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Colonial Eclectism and Regionalistic approach of British architects in India

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During the British intervention in India the mode of Architecture in the presidencies, were initially Neo Gothic, Neo classical, Renaissance, but in the princely states it was primarily vernacular in inspiration making each state differ from each British influenced states which subsequently promoted renewed interests in India’s heritage. This also interested many British architects practicing during that period like Col. Swinton, Claude Bately, R.F Chisholm, Charles Mant and Sir Edwin Lutyens, who felt that adhernig to India’s cultural context plays an essential part in architecture of the Indian subcontinent. And which also led to the formation of ASI ( Archaeological survey of India) by the British Conservationists for preserving the heritage buildings and monument built in India over a period of time.

For the British architects the context was the whole of India, and took references from all over India from monuments in different time and places. This led to a development of certain hybrid styles in several parts of India, with the colonial flavor, which was also looked upon as a favor to the patronage of Maharajas of ruling states.

This change of attitude in architectural temperament usually reflected in the extent to which local decorative motifs have been absorbed with the evolution of architectural styles imported from the home country. The hybrid results of gradual assimilation gave a regionalist approach towards a new paradigm, which raises a contrary view point that they are taken from the pages of Indian architectural history and presents a lexicon of Indian architecture, but without grammer – and the grammer where the buildings has any is Western.

Akshay Anand, May 9, 2009
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Written by Akshay Anand

May 9, 2009 at 11:10 am

One Response

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  1. yes it is true.
    before a student of architecture, i feel, colonial zamindar architecture was the architecture of western. but after my m.arch express that zamindar palaces of bengal have occidental form for exterior skin but inside the soul, it was our traditional spaces…

    Reza

    July 17, 2009 at 10:43 am


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