Mumbai’s Art Deco buildings receive World Heritage status

ART DECO buildings in Mumbai – believed to be the world’s second largest collection after Miami – were added last Saturday (30) to Unesco’s World Heritage List alongside the city’s Victorian Gothic architecture.

The decision was approved at a Unesco meeting in the Bahraini capi­tal Manama.

A not-for-profit team of enthusi­asts is documenting each of Mum­bai’s Art Deco treasures, which they estimate may be more than 200 across the city.

The majority of them, built on re­claimed land between the early 1930s and early 1950s, are clustered togeth­er in the south of the coastal city, where they stand in stark contrast to Victorian Gothic structures.

“The Victorian ensemble includes Indian elements suited to the cli­mate, including balconies and veran­das,” Unesco said in a press state­ment announcing the decision.

“The Art Deco edifices... blend In­dian design with Art Deco imagery, creating a unique style that has been described as Indo-Deco,” it added.

The two vastly different architec­tural traditions face off against each other across the popular Oval Maid­an playing field, where enthusiastic young cricketers hone their skills.

On one side lie imposing and rath­er austere 19th century buildings housing the Bombay High Court and Mumbai University, with their spires and lancet windows.

On the other side stand sleeker buildings boasting curved corners and balconies, vertical lines and ex­otic motifs.

They were built by wealthy Indians who sent their architects to Europe to come up with modern designs differ­ent to those of their colonial rulers.

“Mumbai’s Art Deco buildings have always lived in the shadow of the Victorian Gothic structures built by the British, but this recognition by Unesco today helps elevate Art Deco to its rightful place,” Atul Kumar, the founder of Art Deco Mumbai, said.

Mumbai’s Art Deco buildings house residential properties, com­mercial offices, hospitals and single-screen movie theatres, including the popular Regal and Eros cinemas. Their characteristics include elegant Deco fonts, marble floors and spiral staircases. Most of the Art Deco buildings, including along the three-kilometre-long, palm-fringed Marine Drive promenade, are five storeys high and painted in bright colours such as yellow, pink and blue.

Some of Mumbai’s most recognis­able buildings are built in the Victori­an Gothic style, including the city’s famous main train station. The Bom­bay High Court, Mumbai University and the headquarters of the city’s civic authority are other examples of that style.

They were built in the 19th century as Britain strengthened its hold over India. Many of the edifices boast tint­ed windows, flying buttresses and or­nate carved figures.