Page 36 - Bulletin, Vol.78 No.2, June 2019

The tensions reached a crisis in the 1920s when the competition for the Palais des
Nations was launched. The jury was not able to choose between the 377 entries. Battle
waged between the traditionalists and the functionalists, led by Le Corbusier. Work was
paralyzed. Historians will say that this competition was the symbol of the crisis of
th
judgement of the 20 century.
Insufficient space

This conflict was to continue until the 1960s with a victory of the modernists with the
WHO building. The Geneva population did not react as the building is on the edge of the
city.

One recurrent difficulty seems to be that the international organizations fail to anticipate
their growth. Barely installed, the premises are too small and they demand something
bigger. The Swiss authorities are in no hurry to respond until there is a menace of
departure. The international district has thus grown by improvisation without the
planning that Le Corbusier was already demanding.

The Place des Nations is a symbol: after sixty years and four competitions, a space has
been developed which has still not really responded to the initial question: is this a
crossroad for traffic or a monument? And where the Genevans have imposed the
fantasy of a broken chair against the advice of the United Nations.

This lack of urbanization was in part offset in 2005 by the concept of a Jardin des
Nations, with the organizations starting a custom of opening their doors. These two
aspects lead Joelle Kuntz to conclude that this little known and off-centre area, with a
population of foreigners busy with far distant affairs, is integrating little by little.

Genève internationale : 100 ans d’architecture. By Joelle Kuntz, Slatkine editions, 224
pages (TDG)

By Christian BERNET
Translation Elisabeth BELCHAMBER

A.S. BHALLA, IMPERIAL INDIA: A PICTORIAL

HISTORY

By Aamir ALI

Mr Bhalla has given us a remarkable book. Its many pictures are a story and a joy in
themselves. They give an added dimension to the stories he has to tell us.

There are thirteen chapters in this book, taking you from Mauryan Ashoka to the 159
th
nd
page and 132 picture.

34 AAFI-AFICS BULLETIN, Vol. 78 No. 2, 2019-06