Indian Colonial Architecture Styles

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE MODULE 2 : INDIAN COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE - BRITISH
INTRODUCTION
During this period there were two prominent styles:
1. Indo - saracenic revival architecture
2. Neoclassical architecture
• Introduced new institutions
• Military
• Forts
• Emergence of new urbanity
• British influence, mostly affected: Bombay,
Calcutta, Madras
• Introduction of new building practices.
• Superimposition, modification , replacement of
existing buildings materials and techniques with
their impact on architectural forms.

INDO-SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE(INDO-GOTHIC)
• Styled by British architects
• Saracen term used in Europe, meaning people
living in tents.
• Combination of Indo Islamic , Indian
Architecture , Neo classic style , Victorian
Britian , Baroque ,Palladian, Revival
Architecture style (Indo-gothic, Hindu gothic,
Mughal-gothic, Neo-mughal Architecture)
• Fusion of Indo Islamic and Indian Architecture
• 19th century
• Mainly in public & govt. Buildings.
• Basic layout of buildings was in gothic revival
and neo-classical.
• Architecture is a combination of architectural
elements of Hindu and Mughal with gothic
features.
Chepauk Palace, Chennai

CHARACTERISTICS
 ARCHES
 Stained Glass
 Overhanging Eaves
 Spires
 Domed Kiosks
 Hareem Windows
 Vaulted Roofs
 Jharokas
 Chajjas
 Jali
 Minarets
 Onion Domes
Pointed , Cusped & Scalloped
Arches

PROMINENET BUILDINGS WERE:
•MADRAS HIGH COURT •VICTORIA MEMORIAL
•MYSORE CLOCK TOWER
•GATEWAY OF INDIA
•FINE ARTS, TRIVANDRUM

•CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ VASTU SANGRAHALAYA ,
Mumbai
•WRITTERS BUILDING
•MAYO COLLEGE
•LAXMI VILLAS
•NAPIER MUSEUM

• The buildings and monuments were a mix Indian (Mughal) style,
Victorian, Gothic, Palladian, Baroque and other styles.
• In post renaissance period the public buildings were built as per
the advanced British Structural Engineering standards.
• Use of iron, steel and concrete
Prevelant styles were:
• Palladian style
• Baroque style
• The Victorian style
GOTHIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE

PALLADIAN STYLE
OCTAGONAL DOME
WINDOW
PEDIMENT
CORNICA
PALLADIAN WINDOW
STAIRWAY
FEATUERS
 A central tower arises from the terraced roofs
 Use of palladian windows, consists of central section with
semi-circular arch on either sides by pillars.
 Ceiling as an ornamental focus
 Mouldings depicting nature, fireplaces and wall painting
17TH CENTURY
ANDREA PALLADIO FROM ITALY
EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, KNOWN AS
PALLADIANISM
STRONGLY BASED ON SYMMETRY, PERSPECTIVE,
VALUES OF FORMAL CLASSIC TEMPLE

VICTORIAN GOTHIC STYLE
•A mix of early European styles mixed with the introduction of middle east and
Asian influences.
•Best example of this style is Victoria memorial, Kolkata
•Built with Mughal elements on advanced Engineering standards.
•Use of iron, steel and concrete
FEATURES
•Bulbous domes along with many miniature domes
•Overhanging eaves pointed arches
•Cusped arches
•Scalloped arches vaulted roofs domed chhatris
•Pinnacles
•Towers
•Minarets open pavilions pierced arcades.

CALCUTTA COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE

CALCUTTA COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE
• KOLKATA AS A PORT CITY WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED BY THE COLONIAL
POWERS IN THE 18TH CENTURY.
• EARLIER IT WAS JUST A FEW SCATTERED SETTLEMENTS, THE BRITISH
CONSOLIDATED AND DEVELOPED IT AS THE FIRST MAJOR PORT CITY AND
THE CAPITAL OF BRITISH INDIA. AS SUCH CALCUTTA BECAME THE TRIAL
GROUND FOR THE COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE AND TOWN PLANNING
• HERE ONE CAN WITNESS A CONFLUENCE OF EUROPEAN AND MUGHAL
ARCHITECTURE FINDING ITS ROOTS.

