This quiz looks at Chandigarh, India’s famous planned city. Designed mid-century to symbolize a new era, its grid layout and concrete structures represent a bold leap in modern planning.
You will see questions about Le Corbusier’s iconic Capitol Complex, the symbolic Open Hand Monument, and the clever architectural details used to beat the heat.
When you finish, try our trivia about urban design, read up on famous architects, or learn about incredible UNESCO architecture.
In which year was Chandigarh officially inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad?
1950
1950
1959
1959
1953
1953
1956
1956
Who was the primary Swiss-French architect responsible for the urban planning of Chandigarh?
Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
What geometric pattern forms the basis of the urban layout of Chandigarh?
Square
Square
Circle
Circle
Triangle
Triangle
Grid system
Grid system
Chandigarh serves as the joint capital for which two Indian states?
Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
Haryana and Rajasthan
Haryana and Rajasthan
Punjab and Haryana
Punjab and Haryana
Punjab and Uttar Pradesh
Punjab and Uttar Pradesh
Which of these iconic buildings planned for the Capitol Complex was ultimately never constructed?
The High Court
The High Court
The Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly
The Secretariat
The Secretariat
The Governor’s Palace
The Governor’s Palace
What is the name of the prominent metallic structure in Chandigarh that symbolizes peace and reconciliation?
The Open Hand Monument
The Open Hand Monument
The Geometry Hill
The Geometry Hill
The Geometric Chamber
The Geometric Chamber
The Tower of Shadows
The Tower of Shadows
Which site in Chandigarh was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016?
Sukhna Lake
Sukhna Lake
Rose Garden
Rose Garden
Capitol Complex
Capitol Complex
Rock Garden
Rock Garden
Who was the Swiss architect and cousin of Le Corbusier who collaborated closely on the design and furniture of Chandigarh?
Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Jane Drew
Jane Drew
Maxwell Fry
Maxwell Fry
Pierre Jeanneret
Pierre Jeanneret
Which building in the Capitol Complex is distinguished by its double-roof structure designed like a parasol to protect it from the sun and monsoon rains?
The High Court building
The High Court building
The Secretariat building
The Secretariat building
The Palace of Assembly
The Palace of Assembly
The Museum and Art Gallery
The Museum and Art Gallery
Le Corbusier preferred using bold applications of which material to create the modern, monumental aesthetic of Chandigarh?
Red brick
Red brick
Concrete
Concrete
Sandstone
Sandstone
Marble
Marble
Le Corbusier designed the organizational structure of Chandigarh based on the analogy of what?
A series of concentric circles
A series of concentric circles
The human body
The human body
An ancient temple complex
An ancient temple complex
A sprawling forest
A sprawling forest
In the Chandigarh zoning plan, which sector contains the Capitol Complex?
Sector 3
Sector 3
Sector 4
Sector 4
Sector 2
Sector 2
Sector 1
Sector 1
Which structure in the Capitol Complex was designed by Le Corbusier specifically to demonstrate his theories on controlling solar radiation?
The Sun Dial
The Sun Dial
The Pyramid of Light
The Pyramid of Light
The Geometry Point
The Geometry Point
The Tower of Shadows
The Tower of Shadows
Which building in the Capitol Complex is famous for its distinct, hyperbolic shell roof shape?
The Open Hand monument
The Open Hand monument
The Assembly Hall
The Assembly Hall
The High Court
The High Court
The Secretariat building
The Secretariat building
Which Indian Prime Minister was the driving force behind the creation of Chandigarh as a ‘symbol of the nation’s faith in the future’?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
What is the total height of the iconic Open Hand structure in Chandigarh?
30 meters
30 meters
22 meters
22 meters
26 meters
26 meters
18 meters
18 meters
What was the classification system used by Le Corbusier for the city’s vehicular road network?
V-1 to V-5
V-1 to V-5
V-1 to V-12
V-1 to V-12
V-1 to V-9
V-1 to V-9
V-1 to V-7
V-1 to V-7
Le Corbusier based many of his measurements and proportions in the design of Chandigarh on his system known as:
The Geometries of Light
The Geometries of Light
The Golden Ratio System
The Golden Ratio System
The Humanized Scale
The Humanized Scale
The Modulor
The Modulor
What was the primary architectural purpose for incorporating deep, recessed ‘brise-soleil’ (sun breakers) into the designs of the public buildings?
To prevent rainwater accumulation on the facade
To prevent rainwater accumulation on the facade
To reinforce the structural strength of the concrete slabs
To reinforce the structural strength of the concrete slabs
To shade the buildings from harsh direct sunlight and heat
To shade the buildings from harsh direct sunlight and heat
To create spaces for vertical climbing gardens
To create spaces for vertical climbing gardens
Which city, the former capital of undivided Punjab, became part of Pakistan during the 1947 partition, leading to the creation of Chandigarh?
Shimla
Shimla
Jalandhar
Jalandhar
Amritsar
Amritsar
Lahore
Lahore
What is the name of the sunken area located adjacent to the Open Hand monument where visitors may experience silence and reflection?
The Pool of Peace
The Pool of Peace
The Martyrs Memorial
The Martyrs Memorial
The Trench of Contemplation
The Trench of Contemplation
The Geometric Hill
The Geometric Hill
What does the concrete sundial on the Geometric Hill in the Capitol Complex represent?
The historic partition of India
The historic partition of India
The geometry of the city grid
The geometry of the city grid
The daily cycle of light and darkness
The daily cycle of light and darkness
The architectural blueprint of Punjab
The architectural blueprint of Punjab
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If you enjoyed this, try our quizzes on cities of the world, find out about famous landmarks, or check out our trivia on modern sculpture.
