BRITISH

RESPONSE TO
INDIAN
CONTEXTBy : Prakriti Bidlan,
Shubham Singh Bisht
 Colonization
Colonization (or colonization) is a process by which a central system
of power dominates the surrounding land and its components.

‘Colonial Architecture’ consists of two words – one being “Colonial”

which refers to “colonial India” and other being “architecture” which
means the way “something is designed” Firstly, It is important for us
to understand the context or meaning of colonial India. Colonial
India is the part of the Indian sub continent. Which was under the
control of European colonial powers, through trade and conquest.
The first European power to arrive in India was the army of
Alexander the great in 327- 326 BC. Later, in the early 19th British
Empire built many masterpieces of architecture including the
Viceroy lounge in Delhi.
Colonial architecture is an architectural style from a mother country
that has been incorporated into the buildings of settlements
or colonies in distant locations.
British Response to Indian Context
As with the Mughals, architecture under European colonial
rule became an emblem of power designed to endorse the
occupying power. Numerous European countries invaded
India and created architectural styles reflective of their
ancestral and adopted homes. The European colonizers
created architecture that symbolized their mission of
conquest, dedicated to the state or religion
The Indo-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal, or Hindu-
Gothic was an architectural style and movement by British
architects in the late 19th century. It drew elements from
native Indo-Islamic and Indian architecture and combined
them with Gothic revival and Neo-Classical styles favored in
Britain. Public and government buildings, such as clock
towers, courthouses, municipal buildings, colleges, and town
halls, were often rendered on an intentionally grand scale,
reflecting and promoting a notion of an invincible British
Empire. Infrastructure was composed of iron, steel, and
poured concrete and included domes, overhanging eaves,
pointed arches, vaulted roofs, pinnacles, open pavilions, and
pierced open arcading.
Prominent Architectural style of Delhi
The architectural style of the British period
is very Prominent in Delhi and is Repercuted
by the central secretariat. Parliament house
or the ‘SANSAD BHAWAN’ and the
president house or Rashtrapati Bhawan
formerly the British viceroy house the
Spaded Raj path India gate and New Delhi
combining the bet features of the modern
English school of architecture with
traditional Indian forms. The British followed
various architectural styles – Gothic
Imperial, Christian English renaissance and
Victorian being the Ereutials In 1911 king
George v passed an order declaring that the
Capital would be moved from Calcutta to
Delhi. The city was planned systematically
combining 20th century architecture. Sir
Edwin Lutyens was responsible for the
overall plan of Delhi.
 Sir Edwin Lutyens

Sir Edwin Lutyens was a British

architect who is known for
imaginatively adapting traditional
architectural styles to the
requirement of his era. Delhi which
would later on serve as the seat of
the government of India. In
recognition of his contribution, New
Delhi is also known as “Lutyens”
Delhi . In collaboration with
Herbert Baker. He was also the
main architect of several
monuments in New Delhi such as
the India gate he also designed the
viceroy’s house.
 Sir Herbert Baker
Sir Herbert baker was a British
architect baker was the dominant
force in South African Architecture
for two decades 1892 – 1912 among
the many churches schools and
houses he designed in south Africa
are the St John’s College
Johannesburg, Wynberg boys
school. Cape town In 1912 baker
went to India to work with Lutyens
and went on to design the
secretariat buildings New Delhi and
parliament house in new Delhi and
the bungalows of members of
Parliament. Baker designed the two
secretariat building ranking the
great axis
Various master piece of colonial
architecture in Delhi

