By Vincent Van Ross

Have you ever heard of ‘zero architecture’? No? Well, there are some pieces of architecture that have round bases. They are also round at the top. That tops and the bases of these buildings look like a big zero. That is why I call them ‘zero architecture!’ Such architecture spans different eras in the map of Delhi.

Starting with the slave dynasty of Qutubuddin Aibak, you have the Qutub Minar which has a round base and it tapers off as it reaches the top. But, the top too is round in shape.

Then in the Jantar Manta cluster of monuments, there are two circular monuments called the Ram Yantras. These are part of an observatory constructed by a Hindu king at the behest of a Mughal ruler during the Mughal period. But, these monuments are secular in nature as they are used for astronomical and astrological purposes.

Coming to the colonial era, the Gole Post Office is a circular structure. The Parliament building too is circular in shape. The whole of Connaught Place and Connaught Circus are built to a circular plan within another circular plan.

Among the modern architecture, most of the stadia are constructed with a round or circular base. Whether it is an open air stadium or a closed air-conditioned stadium, the top of these stadia are also round in shape. With the Commonwealth Games due in 2010 many stadia are being constructed, rebuilt or renovated to meet international standards. Most of them have circular bases and circular tops.

I have always wondered as to what motivates architects to build round or circular buildings. Most round buildings exemplify criminal waste of space. On the scale of one to ten, if I were to rate round buildings, I wouldn’t give them too many marks unless there are scientific or other compelling reasons for deciding on a circular shape for a building. But, going by their round bases and round tops which look like zeroes, I would readily christen them ‘zero architecture!’

Whether it was the Mughal era or the days of British Raj or modern times, the obsession with ‘zero architecture’ seems to be linger on!