- Hardcover: 295 pages
- Publisher: Roli Books Pvt Ltd (30 April 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 8174364471
- ISBN-13: 978-8174364470
- Product Dimensions: 23.3 x 23.6 x 2.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 301,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"In his book Navin Ramani compares the two cities and describes in detail stylish Bombay. The architecture of the 1930s and 40s is beautifully illustrated and his book will do much to bring in 'Deco fanciers' from around the world." -- Richard Gray "Author of Cinemas in Britain"
Product Description
Bombay Art Deco presents a treasury of Art Deco buildings comprising residential, commercial and civic architecture created during the glamorous and optimistic era of the mid 1930's and 1940's. The architects, a small list of first generation Indian architects and builders, were mostly educated in English schools and trained in western architectural traditions, if not actually in the West. Impatient with the British reluctance to shed the Gothic and Indo - Saracenic architectural styles that had dominated Imperial Bombay's urban landscape, these visionaries were determined to imbue the city with a new modern style. That style shares its provenance with the Art Deco architecture of Miami Beach, termed Tropical Deco by author Laura Cerwinske in her seminal 1981 book. Built in the same era, the Art Deco architecture of the two cities exhibits similar scale, geometry, tropical vocabulary, and love of romance.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Faded Eastern promise,
By
This review is from: Bombay Art Deco Architecture: A Visual Journey 1930-1953 (Hardcover)
Who would have thought that Bombay would have the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings outside of Miami Beach. There is a photo on pages 272-273 of Marine Drive, Bombay and you could be forgiven for thinking, at a quick glance, that this might be Ocean Drive, Miami. Navin Ramani reveals the background to this remarkable architectural heritage in the front of his book: the opening of the Suez Canal, a merchant class settling in Bombay, the city becomes the center of the Indian architectural profession and extensive land reclamation from 1929 all helped to create a unique Far Eastern Deco habitat.The book's many photos show plenty of apartments and commercial buildings with their concrete curved lines, geometric floor patterns and streamlined appearance. It's unfortunate though that the photos also show plenty pipe-work and aircon units spoiling the external look of so many of them. It is the movie palaces that really show off the Deco style. The interiors of the five featured bubble over with streamline curves, recessed lighting and flamboyant marble floor patterns. Ramani's book will surely be the definitive one about Bombay deco but I was rather disappointed with many of the author's photos. They lack a sharpness and the colour is rather muted and dull. I became aware of this when I compared them with Arnold Schwartzman's clean, focused photos of 'Deco LAndmarks: Art Deco Gems of Los Angeles' and in fact there is a good example of the photographic difference in Ramani's book on pages 256-257, on the left is a dull, flat photo of 63 Marine Drive, Bombay and the right a similar looking Hotel Victor in Miami but the photo is sharp, clean and colourful. Still, despite this Bombay Art Deco is certainly worth having if you love this exuberant architecture.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic insight into Mumbai's Art Deco heritage.,
By
This review is from: Bombay Art Deco Architecture: A Visual Journey 1930-1953 (Hardcover)
A handsome inspiring hardback for lovers & followers of Art Deco architecture. This book brings to life Mumbai's Art Deco architecture struggling to survive in a fast moving and changing 21st Century India. Mumbai (formerly Bombay) has the second largest collection of Art deco buildings after Miami and this publication is a good introduction to the Art Deco style of architecture in Mumbai from its inception from 1930 to its demise during the early 1950's. The book is well researched and well presented in a contemporary fashion with excellent illustrations and interpretations from residentail buildings to cinema halls. Lots of large wonderful colour photographs making it a stunning visual journey of Art Deco buildings still surviving to this very day with their respective locations. The author Navin Ramani passion for Art Deco & architecture is keenly reflected with his acknowledgements, his own collection of photographs and contributions from his family, friends & colleagues making this book a delight and excellent value for money. A short comparison between the architectural styles of Mumbai & Miami at the final chapters is very interesting. This book certainly does its part to raise awareness for maintaining, preserving & regenerating the Art Deco heritage architecture of a bygone era in Mumbai the same way it has done for Miami. A highly recommended buy...enjoy!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews) 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply superb,
By Rajesh Balkrishnan "rbalkris" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bombay Art Deco Architecture: A Visual Journey 1930-1953 (Hardcover)
For anyone in love with Mumbai or with Art Deco architecture, this book is an absolute must. Lovingly photographed and produced, you get to see everything from the Asiatic Library and the Cricket Club to the lovely cinemas Liberty, Eros, and Regal. A must for any armchair traveller and Mumbai lover, as well as required reading for architecture buffs.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bombay Art Deco,
By Ginger Book Worm - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bombay Art Deco Architecture: A Visual Journey 1930-1953 (Hardcover)
Myself and my wife have just bought an art deco apartment in Sydney's inner western suburbs where there was a proliferation of small (generally 4-8 residence) deco style blocks built through the 20's, 30's and early 40's. When we were searching out books to learn more about the style elsewhere in the world this book on Bombay Art Deco really stood out, partly because my wife is an early career South Asian historian (with a specialization on modern Delhi) and neither or us had any idea that there was this collection of buildings in Mumbai. Dehli has its own Art Deco architecture exemplified by buildings like the Imperial Hotel which is a mix of Art Deco luxory and imperial Raj projection of power. However the style in Bombay exemplified in this book looks like it's something different again; sub-tropical and closer to holly-bolly-wood glam in parts than imperial grandeur. We'll be traveling to Mumbai next October for the first time to see these buildings first hand and to take some photos - we reckon this book has given us some great ideas on where to go and what to look for.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Art Deco Bombay,
By Kaikobad Mistry - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bombay Art Deco Architecture: A Visual Journey 1930-1953 (Hardcover)
A superb tribute to the whole art deco movement, this book is also a loving tribute to one evocative facet of Bombay,her art deco glory.Excellent job Navin, brings back memories of those beautiful cinema halls where we would take in morning shows bunking off from college, walks along the Oval maidan (hearing Wilson Pickett at your place) and up Phirozeshah Mehta road and across Fountain to Rhythm House...past Dhanraj Mahal and into the Sea Lounge for endless refills of coffee patiently poured by Mr D'Souza until closing time. One of those rare books that makes one say WHAT a city!! |
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