Municipal Corporation Building, British Era Bombay, 2 Photos 1935
Two photos from 1935 and 1942 depict the Municipal Corporation Building during the British era in Bombay (now Mumbai). The building was designed by architect F. W. Stevens. Stevens had earlier earned fame for creating the Victoria Terminus (VT), completed in 1888. Soon after, the Bombay Presidency entrusted him with this project owing to his exemplary work. Stevens also designed other architectural landmarks of colonial Bombay, including:
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Government House (Raj Bhavan), completed in 1880
For the BMC Building, Stevens drew inspiration from the great town halls of Europe, describing its architecture as “early Gothic with an oriental feeling.” The result was one of the most iconic civic structures of colonial India, still functioning as the headquarters of Mumbai’s Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation, or BMC
These rare old photos of the BMC Building in Bombay are not only a visual treasure but also an important reminder of the city’s rich colonial heritage and Gothic architecture. See also the electric tram, double-decker trams, and automobiles of that period. Click on the first photo to enlarge.
Did you know – the BMC building opened in 1893. It incorporated the latest technology at that time by fully electrifying the building. Even before the city received a steady electrical connection.
From the collection – Raja Ravi Varma’s “Mohini On A Swing” – Vintage Print 1930s., Arrival Of King George & Queen Mary In India, 1911., Tellicherry On The Malabar Coast – Old Print 1922., Byculla Station Waiting For The First Train 1853, Old Print.
