Architecture in Bombay

One way of fulfilling the imperial vision of the British was through town planning, the other was through adorning towns with massive architecture. These buildings showed the culture and confidence of the monarchs. The architectural style was usually European in Bombay architecture.

Reasons to Make Monumental Buildings

• In many cases, they were intended to represent concepts such as imperial power

• It expressed the desire of the British to recreate a familiar landscape in an unfamiliar environment

• The British believed that European fashions were the most appropriate way to represent their superiority, authority, and power

• They reasoned that buildings that appeared to be of European design would serve to distinguish between the colonial masters and their Indian subjects and therefore establish a sense of separation and distance

Assimilation of European and Indian art

• Indians, like everyone else, were accustomed to European architecture and adapted it to their needs. In response, the British altered various Indian designs to fit their own requirements
• As an illustration, consider the bungalow, which is derived from bangla, which is a traditional thatched Bengali hut

Types of Architectural style

Three broad architectural styles were employed in the construction of public buildings. Two of these were direct imports from trends that were popular in England at the time.

Neo-Classical style:

• A style referred to as neo-classical or the new classical was the first to be developed in this way – its distinctive traits included the creation of geometrical constructions with towering pillars in front of them
• As a result of drawing inspiration from typical buildings in ancient Rome, it is now being constructed to portray the splendour of imperial India
• Although Neoclassical architecture has its roots in the Mediterranean, it was deemed to be ideal for tropical climates due to its Mediterranean influences
• As an illustration, the Town Hall in Bombay was constructed in this style in 1833. The Elphinstone Circle, which was later renamed Horniman Circle, was another collection of commercial buildings constructed during the cotton boom of the 1860s and 1860s. It made novel use of covered arcades at ground level to protect shoppers and pedestrians from the scorching sun and torrential rain that Bombay was experiencing. This is yet another style that has been widely employed throughout history. It was distinguished by its steeply pitched roofs, pointed arches, and intricately wrought decoration

Neo-Gothic style:

• The neo-Gothic, often known as the new Gothic style, was resurrected in England around the mid-nineteenth century. This was at the period when the government of Bombay was constructing its infrastructure, and this style was adapted specifically for Bombay

• For example, the University of Bombay and the High Court of India were both constructed in this style. The Victoria Terminus, the station, is the most spectacular example of the neo-Gothic design in the world
• The British spent a lot of money on the design and building of railway stations in cities because they were so pleased with themselves for having completed the construction of an all-India railway network

Indo-Saracenic style:

• A new hybrid architectural style was developed at the beginning of the twentieth century. The domes, chhatris, jalis, and arches found in mediaeval Indian buildings served as inspiration for this type of architecture

• The British, for example, attempted to demonstrate that they were the genuine rulers of India. “Indo” was a name used by Europeans to refer to Hindus, and “Saracen” was a term used by Europeans to refer to Muslims

• For example, the Gateway of India, which was constructed in 1911 to welcome King George V and Queen Mary to India and is the most famous example of this architecture, was constructed in the traditional Gujarati style

• The Taj Mahal Hotel, built by the businessman Jamsetji Tata, was designed in a similar manner

Landmarks 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus:

• Victoria Terminus Station was the station’s original name
• The train station, designed by British architect Frederick William Stevens, took ten years to complete and opened in 1887 to honour the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, a milestone in British history
• At the time of its construction, the skyscraper was the most expensive structure in Mumbai, costing 260,000 Sterling Pounds (around $260,000 today)
• As an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, the building incorporates ideas derived from Indian traditional architecture to create an outstanding work of art. A stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and an unusual ground plan are all features that harken back to traditional Indian royal architecture

Municipal Corporation Building:

• The architect Frederick William Stevens not only designed and built the magnificent Victoria Terminus station, but he also designed and built the equally magnificent Municipal Corporation Building on the other side of the road
• This Grade IIA vintage Gothic style structure took nine years to construct and was finished in 1893, just a few years after the Victoria Terminus opened its doors to passengers

Rajabai Clock Tower:

• Located on the campus of the University of Mumbai, the Rajabai Clock Tower is a Unesco World Heritage Site, having been designated as such in 2018
• Sir George Gilbert Scott, a prominent English Gothic revival architect, designed it as a model for Big Ben in London, which was modelled after Big Ben in London
• The tower, which was completed in 1878, was designed in a combination of Venetian and Gothic styles, and was constructed entirely of locally available buff-colored Kurla stone

Elphinstone College:

• Elphinstone College, a Grade I Heritage building, is considered to be one of India’s finest Victorian structures
• One of the oldest colleges in the University of Mumbai, it was founded in 1856 and is one of the oldest colleges in India
• The building, which is in the Venetian Gothic style, was designed by Trubshaw and completed in 1888 under the supervision of Khan Bahadur Muncherjee Murzban

Conclusion

Mumbai’s architecture is a mix of Gothic, Victorian, Art Deco, and Indo-Saracenic. Mumbai boasts the world’s second-highest concentration of Art Deco structures, after Miami. Mumbai’s 18th and 19th century Gothic architecture is a result of early British control. Originally a neo-Classical style, it evolved into a traditional European trend. Its buildings are expressive and disjointed. Unlike the earlier monochromatic design, this one evolved with vibrant colours and intricate carvings. This period’s architecture is characterised by flying buttresses and lancet windows with stained glass.