The High Court is a linear block wi

The High Court is a linear block with the main facade toward the piazza. It has a rhythmic arcade created by a parasol-like roof, which shades the entire building. Keeping in view the special dignity of the judges, Le Corbusier created a special entrance for them through a high portico resting on three giant pylons painted in bright colours.Very much in the tradition of the Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur-Sikri, this grand entrance with its awesome scale, is intended to manifest the Majesty of the Law to all who enter. Juxtaposed between the main courtroom of the Chief Justice and eight smaller courts, is a great entrance hall. Its scale--especially the height -- is experienced most intensely while walking up the ramp. The symbolism of providing an "umbrella of shelter" of law to the ordinary citizen is most vividly manifested here. The continuity of the concrete piazza running into this space establishes a unique site and structural unity of the structure with the ground plane.The massive concrete pylons representing again the "Majesty of Law" are painted in bright primary colours and visually punctuate the otherwise rhythmic facade of the High Court. The rear side of this ceremonial entrance for the judges is a working entrance and a large car park at a sunken level. The massive piers and the blank end walls have interesting cut-outs and niches, to establish a playful connection with the human scale.
Le Corbusier with Shri Nehru
Le Corbusier with Shri Nehru
Each courtroom was provided with an independent entrance from the piazza-and the gracefully curving overarching profile of the brise-soleil screen was intended to provide the symbolic protection. However, this "metaphor" of protection proved highly non-functional against intense summer heat and the monsoon rains - thus requiring a single-storeyed continuous verandah running in front of them as a later addition. Space for archives and library also proved insufficient, even after the open terraces of the library had been taken over, so Le Corbusier agreed to design an unobtrusive, expandable annex to the north. The judges declined to share the car entrance with the public so now the esplanade, where the pedestrian was to reign, is a motorway enabling the judges to drive right into the entrance hall.