The Indian Institute of Management -Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has withdrawn the Expression of Interest (EoI) for inviting plans to demolish dorms designed by Legendary American Architect, Louis Kahn within a month. The EOI was first released on December 4th which invited bids for the reconstruction of students’ dormitories.
In a letter to the ‘stakeholders’, Chairman and Members of the Board of Governors of IIM-A said they were being “sensitive to the feedback from some stakeholders who are not in agreement with this approach”. “We are therefore withdrawing the Expression of Interest that was put out.” The statement, added that the institute will try to find an alternative and will re-evaluate the options available. The statement also read they will consult conservation and structural experts from all over the world.
This decision has come after a group of over 600 architects and academics from 118 universities around the world as well as the Council of Architecture (COA) asked the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) to drop its proposal to demolish dormitories.
“An act of cultural vandalism to demolish construction by Louis Kahn”
COA president Habeeb Khan wrote, “recent, abrupt decision to demolish a historic precinct (the IIM dormitories) that retain its relevance and vitality in contemporary times, is difficult to comprehend for each constituent: architects, structural engineers, alumni of IIM, civil society, international universities, historians, artists, respected academicians across the globe, corporate leaders and several others”.
The letter also stated that this act will “seriously damage the global reputation of IIM-A”. “It would be an act of cultural vandalism,” they said.
“The dormitory buildings are intrinsic to the historic core of IIM-A and cannot be separated formally or experientially from the buildings around the Louis Kahn plaza (the classrooms, library, and admin block)…Together they make a singular campus setting with no precedent nor match in the world. To keep one and not the other, would destroy the architectural soul of your esteemed campus, and undermine the very commendable efforts you have undertaken in conserving the library and lecture block,” they wrote.
Accepting protestors’ demands, IIM-A in their withdrawal letter stated that they are aware that they have a legacy to nurture but at the same time, the safety of the residents cannot be compromised.
