 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 European colonizers created architecture that
symbolized their mission of conquest, dedicated to the
state or religion.
 The British, French, Dutch and the Portuguese were
the
main powers that colonized India.
 Portuguese (1505–1961)

 Dutch (1605 to 1825)

 British (1615-1947)

 French (1759–1954)
 The British arrived in 1615 by overthrowing the
Mughal 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,
Nagpur, Bhopal and Hyderabad.
 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.

 Robert fellowes Chisholm(1840 - 1915), Henry Irwin were among the

leading practitioners of the time.
Indo-saracenic architecture found its way into public buildings of all sorts
such as railway stations, banks and insurance buildings, educational
institutions, clubs and museums.
 Onion (Bulbous) Domes
 Overhanging Eaves
 Pointed Arches, Cusped Arches, or Scalloped Arches
 Vaulted Roofs
 Domed Kiosks
 Many Miniature Domes, or Domed Chhatris
 Towers or Minarets
 Harem Windows
 Open Pavilions
 Pierced Open Arcading
Map
showing the
locations of
cities having
Indo
Saracenic
style
buildings in
India
http://
w ww.cmdachennai.go
v.in
/pdfs/
 TIMELINE

WRITERS BUILDING,CALCUTTA

CHEPAUK PALACE,MADRAS

NAPIER MEUSEUM,
TRIVENDRAM
MAYO COLLEGE,AJMER
LAXMI VILLAS,BARODA

VICTORIA TERMINUS,
BOMBAY
LAW COURTS,MADRAS

PRINCE OF WHALES MUSEUM,BOMBAY

ART GALLERY,MADRAS

GATEWAY OF INDIA ,BOMBAY

VICTORIA MEMORIAL,
CALCUTTA
LUTY
ENT
 PARLIAMENT HOUSE

 INDIA GATE

 RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN

 CENTRAL SECRETARIAT

 SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

 Sir Edwin Landseer 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 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
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.
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
lutyen. Standing behind the gate is an empty canopy made out of
sandstone, also designed by lutyen and inspired by a sixth – century
pavilion from Mahabalipuram.
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 Intergal part of Indian
architectural design.
Lutyen's grandiose Government House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) -
located on Raisina Hill, and one of New Delhi's major
thoroughfares, Rajpath,connects it to the Purana qila

Lord Hardinge chose the Raisina Hill for

locating the viceroy’s palace because:
• It was a well drained.
• Constituted of slopes and plains
between the ridge and the
river.
• Its eastern and southern margins
were studded with monuments of
vanished empires. A broad
crescent from Shahjahanabad and
Kotla Firoz Shah, south to
Tughlaqabad and the Qutub with
tombs of Safdarjung and Lodhis as
well as Jantar Mantar in the
foreground could be viewed from
the site. Image 2
 The Parliament Hous was designed
by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.

 It was built with indigenous

materials and by Indian labour and
the architecture of the building
bears a close imprint of the Indian
tradition.

 The layout of fountains both inside

and outside the building, the use of
Indian symbols , the " Chhajjas” and
the varied forms of " Jali" in marble
are reminders of the story of the
craftsmanship displayed in ancient
monuments and memorials.
 The Secretariat Building was
designed by architect Herbert
Baker in Indo-
Saracenic Revival architecture.
 Much of the building i s in classical
architectural style, yet i t
incorporated Mughal and
Rajasthani architecture style
and motifs in i ts
architecture.
 These are visible in the use of Jali.
 Another feature of the building i s
a dome- like structure known as
the Chatri.
• The style of
architecture
used in Secretariat
Building is unique to
Raisina Hill. In front of
the main gates on
buildings are the four
 Chattris & Chajjas in red sandstone

Columns and colonnaded verandahs

Photograph by Medha Malik Kudaisya
 THICK BAND

JALIS

BUDDHIST DOME
T
HICK BAND

J
ALIS

BUDDHIST DOME

THICK BAND

JALIS
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.
COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE OF
BOMBAY
 Gothic Architectural

 Indo – Saracenic Style

Art Deco
 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 modern
reflect European fashion. The classical
has
monochromatic
an presence the gothic style is expressive,
orderly
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.
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.
Art deco is one of Mumbai least noticed
architectural style, through Mumbai and its Sabarbs
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.
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.
•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.

• The stone was locally

obtained, and the
perforated screens were
brought from Gwalior.
•The arch is of Muslim style while the decorations are of Hindu style.
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.
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.
The hotel originally Builded by commissioned of
Tata and first opened its door to guest on 16th
December 1903
It is widely believed that Tamsedji 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.
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
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 (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 .
with influence from Victorian Stevens
Italianate
gothic revival. The station was built is 1887
in the Bori Bunder area of Bombay to
commemorate the golden Jubilee of
Queen Victoria.
• The station building is designed in the High Victorian Gothic style of
architecture. The building exhibits a fusion of influences from Victorian
Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture.
• The skyline, turrets, pointed arches, and eccentric ground plan are close
to
traditional Indian palace architecture
• 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.
• VT's dome of dovetailed ribs, built without centring, was considered
as a
 • The columns of the entrance gates are crowned
by figures of a lion (representing Great Britain)
and a tiger (representing India).