PARLIAMENT HOUSE
INDIA GATE
RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN
CENTRAL SECRETARIAT
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
 Parliament House
The central hall of the parliament has
been designed to be circular in shaped
the dome is 98 ft (29.87 Meters) in
diameter and is Believed that is one of
the most Magnificent domes in the world.
The central hall is a place of historical
importance in India for two reason. The
transfer of colonial power to the
provisional government under Nehru in
1957 and the framing of the constitution
by the constituent assembly took place in
this very hall. Originally , the central
hall was used as the library of the
erstwhile central legislative assembly
and the council of states until 1946,
when it was converted and refurnished
into the constituent assembly hall.
 India Gate
The gate is build as a special memorandum for
all the soldiers who belongs to Indian army
and to all those who who have gives their lives
lighting for the protection of their country. It
is considered that approximately 90,000 and
more soldiers names have been Encrypted
over the walls of India Gates which is a special
thing in itself. The Explicit India Gate
architecture explains you that there is a huge
Path which is also known by the name of Raj
path at the end of which is constructed a 42
meters high India gate that was previously
known by the name of all India was memorial.
The designing of India gate was done by
famous architect sir Edwin Lutyens. Standing
behind the gate is an empty canopy made out
of sandstone, also designed by Lutyens and
inspired by a sixth – century pavilion from
Mahabalipuram.
 Rashtrapati Bhawan

The Rashtrapati Bhawan is a

large and vast mansion with
floors and have 340 rooms. It is
built on a floor area of 200,00
square feet (19.000 m2). Vijay
chowk in front of Rashtrapati
Bhawan and ends at India gates
on the western end of the road.
The ancillary dome – like
structure on top of the building
is known as a chattri an Integral
part of Indian architectural
design.
 Central Secretariat
The Secretariat building was designed by the
prominent British architect Herbert baker in Indo
– Saracenic revival architecture. Both the identical
building have four levels, each with about 1,000
rooms in the inner courtyards to make space for
future expansions. In continuation with the viceroy
house, these building also used cream and red
Dholpur sandstone from Rajasthan with the red
Sandstone forming the base. To get heir the
building the designed to from two squares. They
have broad corridors between different wings and
wide stairway to the four floors and each building
is topped by a giant dome, while each wings and
with colonnaded balcony. Much of the building is in
Colonical architectural style, yet it incorporation
from Mughal and Rajasthani architecture style.
Another feature of the building is a dome – like
structure known as the Chatri a design unique to
India.
 Supreme Court of India
The main block of the supreme court
building was built on a square Piot of
22 acres and the building was
designed by chief of architect Ganesh
Bhikaji Deolalikar who was the first
Indian to head CPWD and designed
the supreme court building in an Indo
– British architecture style. He was
succeeded by Shridher Krishna
joglekar. The building is shaped to
project the image of scales of justice
with the central wing of the building
correspond. The chief justice’s court is
the largest of the courtroom located
in the centre of the central wing. It
has in the centre of the central wing.
 History of Mumbai
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
 Architectural style of Bombay

 Gothic Architectural
Indo – Saracenic Style
Art Deco
 Gothic Architecture
Bombay architecture came to be
present through the British in the
18th and early 19th centuries. At first
it was the neo – classical style of
Architecture but then a new style
came to exist one that reflect modern
European fashion. The classical has
an orderly monochromatic presence
the gothic style is expressive,
disjointed with surface of live color.
Bombay city hall was built during
period 1820 – 35 the university
Mumbai library, Rajabai tower, Xavier
college, Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus
are fine example of gothic architecture
in the city.
 ART DECO

Art deco is one of Mumbai least

noticed architectural style,
through Mumbai and its suburbs
possibly have the largest number
of art deco building in the world.
Art deco in India evolved into a
unique style that came to be called
deco – Saracenic. It was a
combination of Islamic and Hindu
architectural. The Mahalakshmi
temple, the Tahangir art gallery,
the high court, the general post
office, the flora fountain, regal
cinema and Eros cinema
 Indo – Saracenic Style

The Indo – Saracenic style

developed in the second half of the
19th century combining Islamic
and Hindu architectural style with
its Characterized domes, arches,
stained, glasses, spires and
minarets. The gateway of India
and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Vastu Sangrahalaya are the fine
example of indo Saracenic
architectural style in the city.
 Gateway of India

The gateway of India is a

monument built during the British
raj in Mumbai. It is located on the
water front in the Apollo Bander
area in south Mumbai and
overlook the Arabian sea. The
structure is a basalt arch, 26
meter (85 feet) high. It lies at the
end of Chhatrapati Shivaji Marg
at the water edge in Mumbai
Harbour. The gate way of India
also been Reffered to as the Taj
Mahal of Mumbai and is the city
top tourist attraction.
 History

