HENRY IRWIN (1841-1922)

INTRODUCTION Architect of British India Born on 21st January 1841, in Tarbett, Ireland. 1864- Joined the public works department in England. 1866- was moved to ceylon. 1868- moved to India in PWD, Shimla. 1872- Became the executive engineer, nagpur and central

provinces. Got a real boost in 1888, after completetion of VICE REGAL

LODGE, Shimla Became the superintendent engineer, Shimla Imperial Circle of

central PWD. Then he moved to Madras, as consulting architect for the Madras

Presidency. Last project was Mysore palace 1897-1912, after which he retired

and went to Ooty. He died on 5th August, 1922.

Philosophies :- Respecter of local traditions. Initially all his works are gothic Afterwards Indo-saracenic. Depicting British authority (after 1857)

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.”

Henry Irwin

Explanation of choice :-

His projects. Palaces – mystery. A glimpse of past. A British on Indian land. Evolution stages of architect.

Major Works:- Headquarters of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway

Chennai–1873- Gothic revival style.

Christ church, Panchmarhi – 1880 – Gothic revival style.

The American College, Madurai -1881-Saracenic style (red bricks, blending with surroundings).

Vice Regal lodge-(1880-1888) – Jacobethan Style.

Gaiety Theatre, Shimla - 1888 (Stone)- exclusively for Britishers hence neo-Gothic style.

Madras High Court, Chennai – 1892 – Indo Saracenic style.

Law College Buildings, Chennai - July 1892- Indo Saracenic style.

Headquarters of the State Bank of Madras -1896 – Indo Saracenic style.

Government Museum, Chennai – 1896- Indo Saracenic style.

The Hindu Higher Secondary School, Chennai- 1897(the L-shaped red brick building)- Saracenic style.

Mysore palace – (1897-1912) – Indo Saracenic Revival style.

Styles: Jacobethan style – Mixed renaissance and Elizabethan

style. Classical over Gothic. Gothic revival- gothic + Elizabethan. Saracenic – Islamic architecture. Indo- saracenic- Indo Islamic. Indo Saracenic Revival – Indo Islamic + Gothic.

JacobethanGothic

Indo- saracenic

Case study - IThe Vice Regal lodge - Shimla

Philosophy :- Built in 1880s ( after 1857) He had just started in India. Influenced by Scottish castles, English renaissance. Used local material Jacobethan style.

History --

Started in 1885 Got the project because the then Viceroy of India- Lord Dufferin

loved Gothic style. Completed in 1888 1947– renamed as Rashtrapati niwas. 1964– given to Indian institute of advanced study. Viceroy visited the site every day Result got mixed reactions. Shimla conference. F. B. Hebbert and L. M. St. Clair- executive engineers.

Materials used: Local woods like pine, walnut and cedar. Light blue-grey masonary Tiled pitch roofing. Wrought stone work Interior by wood.

Architecture :- Jacobethan style Renovations being done. The top of Observatory Hill was leveled out to create a wide plateau. Surface of crushed shale - cracked in every direction'. Concrete was

liberally used for the foundations. Sprawling gardens. First govt. building to have electricity, and internal wiring, with

elevator. Rain water harvesting system, still used today.

Hexagonal faceted towers. Pitched roofs. High chimneys. Stone trims around windows. Carved brick detailing

Jacobethan features

Exterior completely

of stone and stained

Glass.

Interiors completely of wood.

This contrast is being influenced from Gothic revival style.

Verandah and terraces-at different levels. Fire fighting mechanism through wax tipped water ducts.

The South entrance leads to reception hall – a fireplace and a grand spiraling staircase.

• Grand staircase which springs from right and spirals upto 3 floors marks the hall.

• These two features show symmetry – Classical English influence

The building has six stories.

The teak paneled gallery- leads to the state drawing room, ballroom and the wood-paneled dining room.

Critics: Edward Lutyens had a low opinion of the design.

He is reported to have said,

“If one was told that it was built by monkeys all one could say was, ‘What wonderful monkeys!' But they must be shot if they tried to do it again.” 

Case study - IIThe Mysore Palace

Philosophy :- Built in 1900s. Working in Madras. Mental state on Indo- Saracenic. But wanted to do new, as last project, hence

developed Indo- Saracenic revival style. Lots of inspirations in one structure. Not disorderly

mix of design elements.

