Decoding Mumbai's Art Deco Dwellings (1930s-50s): Modernity, Hybridity, and Postcolonial Identities in late-colonial Architecture of Mumbai
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Architecture
Abstract
Mumbai's Architecture in the late-colonial period was an active proponent of intense socio-cultural changes by playing a crucial role in forming colonial spatial relations, reflecting and/or contesting modernities and their rationalities, including/excluding groups and empowering identities. Shifting from colonial Imperialism to postcolonial modernism, how did Mumbai's Architecture represent these transformations? How did architecture promote Indians' self-determination and decolonization in the face of colonial hegemony? How did buildings reflect the notions of modernity, national identity, shifting power, and progress?
Broadly examining how these notions were shaped/re-shaped in Mumbai's built-environment and later focusing on Indian architects and Bombay Improvement Trust's low-rise middle-class (Art Deco-styled) housing in suburban Mumbai neighbourhood, the project aims to create a decolonial 'hybrid' narrative in opposition to the imperial 'urban history of Bombay'.
The research would investigate how Mumbai's Art Deco Architecture was shaped by Indian agents to respond to various political, social, and nationalistic demands during the late-colonial period. Focusing on Art Deco dwellings built between 1930-47 by UK-trained Indian architects and BIT, the research aims to create critical historiography of 'indigenous modernity', which connects the materials, process, design and patronage of buildings with broader socio-economic-political issues.
Hence, the research posits the following research questions:
1. Does the production of architecture in the late-colonial Mumbai reinforces/challenges the notions of self, progress, and national identity?
2. How was international Art Deco appropriated by policies, patrons, BIT, and architects to fit the city's needs and create a 'hybrid space'?
3. Can Mumbai's Art Deco Architecture be interpreted as a manifestation of Appropriation, Modernity, and Post-colonial Empowerment?
In order to answer the questions, a qualitative research strategy is planned in distinct phases. The first phase will involve a scholarship review on 'Architectural production and politics, identity, and modernity' and post-colonial critiques focusing on architecture. These will be combined to form critical themes that will comprehend the adaptation and transformation of Bombay Architecture, resulting in an interpretative framework of strategies and tools used by Mumbai's policy-makers, architects and the local community.
The second phase involves interpretative-historical research to create a narrative. Sources include government publications like Plaque Reports, BIT Reports and others obtained from India Office Records at the British Library, SOAS Library, and Maharashtra State Archives; colonial literature like Officers' accounts, native accounts, biographies, travelogues, family histories; and Non-official publication like RIBA Journals, and Construction Manuals.
The third phase would be a case study research that will be undertaken to study buildings as hybrid architecture. 5-7 case studies will be taken from a single Mumbai neighbourhood to gather similarities/dissimilarities in the building's design (plan, sections, elevations), form, elements and iconography. Data collection modes include document analysis, archival research, fieldwork observations, stakeholder interviews, measured drawings, sketching and photo-documentation. The data obtained will be assessed in a matrix of 'Bombay Deco' attributes to create a catalogue of the case studies.
The final phase involves combining the data obtained from previous phases to create an interpretation of social practices, perception and use of space. This will eventually lead to a complete picture of Post-colonial transformation in Mumbai's Art Deco concluding the research.
The research is envisioned to add to the histories of 20th-century Architecture, Indian Modern Architecture, and Art Deco. Built on the intersection of Archit
Broadly examining how these notions were shaped/re-shaped in Mumbai's built-environment and later focusing on Indian architects and Bombay Improvement Trust's low-rise middle-class (Art Deco-styled) housing in suburban Mumbai neighbourhood, the project aims to create a decolonial 'hybrid' narrative in opposition to the imperial 'urban history of Bombay'.
The research would investigate how Mumbai's Art Deco Architecture was shaped by Indian agents to respond to various political, social, and nationalistic demands during the late-colonial period. Focusing on Art Deco dwellings built between 1930-47 by UK-trained Indian architects and BIT, the research aims to create critical historiography of 'indigenous modernity', which connects the materials, process, design and patronage of buildings with broader socio-economic-political issues.
Hence, the research posits the following research questions:
1. Does the production of architecture in the late-colonial Mumbai reinforces/challenges the notions of self, progress, and national identity?
2. How was international Art Deco appropriated by policies, patrons, BIT, and architects to fit the city's needs and create a 'hybrid space'?
3. Can Mumbai's Art Deco Architecture be interpreted as a manifestation of Appropriation, Modernity, and Post-colonial Empowerment?
In order to answer the questions, a qualitative research strategy is planned in distinct phases. The first phase will involve a scholarship review on 'Architectural production and politics, identity, and modernity' and post-colonial critiques focusing on architecture. These will be combined to form critical themes that will comprehend the adaptation and transformation of Bombay Architecture, resulting in an interpretative framework of strategies and tools used by Mumbai's policy-makers, architects and the local community.
The second phase involves interpretative-historical research to create a narrative. Sources include government publications like Plaque Reports, BIT Reports and others obtained from India Office Records at the British Library, SOAS Library, and Maharashtra State Archives; colonial literature like Officers' accounts, native accounts, biographies, travelogues, family histories; and Non-official publication like RIBA Journals, and Construction Manuals.
The third phase would be a case study research that will be undertaken to study buildings as hybrid architecture. 5-7 case studies will be taken from a single Mumbai neighbourhood to gather similarities/dissimilarities in the building's design (plan, sections, elevations), form, elements and iconography. Data collection modes include document analysis, archival research, fieldwork observations, stakeholder interviews, measured drawings, sketching and photo-documentation. The data obtained will be assessed in a matrix of 'Bombay Deco' attributes to create a catalogue of the case studies.
The final phase involves combining the data obtained from previous phases to create an interpretation of social practices, perception and use of space. This will eventually lead to a complete picture of Post-colonial transformation in Mumbai's Art Deco concluding the research.
The research is envisioned to add to the histories of 20th-century Architecture, Indian Modern Architecture, and Art Deco. Built on the intersection of Archit
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Iain Jackson (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Excellent Hansda (Student) |