The gate way of India was built to

commemorate the visit of king
George Vand Dueen marry to
Mumbai, prior the Delhi Darbar,
in December 1911. they only got to
see a cardboard model of the
structure since the construction
did not began till 1915. the
foundation stone was laid on 31
march 1911 by the Governer of
Bombay sir George Sydenham
Clarre with the final design of
George Wittet sanctioned on 31
march 1913.
 Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

The Taj Mahal palace hotel is a

five star hotel located in the
Colaba region of Mumbai
Maharashtra India next to the
gate way of India Parts of Taj
Hotel, resort and palace this hotel
is considered the flag ship
property of the group and contain
560 rooms and 44 Saits there are
some 1500 staff including 35
butlers. From a historical and
architectural point of view, the two
building that makes up the hotel
the Taj Mahal palace and tower
are two distinct building.
 Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
It is a place where the viceroy and Governer uset to land upon their arrival
of India. Through built for British India and the British empire today serve
as a “monumental memento” of Colonialisation and subjugation by the
British over the people of India. Built right next to Taj Mahal palace &
tower hotel. The gate way of India is a symbol of “power and majesty” of
British empire There are five jetties at the gate way the first jetty is
exclusive to the atomic research centre. The second and third are used for
commercial ferry fourth is closed and fifth to the royal Bombay Yatch club
The hotel originally Builded by commissioned of Tata and first opened its
door to guest on 16th December 1903 It is widely believed that Jamsedji
Tata decided to build the hotel after he was refused entry to one of the
Citys’s grand hotel of the time, Watson hotel, as it was restricted to “whites
only. The original Indian architect were Sitaram khanderao vaidya and DN
Mirza. Completed by an English engineer W.A chamber. The builder was
khan Saheb Sorabji Rutton Ji.
 Municipal corporation Building

The Muncipal corporation

Building was located in south
Mumbai in Maharashtra, Mumbai,
is a grade a heritage building
opposite to the Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus at the junction
of Padabhai Naoroji road and
Mahapalika marg. It is also known
as the Bombay Muncipal
corporation building or BMC.
Mumbai corporation of greater
Mumbai and which has its own
motto – Yato Dharmastato Jaya. It
is said to be the largest civic
Organisation
 Municipal corporation Building

The BMC was created in 1865 and

Arthur craw ford was it first
Muncipal commissioner. The
Muncipality was Intially housed in
a modest building at the terminus
of Girgam road. In 1870 it was
shifted to a building on Esplande.
Located between Watson hotel and
the Sasson mechanism institute
where the present army & navy
building is situated
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

(CST) formly Victoria Terminus
(VT) is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site and an historic railway
station in Mumbai, India which
serves as the headquarter of the
central railways. Designed by
Fredericr William Stevens with
influence from Victorian Italianate
gothic revival. The station was
built is 1887 in the Bori Bunder
area of Bombay to commemorate
the golden Jubilee of Queen
Victoria.
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Bori bunder was one of the areas

along the eastern shores lines of
Mumbai , India which was used as
a storehouse for goods imported
and exported from Mumbai in
areas name. Bori means “sack”
and Bandar means port or haven.
Bori bandar literally means a
place where sack are stored. The
station was eventually rebuilt as
the Victoria terminus named after
the then reigning queen.
 Flora fountain

Flora fountain at the Mahatma

Chowk is an ornamentally and
exquisitely sculpted architectural
heritage monument located at the
southern end of the historic Dada
Bhai Naroji road called the mile
long road at the fort business
district in the heart of south
Mumbai. Flora fountain built in
1864, is a fusion of water,
architecture and sculpture it total
cast of Rs 47,000 or 9000 pound
sterling.
S . Mary’s church , Fort S. George ,
Madras

It completed in 1680, tower late

eighteenth century.
It is one of the earliest British
building still existing in India and
was the first Anglican Church on
the subcontinent .
It is a simple aisled church with a
gallery at one end . Heavy stone
walls and roofs are characteristics
of the defensible location.
 Government house , Calcutta

It was designed by Captain

charles wyatt. The plan is that of
Robert Adam’s kedleston hall
and the impressive gateways are
based on the entrance screen of
Syon house.
THANK YOU