The Asiad Tower, located on Khel Gaon Marg near the Asiad Village and Siri Fort Complex, was constructed around the time of the 1982 Asian Games. While the Asiad Village was designed by Raj Rewal and the Siri Fort Auditorium by the late Jasbir Sachdev, documentation on the tower itself remains limited. Interviews with architects from the period suggest that the tower was designed by the Delhi Development Authority.
This concrete tower, said to be approximately 53 m high, was conceived as a three-tiered revolving restaurant and bar. It is a massive structure of exposed concrete with a simple geometric form composed of a cylinder on which the sphere rests. It has a lean, ribbed cylindrical base whose diameter gradually decreases as it rises.
Four protruding, strip-like structural elements emerge from the cylinder; these support the shaft and hold a bulbous, sphere-like form above. There is a balcony at each of the four divisions of the cylinder, just below the sphere. The overall form gives the impression of a sports cup or a winning trophy, which is highly apt for a sporting event like the Asian Games. The texture and finish highlight exposed, cast-in-situ concrete with segmented shuttering. Horizontal pour bands and panel joints are visible, documenting the construction process.
(right) Asiad Tower, New Delhi. Credits: The Times of India Group
This structure is an exceptional example of Brutalist architecture in Delhi’s urban landscape. It is the tallest structure in its surroundings, thereby acting as a prominent landmark. Had the revolving restaurant been functional, it would have offered panoramic views of the surrounding areas and landmarks such as Asiad Village, Siri Fort, and Shahpur Jat. The structure and its surrounding property were leased to Jhankar Banquets for 30 years by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 1997 and are currently used to host functions and weddings. The use of the tower was discontinued in the early 2000’s.
Gallery:
Credits:
- Prof. Ram Sharma, Architect
- Prashansa Sachdeva, Research Associate
- Krati Bishnoi, Conservation architect
- Mr Deolaliker, Plumbing Consultant
- Image credit: Meaningful Design Labs
Keywords:
exposed concrete sphere, ribbed, segmented shuttering