TOWN HALL
• BUILT IN 1813 TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR
CALCUTTA'S EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
TO GATHER FOR SOCIAL EVENTS, MADE
IN ROMAN DORIC STYLE, THE BUILDING
WAS USED FOR JUDICIAL PURPOSE IN
THE LATTER HALF OF THE 19TH
CENTURY, WHILE THE CALCUTTA HIGH
COURT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
• IN ADDITION TO A MUSEUM, THE
TOWN HALL ALSO HOUSES A
REFERENCE LIBRARY, WITH OVER 12,000
BOOKS AND JOURNALS, INCLUDING
SOME VERY RARE EDITIONS

MARBLE PALACE
• LOCATED IN HISTORIC NORTH KOLKATA, THIS
19TH-CENTURY MANSION WAS BUILT BY RAJA
RAJENDRA MULLICK, A WEALTHY BENGALI
MERCHANT WHO ALSO HAPPENED TO BE AN
ART ENTHUSIAST.
• THE THREE-STOREYED, NEOCLASSICAL BUILDING
FEATURES MARBLE WALLS AND FLOORS, AND
HOUSES A RICH COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS BY
INDIAN AND EUROPEAN ARTISTS.
• IN ADDITION, INTERIORS ARE PEPPERED WITH
SCULPTURES, ANTIQUE FURNITURE, AND OTHER
VALUABLE ITEMS. WHILE THE DESCENDANTS OF
MULLICK CONTINUE TO LIVE IN MARBLE PALACE,
PARTS OF THE HOUSE THAT THEY DON’T INHABIT
ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

HIGH COURT
• THE OLDEST HIGH COURT IN INDIA,
THIS ESTABLISHMENT WAS SET UP
IN 1862
• ALTHOUGH THE NEO-GOTHIC
BUILDING IT’S HOUSED IN WASN’T
CONSTRUCTED UNTIL 10 YEARS
LATER.
• DESIGNED BY BRITISH ARCHITECT
WALTER GRANVILLE, THE
STRUCTURE IS SAID TO BE
MODELED ON THE CLOTH HALL IN
YPRES, BELGIUM HIGH COURT

BELVEDERE ESTATE
 HOME TO THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF
INDIA, THE LARGEST LIBRARY IN THE
COUNTRY BY VOLUME
 THE BELVEDERE ESTATE IS BELIEVED
TO HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN THE
MID-18TH CENTURY.
 BELVEDERE HOUSE IS THOUGHT TO
HAVE BEEN BUILT BY MIR JAFAR ALI
KHAN, THE NAWAB (RULER) OF BENGAL
DURING THE 1760S, WHO THEN
TRANSFERRED IT TO THE BRITISH
EAST INDIA COMPANY.

WRITERS BUILDING
• DESIGNED BY THOMAS LYON IN 1777, THE WRITERS’ BUILDING IS
THE FIRST BUILDING TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN KOLKATA. IT WAS THE
SEAT OF THE CHIEF MINISTER AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TILL
2013, AFTER WHICH IT WAS CLOSED DOWN FOR RENOVATIONS.
• THIS FAMOUS BUILDING HAS A GRECO-ROMAN LOOK IN ELEVATION,
AND IS ALMOST RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE WITH COLOURFUL
MINTON FLOOR TILES AND CORINTHIAN COLUMNS. THE WRITERS’
BUILDING IS A GLORIOUS STRUCTURE WHOSE MAGNIFICENCE LIES
NOT ONLY IN ITS BEAUTY, BUT ALSO IN ITS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE.
• IN 1821 A 128 FT-LONG VERANDAH WITH IONIC COLUMNS, EACH 32
FT HIGH, WERE ADDED ON THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS AND
TWO SMALL PEDIMENT ON COLUMNS BY LORD WELLESLEY

FEATURES
• ROTUNDA
• GEORGIAN ROOF
• MINERVA STATUES
• DORIC PEDIMENTED ENTRANCES
• ITALIAN GRECIAN FONTAGE

FIRST PHASE (1777-1778)
• DESIGNED AS BARRACKS TO PROVIDE
ACCOMODATION TO THE JOHN COMPANY’S
WRITERS
• THREE STORIED STRUCTURE .

