Pink logo has architect in a stew

NEW DELHI - The colourful branding for next year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi has left architects hopping mad.

The purple-and-pink wrap around parts of the 2010 Games HQ has infuriated the building's designer Kuldip Singh, who called it an "affront to the aesthetics" of the city.

"The committee is covering the walls from top to bottom with garish colours in the name of the Games logo," he told the Times of India newspaper on Wednesday.

"It is claimed to be a temporary branding but no one can make changes to the facade of the building without the assent of the architect."

The paper said the purple-and-pink flourishes will soon appear on bus shelters, Metro stations and even motor rickshaws, in addition to other buildings.

Some of the city's urban planners feel they should have been consulted.

"You can put up banners or have dedicated walls for graphic art but not ruin buildings like this," said architect Arun Rewal.

The Games' organising committee CEO Vijay Gautam brushed off complaints.

"We have planned the image and look for the Games," he said. "We had a meeting with all civic agencies and the Commonwealth Federation before going ahead with our plans."