12. Modern Art & Architecture | Art and Culture

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The Modern Indian architecture was inspired by the Europeans who brought with them a plethora of architectural styles, which can be observed in the various structures they built. The arrival of European colonists coincided with the collapse of the Mughal empire, igniting a power war between the Portuguese, French, Dutch, Danish, and British that lasted until 1947.
The Portuguese carried the Iberian architectural style with them.
They began by constructing trading terminals and warehouses along the coasts, which were subsequently transformed into fortified cities.
They also imported the notion of 'patio homes' and the 'Baroque style,' which were established in Europe in the late 16th century to symbolize the Church's strength.
To produce a dramatic impact, it featured an extensive, complex, and theatrical design. It necessitated the employment of clashing colors.
Some of the prominent construction of this period includes:
The Sé Cathedral in Goa, which was built in 1619 AD, is one of the most prominent structures. It was constructed in the late-Gothic Portuguese style. It contains a big bell that is known as the "Golden Bell."
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was finished in 1604 AD in the Baroque style. It houses the relics of St. Francis Xavier.
Mumbai's Castella de Aguada.
St. Paul's Church in Diu was finished in 1610 AD and is built in the Baroque style.
On the shore of Diu island, Diu Fort was erected in 1535 AD. There is a lighthouse on the fort's walls, as well as canons. Within the fort complex, there are three churches: St. Thomas Church, St. Paul's Church
The French brought with them the notion of urban city planning.
The Cartesian grid layouts and scientific architectural designs were used to build the French colonies of Puducherry and Chandernagore (now Chandannagar, West Bengal).
As a display of authority, they constructed massive structures.
They also established the notion of faceless architecture, which is characterized by a basic facade devoid of embellishment or design, similar to modern structures.
The coastal cities of Mahe (Kerala), Karaikal (Tamil Nadu), and Yanam were also established by the French (Andhra Pradesh).
Puducherry's Sacred Heart Church and Chandannagar's Sacred Heart Church are two examples.
The Gothic style of building was introduced by the British.
It fused with Indian architecture to create the Indo-Gothic architectural style.
After 1911, a new architectural style called as Neo-Roman architecture evolved.
(i) Indo-Gothic Style
It is also known as the Victorian style; it was a unique combination of Indian, Persian, and Gothic architectural elements.
Steel, iron, and poured concrete became popular.
Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, Gateway of India in Mumbai, and so on are some examples.
Neo-Roman Design
Following World War I, the British Raj built in the Neo-Roman or Neo-Classical styles.
The best examples of this style were the buildings of New Delhi, designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
It is commonly referred to as the "Rome of Hindustan."
This phase contains the following characteristics:
The structures were unremarkable and without any distinguishing traits.
It was a mash-up of all architectural styles, resulting in a style that was crowded and limited the area for creative expression.
Because of the composite character of the buildings, simplicity, modernism, and usability were severely harmed.
A special emphasis was placed on circular structures.
The usage of eastern themes to realize western architectural styles was overdone.
During this time, the notion of an upturned dome was developed, as seen on the top of the Supreme Court and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Laurie Baker, sometimes known as the "Architect of the Poor," was the driving force behind Kerala's revolutionary mass housing design.
He was nominated for the Pritzker Prize, also known as the Nobel Prize for Architecture, in 2006
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