Lutyens' Delhi is an area in Delhi, specifically New Delhi, India, named after the leading British architect Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944), who was responsible for much of the architectural design and building when India was part of the British Empire in the 1920s and 1930s. This also includes the Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ).
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Before the new imperial capital New Delhi was established after 1911, the Old Delhi Railway Station served the entire city and the Agra-Delhi railways line cut through what is today called Lutyens' Delhi. The line was eventually shifted to make way for the new capital and the New Delhi Railway Station was built near Ajmeri Gate in 1926. [1]
Lutyens laid out the central administrative area of the city. At the heart of the city was the impressive Rashtrapati Bhawan, formerly known as Viceroy's House, located on the top of Raisina Hill. The Rajpath, also known as King's Way, connects India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan, while Janpath, which crosses it at a right angle, connects South end road (renamed as Rajesh Pilot marg) with Connaught Place.
The Secretariat Building, which house various ministries of the Government of India including Prime Minister of India office (PMO), are beside the Rashtrapati Bhawan and were designed by Herbert Baker. Also designed by Baker was the Parliament House, located on the Sansad Marg, running parallel with the Rajpath. Other architects designed other buildings such as the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals.
Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ) is the term used for the area spread over 2,800-hectare area with bungalows (houses) for government officials and their administrative offices, during the British Raj. The zone stretches up to Lodhi Road in the south.
In order to create development control norms, the Ministry of Urban Development constituted the 'New Delhi Redevelopment Advisory Committee' (NDRAC) in 1972, when the redevelopment of the areas around the walled city, north of Connaught Place and on Prithviraj Road was taken up. Thus the Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ) was first notified in 1988 and later modified in 2003.[2]
Despite its name, Edwin Lutyen, the architect of Delhi, designed only 4 bungalows in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan Estate, (Viceroy House Estate); now, these bungalows lie on the Mother Teresa Crescent (then Willingdon Crescent). Lutyens, apart from designing the Viceroy's House, designed large government building and was involved with town planning. [1]
Herbert Baker, who also designed with the Secretariat Buildings (North and South Block), designed bungalows on the then King George's Avenue (south of the Secretariats) for high ranking officials. Other members of the team of architects were Robert Tor Russel, William Henry Nicholls, CG Blomfield, FB Blomfield, Walter Sykes George, Arthur Gordon Shoosmith and Henry Medd. [1][3]
It is on the 2002 World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites made by World Monuments Fund, a heritage organization based in New York. [4]