• IN 1821, A 128 FT LONG VERANDAH
WITH IONIC COLUMNS, EACH 32 FT
HIGH, WERE ADDED ON THE FIRST AND
SECOND FLOORS AND TWO SMALL
PEDIMENT ON COLUMNS BY LORD
WELLESLY
• A BETTER ORNAMENTED FAÇADE

• TWO NEW BLOCKS WERE ADDED, APPROACHED BY IRON STAIRCASES THAT ARE STILL IN
USE.
• WRITERS' ACQUIRED ITS GRECO-ROMAN LOOK, COMPLETE WITH THE PORTICO IN THE
CENTRAL BAY AND THE RED SURFACE OF EXPOSED BRICK.
• THE PARAPET WAS PUT IN PLACE AND STATUES SCULPTED BY WILLIAM FREDRIC
WOODINGTON IN 1883 WERE INSTALLED LINING THE TERRACE.
• THIRD PHASE- COMPLETE RE-MODELLING OF THE FRONT FAÇADE BY E. J. MARTIN(1877-
1905)
• MINERVA STANDS ABOVE THE CENTRAL PORTICO. PRE-INDEPENDENCE, WRITERS' HAD A
LARGE COURTYARD WITH SEVEN BLOCKS. 6. BY 1970, ALL 13 BLOCKS WERE CONSTRUCTED.
THE MAIN BLOCK, INCLUDING THE ROTUNDA AND FIVE MAIN BLOCKS, ARE HERITAGE
STRUCTURES

VICTORIA MEMORIAL

LOCATION : KOLKATA ,WEST BENGAL ,INDIA
TOTAL AREA : 64
YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION : 1906-1921
TYPE : TO COMMERATE QUEEN VICTORIA
DESIGNED BY : MEMORIAL WAS DESIGNED BY SIR WILLIAM EMERSON-
INDO SARACENIC STYLE WITH INCOPERATING MUGHAL
ELEMENTS IN THE STRUCTURE GARDENS-LORD
REDESDALE AND SIR DAVID PRAIN

69m
PLAN
103m

56m
SECTION

•THE FOUNDATION OF STONE OF THE MEMORIAL WAS LAID
ROWN IN 1906. THE MONUMENT AS A TRIBUTE TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN INDIA
•THE DESIGN WHICH REPRESENT THE FUSION OF BRITISH AND
MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
•WHITE MAKRANA MARBLES WERE USED FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VICTORIA MEMORIAL HALL
•BUILDING WAS INAUGURATED IN 1921
•THE MASSIVE HALL IS 338 FEETS (103M) BY228FEETS(69M)
•RISES TO A HEIGHT OF 184 FEETS(56M)
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
•INDO SARACENIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE
•MOVENMENTS BY BRITISH ARCHITECTS IN
THE LATE 19TH CENTURY IN BRITISH INDIA
•IT TOOK ELEMENTS FROM NATIVE ISLAMIC
AND INDIAN ARCHITECTURE,AND
COMBINED IT WITH THE GOTHIC REVIVAL
AND NON CLASSICAL STYLES FAVOURED IN
VICTORIAN BRITAIN.

DOMED
CHATRIS
ONION DOMED
MINERATS
COLONNATED AREA WITH
OVERHANGING EAVES
•POINTED ARCHES,CUSPED ARCHES AND SCALLOPED ARCHES ARE USED
•DOMED KIOSKS,AND SMALL DOMES
• WHITE MAKRANA MARBLES
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

WALK WAY THROUGH THE
ART AND HERITAGE
INTERIOR VIEW OF DOME

STATUE OF QUEEN VICTORIASTATUE OF LORD CURZON

STATUE OF MOTHERHOOD
ANGLE OF VICTORY

MADRAS COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE

INDO SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE
• INDO-SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE REPRESENTS A SYNTHESIS OF MUSLIM DESIGNS AND
INDIAN MATERIALS DEVELOPED BY BRITISH ARCHITECTS IN INDIA DURING THE LATE
NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURIES. THE HYBRID COMBINED DIVERSE
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF HINDU AND MUGHAL WITH GOTHIC CUSPED ARCHES,
DOMES, SPIRES, TRACERY, MINARETS AND STAINED GLASS, IN A WONDERFUL, ALMOST
PLAYFUL MANNER.
• INDO-SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE IS OFTEN CALLED A “STYLISTIC HYBRID” (MICHELL)
ARCHITECTURE.
• THE MIXTURE OF INDIAN ELEMENTS WITH THE NEO-CLASSICAL AND GOTHIC STYLES
TYPIFIES AN INDO-SARACENIC BUILDING. THESE BUILDINGS ARE ALSO CALLED
“CONSISTENTLY PICTURESQUE,” (MICHELL) WHICH YOU CAN SEE IS TRUE FROM THE
PICTURE OF THE VICTORIA MEMORIAL HALL IN MADRAS.

