indian architecture pre independence-short notes

1. PRE INDEPENDENCE ARCHITECTURE

2. •Under European colonial rule, architecture 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 British, French, Dutch and the Portuguese were the main European
powers that colonized parts of India.
INTRODUCTION

3. • Before the arrival of British on the Indian soil, Architecture was from the
social point of view, a creation of spectacular forms carved out of stone.
• The construction material was stone, tools a chisel and hammer and the
aim was glorification.
• The everyday needs of common man were given very little importance.
• The British arrived in India in 1615 and ruled India for over 300 years.
• It was through the British, that the first elementary modern building
construction and planning was introduced in India.
• Their Aim – to house their organisations, their people and whatever
necessary to control an empire as big as India.
• They colonised major Indian cities and the need for secular buildings rose.
British Colonial Era: 1615 to 1947

4. • A secular building is a building for secular purposes. The term is used in fine
arts and the cultural science, for example in the history of architecture.
• It was no intention of the British to educate Indians in the art and science
of Architecture. Consequently, Indian minds; during the British reign, were
completely out of touch with the progressing thinking taking place in the
rest of the world.
• During this era, very few or no religious buildings were built.
• Classical Indian forts were converted to serve as secular buildings housing
the government and public services.
• Construction of transportation hubs, banks, was given importance.
• The major cities colonized during this period were Madras, Calcutta,
Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Bankipore, Karachi, Nagpur, Bhopal and Hyderabad
British Colonial Era: 1615 to 1947

5. British Colonial Era: 1615 to 1947
St. Andrews Kirk, Chennai

6. • St Andrews Kirk, Madras is known for its colonial architecture. The building is
circular in form and is sided by two rectangular sections one is the entrance
porch.
• The entrance is lined with twelve colonnades and two British lions and motto
of East India Company engraved on them. The interior holds sixteen columns
and the dome is painted blue with decorated with gold stars.
• The Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, is the most effective symbolism of British
Empire, built as a monument in tribute to Queen Victoria’s reign. The plan of
the building consists of one large central part covered with a larger dome.
Colonnades separate the two chambers. Each corner holds a smaller dome and
is floored with marble plinth. The memorial stands on 26 hectares of garden
surrounded by reflective pools
British Colonial Era: 1615 to 1947

7. British Colonial Era: 1615 to 1947
Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

8. • The Indo-Saracenic Revival 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 favoured in Victorian Britain.
• Saracenic was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in
desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished
from Arabs.
• Indo-Saracenic designs were introduced by the British colonial government,
incorporating the aesthetic sensibilities of continental Europeans and Americans,
whose architects came to astutely incorporate telling indigenous "Asian Exoticism"
elements, whilst implementing their own engineering innovations supporting such
elaborate construction, both in India and abroad, evidence for which can be found to
this day in public, private and government owned buildings.
British Colonial Era: Indo-Saracenic Revival Architecture

9. • Public and Government buildings were often rendered on an intentionally grand
scale, reflecting and promoting a notion of an unassailable and invincible British
Empire.
• Again, structures of this design sort, particularly those built in India and England,
were built in conformance to advanced British structural engineering standards of the
1800s, which came to include infrastructures composed of iron, steel and poured
concrete.
• Structures built in Indo-Saracenic style in India and in certain nearby countries were
predominantly grand public edifices, such as clock towers and courthouses. Likewise,
civic as well as municipal and governmental colleges along with town halls counted
this style among its top-ranked and most-prized structures to this day.
British Colonial Era: Indo-Saracenic Revival Architecture

10. • Typical features inspired from Indo-Islamic architecture include
a. onion (bulbous) domes
b. overhanging eaves
c. pointed arches, cusped arches, or scalloped arches
d. vaulted roofs
e. domed kiosks
f. many miniature domes
g. domed chhatris
h. pinnacles
i. towers or minarets
j. harem windows
k. open pavilions or pavilions with Bangala roofs
l. pierced open arcading
British Colonial Era: Indo-Saracenic Revival Architecture

11. Gateway of
India,
Mumbai
British Colonial Era: Indo-Saracenic Revival Architecture
National Art Gallery,
Chennai
Victoria Public Hall,
Chennai
Secretariat
Building,
New Delhi

12. French: 1673 to 1954
• The French colonized a fishing village (Pondicherry) in Tamil Nadu and transformed it
into a flourishing port-town.
• The town was built on the French grid pattern and features neat sectors and
perpendicular streets and divided into two sectors, French Quarter (Ville Blanche) and
the Indian quarter (Ville Noire).
• French styled villas were styled with long compounds and stately walls, lined houses
with verandas, large French doors and grills. Infrastructure such as banks, police
station and Pondicherry International Port still hold the French presence.
• French expanded their empire by colonizing coastal towns, Yanam in Andhra
Pradesh, Karaikal in Tamil Nadu and Mahe in Kerala with a French atmosphere of quiet
towns around beaches. French spelling on signage and traffic signs still remains.

13. French
Street,
Puducherry
French: 1673 to 1954

14. Dutch: 1605 to 1825
• The Dutch entered India with the only interests of Trade in the early 17th Century.
During their 200 years in India, they colonized Surat, Bharuch, Venrula, Ahmedabad,
Malabar Coast, Kochi and Sadras.
• Surat – a Dutch factory in 1630’s
• Bharuch: Trading Post of the Dutch East India Company had a Dutch cemetery.
• Venrula: a warehouse was built for 3000 Guilders by Leendart Janszoons and a castle
for the protection of the Dutch.
• Ahmedabad: The Dutch cemetery lies on the bank of Kankaria lake. It holds a mix of
Indian and European styled graves, with domed tombs, pyramids, walled and plain
grave stones.
• Malabar Coast Kochi: The Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace) – The palace was
originally built by the Portuguese, it fell into the hands of the Dutch when the
Portuguese lost control of Kochi.
• Sadras – 17 km (11 mi) from the rock cut temples of Mamallapuram is another Dutch
settlement.
• Pullicat – Pullicat lake 55 km north of Madras is a million years old and the second
largest lagoon in India. It was the most important trading post of the Dutch.

15. Mattanchery Palace, Kochi
Dutch: 1605 to 1825

16. Portuguese: 1498 to 1961
• The Portuguese arrived as merchants in the 1498 and were more driven by a Catholic
missionary zeal than gaining powers in India. The Portuguese gained a foothold in Goa
and ruled for 400 years.
• Portuguese presence in Goa still remains evident. Colonizers' missionary spirit built
many cathedrals, churches, basilicas and seminaries. The Basilica of Bom Jesus (Good
Jesus), Old Goa, former capital during the Portuguese rule.
• The Portuguese – Catholic houses faced the street with unique large ornamental
windows opening onto verandahs. Bold colours were painted on houses constructing
distinct identity, allowing the sailors to recognize their houses from sea. The covered
porches and verandas were designed for socializing. Front doors were lined with
columns, and railings were popular in embellishment.
• The interior of Goan-Portuguese houses consisted of elaborate patterns created with
tiles imported from Europe and a false ceiling installed of wood. The walls are painted
with bright colours contrasting to the earthy coloured furniture.
The walls were made out of mud or laterite stone and coloured with vegetable and
natural dyes. Gateposts and compound walls were carved with great detail.

17. Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
Portuguese: 1498 to 1961
Portuguese Houses, Goa