• 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

The stone arches are covered with

carved foliage and grotesques.
 VICTORIA MEMORIAL , CALCUTTA

LOCATION :

•The Victoria Memorial (Victoria Memorial Hall) is a large marble building

in Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India which was built between 1906 and
1921.
•It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and is now a
museum and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.
•The Memorial lies on the Maidan (grounds) by the bank of the Hooghly river,
near Jawaharlal Nehru road.
 HISTORY:

QUEEN VICTORIA LORD CURZON WILLIAM EMERSON

•The construction of the Victoria Memorial was delayed by Curzon's departure
from India in 1905 with a subsequent loss of local enthusiasm for the
project and by the need for testing of the foundations.
•The Victoria Memorial's foundation stone was set in 1906 and the building
opened in 1921.
• The work of construction was entrusted to Messrs. Martin & Co. of
Calcutta.
• Work on the superstructure began in 1910.
• After 1947, when India gained independence, additions were made.
•The Victoria Memorial's architect was William Emerson (1843–1924),
president of the Royal Institute of British Architects
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE :

•The design is in the Indo- Saracenic revivalist style.

•This style uses a mixture of British and Mughal elements as well
as Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani andIslamic architectural influences.
•It is constructed of white Makrana marble.
•The gardens of the Victoria Memorial were designed by Lord Redesdale and David
Prain.
•Emerson's assistant, Vincent J. Esch designed the bridge of the north aspect and
the garden gates
 VICTORIA MEMORIAL – TAJ MAHAL OF KOLKATA!

•Emerson may not have taken, literally, from the Taj Mahal but there is a
reminiscence. Like the Taj Mahal, the Victoria Memorial is built of white Makrana
marble and is a memorial to an empress.
•In design, it echo's the Taj Mahal with

3.DOMED
1.DOME CORNER
TOWERS

2. FOUR
SUBSIDIARIES 4.HIGH
PORTALS

4. OCTAGONAL DOMED CHATTRIS

6.TERRACE
DESIGNING AND ARCHITECTURE :

Designed by - Sir William Emerson

•The building is 184 ft high up to the base of the
figure of Victory, which is another 16 ft high.

•The groups of figures above the north porch

represent Motherhood, Prudence and Learning.

•Surrounding the main dome are figures of Art,

Architecture, Justice, Charity etc.
P
L
A
N

O
F

V
I
C
T
O
R
 the Victoria Memorial houses
a large bronze statue of the
Italian-style statues Queen . Mughal domes
over its entrances in its corners

VIEW FACING CALCUTTA MAIDAN tall elegant open colonnades

along its sides
•The magical lighting effect in the evening and a
fairy tale 'Fountain of Joy' facing the memorial
building create an atmosphere of unforgettable
charm.

• Even apart from the Moghul-style corner domes, there are many Saracenic
touches, like the carving round the window arches, which reveal the sympathies of
both architects involved
•The main attraction at the memorial is the huge sombre statue of the Queen,
which is flanked by two ornamental tanks.
•The money required for the construction of the stately building, surrounded by
beautiful gardens over 64 acres and costing more than 10 million was contributed
by British Indian states and individuals .

•It also has a 5 meter tall bronze winged

figure of Victory, weighing 3 tons

• At present the Victoria Memorial has notable

collection of weapons, sculptors, paintings, maps,
coins, stamps, artifacts, textiles etc.
INTERIOR :

ROYAL GALLERY:
The Royal Gallery is a storehouse of oil
paintings of Queen Victoria receiving the
sacrament at her coronation in the
Westminster Abbey in June 1838; her
marriage with Prince Albert (1840), the
christening of the Prince of Wales, the
marriage of the Prince of Wales (Edward VII)
with Princess Alexandra and others.

ADDITIONS AFTER INDEPENDENCE :

NATIONAL LEADER’S LIBRARY:

The National Leaders’ Gallery was

added after independence, and
features portraits, mostly by Atul
Basu and Langhammer.
CALCUTTA GALLERY :
• A recent addition to Victoria Memorial is the
Calcutta Gallery. Although this gallery was
envisioned by Curzon himself, it was
commissioned on the occasion of the city’s
tercentenary.
•The Calcutta Gallery traces the city’s
evolution
from its inception in Job Charnok’s days, with old
maps, sketches, photographs and important
historical documents, right up to the Partition of
India in 1947. LIGHT AND SOUND :
•There is also a beautiful walk – through diorama
of Chitpur Road in the 19th century. •A wonderful Light & Sound show is held at
the Victoria Memorial, regularly.
•The show famed as ‘Pride & Glory – the
Story of Calcutta’ was initiated as a
joint venture with Bengal Chamber of
Commerce.
•The show is held in both Bengali and
English version.
GARDEN:
•The landscaped garden of the Victoria Memorial Hall spanning 64 acres was
designed by Sir David Prain and Lord Redesdale.
•There is a bronze statue of Queen Victoria, seated on her throne towards the
north gate.
•The King Edward VII memorial arch featuring a bronze equestrian statue of
the
King and a marble statue of Lord Curzon is featured within the garden.
•The garden also has statues of other British luminaries like Lord Bentinck and
Lord Ripon.
•The statue of Sir Rajendranath Mookherjee, an eminent industrialist of Bengal
lies on the eastern side of the garden. Twenty-one gardeners have been
appointed to maintain the garden of Victoria Memorial.