PRINCIPLE CHARACTERISTICS
• ONION (BULBOUS) DOMES
• OVERHANGING EAVES
• POINTED ARCHES, CUSPED ARCHES, OR SCALLOPED ARCHES
• VAULTED ROOFS
• DOMED KIOSKS
• MANY MINIATURE DOMES, OR DOMED CHHATRIS
• PINNACLES
• TOWERS OR MINARETS
• HAREM WINDOWS
• OPEN PAVILLIONS OR PAVILLIONS WITH BANGALA ROOFS
• PIERCED OPEN ARCADING

ARCHITECTS OF INDO-SARACENIC BUILDINGS
• ROBERT FELLOWES CHISHOLM
• HENRY IRWIN
• CHARLES MANT
• WILLIAM EMERSON
• GEORGE WITTET
• FREDERICK W. STEVENS

MAIN BUILDINGS
• CHEPAUK PALACE
• GENERAL POST OFFICE
• SENATE HOUSE

CHEPAUK PALACE
• THECHEPAUK PALACE IS ONE OF
THE OLDEST BUILDINGS ON
MARINA LOCATED AT THE
JUNCTION OF SOUTH BEACH
ROAD OR KAMARAJAR SARAI
• THE MAIN ARCHITECT OF THE
BUILDING WAS PAUL BENFIELD.
LATER ON NUMEROUS
ADDITIONS WERE MADE BY THE
GOVT. IN THIS BUILDING.WHICH
WERE DONE BY R.F.CHISHOLM.
• THE BUILDING COMPRISES OF
TWO BLOCKS : HUMAYUN
MAHAL AND THE KHALSA
MAHAL

HUMAYUN MAHAL
• THE MAJORITY OF ADDITIONS
WERE DONE TO THE HUMAYUN
MAHAL
• IT WAS TRANSFORMED INTO
THE REVENUE BOARD BUILDING
IN 1871
• IT WAS ORIGINALLY A SINGLE
STOREYED STRUCTURE WITH
THE OFTEN CITED,TWO FLOR
HIGH DURBAR HALL

KHALSA MAHAL
THE KHALSA MAHAL
INCORPORATED THE
ENGINEERING COLLEGE AND
THE OFFICE OF THE PWD.

GENERAL POST OFFICE :
Robert Fellowes Chisholm
• THE GENERAL POST OFFICE
ON THE NORTH BEACH
ROAD IS TODAY KNOWN AS
THE RAJAJI SALAI.
• IT WAS DESIGNED AND
COMPLETED IN 1884 BY
ROBERT FELLOWES
CHISHOLM.

IT HAS BEEN LAID OUT AS A RECTANGLE MEASURING ABOUT 100M X
50M WITH A FLOOR AREA OF OVER 5000 SQ.M.
THE MAIN POSTAL HALL IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN FACE OF
THE BUILDING. IT HAS A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 13 M AND MEASURES
30M X 15M.

Corinthian pillars and Red Brick on the exterior
• THE BUILDING IS MOSTLY BRICK WHICH HAS BEEN PAINTED ON THE EXTERIOR IN RED AND
THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN PLASTERED WHITE.
• THE ROOFS IN THE BUILDINGS ARE VARIED. THERE IS THE FLAT ROOF AND THE GABLE ROOF
WITH DORMER WINDOWS.
• THERE ARE ALSO TOWERS OF VARYING HEIGHTS INTERCEPTING THE GABLES. THEY HAVE
BALCONIES APPENDED
• 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.
• THE ROOFS MAY HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE TIMBER ROOFS IN KERALA, ALSO SEEN IN
ANOTHER DESIGN BY R.F. CHISHOLM IN TRAVANCORE – THE NAPIER MUSEUM.
Hindu Stone Brackets and Saracen Arch

SENATE HOUSE :
R. F. CHISHOLM
• THE DESIGN OF THIS BUILDING WERE CHOOSEN THROUGH AN OPEN
COMPETITION ANNOUNCED BY THE MADRAS GOVERNMENT IN 1864.
• THE SENATE HOUSE WAS TO SERVE AS THE EXAMINATION HALL AND
OFFICES OF THE MADRAS UNIVERSITY.
• IT COMPRISES OF LARGE TWO FLOOR HIGH CENTRAL HALL, 16M HIGH,
MEASURING APPROX. 50M BY 15M, AND HAS A CAPACITY TO SEET 1600
PEOPLE.
• THESE TOWERS ARE COVERED BY PENDENTIVE BULBOSE DOMES THAT ARE
HIGHLY ARTICULATED WITH INTRICATE SURFACE DECORATION.
• ARCHES AND DOMES ARE COVERED WITH
FLOWING GEOMETRIC PATTERNS.
• TINIER CUPOLAS ON OCTOGONAL DRUMS
PIN THE CORNERS WITH A SERIES OF TURRETS
LINING THE EAST AND WEST SIDES.

