President’s House

March 10, 2007 6:08 AM

Welcome to the Rashtrapati Bhavan (inspired from):
posted by hadjiboy (7 comments total)

The present day Rashtrapati Bhavan was the erstwhile residence of the British Viceroy. Its architect was Edwin Landseer Lutyens. The decision to build a residence in New Delhi for the British Viceroy was taken after it was decided in the Delhi Durbar of 1911 that the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in the same year. It was constructed to affirm the permanence of British rule in India. This building gave the impression, in the words of a critique, the setting of a perpetual Durbar. The building and its surroundings were supposed to be 'an empire in stone', 'exercising imperial sway' and containing in it, "the abode of a disinterested elite whose rule was imposed from above". That 'empire in stone' and the perpetual Durbar was transformed to be the permanent institution of democracy on 26th January 1950 when Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India and occupied this building to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of India. It was from that day that this building was renamed as Rashtrapati Bhavan - the President's House.
posted by hadjiboy at 6:09 AM on March 10, 2007

Other Government Houses from the Commonwealth, and Government Houses of the British Empire from around the world.
posted by hadjiboy at 6:11 AM on March 10, 2007

More about Lutyens and some more of his work both in India and England.
posted by adamvasco at 6:45 AM on March 10, 2007

Thanks for the links adam:)
I thought of adding something about him but hit the post button too soon.
posted by hadjiboy at 7:07 AM on March 10, 2007

Cool - thanks hadjiboy!
posted by madamjujujive at 11:50 AM on March 10, 2007

The present day Rashtrapati Bhavan was the erstwhile residence of the British Viceroy. Its architect was Edwin Landseer Lutyens.

There was a story of an incoming Viceroy who took a look at the building & said "If they told me that a monkey had designed it, I would say 'what a clever monkey! Now take it out back and shoot it so that it doesn't do it again...'"
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:02 PM on March 10, 2007

I'd like to hear more from that Viceroy;)
posted by hadjiboy at 4:29 AM on March 11, 2007