HOW COLONIZATION IMPACTED OUR ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

Like all other aspects, Colonization of Indian had an impact on architecture

style.
With colonization, a new chapter in Indian architecture began. The Dutch,
Portuguese and the French made their presence felt through their buildings but it
was the English who had a lasting impact on architecture.

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.
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.

From the mid nineteenth century it became a norm for the Anglo-Indian

church builders to follow the model set by the revivers of the many combinations
of Gothic in England.

In many cases imperialism was the sole guiding force rather than practicality.

On many occasions heavier styles than Gothic were employed. This can be seen
in the Mutiny Memorial Church at Kanpur and the last garrison church in New
Delhi.
Perhaps this was the beginning of a truly imperial style that reached its apex

at New Delhi. The great public building campaign launched in Bombay in the
second half of the nineteenth also resulted into great development of colonial
architecture.
In this phase Sir Gilbert Scotts buildings were significant products. Other

remarkable landmarks produced during this phase were William Emersons

Crawford Market, the Bombay high court and the Victoria terminus (now Shivaji
terminus).
The Victoria Terminus, once the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular

Railway, was the culminating masterpiece of the phase. It was increasingly hybrid
in style.
The Classical and Baroque style furthered the innovation in architecture. Its
best exponent was Walter Carnvilles Calcutta General Post Office.

Colonial Indian Architecture

Like all other aspects, colonization of Indian also had an impact on architecture style. With colonization, a new
chapter in Indian architecture began. The Dutch, Portuguese and the French made their presence felt through their
buildings but it was the English who had a lasting impact on architecture. 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.
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.
From the mid nineteenth century it became a norm for the Anglo-Indian church builders to follow the model set by the
revivers of the many combinations of Gothic in England. In many cases imperialism was the sole guiding force rather
than practicality. On many occasions heavier styles than Gothic were employed. This can be seen in the Mutiny
Memorial
Church
at
Kanpur
and
the
last
garrison
church
in
New
Delhi.
The Italian Gothic was seen to be well adapted to conditions in India. The architecture style recommended by Sir
Gilbert Scott for Bombay University proved crucial in making the colonial architecture look more 'Indian'. Perhaps this
was the beginning of a truly imperial style that reached its apex at New Delhi. The great public building campaign
launched in Bombay in the second half of the nineteenth also resulted into great development of colonial architecture.
In this phase Sir Gilbert Scott's buildings were significant products. Other remarkable landmarks produced during this
phase were William Emerson's Crawford Market, the Bombay high court and the Victoria terminus (now Shivaji
terminus).
The Victoria Terminus, once the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, was the culminating
masterpiece of the phase. It was increasingly hybrid in style. The Classical and Baroque style furthered the
innovation in architecture. Its best exponent was Walter Carnville's Calcutta General Post Office. The innovation in

colonial architecture did not stop here; in Victoria Memorial, William Emerson tried to emulate the Taj Mahal in
material if not in form. This was an indication of 'Indo-Saracenic' hybridization and was being increasingly employed
at different places like St. John's College, Agra and the Madras High Court,
Madras

RETHINKING COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE OF INDIA:

1800 TO 1950 By: Miki Desai School of Architecture
Centre for environment Planning and Technology
Ahmedabad, INDIA. Fulbright Fellow The colonial
architecture spanning about 150 to 200 years, representing an important phase in
the modernization of the country, modification of a stark medieval life style got to
ultimately become a democratic one at the dawn of Independence in 1947. The
modern Indian life style, the physical environments and the very urbanity
experienced today cannot be understood without recognizing the happenings of this
historical period. Imposed, emulative and resisted changes as manifested in the
physicality of living environments have far reaching implications, as can be seen
from the study of the Indian case. The penetration of colonial ideas/policies and
their impact on local institutions, ways of life and building processes created
situations of confrontation between the foreign and indigenous values and
ultimately between tradition and modernity. This lecture attempts to decipher the
underlying thought in this conflict and trace the architectural developments.
Historical, Political and Cultural Background, colonialism in the international and
Asian context- a brief history of colonization of India, various colonial powers: the
British, Dutch, French and Portuguese- general social dynamics, existing Indian
regionalism in political and cultural terms- Indian architecture: classical and
vernacular, architectural antecedents and precedents, important concepts and
images in pre-colonial India- a cursory look at the French and Portuguese colonial
impact. Indian Society and Early Colonial Architecture, British colonial as tradersmundane and functional nature of early architecture without much response to the
Indian context- shift in attitude as the crown takes over in 1858, expressions of
identity, power and superiority, building for permanence- social and philosophical
disparities between the ruler and the masses- imposition of life style and behavior
of self on the others, the idea of inclusion and exclusion- Indian progressive thought,
the freedom movement, the influence of Gandhi and Nehru on architecture Urban
Design and Architecture/Approach to Planning, introduction of new institutions
(railway stations, law courts, colleges, hospitals, post offices, etc.)- Emergence of a
new urbanity, modernizing forces, industrial and structural functionalism, urban
inserts and a new sense of urban design, overlaying of the new on the old, attitude
to planning, extension of cities and development of suburbs, hill stations,
cantonments- new urbanity in princely statesthe cities of colonial origin: Bombay,
Calcutta, Madras- expression of culmination New Delhi, the imperial city- impact of
modernist urban design ideology Building Methods, initial role of military engineers,

followed by the setting up of Public Works Department (1862)- introduction of new

building practices affecting rural as well as urban scales, -superimposition,
modification and replacement of existing building practices, introduction of new
materials and building techniques, their impact on architectural form. Architectural
Styles, politico-cultural meaning through built environment- purposeful stylistic
changes in architecture, from neoclassical to Indo-Sarcenic and Art Deco to moderninfluence of arts and crafts movement- important architects and their contributionsthe emergence of architectural profession, debates on arch. Society and Impact on
Life-style, new behavioral patterns, popular preferences, emulation and retention of
sociocultural nuances- colonial life-style of the high society, modification of old
typology to suite new sought after life style-development of new building types
(clubs, gymkhana, hotels, parks and gardens, etc.) Changes in Dwelling Type,
development of the bungalow typology, the most remarkable departure with its
visible impact to date and the resultant suburban expression- evolvement of the
type from a simple dwelling to an elaborate mansion- reflection of sociocultural
patterns, regional expression all over the country.