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31Y3ZVA6iPL._BO1,204,203,200_

Bombay Deco

Art deco merged in India in the early1930s with Bombay serving as the crucible for its birth, interestingly, while its appearance paralleled the waves of nationalism and the aspirations if swarajya or self rule, the style was virtually spontaneous burst of exuberant westernisation before independence. Art deco arrived in India literally on the shores of Bombay, spurred by the great reclamations in the island city, the creation of the northern suburbs and the frantic building activity that was taking place in the 1930s.
art deco incorporated decorative themes and motifs facilitating continuity in expression or ornamentation critical for India. Although the style grew out of industrial of production, in India buildings continued to be constructed primarily with manual labour bringing to them a handmade quality while also creating a highly skilled pool of labour that was familiar with the use of Reinforced Cement Concrete construction.
What is unique about Bombay is the concentration of the art deco buildings in what can easily be called a deco district – the ensemble of the theatres with the buildings on the great Backbay Reclalmation which makes a precinct cohesive in its image and so clear in its delineation – that in size it is perhaps rivalled only by the art deco district in Miami. More interestingly this precinct covers both seafront situation as well as one where it faces three great neo-gothic buildings if Bombay.
Over the last seven decades the art deco buildings in Bombay have quietly survived as the city has grown and transformed around them. Today these buildings face new challenges for their survival and their conservation is vital, for they area great asset, which could position the city uniquely, not only for its collection of varied architectural styles but also its image as a city that historically embraced the future.

₹2,950.00

AUTHORS

Sharada Dwivedi & Rahul Mehrotra

ISBN

81-903821-5-2

DESIGN

Dhun Cordo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Noshir Gobhai

PHOTO

Noshir Gobhai

COPYRIGHT

© Sharada Dwivedi & Rahul Mehrotra 2008