UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2004 Traditional Indian architecture and its adaptability to Mumbai city Saloni H Kadakia University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Kadakia, Saloni H, "Traditional Indian architecture and its adaptability to Mumbai city" (2004). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1709. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/vnk3-6ap2 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TRADITIONAL INDIAN ARCHITECTURE & ITS ADAPTABILITY TO MUMBAI CITY by Salon! H .Kadakia Bachelors in Architecture Academy of Architecture, Mumbai, India 2000 Masters in Architecture University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2003 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Master of Architecture School of Architecture Coliege of Fine Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2003 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1422908 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1422908 Copyright 2005 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas April 25 .2q03 The Thesis prepared by Saloni H. Kadakia Entitled Traditional Indian Architecture and Its adaptability to Mumbai City is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of ________________________Master of Architecture_____ Examination Committee Chair Dean of the Graduate College Examination Corftimhee her Examination Committee M m ber Graduate College Faculty Representative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Traditional Indian Architecture & Its Adaptability to Mumbai City by Saloni H .Kadakia Dr. Janet White, Examination Committee Chair Coordinator of Architecture Department University of Nevada, Las Vegas Mumbai ’the official name for Bombay’ has adapted to various styles of architecture. 1830 - 1870 saw the Gothic Revival, followed by IndoSarcenic architecture in 1870 - 1900, followed by Edwardian and Art Deco styles (1920 -1930) respectively. The present state of architecture in the city reflects a “failure” in of this process of adaptation. ‘Keeping in mind the cosmopolitan nature of the city ', it is important that the city continues to adapt to various architectural influences but in the right spirit. Today, what serves, as image centers are pre independence buildings like the Rajabai Tower and the High Court, or urban artifacts like the Flora Fountain and Gateway of India, which were built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The architect’s of Mumbai today pair neo-classical pseudo-Corinthian columns with ultra-modern circular windows and tops the ensemble with a Florentine dome, as if they were elements from a prefabricated catalogue. Lack of imagination is leading to the production of shoebox architecture or architecture that still copies and duplicates old classical elements in an irrelevant manner. Whether this is the result of a creative bankruptcy, or the crass commercialization of architecture, it is a disheartening reality and does not bode well for the architectural scenario of the city of Mumbai. There are a few indigenous Indian architects who are trying to create architecture, which Indians can identify with; they are creating architecture that is modern in construction technology as well as having Indian spirit. Few have succeeded in this attempt to create an architectural national identity after centuries of domination by the colonizing empire. Among the successful architects are Raj Rewal, Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Achyut Kandive, and Charles Correa. Analyzing the work of these masters and how tf)ey have applied traditional elements in their designs in a modern language would help to design principalsthat could be adopted within Mumbai to make the architecture more interesting and as well help the city to establish an identity and relate to buildings that are being built in the city of Mumbai. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................................iiii LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................................... vil AOKNOWLEDGMENTS.........................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................1 OHAPTER 2 THE ARCHITECTURE OF MUMBAI CITY.......................................................... 4 CHAPTER 3 STUDY OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN ARCHITECTURE.......................................8 3.1 Indian Temple Architecture.........................................................................................................8 3.2 Indian Temple Reservoir Architecture...................................................................................... 12 3.3 Role of Cosmos in Traditional Indian Architecture .................................................................. 15 3.4 Palace Architecture in India ......................................................................................................18 3.5 Islamic Architecture in India ...................................................................................................... 20 3.6 Havelis Wooden Houses in Gujarat, India ............................................................................ 27 3.7 Buddhist Architecture in India ...................................................................................................29 CHAPTER 4 STUDY OF WORK OF VARIOUS CONTEMPORARY AROHITECTS............30 4.1 Case Study - 1 ............................................................................................................................30 4.2 Case Study - II ...........................................................................................................................36 4.3 Case Study - III ..........................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER 5 OBSERVATIONS FROM VARIOUS CASE STUDIES.....................................51 5.1 Factors Influencing and Justifying Application of Traditional Elements to Buildings .............52 CHAPTER 6 VARIOUS TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS THAT CAN BE USED FOR CONTEMPORARY STRUOTURES ..............................................................54 6.1 Courtyards .................................................................................................................................. 54 6.2 Courtyards in Small Scale Structures ......................................................................................56 6.3 Courtyards in Medium Scale Structures ..................................................................................59 6.4 Courtyards in Large Scale Structures ......................................................................................61 6.5 T re llis/Ja ils ............................................................................................................................... 63 6.6 Trellis /Jalis in Small Scale Structures .................................................................................... 64 6.7 Trellis / Jalis in Medium and Large Scale Structures ..............................................................66 6.8 Pergolas ..................................................................................................................................... 68 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 6.9 Pergolas in Small Scale Structures ........................................................................................