The concept of rebirth is inspired from the quote of Captain Vikram Batra
Either I will come back after hoisting the Tricolour,
or I will come back wrapped in it,
but I will be back for sure.
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 1 National War memorial, Webe Design Lab](https://architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/21._National_War_Memorial_-_people_and_the_space.jpg)
REBIRTH – पुनर्जन्म (in Hindi)
‘Reborn to be an immortal’.
Invisible but strongly present.
The NWM is the spatial manifestation of the idea of rebirth, gestated on the stories of, the life and struggle of unsung soldiers who have sacrificed themselves for the sake of nation. Culminating the Raj Path of the Lutyens Delhi, behind the India gate, this semi-subterranean intervention, spreads over 42 acres in the C- hexagon, retaining the identity as “people’s place” and embracing the memory of love, affection and pain. Each fallen soldier is imagined as a brick in the process of nation building and arranged as a series of concentric rings, symbolizing the act of protection, sacrifice and bravery culminating in the immortal presence in the form of eternal flame.
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 3 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 2](https://i1.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/18._View_of_the_North_Gallery.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 5 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 4](https://i1.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Context-and-Master-Plan-1024x724.jpg?ssl=1)
Six decades of void:
The request for the National War Memorial (NWM), India was placed by the armed forces in 1960. However, the consideration acquired momentum in 2015 and the construction was approved within the National capital’s heritage zone of the British Imperial Times. Later, an International two stage competition was held for the design and implementation of the NWM by the Ministry of Defense, Government of India. WEBE Design Lab won both the first and the third place. The winning entry headed by Ar Yogesh Chandrahasan was commissioned for construction. India’s NWM was finally inaugurated on 25th Feb 2019 by Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 7 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 6](https://i2.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/12._Circle_of_immortality_and_Circle_of_Bravery.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 9 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 8](https://i1.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/01.Circle_of_Protection_Rakshak_Chakra.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 11 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 10](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/05.Cicle_of_Sacrifice_Tyag_chakra_-_light_as_homage.jpg?ssl=1)
CONTEXT AND DESIGN APPROACH – The Iconic India Gate, brims with an average footfall of 50,000 ppl/day. Inset within the bustling C Hexagon the lawns were retained to be active public spaces to play, meet, relax and more. This Capitol complex has a central axis, the Rajpath- The ceremonial path from the President’s home, that runs across and ends at the India Gate. The newly built NWM retains the axis and bestows the essence of hierarchical importance upon the overall footprint. A cross-connection at the core of the New Memorial: The Yudhpath– is a metaphorical placement of the Rajpath (Path of life) with the Yudhpath (Path of war).
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 13 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 12](https://i2.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/19._View_of_the_North_Complex_and_the_plaza.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 15 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 14](https://i2.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/09._People_and_Space_-_Central_Congregation___Ceremonial_space.jpg?ssl=1)
Circle of Sacrifice (Tyag Chakra): Inspired by the historic “Chakravyuha” Ancient war formation, the Tyag Chakra is arranged in concentric circles in accordance with the wars, gloriously housing the names of 25,700 war heroes, who sacrificed their life post-independence for the Nation. It is a concrete structure, with self-interlocking granite blocks placed over it. Each block represents a Martyr, and is engraved with his name, rank and number.
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 17 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 16](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_20191204_134122-1024x677.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 19 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 18](https://i2.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/NWM-SECTIONS-03-1024x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
ESTABLISHING SYMBOL AND MEMORY –
Circle of Protection– The tree arrangement personifies the territorial line of control- The soldiers who are still there trying to safe guard us in places unseen. The circle containing 690 trees also helps in screening the busy roads of the C Hexagon thereby creating a calmer and protected space inside the memorial.
Circle of Bravery (Veer Chakra) – A semi open corridor and gallery holding the brave stories of significant historic battles in Indian history of the Army, Navy and Air force.
Circle of Immortality (Amar Chakra)- The obelisk carrying the eternal flame symbolizes the immortality of the Jawans that they will never be dead and they will always live in our memory. It is set in a larger circular court which also is the ceremonial space.
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 20 National War memorial, Webe Design Lab](https://i2.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/21._National_War_Memorial_-_people_and_the_space.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 22 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 21](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/14.Aerial_View_of_the_National_War_Memorial.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 24 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 23](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Isometric_view_of_The_NWM_Complex.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 26 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 25](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Spaces_vs_Activity_vs_Time.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 28 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 27](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Design_Layers.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 30 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 29](https://i2.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tyag-Chakra-Wall-Detail-1024x724.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 32 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 31](https://i1.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tyga-Chakra-Wall-Wall-of-Sacrifice-1024x436.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 34 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 33](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Section-3-1024x724.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 36 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 35](https://i2.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVERALL-SECTION-1024x724.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 38 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 37](https://i1.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Detail-Section-1024x724.jpg?ssl=1)
Lighting: The lighting in the central court around the eternal flame spearheads sideways and up building a sense of eternity as it fades out. The Thyag chakra seems floating with a series of small lights which resembles the oil lamps that are light in memory of the beloved ones in any Indian home. The streaks of light on the steps create a sense of transition through the concentric setup. The project does not have any ambient light.
As much as the light brought in emphasis and character, the darkness made the required experience deeper and absorbing.
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 40 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 39](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/5-1-1024x576.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 42 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 41](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/6-1024x768.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 44 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 43](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/4-1-1024x683.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 46 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 45](https://i1.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/3-1-1024x576.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 48 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 47](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1-1024x683.jpg?ssl=1)
![National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 50 National War Memorial, New Delhi, by WeBe Design Lab 49](https://i0.wp.com/architecture.live/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2-1-1024x683.jpg?ssl=1)
Project Facts
Location: C- Hexagon, Lawn 1,2 ,3 4, Central Delhi, India
Site Area: 42 Acres
Year of completion: March 2019
Client: Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Design Firm: WeBe Design Lab, Chennai
Lead Architect: Yogesh Chandrahasan
Design Team (WeBe)
Yogesh Chandrahasan, Visuwanathan, Satish Vasanth Kumar, Udhayarajan, Malli Saravanan, Ranganathan Ravi, Anjana Sudhakar, Kamal Rajkumar, ViJaya Prakash, Balachandar Baskaran, Abhishek Tiwari