• IMPRESSIVE DOUBLE FLOOR HIGH VERANDAS ON THE EAST AND
WEST FACES ARE LINED BY STONE COLUMNS WITH SCULPTURED
CAPITALS BEARING HUMAN FIGURES AND HINDU ICONS AND SUPPORT
LARGE HORSESHOE ARCHES TRIMMED IN STONE..

EFFECT ON PLANNING
• THE COLONIAL INFLUENCE, RESULTED IN A SYNTHESIS AND CONFLUENCE OF STYLES,
THE REPERCUSSIONS OF WHICH GAVE NEW DIMENSIONS TO THE PLANNING OF THE
BUILDINGS.
• THE SIZE OF THE ROOMS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED. THE INDIAN PROPORTIONS OF
THE ROOMS WERE MUCH SMALLER THAN THEIR EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS.
• CONCEPTS OF DINING ROOMS, BALLROOMS, TENNIS COURTS AND OTHER SUCH
ACTIVITIES ARE A COLONIAL INFLUENCE. THE PALACES WERE NO LONGER RESTRICTED
TO THE FORTIFIED PALACES; THEY HAD BECOME ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSES WITH AN
INDIAN VENEER.
• THE BUILDINGS SHOW SPATIAL SEPARATION, SUCH AS GATES, BARRIERS, A
SYMMETRICAL AXIS OF APPROACH AND HEIGHT AND SIZE AS EXPRESSIONS OF
POWER. EVEN THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDINGS WERE BASED ON EUROPEAN
DESIGNS AND UPHOLSTERY.
• THE PLANNING TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE CLIMATE OF THE PLACE AND
CONCESSIONS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE DESIGN TO SUIT IT. THE WALLS HAVE BEEN
MADE THICK. ALMOST ALL THE BUILDINGS HAVE A VERANDA.

BOMBAY COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE

HISTORY OF BOMBAY
• The city of Bombay originally consisted of seven island namely Colaba,
Mazagoan, old women island Wadala, mahim, parel and matungasion.
• This group of island, which have since been Joined together by a series
of reclamation.
• The company which was operating from Surat was in search for another
deeper water port so than larger vessel could dock and found the island
of Bombay suitable for development.
• The British corrupted the Portuguese name “Bom Baia” to “Bombay”.
• The kalis used to call the island “Mumbai” after Mumbadevi, The Hindu
deity.
• Charles II of England received possession of the island in 1661 as a part
of the dowry of Catherine of Brahanza, daughter of King John IV of
Portugal and leased them to the English east India company in 1668.

ARCHITECTURE STYLES IN BOMBAY
 VICTORIAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
 INDO-SARACENIC
 ART DECO

GATE WAY OF INDIA
 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 architectural styles
ie, the arch is of Muslim style while the
decorations are of Hindu style.
 After its construction the gateway was
used as a symbolic ceremonial entrance to
British India for important colonial
personnel.
 It has been called a symbol of "conquest
and colonization" commemorating British
colonial legacy.

ST. THOMAS CATHEDRAL
 Construction begun in 1672 and finished in
1718
 The oldest British-era building standing in
Mumbai and the city's first Anglican church
 It was once the eastern gateway of the East
India company’s fort (the ‘church gate’).
 The cathedral is a marriage of byzantine and
colonial-era architecture, and its airy interior
is full of grandiose colonial memorials.

TAJ HOTEL, MUMBAI
 Founded in 1903
 Located adjacent to the Gateway of India,
overlooking Mumbai harbor.
 the Taj mahal hotel was conceived and
developed by industrialist Jamshetji Tata
 the 22-floor Taj mahal palace has a rich
blend of European and Islamic-style
architecture.
 The hotel's red-tiled Florentine gothic dome
crowns the indo-saracenic arches and
architraves of the hotel
 Though many accounts credit the building's
design to British architect WA Chambers, it
was originally designed by Indian architects
Sitaram Khanderao Vaidya and DN Mirza.

