Figure 3: Timeline of prevailent styles in the world

2.4 Architectural Style

1750-1900

Figure 3: Timeline of prevailent styles in the world

Banister Fletcher, in his book A History of Architecture (1987) mentioned that European styles, particularly those of the later Renaissance in Britain, like the Palladian, neoclassical and Baroque, as well as 19th-century revival styles, were favoured by the governments of colonial cities. Local hybridized styles were also created which were influenced by tropical climate and ornamental motifs. The city of Calcutta had a strong influence of these styles which were seen in buildings built by the British.

2.4.1 The Architectural Character of Calcutta

The Book the Great houses of Calcutta (2016) conveys that, the officials of the East India Company brought their world views, architecture and urban layouts from Britain to Calcutta. After 1757 till the 20th century, buildings with classical facades were erected. The architecture had to adapt to the local climate, conditions and materials.1 The nineteenth century witnessed the construction of beautiful brick buildings with decorative elements and embellishments of European origin. Local craftsmen and masons helped construct pillars of different designs, balusters, cornices, pilasters, facia, porticos and flamboyant2. They also replicated the "chiselled stonework" in moulded burnt clay units or stucco work.3 Buildings contained Corinthian capitals, Ionic Volutes, pediments, stained glass, turrets and friezes. The courtyard typology continued for natural ventilation and lighting, with the use of Venetian louvered openings to control the glare and flow of air in the humid climate of the city. It also used thick walls and high roofs. The staircase and verandahs had intricate cast iron railings that gave the structures a distinctive architectural character.

Building Materials: The buildings were constructed of brick clad in stucco. Its stucco was made out of an aggregate, a bonding material and water. The editors of Calcutta Built Heritage today, Prosenjit Das Gupta and Ayan Ghosh (2015), wrote that reinforced cement concrete appeared in 1930s Calcutta when Central Avenue (Chittaranjan Avenue) came up. Buildings used perforated concrete slabs, and cast iron grillwork of mostly Indo Saracenic designs with Jaipur Bikaner style especially of the residences of trading communities that emigrated from Rajasthan.

1 Pg 107, Joanne Taylor, J. L. (2016). The Great Houses of Calcutta. New Delhi: Niyogi Books. 2 of or a style of French Gothic architecture marked by wavy flame-like tracery and ornate decoration. 3 Stucco work has slabs of burnt brick aggregates with brick dust and lime laid on a layer of tiles supported on rafters and beams of timber and steel.