Brutalist India | Asiad Tower, New Delhi

April 18, 2026

As part of Brutalist India series Bhawna Dandona writes about the Asiad Tower on Khel Gaon Marg in New Delhi, originally designed as a revolving restaurant, but now used as a venue for functions and weddings. The structure stands in close proximity to the Asiad Village and Siri Fort Complex and was designed by the Architectural Department of the Delhi Development Authority.

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*View of the setting, Asiad. Credits: Meaningful Design Labs*

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.

Close-up of the upper level, ASIAD Tower. Credits: Meaningful Design Labs — *(left) Close-up of the upper level, Asiad Tower. Credits: Meaningful Design Labs.*
*(right) Asiad Tower, New Delhi. Credits: The Times of India Group*

Asiad Tower, New Delhi. Credit: The Times of India Group — *(left) Close-up of the upper level, Asiad Tower. Credits: Meaningful Design Labs.*
*(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

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Bhawna Dandona

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