BRITISH ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA
1615 -1947
• Like all other aspects of society, the colonization of India also had a great impact
on architecture.
• Colonization marked a new chapter in Indian architecture. Though the Dutch, the
Portuguese and the French made their presence felt through their buildings but it
was the English who had a lasting impact on architecture of India.
• In the beginning of the colonial rule there were attempts at creating authority
through classical prototypes.
• In its later phase the colonial architecture culminated into what is called the Indo-
Saracenic architecture.
INTRODUCTION
• The Indo-Saracenic architecture combined the features of Hindu, Islamic and
western elements.
• The colonial architecture exhibited itself through institutional, civic and utilitarian
buildings such as post offices, railway stations, rest houses and government
buildings. Such buildings began to be built in large numbers over the whole
empire.
• Colonial architecture in India followed developments not only from metropolis
but also took inspiration from existing architecture in India.
INDIAN SOCIETY AND EARLY COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE
• As traders- mundane and functional nature of early architecture without much
response to the Indian context.
• Shift in attitude happens as the crown takes over in 1858, which adds expressions
of identity, power and superiority.
• Which creates building for permanence- social and philosophical disparities
between the ruler and the masses.
• Also which includes imposition of life style and behavior of self on the others.
INTRODUCTION
• The British arrived in 1615 by overthrowing the Mughal empire. Britain reigned
India for over three hundred years and their legacy still remains through building
and infrastructure that populate their former colonies.
• The major cities colonized during this period were Madras, Calcutta, Bombay,
Delhi, Agra, Bankipore, Nagpur, Bhopal and Hyderabad.
• MADRAS
• CALCUTTA
• BOMBAY
MAJOR CITIES
EVOLUTION
EVOLUTION
EVOLUTION
• Onion (Bulbous) Domes
• Overhanging Eaves
• Pointed Arches, Cusped Arches,
or Scalloped Arches
• Vaulted Roofs
• Domed Kiosks
• Miniature Domes, or Domed
Chhatris
• Towers or Minarets
CHARACTERISTICS
• Harem Windows
• Open Pavilions
• Pierced Open Arcading
MADRAS
• It was designed and completed in 1884 by robert
fellows Chisholm.
• The roofs in the buildings are varied. there isthe
flat roof and the gable roofwith
dormer windows.
• Its pillars are of corinthian order and has square flat
topped towers.
• The roofs may have been inspiredby the
timber roofs in Kerala.
MADRAS
The gabled ventilators on the roof besides a chimney and some of the fenestrations.
Reflect a victorian "country-colonial" .
MADRAS
• The arches in the
veranda and the
exterior are pure
saracen.
• The projecting eaves
are supported by stone
brackets and this
seems to be a hindu
influence
• The arches, columns,
and all other details
are cut in stone. The
arches which occupy
the longer faces of
the building have on
them intricate jali
work carved in
stone.
MADRAS
• Constructed by Robert Chisholm between 1874 and 1 8 7 9
• Inspired by the Byzantine and built in the Indo -Saracenic style.
• Chisholm was the Principal of the School of Industrial Art at
• Madras, and won the commission for designing the Presidency
College and the University Senate House.
MADRAS
TOWER
PORCH
DOUBLE HEIGHTVERANDAH
MADRAS
Turrets Large clerestory circular
openings decorated with
coloured glass.
•Used same method of construction as
usedby mughals
Mughal chajjas
MADRAS
Stone columns withsculptured
capital.
Hindu iconography on
the capital
BOMBAY
• The station building isdesigned in the High Victorian Gothic style of architecture. The
building exhibits a fusion of influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival
architecture and traditional Indian architecture.
• The skyline, turrets, pointed arches, and eccentric ground plan are close to
BOMBAY
traditional Indian palace architecture.
• The centrally domed office structure has a 330 feet long platform connected to a
1,200 feet long train shed, and its outline provides the skeleton plan for building.
• VT's dome of dovetailed ribs, built without centring, was considered as a
novel achievement of the era.
• The columns of the entrance gatesare crowned by figures of a
lion (representing Great Britain) and a tiger (representing
India).
• The ceiling of the booking hall was originally painted blue,
gold and strong red on a ground of rich blue with gold stars.
Its walls were lined with glazed tiles.
• The stone arches are coveredwith carved foliage and
grotesques.
BOMBAY
•The architect George Wittet combined the elements
of the Roman triumphal arch and the 16th-century
architecture of Gujarat Its design is a combination
of Hindu and Muslim architecturalstyles;
•The gateway is built from yellow basalt
and reinforced concrete.
• The stone was locally obtained, and the
perforated screens were brought from Gwalior.
BOMBAY
•The arch is of Muslim style while the decorations are of Hindu style.
BOMBAY
CALCUTTA
CALCUTTA
•The Victoria Memorial (Victoria Memorial Hall) is a large marble building
in Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India which was built between 1906 and
1921.
•It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and is now a museum
and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.
•The Memorial lies on the Maidan (grounds) by the bank of the Hooghly river, near
Jawaharlal Nehru road.
QUEEN VICTORIA LORD CURZON WILLIAM EMERSON
•The construction of the Victoria Memorial was delayed by Curzon's
departure from India in 1905 with a subsequent loss of local enthusiasm
for the project and by the need for testing of the foundations.
•The Victoria Memorial's foundation stone was set in 1906 and the
building opened in 1921.
• The work of construction was entrusted to Messrs. Martin & Co. of
CALCUTTA
Calcutta.
• Work on the superstructure began in 1910.
• After 1947, when India gained independence, additions were made.
•The Victoria Memorial's architect was William Emerson (1843–
1924), president of the Royal Institute of BritishArchitects.
•The design is in the Indo- Saracenic revivalist style.
•This style uses a mixture of British and Mughal elements as well
as Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani andIslamic architectural
influences.
•It is constructed of white Makrana marble.
•The gardens of the Victoria Memorial were designed by Lord Redesdale and
David Prain.
•Emerson's assistant, Vincent J. Esch designed the bridge of the north aspect
and the garden gates
CALCUTTA
•Emerson may not have taken, literally, from the Taj Mahal
but there is a reminiscence. Like the Taj Mahal, the
Victoria Memorial is built of white Makrana marble and is a
memorial to an empress.
•In design, it echo's the Taj Mahal with
[Link]
[Link] CORNER
TOWERS
2. FOUR
SUBSIDIARIES [Link]
PORTALS
CALCUTTA
4. OCTAGONAL DOMEDCHATTRIS
St Paul's Cathedral in the St Paul's Cathedral as it is
CALCUTTA
very early twentieth today.
century
CALCUTTA
• 8 October 1839
• Architect William Nairn Forbes
• Gothic revival style
• Stucco ornamentation
GOTHIC pinnacle
REVIVAL
FEATURES:
tower
finial
Rosewindow
Pointed arch
archivolt tracery
Lancet window
CALCUTTA
• Very low nave
• Hall without any aisles on itsflanks
• Plastic art forms andmemorabilia
• Barrel vault roof
• Stained glass
CALCUTTA