• THE BUILDING EXHIBITS A FUSION OF INFLUENCES FROM VICTORIAN
ITALIANATE GOTHIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE AND TRADITIONAL INDIAN
ARCHITECTURE.
VICTORIA TERMINUS,
BOMBAY CHATRAPATHI SHIVAJI TERMINUS

ABOUT :
 LOCATION : MUMBAI ( Formerly BOMBAY ) , MAHARASHTRA , INDIA.
 CONSTUCTION : CST IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF 19th CENTURY.
completed in the year 1887.
 TYPE : INFLUENCES FROM VICTORIAN ITALINATE REVIVAL
ARCHITECTURE,AND FROM INDIAN TRADITIONAL
BUILDING AND GOTHIC ART.
 ARCHITECT : FREDERICK WILLIAM STEVENS.
 2004 CST MARKED WORLD HERITAGE SITE

 CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF LATE 19TH CENTURY
RAILWAY ARCHITECTURE IN THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH, CHARACTERIZED BY
VICTORIAN GOTHIC REVIVAL AND TRADITIONAL INDIAN FEATURES, AS WELL AS ITS
ADVANCED STRUCTURAL AND TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS.
 CST BECAME THE SYMBOL OF BOMBAY AS THE ‘GOTHIC CITY’ AND THE MAJOR
INTERNATIONAL MERCANTILE PORT OF INDIA.
 THE TERMINAL WAS BUILT OVER TEN YEARS STARTING IN 1878 ACCORDING TO A HIGH
VICTORIAN GOTHIC DESIGN BASED ON LATE MEDIEVAL ITALIAN MODELS.
 ITS REMARKABLE STONE DOME, TURRETS, POINTED ARCHES, AND ECCENTRIC GROUND
PLAN ARE CLOSE TO TRADITIONAL INDIAN PALACE ARCHITECTURE.
 IT IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE MEETING OF TWO CULTURES AS BRITISH
ARCHITECTS WORKED WITH INDIAN CRAFTSMEN TO INCLUDE INDIAN ARCHITECTURAL
TRADITION AND IDIOMS FORGING A NEW STYLE UNIQUE TO BOMBAY.

CST ( FORMERLY VICTORIA TERMINUS )

PLAN
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.
THE HALL IS 82 FT. IN
LENGTH X BY 76 FT.
IN WIDTH, AND 42
FT. IN HEIGHT THE
BUILDINGS
OVERLOOKA
GARDEN, WHICH IS
TASTEFULLY LAID
OUT.

 ORNAMENTATIONS OF THIS BUILDINGCREATES AN INTERESTING SKYLINE WHICHOPTIMIZES
THE GOTHIC REVIVAL OF ARCHITECTURE.
 THE HEIGHT TOWIDTH RATIO WILL BE EQUAL
 SERIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ARCHES AT EACH FLOOR WITH HIGHLY DECORATED STONE
CARVING
SECTION

 VT STATION IN A COMBINATION OF BRICK AND STONE, DESIGNING ELABORATELY EVERY DETAIL AND
CREATING AN AMBITIOUS MONUMENT, WHICH WAS FAVOURABLY COMPARED WITH ANY EDIFICE IN
BRITAIN.
 THE MAIN STRUCTURE IS BUILT FROM A BLEND OF INDIA SANDSTONE AND LIMESTONE, WHILE
HIGHQUALITY ITALIAN MARBLE WAS USED FOR THE KEY DECORATIVE ELEMENTS.
 THE MAIN INTERIORS ARE ALSO DECORATED WITH ITALIAN MARBLE AND POLISHED INDIAN BLUE
STONE.
 INTERNALLY, 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

NEW DELHI
• BRITISH COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE,
WORKS BY EDWIN LUTYENS

INTRODUCTION
• NEW DELHI IS THE CAPITAL AND SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA . IT IS ALSO A
MUNICIPALITY AND DISTRICT IN DELHI.
• THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE CITY WAS LAID BY GEORGE .V. EMPEROR OF INDIA
DURING THE DELHI DURBAR OF 1911.
• IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE BRITISH ARCHITECT SIR EDWIN LUTYENS AND SIR HERBERT
BAKER
• THIS AREA WOULD ALSO BE CALLED LUTYENS' DELHI IN HONOR OF THE ARCHITECT.
MEMBERS OF LUTYENS' TEAM OF ARCHITECTS INCLUDED WALTER SYKES
GEORGE, ARTHUR GORDON SHOOSMITH AND HENRY MEDD.
• CONSTRUCTION REALLY BEGAN AFTER WORLD WAR 1 AND WAS COMPLETED BY 1931.
• IT IS REPORTED THAT LUTYENS WAS RELUCTANT TO INCORPORATE INDIAN FEATURES IN
HIS STYLE, BUT LATER CONCEDED.

