Put simply, there are many distinct styles with which the Architecture
of Madras can be described. From the Dravidian architecture of the Pallavas and
the Indo-Saracenic architecture, brought in by the European colonists, to the
contemporary architecture of the 21st century. Each of these styles coexists,
creating a unique urban fabric which has a colonial core encompassed with a
mixture of historical and contemporary structures, which can be experienced as
one travels through the city. Many historical buildings are still fully
functional and host government, business or educational establishments making
Chennai home to the second largest collection of heritage buildings in India.
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| Old Spencer Building |
Initially the major
structures introduced by the European colonists were utilitarian based such as warehouses
and walled trading posts, giving way to fortified towns along the coast. The
first few buildings included factories but later courts, schools, municipal
halls and dak bungalows came up which
were ordinary structures built by the garrison engineers. A deeper appreciation towards architecture
was expressed in churches and other public buildings.
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| Government Museum Of Chennai |
Most of the structures
were adaptations of the buildings designed by leading British architects of
that time like Wren, Adam, Nash and more in London and other places. Through
years, these structures extended into various typologies which were
climatically adapted to the context. This was the time when British started
assimilating and adopting the native Indian styles in architecture. Architecture
of this era gave rise to grand public buildings, such as clock towers,
courthouses, civic and municipal establishments, government colleges, town
halls, railway stations, museums, and art galleries. Blend of Muslim designs
and Indian materials developed by British architects in India during the late
19th and early 20th Centuries were perfect reflections of Indo-Saracenic
architecture. Imbibe this style is a beautiful amalgamation of old and new,
Islamic and Hindu styles of architecture from the beautiful alleys of the
Presidency college to the stunning aesthetics of the Senate House. Besides the
Indo Saracenic style, there is more to the city’s architectural history in its
residential areas which can be seen in the Agraharams to Temples. Chennai is now filled
with newer progressive areas along the port, punctuated with old temples, churches
and mosques.
In the aspect of new trends in architecture, one wonders how these
historic buildings still hold up, isn’t the maintenance of these old structures
too much work? In order to tackle these problems their primary functions were
altered according to the modern wants.
- How a collector’s “Cutcherry” turned into our Egmore museum?
- How Victorian Public hall became the house for the Athletic Association Club?
- When The Oceanic Hotel, a classic example of Art Deco, was razed to the ground for an IT Park!
- The language department of the Madras University and so on.
Most certainly, we still haven’t found a
definitive solution to it yet their rate of disappearance has
significantly increased.
Aesthetically, contemporary architecture, as seen in most of our
government housing board projects and office structures, has rejected the
traditional ideas of order, sustainability and detailing: Intricate carvings, detailing
of the structural elements, displayed craftsmanship and tales of the bygone era.
Architecture is now moving towards its new age praxis, a praxis which is
minimalist by facade, yet sophisticated by western influences that are evident
with our “glass box” skyscrapers. Apart from its highs and lows, one tends to
overlook the beauty in disguise. From the Agraharams
of Mylapore to IT parks of East Coast Road, from Valluvar Kottam to St. George
fort, each building narrates its own story. It is this unraveling of plots, as
one moves through the streets and corners that makes Madras Architecture.
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