The Design Development of Indian Architecture

The value of illustrative material in the study of visual arts cannot be over-estimated. And in this respect Claude Batley's The Design Development of Indian Architecture is a pioneering work on Indian architecture which has continued to influence generations of students and scholars of the subject. Although by 1934 when this book was first published, photographic plates were well in use as illustrations yet Batley believed that "however good a photograph may be, it cannot take place of a measured drawing for the student or architect." And looking at the excellent drawings in the book, one has to agree with his statement. The collection of measured drawings and details presented in this publication represents an endeavour to meet a need which everyone who has set out to study the elements of Indian Architecture must have felt. This reprint of The Design Development of Indian Architecture is being presented in a new format while retaining the original text and illustrations. This seminal work remains most useful for students and scholars of Indian architecture.

Claude Batley (1879 in Ipswich - March 20 1956, Bombay) was an English architect who left for India in 1913 and started a successful practice there in 1917 with Gregson and King, a firm of architects which is still extant under the name of Gregson, Batley and King. He became a visiting professor in the J. J. School of Art in the year 1914, and its principal in the year 1923, a post which he held for the next 20 years. Among his works are the Bombay Gymkhana (1917), Wakaner House (1933) now the American Consulate, Bombay Central Station (1930), Jinnah House (1935), Round Building (1937), Cusrow Baug in Colaba Causeway (1937-59) and its Agiary, known as The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary (1938), Bombay Club (1939) now the Nataraj Hotel, Lalbhai House (1942) and Breach Candy Hospital (1950). He died on 20th of March, 1956 in Bombay Club - the building which he had himself designed.