Maki and Associates asked to prepare new designs for new AP capital

Keep the culture and tradition of Telugus in mind, State tells them

The State government has not approved the designs prepared by world renowned Maki and Associates for Capital city buildings. It has asked the architects to prepare new designs. The Government suggested them to keep the culture and tradition of Telugus in mind while preparing new designs.

The Government had chosen the Japanese architectural firm to design the buildings but there was a widespread criticism on the designs on various counts. There is a criticism that the designs of the Legislature complex resembled the “cooling towers” of a thermal power station. Besides, it looked similar to the Chandigarh Legislature building, which was designed decades ago. It prompted the Government to modify the Amaravati core capital design.

Maki was chosen by a jury of six renowned architects from the three short listed firms — Maki and Associates, Richard Rogers (England) and DV Joshi Architects (India) — which had submitted designs for a contest held by the State government. The firm would design Secretariat, Legislature Complex, High Court, Raj Bhavan and other important buildings.

For the record, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who initially heaped praise on Maki over the designs, later said the Government was “yet to approve” them following public criticism.

Maki and Associates, who designed some of the world-famous iconic structures like the United Nations Consolidation Building (New York), Tower 4 of World Trade Centre Redevelopment (New York), Media Corp (Singapore), Bihar Museum (India) and Shenzen Sea World Cultural Arts Centre (China), had submitted a set of designs to the AP Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) on March 25 for the buildings.

Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana held a meeting with seven architects who were empanelled with the CRDA here on Monday. On its sidelines, the Minister said the empanelled architects were asked to prepare designs that reflected Telugu culture. The designs of buildings should be submitted in 21 days. The Government would review the designs by May end. The architects would be selected based on proposed projects and final designs would be prepared thereafter, he said.

CRDA secretary Ajay Jain, Commissioner N. Srikanth, CCDMC CMD Lakshmi Parthasarathy, CRDA additional commissioner Mallikarjuna and others were present.