India Habitat Centre

History and design

The India Habitat Centre was started in 1993. The public agency for the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) wanted an office building for its workers and made the unprecedented decision to invite chosen nonprofit organizations that shared their concern with habitat to share that work space.

The chairman of HUDCO Santosh Sharma and the architect Joseph Allen Stein decided to radically change the traditional image of an office building as an architectural project and transformed it into an urban design project. The space was designed to permit the members of the centre to share services both inside and outside the building with multiple courtyards, common meeting rooms, shared parking area, library, restaurants, museum, and hotels, some of which are open to the general public. Constructed on nine acres in an urban area, the building eschewed traditional building materials and techniques.

Events and exhibitions

Numerous events are held in the premises of the India Habitat Center.

In 2009, the India Habitat Centre co-hosted the inaugural Habitat Summit with Mirabilis Advisory and Urban Habitats Forum, a professional civil society initiative which aims "to serve as a multi-disciplinary public awareness and educational platform". Held in September, the event showcased community-oriented urban renewal projects.

In February 2020, IHC hosted a seven-day art exhibition Sculpt for Delhi III, presented by Delhi Art Society and organised by sculpture artist Neeraj Gupta. The exhibition featured works of 20 sculptors from across India. In November 14th to 15th the national level of the Young Indian parliament will be conducted.

Recurrent events

IHC hosted and organised the Delhi Photo Festival held every two years from 2011 to 2015. The partnership between India Habitat Centre (IHC) and Nazar Foundation (parent body of Delhi Photo Festival) was dissolved in early 2015 and Delhi Photo Festival 2015 was held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

The two-day fifth edition of Times LitFest is a major literary festival, organised by The Times of India and Rajnigandha, was held at the centre in 2019. the festival's director is Vinita Dawra Nangia.

The Old World Theatre Festival, Delhi's oldest theatre festival, is held annually by the arts organisation Old World Culture at IHC. The 18th edition was held in 2019.

Gallery

File:India Habitat Center, New Delhi.jpg File:Visual art by auto mix and match at India Habitat Centre Delhi.jpg File:India Habitat Centre 16082015 01.jpg File:India Habitat Centre 16082015 02.jpg File:India Habitat Centre reduced 2.JPG File:Atrium of India Habitat Center at Gate 3 entrance.jpg File:Central courtyard of India Habitat Centre, solar panelled roof seen above.jpg

References

References

1. https://indiahabitat.org/Conferences
2. coveringindia.com. "India Habitat Center".
3. "Indian Habitat Center, New Delhi".
4. Centre, India Habitat. "IHC {{!}} India Habitat Centre - Home".
5. "Joseph Allen Stein {{!}} India Habitat Center {{!}} Archnet".
6. Centre, India Habitat. "India Habitat Centre - Calendar of Events".
7. Centre, India Habitat. "India Habitat Centre - Habitat Film Club".
8. (13 September 2019). "Inaugural Habitat Summit".
9. "Delhi Art Society presents Sculpt for Delhi III".
10. (14 February 2020). "Out in the Open". The Indian Express.
11. "India Habitat Centre - Visual Arts Gallery".
12. https://yischoolhub.org/events/young-indians-parliament/nationals-selection-list/
13. (1 October 2011). "The New Intimate". Tehelka.
14. Khurana, Tushar. "Making the Frame". The Hindu.
15. "Get Your Dose of Literature With Some of India’s Best Authors At Times LitFest 2019!".
16. "Times Litfest Delhi 2017: Day 2".
17. (24 November 2018). "Times LitFest Delhi: You're booked for a date with books at Times Litfest Delhi".
18. "About the festival - Times LitFest Delhi 2019 - Delhi Literature Festival 2019".
19. "About us".
20. "Delhi s oldest theatre festival Old World Theatre Festival returns for its 18th edition".
21. (9 October 2018). "17th edition of Old World Theatre festival to focus on next generation of Indian theatre".