HISTORY
 Kolkata was the capital of India during the
British raj until December 1911.
 The land for building the new city of Delhi
was acquired under the land acquisition
act 1894.
 Large parts of new Delhi was planned by
Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker both
leading 20th century British architects .
 The contract was given to Sobha Singh ,
he was a civil contractor and a prominent
builder of lutyens Delhi.

LAYOUT
• The city plan of Delhi is a mixture of old and new road patterns. The street network of
Old Delhi reflects the defense needs of an earlier era, with a few transverse streets
leading from one major gate to another. Conversely, the Civil Lines (residential areas
originally built by the British for senior officers) in the north and New Delhi in the
south embody an element of relative openness, characterized by green grass, trees,
and a sense of order.
Layout was governed by 3 major visual corridor
• Jama Masjid
• Indraprastha
• Safdarjung tomb.

INITIAL DESIGN OF NEW DELHI

THE CENTRAL AXIS
 IT CONNECTED THE IMPORTANT
GOVT BUILDINGS SUCH AS
RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN, THE
SECRETARIATBALONG ITS SIDE,
SANSAD BHAWAN, WAR
MEMORIAL ARCH, INDIA GATE
 THE COMMERCIAL HUB,
CONNAUGHT PLACE IS ALSO
CONNECTED TO THIS AXIS
PERPENDICULARLY

PLACEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES
 NEW DELHI IS STRUCTURED AROUND 2
CENTRAL PROMENADES CALLED THE
RAJPUTH(KINGSWAY) & THE JAN PATH.
 AT TH HEART OF THE CITY IS THE
MAGNIFICIENT RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN
WHICH SITS ATOP RAISINA HILL.
 THE SECRETARIAT, WHICH HOUSES
VARIOUS MINISTERS OF INDIA, FLANKS
OUT OF THE RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN.
 THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE, DESIGNED BY
HERBERT BAKER, IS LOCATED AT THE
SANSAD MARG, WHICH RUNS PARALLEL
TO THE RAJPATH.
 12 SEPARATE ROADS LEAD OUT RING OF
CONNAUGHT PLACE, ONE OF THEM
BEING THE JANPATH

OLD DELHI v/s NEW DELHI
OLD DELHI NEW DELHI
Delhi is a large metropolitan city
which has 11 districts.
New Delhi is the area of Delhi ,it is
the capital of Delhi as well as India.
Old delhi is narrow unhygienic and
congested by-lanes.
Excellent metro rails and road
network , wide roads , sky –
rocketing buildings , stunning
infrastructure and great fly overs

ROAD NETWORKS
 Edwin Lutyens had initially designed New Delhi with all the
street crossing at right angles .
 The road networks consisted of diagonals and radials shape
and at 30 degree or 60 degree angles to the main axis which
are forming triangles and hexagons .
 The design of the road network was capable of
accommodating 6000 vehicles.

MAIN BUILDINGS
• RASHTRAPATHI BHAVAN
• PARLIAMENT HOUSE
• SECRETARITE
• CONNAUGHT PLACE
• INDIA GATE

1. RASHTRAPATHI BHAVAN
 THE RASHTRAPATHI BHAVAN “ PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE” IS THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE
PRESIDENT OF INDIA ,LOCATED IN NEW DELHI INDIA .
 DESIGNED BY EDWIN LUTYENS AND THE CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN 1912 AND
COMPLETED IN 1929.
 HAVING 340 ROOMS IN MAIN BUILDING THAT INCLUDES PRESIDENTS OFFICIAL RESIDENCE
, HALLS, GUEST ROOMS AND OFFICES .
 THE AREA IS ABOUT 130 HECTERS PRESIDENT ESTATE THAT ADDITIONALLY INCULDES
HUGE PRESIDENTIAL GARDENS ,LARGE OPEN SPACES ,RESIDENCE OF BODYGUARDS AND
STAFF,STABLES OTHER OFFICES AND UTILITIES WITHIN THE PERIMETER WALLS
 IN TERMS OF ARREA , IT WAS LARGEST RESIDENCE OF AHEAD OF THE STATE IN THE
WORLD.
 CONSISTING OF FOUR FLOOR AND 340 ROOMS WITH A AREAA OF 200000 SQUARE FEET,
IT WAS BUILT USING 700 MILLION BRICKS AND 3000000 CU FT OF STONE WITH LITTLE
STEEL
 THE LAYOUT PLAN OF THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED AROUND A MASSIVE SQUARE WITH
MULTIPLE COURTYARDS AND OPEN AREA WITHIN.

