ARP 310 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN V

ASSIGNMENT 3

CASE STUDY ON

BOMBAY GOTHIC STYLE

OF ARCHITECTURE
ABHISHEK SONI
2018UAR1734
 CONTENTS

01 Bombay Gothic: An Introduction

02 Evolution and Regional Influences

03 Prominent Buildings of Bombay Gothic Style

 01
Bombay Gothic: An Introduction
 Bombay Gothic: An Introduction

“ ”
Mumbai is one of the most characteristically Victorian cities in the world,
displaying all the grand effrontery of Victorian eclecticism.

- Jan Morris, Welsh Historian, Author and Travel Writer

The Gothic Revival architectural style, innovatively adapted to local

conditions, was introduced to 18th-century Bombay by Gov. HBE Frere.

Mumbai Architecture came to be present through the British in the 18th

and early 19th centuries. The Victorian Gothic style (also known as Gothic
revival) came to dominate the city.

Indian architects came to analyze this style and represent it and put it
into play in relation with the climate, and in relation to society's plans
and sensibilities.

This style, the blend of Gothic and contemporary styles, is what came
to be known as “Bombay Gothic”.
Bombay Municipal Corporation by F. W. Stevens

02
 Bombay Gothic: An Introduction

The mid-1800s saw many changes, as Indian merchants became wealthy from the opium trade and the cotton boom. Many of
them attempted to make their mark on Mumbai by employing British architects to construct buildings in their honour, using the most
preferred styles of the British Empire.

Owing to its architectural heritage which is a blend of Victorian Gothic and Art Deco schools of architecture, the city of Mumbai was
granted the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.

The Bombay High Court The Kala Ghoda Statue The Bombay University Fort Campus

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 Bombay Gothic: An Introduction

The Esplanade

Map showing the Esplanade Complex consisting of the Bombay High Court, the Fort Campus of University of Bombay,
the Watson Hotel, the Watson Hotel, the Civil and Sessions Court, the Oval Maidan and the Kala Ghoda Statue

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 Evolution and Regional Influences

02
Evolution and Regional Influences
 Evolution and Regional Influences

The British Crown acquired Bombay from the East India Company in the 1800s and public buildings, such as the Bombay High Court,
the University of Mumbai (Fort Campus) and the Victoria Terminus that were built during 18th and early 19th centuries.

These structures were built in the Victorian Gothic style but sloping tiled roofs, carved balconies and verandas were added and the
material used was the locally sourced(igneous basalt, sandstone, soft limestone, black stone, Kurla stone)keeping in mind the needs
of the local climate.

Mumbai’s Angel, Stained Glass Windows with Rajabai Clock Tower, Central Arch, Bas Reliefs,
CSM Terminus Floral Details Bombay University Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market CSM Terminus

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 Evolution and Regional Influences

Holy Name Cathedral by Patrick C. Keely Palace of Westminster by Charles Barry Rajabai Clock Tower by Sir George Gilbert Scott
Chicago London Mumbai

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 Evolution and Regional Influences

The British influence on buildings in the city is evident from the Colonial Era. However, the architectural features include a range of
European influences such as German gables, Dutch roofs, Swiss timbering, Romance arches and Tudor casements often inter-fused
with traditional Indian features.

Bombay High Court Roof inspired from Arched Windows at CSMT inspired from
German and Dutch Gable Roofs Romance Arches and Tudor Casements

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 Evolution and Regional Influences

In the early 20th century Bombay saw another phase of expansion. Due to the immense freed space it obtained, the Bombay
Gothic slowly went out of trend. The Art Deco style was employed which was distinguished by simple, clean streamlined shapes and
geometric, floral and animal ornamentation. The style encouraged building with steel columns, beams, and reinforced concrete.

New India Assurance Building Empress Court Eros Cinema Hall

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 03
Prominent Buildings of Bombay
Gothic Style
 Prominent Buildings in Bombay Gothic Style

CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ TERMINUS

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, formerly Victoria
Terminus, in Mumbai, was designed by British architect Frederick
William Stevens and constructed between 1878 and 1888 A.D.
to house the principal terminus and headquarters of the Great
Indian Peninsular Railway, today’s Central Railway.

Spread across a 2.85 hectare area its remarkable stone dome,

turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to
traditional Indian palace architecture.

The building is “C” shaped and symmetric about the east-west

axis. There is a central dome in the middle which acts as a focal
point around which the structure has been built. The two sides
enshrine the courtyard which opens on the street.

Front Facade of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

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 Prominent Buildings in Bombay Gothic Style

THE BOMBAY HIGH COURT

The Bombay High Court was one of the three High Courts in India
established on June 26, 1862. It was inaugurated on August 14,
1862 under the High Courts Act, 1861.

The work on the present building of the High Court was

commenced in April 1871 and completed in November 1878. It
was designed by British engineer Col. James A. Fuller.

The High Court building is a four-storied stone structure 562 feet

long and, at its highest point, 178 feet high. The built up area of
the ground and three floors of the original building is a grand
total of over 80,000 square feet, topped by a handsome gabled
roof.

The Bombay High Court Complex

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 Prominent Buildings in Bombay Gothic Style

THE UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI

Drafted by Sir Charles Wood in 1854, The University of Bombay

was established in 1857. The University of Mumbai was modelled
on the University of London.

It houses the administrative division of the university on a 5.3

hectares site. It has 116,000 sqm of built-up area, 2,000 sqm of
classrooms, and 7,800 sqm of laboratory space.

The Rajabai Clock Tower was modelled in the 1870s by

Sir George Gilbert Scott on the clock tower of the Palace of
Westminster in London. The tower is 85 m tall and has five
storeys.

Administrative Block of The University of Mumbai

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 Prominent Buildings in Bombay Gothic Style

MAHATMA JYOTIBA PHULE MANDAI

Crawford Market (officially Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai) was
designed by British architect William Emerson in 1869. The market
covers an area of 22,471 sqm, of which 5,515 sqm is occupied by
the building itself.

The structure was built using coarse buff coloured Kurla stone,
with redstone from Bassein. It has a 15 m high skylight awning
designed to allow the sunlight to brighten up the marketplace.

The original design consisted of three doorways at the entrance,

each divided with a column, with space for a carved panel
depicting every day life. Two such panels were carved by the
artist, John Lockwood Kipling depicting an image of workers
working.

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai Front Entrance

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