2. INDO SARCENIC/ INDO GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
• Indo Saracenic architecture or Indo Saracenic Revival architecture (also known
as Indo- Gothic, Hindu-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal architecture)
denotes the fusion of Indo- Islamic and Indian architecture. Indo Saracenic is
an absorption of exotic elements from native Indo-Islamic and Indian
architecture, and fusing it with the Gothic revival and Neo- Classical styles
favoured in Victorian Britain.
• Indo Saracenic architecture is the brilliant architectural engineering
movement by the British architects in the late 19th century in British India.
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.
3. Introduction
• WHY SARACENIC.? "Saracen" is an adaptation of a Greek word, sarakenoi,
meaning "people who live in tents"; that is, Arabs.The word Saracen was
employed by Greek and Latin to refer people who lived in desert areas in
and near the Roman province ofArabia, and who were specifically
distinguished fromArabs. During medieval era Europeans denoted
Muslims as Saracens. Over a period of time "Saracen" had become
synonymous with "Muslim.“
4. HISTORY
• Before 1857 the British rulers in India applied Gothic Revival architecture incorporating
Greek and Roman features such as columns, triangular pediments for the public building in
India.
• The main reason for the adoption of this classical style for the British rulers was to retain the
image as the holder of power and status and to distance themselves from the native Indians.
• The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the East India Company's army
on 10 May 1857 and this 'Revolt of 1857' compelled the Britishers to legitimize their rule and
to establish confidence from the natives of the colonized land. The rulers also began to
understand that India had an architectural history that was as deep as it was complicated.
• James Ferguson, an historian of Indian architecture, categorized and evaluated Indian
architecture and buildings based on their characteristics and proposed his conclusion stating
that Indian architecture sporadically went into diminution and therefore need to be revived
by British.
• The British government in India also encouraged a new generation of British architects to
experiment with the style known as Indo Saracenic.
• The architectural designs of British buildings, monuments, forts etc. in the post-Renaissance
period formed the inspiration for the British architects. They built the public buildings in India
as per advanced British structural engineering standards of the 1800's and used iron, steel
and poured concrete.
5. FORMS OF INDO SARACENIC
• The Palladian Style
• When the British became a power, there were three styles prevalent in England
viz. the Palladian, Baroque and the Victorian.
• The Palladian style of architecture is based on the works of Andrea Palladio (17th
century) of Italy. It could be identified with a few features such as the ceilings as
an ornamental focus, mouldings often featuring masks, terms and shells or other
depictions of nature, fireplaces and wall painting.
• A great central tower rising from a succession of traced roofs is one important
characteristic of this style. The another important feature is Palladian window,
which consists of a central section with semi circular arch over and two sections
on either sides, all supported by pillars, as shown in the adjacent image.
• This was a feature inculcated in India in some buildings (in Lucknow for example)
though as such we don’t find any monument made purely on Palladian style. La
Martiniere Lucknow The early Britons sought to introduce the Palladian style in
the form of the La Martiniere in Lucknow.
• It was built by Claude Martin, a wealthy eighteenth-century Frenchman, who was
an officer in the French and later the British East India Company. Martin acquired
his fortune while serving Asaf-ud-Daula, the nawab wazir of Awadh, and was
reputedly the richest Frenchman in India. The building, called Constantia at that
time is now serves as a college.
6. • The Victorian Gothic Style
• This style started when, India saw the emergence of presidencies of Madras, Bombay
and Bengal, the fashion in England was of Gothic revival and neoclassical architecture.
At the same time, the Victorian style was also in vogue. So, in the years to come, the
buildings and monuments saw a mix of Indian (Mughal) style, Victorian, Gothic,
Palladian, Baroque and other styles.
• However, none of the styles prevalent in Europe in those times were original. All of
them were either imitated features from earlier Romanesque or Georgian architecture.
The Victorian Gothic Architecture thus, was basically a hotch- potch of early European
styles mixed with the introduction of Middle East and Asian influences.
• This monument represents the themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture.
This was the beginning of the Indo-gothic or Indo-Saracenic revival. The monuments
now created drew the elements from the indigenous and indo-Islamic architecture and
combined it with the gothic revival and neo-classical styles favoured in Victorian
England.
• One the best example is the Victoria Memorial Hall of Kolkata, which inculcates
numerous Mughal elements in its design. Such monuments were built on advanced
engineering standards. The material such as steel, Iron and poured concrete started
getting used. The most important features of the buildings of this revival were as
follows: Bulbous domes along with many miniature domes Overhanging eaves Pointed
arches, cusped arches, or scalloped arches Vaulted roofs Domed chhatris, pinnacles,
towers and minarets Open pavilions Pierced arcades.
7. Cities Influenced
• Map showing the locations of cities having Indo
Saracenic style buildings in India
1. Delhi
2. Lucknow
3. Ajmer
4. Jaipur
5. Gwalior
6. Allahabad
7. Calcutta
8. Rajkot
9. Jamnagar
10. Baroda
11. Bombay
12. Mysore
13. Chennai (Madras)
14. Bangalore
15. Trivandrum
8. FEATURES OF INDO- SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE
1. Bulbous (Onion-Shaped) Dome
2. Arches horseshoe, pointed, ogee,
scalloped, keyhole
3. Delicate Ornamentation &
Nonfigurative Quranic script
4. Chhatri Pavillion with dome
5. Jharokha Overhanging balcony
6. Chajja overhanging eaves on large
carved brackets.
7 . Jali Perforated stone or latticed
screen
8. Towers or minarets
9. Pinnacles or spires
9. Assignment unit 5
SOME OF THE FAMOUS INDO-GOTHIC ARCHITECTS:
• Madras :
1. Caldwell & havilland : St Andrews Church
2. Robert F Chisholm : Senate House and national Art Gallery
3. Henry Irwin : Madras High court, Chennai Central Railway Terminus
• Calcutta :
1. Thomas Lyon : Writer’s Building
2. Charles Wyatt : Government Building
3. William Emerson : Victoria Memorial
• Bombay :
1. George Gilbert Scott : Rajabai Tower-Bombay University Libaray
2. Fredrick William Stevens : Victoria Terminus, Municipal Hall
3. George Wittet : Gateway Of India & Prince Of Wales Museum
• Delhi
1. Sir Edwin Lutyens : India Gate, Viceroy’s House
2. Herbert Baker : Parliament House, Secretariat Buildings
