Colonial architecture in India

Indian architecture has evolved through various ages in different regions of the
country. Apart from these natural and obvious evolution from the pre-historic and
historic periods, evolution of Indian architecture was generally affected by the
emergence and decay of great empires and dynasties in the sub-continent.

Colonial Era (1500 AD—1947 AD )

The colonists built a settlement that synthesized the architecture of their countries of
origin with the design characteristics of their new lands, creating a hybrid designs.
Under colonial rule, architecture became an emblem of power, designed to endorse
the patron. Numerous outsiders invaded India and created architectural styles
reflective of their ancestral and adopted homes.

The British, French, Dutch and the Portuguese were the main powers that colonized
India. The British arrival in 1615 overthrew the Moghal 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(Patna), Karachi,
Nagpur, Bhopal and Hyderabad.

Neoclassical style

The British in the 18th and early 19th centuries,first used neo-Classical style of
architecture, but then a new style came to exist, one that reflected modern European
fashions: Gothic Architecture. The Classical had an orderly monochromatic
presence. Neoclassical style expressed horizontality instead of verticality of Neo
Gothic. Triangular pediment was the crowning glory. It had continuous windows
minus the arches with pilasters surrounding it. Arches were semicircular.

Initially British used Neo Classical style. It is seen in Army Nave building & Asiatic
building in Mumbai. Asiatic building has truly majestic façade supported on columns
& triangular pediment, all placed on a very high plinth. Entire building looks graceful
& horizontal. It maintains formal balance & bisymmetry unlike Gothic structures
which are flamboyant with turrets, pinnacles, gargoyles & gable ended roofs.

Neogothic or Victorian style

The Gothic style is expressive, beautified with carved and narrative elements,
consisting of flying buttresses, lancet windows and stained glass. According to writer
Jan Morris, "Bombay is one of the most characteristically Victorian cities in the world,
displaying all the grand effrontery of Victorian ecclectism. The architectural features
include German gables, Dutch roofs, Swiss timbering, Romance arches and Tudor
casements often interfused with traditional Indian features.

Mumbai University with its Rajabhai tower, Elphinston college & CST railway station
are some of the Neo Gothic buildings of British Colonial Era.

Indo Saracenic style

The Indo-Saracenic style developed in the second half of the 19th century,
combining Islamic and Hindu architectural styles with its characteristic domes,
arches, stained glasses, spires, and minarets.

TheGateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya are good
examples of this architectural type in the city.

Even Edwin Luteyn’s Delhi is based on same principles.

Gateway of India

The Gateway of India is one of the major monuments in the city, of Mumbai, located
in the Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai. It is a formal entrance having 26 metres
(85 ft) high arch built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. Many elements of
the arch are derived from the Muslim architectural styles of 16th century Gujarat.
The pillars are derived from the design of Hindu temples and the design of the
Gateway's windows is derived from Islamic architecture. The Gateway of India was
built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay, prior
to the Delhi Durbar, in December 1911. Architect was George Wittet . Construction
was finished in 1924. The building got the name the Gateway of India, because in
the colonial era the Europeans entered India from this location, it was normally the
first thing they would see while entering the country.

Chhatrapati Shivaji museum

Prince of Wales Museum building was renamed as Shivaji Chhatrapati Vastu

sangrahalaya. It was designed by George Wittet, the foundation stone was laid in
1905 by the visiting Prince of Wales. The building was completed in 1914, converted
to a military hospital during World War I. Interior atrium columns & arches are
derived from Moghul , Rajasthani & Gujarat Hindu architecture of temples. Exterior
has combination of Islamic domes with neo Gothic pointed arches.

Features of Indo Saracenic architecture are onion (bulbous) domes, overhanging

eaves, pointed arches, cusped arches, vaulted roofs, domed kiosks, many miniature
domes, domed chhatris, pinnacles, towers or minarets, harem windows, open
pavilions, pavilions with Bangala roofs, pierced open arcading.
Edwin Luteynes Delhi is self study.

Art Deco

The Deco period began in 1910 when Art Nouveau slid out of fashion. Art deco’s
linear symmetry was a distinct departure from the flowing asymmetrical organic
curves of its predecessor style art nouveau. Art Deco is an eclectic style and
designers drew inspiration from many sources. Artifacts from Ancient Egypt and
Greece, Meso-America, Africa, Japan and China had all been influential. Cubism,
Orphism, Futurism and Constructivism provided an abstract, geometric language
that was quickly assimilated into the Deco style.

Art Deco is one of Mumbai’s least noticed architectural styles, though Mumbai and
its suburbs possibly have the largest number of Art Deco buildings in the world. Art
Deco in India (and especially in Mumbai) evolved into a unique style that came to be
called Deco-Saracenic. Essentially, it was a combination of the Islamic and the
Hindu architectural styles.

Art Deco architecture in Mumbai developed during the 1930s and produced distinctly
angular shaped buildings with facades. The Art Deco style is also extremely
popular amongst various Cinema halls that sprung up in the early to mid 20th
Century including Metro Cinema, Eros Cinema, Liberty Cinema and even Regal
Cinema

Eros cinema is a typical art deco building . It is designed by architect Sohrabji

Bhedwar. It is partially faced with red Agra sandstone, this building is painted cream.
The two wings of this Art Deco building meet up in a central block. The foyer is in
white and black marble with touches of gold. Marble staircases with chromium
handrails lead up to the upper floor. The murals are in muted colours depicting
Indian architectures.

The Metro Adlabs Cinema is located on Mahatma Gandhi Road, at Dhobitalao

Junction. It is also a good example of the Art Deco style of architecture that
appeared in the 1930s in the city. The Metro Cinema opened on 8 June 1938 and
was designed by noted American theatre architect Thomas W. Lamb. It was built for
Metro Goldwyn Mayer and seating was provided for 1,491 people in orchestra and
balcony levels. The auditorium reopened in 2006 and was sub-divided into six large
luxury screens.

British thus got variety of styles in architecture which was amalgamation of some
European trends married to Indian themes. The most popular ones are Neo
Classical, Neo Gothic or Victorian, Indo Saracenic & finally Art Deco which was
truly international style. All these styles are seen in their public buildings of
museums, administrative buildings, cinemas as well as residential buildings. Some
of these buildings are very dignified & truly majestic & have already become India’s
cultural heritage.