2. SECRETARIAT BUILDING
THE SECRETARITE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT
HERBERT BAKER IN INDO-SARSENIC REVIVAL STYLE .
MUCH OF THE BUILDING IS IN CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLE ,
YET IT INCOOPERATED MUGHAL AND RAJASTHANI
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AND MOTIFS IN ITS ARCHITECTURE .
THESE ARE VISIBLE IN THE USE OF JALIS
ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE BUILDING IS DOME –LIKE STRUCTURE
KNOWN AS THE CHATRI.
THE STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE USED IN THE BUILDING IS UNIQUE
TO RAISINA HILLS IN FRONT OF THE MAIN GATES ON THE
BUILDING

3.PARLIAMENT HOUSE
ORIGINALLY CALLED AS THE “HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT”,DESIGNED
BY THE BRITISH ARCHITECT EDWIN LUTYENS AND HERBERT
BAKER IN 1912 AND THE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN BY 1921.
THE SHAPE IS CIRCULAR , SEPARATE HALLS WERE CONSTRUCTED
FOR THE SESSION OF THE STATE COUNSIL AND THE CENTRAL
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY .
THE BUILDING IS SURROUNDED BY LARGE GARDENS AND THE
PERIMETER IS FENCED OFF BY SANDSTONE RAILINGS

LOCATION INTERIOR
ISOMETRIC

4.INDIA GATE
THE INDIA GATE IS A WAR MEMORIAL LOCATED ASTRIDE THE
RAJPATH ,ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE “CEREMONIAL AXIS” OF
THE NEW DELHI FORMALLY CALLED THE KING’S WAY
DESIGNED BY SIR EDWIN LUTYENS , THE GATE EVOKES THE
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE OF THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH SUCH AS THE
ARCH OF CONSTANTINE IN ROME AND IS OFTEN COMPARED TO
THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE PARIS.
ESTABLISHED IN 10TH FEB 1921
ABOUT 150 METERS EAST OF THE GATE AT THE JUNCTION OF
ABOUT 6 ROADS IS A 73 FOOT CUPOLA ,LUTYENS USED FOUR
DELHI ORDERS COLUMNS TO SUPPORT THE DOMED CANOPY AND
THE CHHAJJA.

THESE ARCHES ARE COMPAIRED

THE CUPOLA 73 FEET

5.CONNAUGHT PLACE
 IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FINANCIAL COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS CENTERS IN NEW
DELHI .IT IS OFTEN ABBRIVAITED TO C.P .
 THE CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGAN IN 1929 AND WAS COMPLETED IN 1933.
 HEADED BY W.H.NICHOLLS THE CHIEF ARCHITECT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
 THE PLANS FEATURED A CENTRAL PLAZA BASED ON THE EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE AND
THE CLASSICAL STYLE
 ITS CIRCULAR FORM MAKES IT STANDOUT FROM THE LAYOUT OF THE AREA AROUND
 WIDE ROADS WERE PLANNED IN AND AROUND THE CONNAUGHT PLACE EVEN THOUGH
THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED SINCE THE TRAFFIC CONSISTED OF HORSES HORSE CARTS
AND FEW CARS.
 CONNAUGHT PLACE’S GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE IS MODELED AFTER THE ROYAL
CRESCENT IN BATH
 WHILE THE ROYAL CRESENT IS SEMI CIRCULAR AND A THREE STORIED RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURE,CONNAUGHT PLACE HAD ONLY TWO FLOORS WHICH ALMOST MADE A
COMPLETE CIRCLE INTENDED TO HOUSE COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE
GROUND WITH RESIDENTIAL SPACES ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

PLAN

THANK YOU

Indian Colonial Architecture Styles

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