Modern Arch | Paper Proposal Michelle Badr Amongst the list of methods used by political powers and leaders to define themselves as a global center, architecture sits at the top. This is the tool that the Punjab region of India looked to after the nation’s independence from Great Britain in 1947. Due to ignorant boundaries drawn by the colonial government, Punjab was split in two and lost its great capital of Lahore to the new nation of Pakistan. Indian Punjab found itself in need of a new capital, identity, and place in the modern world. Insert French modernist architect, Le Corbusier. Corbusier’s dreams and former experiments on utopian cities made him an ideal candidate to take on plans for the new Punjabi city of Chandigarh, India. The site is comprised of 7 dominant features- an assembly hall, high court, secretariat, museum, park, lake, and sculpture- all made of concrete and accented with primary colors. While some may revere the city as an architectural jewel, Corbusier’s implanted modernist design fails in many ways. This written work will assess the site’s success in terms of functionality, accessibility, connection to local culture, and overall attempt at setting a new identity for the region.