The India Habitat Centre is a multipurpose building in the city of

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Ho ...

, India. It was the brain child of the HuDCO Chairman, Santosh Sharma. The India Habitat Centre is one of India's most comprehensive convention centers that is aimed at bringing individuals and institutions working in diverse habitat and environment related areas together. Divided into five blocks which are connected with aerial walkaways, IHC can conduct up to 20 concurrent sessions from socio-cultural events and exhibitions to business and economic events. It has a Visual Art Gallery, Library and Resource Center, Learning Center, Amphitheater, Conference & Banquet Halls and Restaurants.

History and design

The India Habitat Centre was started in 1993. The public agency for

Housing and Urban Development Corporation The Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) is a central public sector undertaking under the ownership of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India in India. History This institution came into existence on 25, ...

(HUDCO) wanted an office building for its workers and made the unprecedented decision to invite chosen

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

s that shared their concern with

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

to share that work space. The chairman of HUDCO Santosh Sharma and the architect Joseph Allen Stein decided to radically change the traditional image of an office building as an architectural project and transformed it into an urban design project. The space was designed to permit the members of the centre to share services both inside and outside the building with multiple courtyards, common meeting rooms, shared parking area, library, restaurants, museum, and hotels, some of which are open to the general public. Constructed on nine acres in an urban area, the building eschewed traditional building materials and techniques.

Events and exhibitions

Numerous events are held in the premises of the India Habitat Center. Various workshops are also conducted such as art, dance and film workshops. Photography exhibitions and talk are a popular feature in the center. Film screenings are also conducted such as those by Kriti Film Club which are open to for public. In 2009, the India Habitat Centre co-hosted the inaugural Habitat Summit with Mirabilis Advisory and Urban Habitats Forum, a professional civil society initiative which aims "to serve as a multi-disciplinary public awareness and educational platform". Held in September, the event showcased community-oriented urban renewal projects. In February 2020, IHC hosted a seven-day art exhibition ''Sculpt for Delhi III'', presented by Delhi Art Society and organised by sculpture artist Neeraj Gupta. The exhibition featured works of 20 sculptors from across India.

Recurrent events

IHC hosted and organised the Delhi Photo Festival held every two years from 2011 to 2015. The partnership between India Habitat Centre (IHC) and Nazar Foundation (parent body of Delhi Photo Festival) was dissolved in early 2015 and Delhi Photo Festival 2015 was held at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The two-day fifth edition of Times LitFest is a major

literary festival A literary festival, also known as a book festival or writers' festival, is a regular gathering of writers and readers, typically on an annual basis in a particular city. A literary festival usually features a variety of presentations and readings ...

, organised by ''

The Times of India ''The Times of India'', also known by its abbreviation ''TOI'', is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by The Times Group. It is the third-largest newspaper in India by circulation and largest ...

'' and Rajnigandha, was held at the centre in 2019. the festival's director is Vinita Dawra Nangia. The Old World Theatre Festival, Delhi's oldest

theatre festival Theatre festivals are amongst the earliest types of festival. Classical Greek theatre was associated with religious festivals dedicated to Dionysus, called the City Dionysia. The medieval mystery plays were presented at the major Christian feasts ...

, is held annually by the arts organisation Old World Culture at IHC. The 18th edition was held in 2019.

List of organisations

Sharing a common concern for habitat, the following organisations have come together to participate in institution-building, evolving a synergy within the India Habitat Centre complex. *Association of Indian Automobile Manufacturers *All India Brick & Tile Manufacturers Federation *All India Housing Development Association *Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council *Central Building Research Institute *Centre for Development Studies & Activities (CDSA) *Centre for Science & Environment *Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned & Other Developing Countries *Confederation of Indian Industry *Consultancy Development Centre *Council for Advancement of People's Action & Rural Technology *Council of Architecture *Delhi Art Society *Delhi Urban Art Commission *Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness The Dalai Lama *Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations *Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. *Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research *Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd. *Institute of Social Studies Trust *International Labour Organisation *MacArthur Foundation *MCD Slum & JJ Department *National Foundation for India *National Capital Region - Planning Board *National Housing Bank *National Institute of Design *National Institute of Urban Affairs *Population Council *Research and Information System for the Non-Aligned & Other Developing Countries *Society for Development Studies *

The Energy and Resources Institute The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is a research institute in New Delhi that specializes in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development. Established in 1974, it was formerly known as the Tata Energy Research Institute. ...

*University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India *Vikram Sarabhai Foundation *Speco Engineering Pvt Ltd

Gallery

File:India Habitat Center, New Delhi.jpg File:Visual art by auto mix and match at India Habitat Centre Delhi.jpg File:India Habitat Centre 16082015 01.jpg File:India Habitat Centre 16082015 02.jpg File:India Habitat Centre reduced 2.JPG File:Atrium of India Habitat Center at Gate 3 entrance.jpg File:Central courtyard of India Habitat Centre, solar panelled roof seen above.jpg

References

External links

Official website

Habitat World
{{Authority control 1993 establishments in Delhi Culture of Delhi Buildings and structures in Delhi Cultural infrastructure completed in 1993 Event venues established in 1993 Convention centres in India Cultural centres in India