Architect Shivdatt Sharma, one of Chandigarh’s most respected modernist voices, has been awarded the prestigious Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to India. The honour recognises Sharma’s remarkable contribution to modern architecture, his lifelong engagement with the legacy of Swiss-French master Le Corbusier, and his role in fostering cultural collaboration between France and India. A self-taught architect, Sharma began his professional journey in Chandigarh at a historic moment in the city’s development. Identified early for his exceptional drawing skills and sensitivity to form, he joined the team of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, contributing to some of the most ambitious urban design experiments of the twentieth century. This formative experience shaped his architectural approach and continued to influence his work during his tenure as Chief Architect at the Indian Space Research Organisation, where he successfully balanced high-performance technological needs with contextual and sustainable design.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Mathou praised Sharma as a “visionary practitioner” whose work embodies honesty, rootedness, and public-focused design—values central to the Chandigarh project. He highlighted Sharma’s role in deepening Indo-French architectural dialogue and sustaining Le Corbusier’s legacy. In his acceptance remarks, Sharma expressed gratitude, saying he felt “humble and profoundly honoured” to receive an award from a nation whose cultural and artistic spirit has inspired generations worldwide . As a core member of the original Chandigarh Capital Project, Sharma contributed significantly to key buildings such as the Government Museum and Art Gallery and the Museum of Evolution of Life, reinforcing his place among the architects who shaped modern India. (Reference: HT)
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