History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013 Page 1of 9 European colonial urban design and architecture in Indian metropolis Term Paper for History of Architecture (AP131) Garima Bansal Roll Number: 41 Sushant School of Art and Architecture ABSTRACT Madras, Calcutta, Bombay, and New Delhi- four great metropolises of India; have been shaped by western architecture and urban planning from their creation by the British to the present time. In this reading, the history of urban planning in India is explored with architecture and planning in Calcutta throughout 19 th to 20 th century with ideological controversy over Western architecture as it focused on the design of New Delhi. Approach of British urban architects and planners and current urban planning strategies are also discussed. The dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent was taken in 1773, when the Company established a capital in Calcutta, appointed its first Governor-General, Warren Hastings, and became directly involved in governance. Towards the close of the nineteenth century, Britain became a centre of innovative thinking of urban planning: A proposal for opening up congested districts was made in 1902, with the area of Burra Bazar given a high priority for renovation. In 1911, the government created the Calcutta Improvement Trust and empowered it to undertake schemes for the extension and improvement of the city. Trams and new roads were constructed. The establishment of the New Delhi in 1912 had coincided with a period of intense interest in city planning among the British. The principal focas was to make it as monumental complex. The design was produced on a grand scale by New Delhi Planning committee headed by George Swinton, architect Sir Edwin Lutyen, Herbert Baker and Geoffrey de Montermorency.
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7/27/2019 European colonial urban design and architecture in Indian metropolis.pdf
History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013
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Figure 2: Calcutta streets from Richard’s plan, 1914 Ref: The Indian Metropolis, 1989:p.125
Figure Convinced that Calcutta required a comprehensive plan, Bompas invited a British engineer, E.P.Richard to prepare, a detail study of the city‟s need. The report work was begun in 1913 and
published in 1914.
Richard experience of cities had given him no preparation for the street system of Calcutta and he was
particularly struck by the extensive and densely built Indian district served only by tortuous lanes and
passages. The mesh of narrow streets divided the city into half-mile rectangles within which tangle
footpath separate properly set at „every possible angles‟. In Richard‟s view, the Calcutta slums
resulted in parts from the inability of people to commute in and out of the city. Although a small
tramway system existed since 1873, it was hampered in its expansion because of the lack suitable
streets. Elements of his proposed street plan were gradually achieved, and, through demolition, a
number of broad arteries were cut through the dense urban fabric.
Figure 3: Richard‟s ideal plan for Calcutta. (Proposed new streets are shown in red.)Ref: The Indian Metropolis, 1989:p.126
7/27/2019 European colonial urban design and architecture in Indian metropolis.pdf
History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013
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The British generally praised the achievements of the improvement trust, citing the spacious central
avenue 100 feet wide. Economic forces would have foster many changes, even without the renovations
of the improvement trust. in 1930, nearly all the banks and great business houses have rebuilt their
premises in stylizes which have borrowed largely from the architecture of the great commercial cities
of the west. The palaces chowringhee have mostly disappeared, their sites covered by commercial
buildings, by clubs, or by the great blocks of flats. It was noted that the European no longer lives in a
sort of proud isolation. Rich Indians increasingly invade the European quarter and out do the merchant
insist in the splendour of the dwellings.
Figure 4: Harrison road, constructed in 1893 Figure 5: Central Avenue and Chowringhee Square,1935Ref: The Indian Metropolis, 1989:p.133: fig.123 Ref: The Indian Metropolis, 1989:p.127: fig.116
Calcutta was indeed going through momentous changes under the British rule. New roads and
neighbourhoods were planned, channels for drainage were being dug, new structures were coming up
and existing buildings refurbished. Planning encompassed not only the regulation of physical spaces,
but also the multiple concerns of health, policing and commerce.
Calcutta was typical modern commercial city in piecemeal nature of its planning activity and in the
subordination of ideology to prevailing economic forces. It was only in New Delhi that an opportunity
to plan comprehensively was afforded. The establishment of the new capital in 1912 had coincided
with the period of intense interest in city planning among the British.
Planning of Modern Delhi
At the time New Delhi was created, the principal focus of attention among the designers was the
monumental complex. The creation of the viceroy‟s palace and the accompanying secretariat buildings
reflected an impressive clarity of concept. New Delhi was intended to house the imperial government
headquarters. The only need that was anticipated was for the office space, together with housing and
institutional facilities for staff. New Delhi was laid out on a grand scale and in the grand classical
tradition.
7/27/2019 European colonial urban design and architecture in Indian metropolis.pdf
History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013
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One such area of enquiry lies in the field of propounding of the „India Shining‟ brand of urban
development. Enthusiastic urban planners strenuously contest aesthetics of „both-and‟
environments. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), underpins
radical „both-and‟ aesthetic and aims to put into practice the principles enunciated in the 73rd
and 74th amendments to the Constitution of India that mandate a radically different,
decentralized planning and development process.
Bibliography
1. Norma Evenson. The Indian Metropolis: A View Towards the West. Hong Kong : South Sea In't Press
Ltd., 1989. ISBN 0-300-04333-3.
2. V. B. Ganesan.The planning behind the City of Joy, may7,2012. The Hindu.
3 . A . G . Krishna Menon. The complexity of Indian urbanism,2007. the India Seminar
4. Sahay Shrey. Urban Planning in India,2003. Vereniging Van Bouwkunst
5. Mala Mukherjee. Urban Growth and Spatial Transformation Of Kolkata Metropolis: A ContinuationOf Colonial Legacy, march 2013. Volume3, Issue 3, IJRMEC . ISSN: 2250-057X .