ART DECO IN INDIA ART DECO would be called as a movement that was defined by its bold features and often eclectic in its concept . It was a shortened form of art décoratifs and was prevalent around the 1920s to 1940s . It emerged in France before world war I and had its effect all over the world in not only buildings but in every other tangible art form . For some reason art deco is concentrated in Mumbai when we talk about art deco’s influence in India ,but nonetheless the few parts of India that it has touched it has left a significant impression .
NEW EMPIRE CINEMA , Mumbai Initially built in a completely victorian style , this theatre used to hold plays and movies with a seating capacity over 1000 after its complete remodel an art deco innovation by British architect M.A Riddley Abbott . This was the oldest theatre in Asia to have a cantilevered balcony and to have existed over a century before it was closed in 2014 due to the losses suffered by the owners . The evolution of this building is started with being elaborately designed in victorian elements , then it was retrofitted with baroque style by architect Arthur Payne and the interiors done by O’Connor and Gerard . Years later it was designed to its current art deco stature .
NEW INDIA ASSURANCE BUILDING , Mumbai Built in 1936 ,this is an office building entirely built in reinforced concrete with Egyptian looking murals and figurines on its facade . It was designed by master , Sarhe and Bhuta and artistic designed N.G pansare . One of its facade projects strong art deco features with some classical touch in its vertical ribs whereas its eastern and western facades provide relief to the forced mechanical central cooling duct system .
RAJ MANDIR CINEMA , Jaipur This cinema designed by that time famous W.M.Namjoshi is a statement to what defined grandeur and grandeur back in the day . With a large meringue shaped auditorium and its famous lighting system that switches colours before during after every show , this building is split into four sections namely ruby , emerald , diamond and pearl . Another distinguishing feature of this theatre is the air conditioning ducts under seats that let out a subtle floral aroma adding on to the Eastman colour ambiance . The walls are adorned with custom made wood work with a glass inlay and the high ceilings are fitted with chandeliers to add to the royal setting .
SARDAR SAMAND LAKE PALACE , Jodhpur Still tops the royal families list of retreats , this lake palace is an art deco hunting lodge that exists around another art deco signature of the locality . It houses a huge collection of African trophies and some of the original water paintings of snaffles . The