Master of architecture , Jamia Millia Islamia , New delhi -110025

1. Contemporary Architecture
1920 – 1930
(Indian Context)
Presented by:
Darakhshan Naaz
Sukaina
M.Arch (Healthcare) – I Sem
Presented to:
Ar. Farah Naaz

2. Political Aspects:
• By this era India was fully under control of the British. It was the era of reforms
where Indians had become more demanding & the British were afraid of losing
the empire.
• New Delhi was established as the capital of India, with that there was a need
Of national parliament with two houses for India.
• The British were constructing new structures to mark their supremacy.
Social Aspects:
• After 1918, nationalism within India intensified. At the same time, the idea of
Self-government or self rule was arousing.
• In 1919, the most infamous Jalianwala Bagh incident at Amritsar took place
which outraged the society & many Indians rushed to join the INC & it very
Quickly became the party of the masses.
• These incidents and lot more, lead to various freedom movements like
khilafat Movement non-cooperation movement (1920), resolution of poorna
swaraj/ complete independence(1929), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930).

3. Indo-Saracenic Revival Architecture:
• The Indo-Saracenic Revival (also known as Indo-Gothic, Hindoo or Hindu-
Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal) was an architectural style movement
by British architects in the late 19th century in British India.
• It drew elements from native Indo-Islamic and Indian architecture, and
combined it with the Gothic revival and Neo-Classical styles prevalent in
Victorian Britain.
Why this style??
• To establish a new era of British Raj, the British introduced a new architectural
style .
• They contemplated this by amalgamating the existing styles of India with
Imported styles from the west.
• Gothic style was adopted widely as it’s design philosophy was inclined more
Towards grand scale, to show superiority & dominance.
• Together with this style they allowed some of Indian princes to stay in power
And made their presence acceptable.

4. Development of the Style
• BEFORE 1857- European classical style (incorporating Greek and Roman Features
such as columns, triangular pediments) employed for the public buildings: image as the
holders of power and status and to distance themselves from the natives.
• REVOLT OF 1857- India began to be ruled under the British crown: essential to
legitimatize their rule and connect to the natives of the colonized land.

5. Principal Characteristics
1. Pinnacle or Spire
2. Bulbous (Onion-Shaped) Dome
3. Arches
• Pointed, cusped, or scalloped
4. Delicate Ornamentation
• Nonfigurative
• Quranic script
5. Chhatri
• Pavillion with dome
6. Chajja
• overhanging eaves on large carved
brackets.
7. Jali
• Perforated stone or latticed screen
8. Towers or minarets
9. Vaulted Roofs
10. Harem Windows
11. Pavilions
• Open
• Pierced Open Arcaded
Pinnacle
Dome
Chhatri
Arch
Chhatri
Chajja

6. Leading Architects
• Sir Edwin Lutyens
• Sir Herbert Baker
• Sir William Emerson
• Sir George wittet
Sir Herbert BakerSir William EmersonSir George wittet

7. Prominent Buildings 1.
2. 3.
5.
9.7.
8.
4.
6.
1. Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata: 1906 – 1921
2. The Secretariat Building, New Delhi: 1912 –
1927
3. The Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi: 1912 –
1929
4. Gateway of India, Mumbai: 1913 – 1924
5. Jaipur Column: 1912 - 1930
6. India Gate, New Delhi: 1917 - 1931
7. Baroda House, New Delhi: 1921 – 1936
8. Parliament House, New Delhi: 1921 – 1927
9. Hyderabad House, New Delhi: 1926 – 1928

8. Victoria Memorial Hall:
Construction:1906-1921
Type: Museum
Architect: William Emerson
Architectural style: Indo- Saracenic revivalist style.
This style uses a mixture of British and Mughal elements as well as Venetian,
Egyptian, Deccani and Islamic architectural influences. It is a large marble building
in Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal.

9. India Gate:
Construction Started: 1921
Type: War memorial
Architect: Edwin Lutyens
Architectural style: Indo Saracenic
It’s a war memorial to the soldiers who
died in World war I and Third Anglo Afghan
War.
It was inspired by the triumphal arch in
Rome & Paris.

10. The Secretariat Building:
• Construcion:1912-1927
• Architect: Herbert Baker
• Architectural style: Indo Saracenic
Revival architecture.
• Much of the building is in classical
architectural style, yet it incorporated
Mughal and Rajasthani architecture
style and motifs in its architecture.
• use of Jalis.
• Another feature of the building is a
dome- like structure known as the
Chattri.
• The style of architecture used in
Secretariat Building is unique to Raisina
Hill.

11. The Rashtrapati Bhawan
• The Rashtrapati Bhawan is a large and vast mansion with four floors and
has 340 rooms.
• It is built on a floor area of 200,00 square feet (19.000 m2).
• The ancillary dome – like structure on top of the building is known as a
chhatri an Integral part of Indian architectural design.

12. Gateway of India
• Construction: 1924
• 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.
• The gateway is built from yellow
basalt and reinforced concrete.

13. The Parliament House
• Construction: 1921-1927
• Architects: Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker
• It was built with indigenous materials and the architecture of the building bears a
close imprint of the Indian tradition.
• The layout of fountains both inside and outside of the building, the use of Indian
symbols, the "Chajjas” and the varied forms of " Jali" in marble are reminders of
the story of the craftsmanship displayed in ancient monuments and memorials.

14. References:
• file:///D:/M.arch/contemporary%20architecture/New%20folder%20(2)/indosaracenicar
chitecture-131112121103-phpapp02.pdf
• file:///D:/M.arch/contemporary%20architecture/New%20folder%20(2)/indogothic-
161004072011.pdf
• file:///D:/M.arch/contemporary%20architecture/New%20folder%20(2)/CH.13.pdf
• http://www.culturalindia.net/monuments/india-gate.html

15. Thank You