Dholpur House, 1937-38
Location : Man Singh Road
Architect : Master, Sathe and Bhuta
Patron : Rana of Dholpur
The building was originally constructed during 1937-38 as the residence of Rana of Dholpur in Delhi in the Art Deco style by M/s Master, Sathe and Bhuta. It is located next to India gate on Shahjahan Road and currently houses the Union Public Service Commission.
The residence’s plan is completely circular in shape with four towers placed diametrically opposite through the central axis, three of which serve as an entrance to the building. All the four towers are connected to the centre, leaving the rest of the pockets open to sky courts. All towers have a central element adorned with jaali work, having aflat circular roof and entrance canopy with low relief work under it. Speedlines run from the entrance canopy to all around the facade accompanied with eyebrows at both levels of the building. Geometric designs can be noted in the window grills and jaalis in both exterior and interior, along with a bold swaying curved staircase.
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Image Copyrights : Deco In Delhi x Protyasha Pandey Sketch Image Source : UPSC Museum, Delhi References : Sumanta Bhowmick, 'Princely Palaces in New Delhi'
Circular Flat Roofs
A circular flat roof projection over the highest part of the building, e.g. mumpties or the central tower. They add emphasis to the towering part and an ornamental visual feature
Main Entrance
Central or Faceted axis : shown with either the entrance porch extending out, or accentuated with ornamental features, a use of different material or colour
Eyebrows
Continuous overhangs as sunshades, curving as the profile of the building, specially continuing around corners
Speedlines
Bandings to accentuate the horizontality of surfaces. A distinct feature in buildings inspired from the Streamline Moderne version of Deco
Window Grills
Often seen casted in cement / metal are window grills with motifs and symbols, such as sun burst, swan or name initials of owners, adding to the ornamentation of the buildings