Architecture

Born in Mumbai, earlier known as Bombay, and studying in Chicago since 2018
made me connect to both the cities because of their close resemblance to art and architectural cultures.
This thesis is a qualitative study of the architectural style known as Art Deco that
occurred between the years 1920 and 1940. During this period, both Chicago and Bombay were developing their art deco architecture, but in very different ways. Art Deco evolved in Westernized societies, such as Chicago, where the influences of major institutions such as the Chicago School and Modernism were monumental. However, my interests lie within the translation of art deco from a Western environment to an Eastern, colonial influenced environment; where do the ‘gaps’ arise when importing a style such as art deco. By doing this thesis I hope to find similarities and differences in the development of Art Deco style from both the sites. My thesis will be completed in two parts. The first being a historical analysis, including economic, historical, and political developments within Chicago and Bombay between 1920 and 1940. The second part of my thesis will revolve around four case studies, two from each city. These will include analyses of architectural developments, material, technology, and the density of that area.
I am narrowing my scope to interpret two case studies from each city, which will be
analyzed based upon the above parameters. Specifically, my case study models from Chicago will be the Chicago Board of Trade Building (on Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, 1930) and the Lake Theatre (on the Lake Street Oak Park, 1936); while the examples from Mumbai will be the New India Assurance Building (on Ballard Estate, 1936) and the Metro Cinema (on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Marine Drive, 1938). This study also intends to understand and bridge the blind spots in protecting Art Deco buildings in both the cities by using improvised Historic Preservation laws as its tool to do so.