COLONIAL architecture IN India

Kolkata
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ADITI MATHUR APARNA KULSHRESTHA PRACHI MATHUR [02] [63] [36]

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When the British came to India, the European classical style (incorporating Greek and Roman Features such as columns, triangular pediments) was followed for the public and other buildings during their earlier period of colonial rule to reflect their self image as the holders of power and status. However they changed their mind after the Great Revolt of 1857 and went for the INDO Saracenic types of buildings. Keeping some traditional elements of British architecture of homeland, they added elements of Indian architecture to continue with the Indian traditions. They tried to encapsulate Indias past within their own building. Indo-Saracenic architecture, Thomas Metcalf stated that in the architecture, the British sought to incorporate their view of Indias past into their own building, and so represent Britains Raj as legitimately Indian, while at the same time constructing a modern India of railways, colleges, and law courts.

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The arrival of the British East India Company in 1690, when the Company was consolidating its trade business in Bengal. Kolkata was named the capital of British India in 1772 and remained so I till 1911. By the early 19th century, Kolkata was split into two distinct areas one British, N one Indian. D A the massive Howrah Bridge, finished in 1943 ,The Bridge spans 1,500 feet, 1880s Writers Building was refaced with terracotta and conceals an earlier structure which were the mercantile headquarters of the East India Company. Fort William took 13 years to construct at a cost of more than $3.5 million. The world famous Victoria Memorial in Calcutta is one of the finest examples of the European (western)style of architecture found in India.

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clockwise: Victoria Memorial, St. Paul's Cathedral, Downtown Kolkata, Howrah Bridge, Kolkata tram, Vidyasagar Setu Bridge

 British Style of Architecture

The British followed various architectural styles Gothic, Imperial, Christian, English Renaissance and Victorian being the essentials. British rule in India had its impact on Indian architecture too. The main manifestations of this style of architecture were churches, barracks, forts, residential quarters, administrative quarters etc. The British also introduced new techniques in the construction of buildings, which were different from the ones used by the indigenous people of India at that time. The colonial style of architecture was a combination of the British/European style and the Indo-Islamic style, which was in itself a unique combination of the Hindu and Islamic styles. Across India Gothic architecture flourished under the British.

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Fort William Kolkata

The British East India Company's main Bengal trading station was moved from Hooghly (now Hugli) to Calcutta in 1690 after a war with the Mughals. Between 1696 and 1702 a fort was built in Calcutta, with the nawab (ruler) of Bengals permission. stupendous dimensions and is spread over an area of 532 bighas. 70.9 hectares built by: Robert Clive in the year 1781. The Fort has huge archways, one of which is known as 'Plassey Gate'. It is said that this is the only Fort in the world from where not a single bullet or cannon-ball has ever been shot.

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Inside the Fort is the St. Peter's Church which was constructed in 1928.

For the welfare and relaxation of the 10,000 odd military personnel who are residents of Fort William, the army has provided every kind of facilities within the Fort premises like the emerald blue swimming pool, cinema I hall, shopping mall, laundry, outdoor playground , restaurants and post office N

history of Fort William

this colossal fort was built out of "fear psychosis" of the British East India Company. The Britishers became vulnerable after their defeat at the hands of Siraj-Ud-Daula in the year 1756 The very thought of loosing Kolkata which had a very high strategic value to the Britishers. Thus, they chalked out a grandiose plan and the plan was to build an impregnable fort, octagonal in shape with three sides facing river Ganges. Adequate provisions were made for reservoirs surrounding the fort so that there was no water scarcity. Underground tunnels were constructed linking the reservoirs to river Ganges, which speaks volumes about the architectural brilliance of the farsighted Britisher.

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Architectural Beauty:
The Fort owns a brick-and-mortar structure built in the shape of an irregular octagon surrounding 5 square km of which five sides look landward and three on the river. I N D I A N C O L O N I A L A R C H I T E C T U R E

surrounded by a fosse 9 meter deep and 15 meter broad which can be flooded in times of emergency.

The Fort has huge archways, one of which is known as 'Plassey Gate'. There are six gates of the Fort Chowringhee , Plassey Calcutta, Water gate , St. Georges and Treasury Gate. The design is that of a star fort, suited to defense against cannon, but from before the advent of explosive shells. A telephone office, recreation club, canteen, cinema hall, restaurant, swimming pool and wide moat surround it.

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The fort has a vast extensive urban park named as the Maidan "the Lungs of Kolkata"

Fort William Kolkata

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Presently it serves as a citadel of the Indian Army in Eastern India, or better to say Eastern Command Head Quarter of Indian Army.

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Victoria memorial
dedicated to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India architect-Sir William Emerson Vincent Esch as superviser. Garden designers- Lord Redesdale and Sir David Prain Established- 1921 Area- 260,000 m2 Hall-103 mX69 m Height- 56m

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memorabilia relating to Queen Victoria and the British presence in India as well as other exhibits The Memorial also contains a Royal Gallery housing a number of portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and paintings illustrating their lives. Vincent Esch's major contribution was the redesign of the foundations but he also supervised the production of the allegorical sculpture groups over the entrances and designed the elegant bridge on the north side, and the gates to the gardens.

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Emerson's design was much enhanced by the sympathetic ornaments added by others. In the paved quadrangles and elsewhere around the building, other statues were added to commemorate Hastings, Cornwallis, Clive, Wellesley, and Dalhousie. central hall, scenes from the life of the Queen were painted by Frank Salisbury, the marble statue of the young Queen is by Sir Thomas Brock. A more elderly Queen in bronze by Sir George Frampton,In the paved quadrangles and elsewhere around the building, other statues were added to commemorate Hastings, Cornwallis, Clive, Wellesley, and Dalhousie.

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The making of angel on the dome in Italy. The Angel of Victory is 16fthigh and weighs 3 tons

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 Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating Mughal elements in the structure Curzon insisted that the Memorial should be built of white marble, and in the event the stone was brought from the same quarries in Makrana, Rajasthan, that supplied Shah Jahan. There is also a correspondence in the forms: the great dome, clustered with four subsidiary, octagonal domed chattris, the high portals, the terrace, and the domed corner towers.

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The Dome

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WRITERS BUILDING

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WRITERS BUILDING ('Mahakaran) Location : heart of the capital city of Kolkata on the northern side of Lal Dighi, a small water body . At a close vicinity stands the GPO.

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Previously used as :originally built as a residence for the British East India Company's clerical and administrative staff called as writers, hence the name Writers' building. Now used as :the headquarter of the State Government of West Bengal. (6000 government employees working ) Material used :red colour building ,made up of brick.

OLD BUILDING VIEW

FRONT VIEW

Architecture : classical European architecture. Building cover 2.8 acres of land stands on 10 acres of land and Building measures 235yards in length . comprises of 13 four- storied edifices. Building measures 235yards in length .

The following are the principal Characteristics of IndoSaracenic Buildings

Onion (Bulbous) Domes Overhanging Eaves Pointed Arches, Cusped Arches, or Scalloped Arches Vaulted Roofs Domed Kiosks Many Miniature Domes, or Domed Chatris Towers or Minarets Harem Windows Open Pavilions Pierced Open Arcading

sabjanta.com http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/india/kolkata/sightseeing-inkolkata/fort-william-kolkata.html http://www.columbia.edu

http://arts.guardian.co.uk
wikipedia.org mapsofindia.com

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www.timesofindiatravel.com silvermaple.co.in

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