what he believed in. His works spoke for him because they spoke not of eccentricity of the creator but of humane values that it got created after. He
believed in journey not the destination.”
Ar Sonali Bhagwati, who was a colleague and known Ar Sachdeva for almost thirty years admired him for his understanding of nature. She said, “We have known Pradeep Sachdev since 30 yrs and have seen his journey from his little office in khirki village to the wonderful organic work space at Aya Nagar. I always admired his use of natural materials and the forms created.
His passing is a huge loss to the fraternity.” Some of the other creations of Ar Pradeep Sachdeva included Garden of Five Senses New Delhi; Street development, and Godavari riverfront development at Nanded; Taj Usha Kiran Palace Gwalior; New spa at the ITC Mughal Agra; Samode Palace and Samode Haveli in Jaipur. Most recently he was involved in to pedestrianize the busy lanes of the heart of Delhi, i.e., Chandni Chowk.
Some of the Notable Projects by Architect Pradeep Sachdeva:
Dilli Haat, Aurobindo Ma rg, New Delhi
The ‘Dilli Haat’ - a food & crafts bazaar has emerged as one of Delhi’s most loved urban leisure spaces. Designed to be a public space, it is a platform for showcasing regional crafts and food of India. The site was reclaimed by covering a storm water drain with a slab.
Dilli Haat is a place of celebration; an ever-changing kaleidoscope of crafts and cuisines from different parts of India. In 2003 Dilli Haat became one of the first public places in the country to be made completely barrier-free.
Project Details
Client: Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation
Date: 1992 - 1994
Area: 2.4 Hectares (6 Acres)
Awards: PATA Gold Medal (1995) & National Award for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment (2005)
The Garden of Five Senses Said-ul-Azaib, New Delhi
The Garden of Five Senses is a large public space for the city of Delhi where people can come to unwind and relax. People of all genres find something in the garden they can relate to and enjoy. It is an effort to create a democratic space which would benefit all sections of the society.
It looks at the wider perspective of ‘Garden as Public Space’. There is a broad range of areas, from the more intense activity zones, like the food courts and shops, to contemplative zones, like the fragrant gardens, colour gardens, and the Lily Pool. The project is one of India’s largest commissions of public art featuring works of over 25 artists. The garden has been planned to respect the natural ecological features of the site - the native plants and the beautiful rocky ridge outcrop.
Over 200 species of plants create a rich collage of form, colour and texture. The aim was to create a balance between the built and unbuilt as well as the man-made and the natural. The architecture may be described as quirky and fun, where the traditional brick and stonework is offset by quixotic concrete columns, mosaic work and dramatic planting effects. It bagged the Indian Building Congress’ Award for Excellence in Built Environment 2003.
Project Details
Client: Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation
Year: 1995 - 2003
Area: 8.1 Hectares (20 Acres)
Awards: Indian Building Congress’ Award for Excellence in Built Environment (2003); Exhibited at the Design Biennale 2004, St.Etienne, France
Jama Masjid Precinct Redevelopment, Delhi
Project Details
Client: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Ongoing)
Area: 28.3Hectares (70 Acres)
Jama Masjid – the Friday Mosque – is the religious heart of the walled city of Shahjahanabad. The master plan for the area between the Jama Masjid and Red Fort, intends to revive the public realm in this heritage precinct.
Many messages for Ar Pradeep Sachdeva were shared
“A very sensitive architect planner to Environment and people. He was more aware of Human movement in Space and relevant to Time.”
-Ar Krishna Rao Jaisim, Bengaluru
“Ar Pradeep sachdeva was inspiring architect for creative designs of public spaces. We all are going to miss him and pray for his peaceful onward journey”
-Ar Prem Nath, PNA , Mumbai
“We have known Pradeep Sachdev since 30 yrs and have seen his journey from his little office in khirki village to the wonderful organic work space at AyaNagar. I always admired his use of natural materials and the forms created. His passing is a huge loss to the fraternity. RIP.”
--Ar Sonali Bhagwati, President, Design Plus Architecture, Delhi
“There are some who talk of what to do. There are some who talk about what they do. There are some who do what others only talk of and yet not talk about it. Pradeepji was one such gentle soul who believed in human values and then believed in doing what he believed in. His works spoke for him because they spoke not of eccentricity of the creator but of humane values that it got created after. He believed in journey and not the destination. He traversed path, often the ones uncharted, which inspired others to emulate. His creations being people centric they became civic commodity for which users and citizens vouch for. Enviable honour any creator would long of. With creations like Delhi haat, Garden of five senses, Bhikhaji Cama streets, riverfront and urban renewal projects having been realised and in short span becoming part of the collective memory of the citizen. In fact popular landmarks of contemporary times, designated him as the true urbanist. The People’s designer. Plurality, humanity and sustainability were the core values of his creation as well as his own existence. As person, his humility was instant to rub on people, even the first time visitors, or more so fellow professionals who felt like confiding with him rather than sense of rivalry. His trusting nature as well as encouraging spirit boosted morale of many contemporaries as much as the young. His unspoken words yet innocence of body language projected him to be very accessible as person as much as his designs felt accessible to the masses. I feel honoured to have met him in person and encouraged by his kind and generous words of appreciation. Thank you Pradeepji, you would be with us always through your demonstrative creations, for having charted paths in untrodden territories and for leading by action. Thank you for having been here on this planet.”
-Ar Yatin Pandya, Principal Footprints E.A.R.T.H
SR TRIBUTE: A Tribute BY WA DE ASIA & SURFACES REPORTER TO The Passion, Persistance & Prowess of Ar. Revathi Kamath
SR Bids Adieu to National Award Winner Architect Pradeep Sachdeva
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