History : Also known as Amba vilas palace. Currently owned by Wodeyars(royal family of Mysore). 1897-1912 Additions later in 1940—public durbar hall wing Fireproof. The maharani insisted-

new palace be built in model and foundations of the old one.

In the reconstruction, stone, brick and iron should be the chief materials.

Materials used:- Locally available. Wooden doors. Pink stone. Hard granite - Myosre district. Stone - of Turuvekere in Tumkur - easy fine details

(discovered)

Architecture:- Indo-saracenic revival style – Hindu + Muslim +

Rajput and Gothic. Surrounded by large garden. 72 acres. He used European design principles + Our climatic

conditions = large courtyards + verandahs.

Three storey marble domes 145 ft. five storeyed tower. Tallest tower of the palace

-Tower of a Gothic cathedral. 

-Top of it is a large dome - Islamic/Persian style structures.

-Above dome is a domed Chhatri- Rajput style.

Two more such domed Chhatris on central arch of the facade. Between these two domed Chhatris and Above the central arch is a

carving of goddess Gajalakshmi - Hindu Influence The Arches are pointed and of Persian in origin. These are supported by

massive pillars.

Fine grey granite + pink domes( indo- saracenic) = cherry. Protruding balconies - ‘jharokha’ Rajshani architecture. Top of the balcony is with deep pink stone , that forms a

semi dome Bottom is supported by a structural feature in the form a

lotus.

Planning:- Enter the palace building through a smaller verandah - south side. The main archway - expansive central court. The whole court is netted at the top to prevent birds messing the

inside and an enclosed verandah runs around this court.

The dolls pavilion leads to a large brass gate. Next to the armory is the trophy room. Then we have many unique rooms surrounding the courtyard as,

Kalyana Mantapa, a ceremonial hall with wrought-iron pillars and a stained glass ceiling with a prominent peacock

motif ---- Persian/Islamic influence.

The staircase leads to the Durbar Hall, or the Diwan-e-Aam. The Durbar Hall leads to the Amba vilasa, or the Diwan-e-Khas,

Kalyana mantapa

Deewan – e - aam

Amba vilasa--- used by king and for private audience. Entry through a carved rosewood doorway inlaid with ivory

that opens into a shrine to Ganesha.--- Hindu Influence. The central nave of the hall

-ornately gilded columns,

-stained glass ceilings,

-decorative steel grills,

-chandeliers with fine floral motifs,

-mirrored in the pietra dura mosaic floor embellished with semi-precious stones.

Gombe thotti ( doll’s pavillion)

Entry to the palace is through the Gombe Thotti or the Doll’s Pavilion, a gallery of traditional dolls from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Classical European sculptures, and influence.

The palace complex includes twelve Hindu temples. 

Interiors. The squinch (where the pillar meets the

ceiling ) and the domical ceiling above the verandah, plaster work on the ceiling, the capitals carved with hard granite. This too is a present blend of native and gothic styles.

Massive doors carved out of teak (yellow-brown) and rosewood (coffee colored).

On the rosewood doors, frames and lintels you can see the finely done inlay work.

These again show local Craftmanship as his philosophy.

On the floor, embedded inlay work – Pietra dura- that is popularly known as Agra work.

The living palace - located right behind the main palace. 

This is made in a more human scale.

Evolutions:- Headquarters of the Madras and Southern

Mahratta Railway Chennai–1873- Gothic revival style. - it was to also incorporate Dravidian decorations, perhaps a first in that direction.

The American College, Madurai -1881-Saracenic style (red bricks, blending with surroundings).

Madras southern railway

Town hall

Town Hall (1888)- overlooked the use of substandard materials, within 20 years of its construction it had to be dismantled.

Gaiety Theatre, Shimla - 1888 (Stone)- exclusively for Britishers hence neo-Gothic style.

Vice Regal Lodge – (1885-1888) – Jacobethan style.

Use of rhythmic symmetry from renaissance ( Elizabethan + Gothic)

Gaiety theatre

Madras High Court, Chennai – 1892 – Indo Saracenic style

blend with other high court buildings in vicinity.

Headquarters of the State Bank of Madras -1896 – Indo Saracenic style. - Mughal elements

Mysore palace – (1897-1912) – Indo Saracenic Revival style.

Madras high court

Bank of madras

What we can learn :-

Adaptability. His love for local materials, and local

craftmanship. Mixing of various styles. Dealing with clients ( viceroy, pavillion).

Thank you

“ The greatest advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science and literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized government.”

Milton Friedman