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COLONIAL PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
Page 2
Old Pictures
Present
A design competition was held to choose the architecture most suitable for the Sind Club. Although city architect and engineer James Strachan reportedly won the competition, his design was not executed due to limited funds available. However, a design made by committee member Le Mesurier of the Bombay Engineers was chosen for construction. The completed building was occupied by the Club on November 30th, 1883.
The first building of the club (housing the dining room and the ladies' bar) was designed in the southern Italian style, the same style that was used for the Eduljee Dinshaw Dispensary. The architecture employing simple semicircular arcading on the ground and first floors and terminating in a pitched roof. The architectural style is informal and does not use pediments and porticoes for effect. Other blocks of the club were also designed in accordance with the theme of Indo-Italianate architecture of the main building. The buildings sit in spacious grounds and are generously set back from the road, creating a sense of exclusivity and inaccessibility.
Unfortunately, recent additions to the Sindh Club have not kept up with its theme of Italianate architecture and recent renovations have been executed with no desire to preserve its architectural integrity and ethos.
CLUB CULTURE AND THE SIND CLUB
The club culture was one of the most conspicuous symbols of the exclusivity of the British Raj. Although an increasing number of Indian locals were prosperous and well educated, they faced segregation and discrimination when the European mercantile class was concerned. Clubs were designed as a retreat for the white sahibs who could use the exclusive environment to consult one another in matters of dealing with their common interest in India and recreate without having to deal with the native population. Here they could discuss their government's policies and ensure that their implementation resulted in profit for the government and themselves.
The Sindh Club was also meant to be an exclusive institution for European gentlemen and was off limits to the local population. A demeaning sign installed on the gate of the club reportedly read "Natives and Dogs not allowed". Even after the creation of Pakistan when the prime minister of the country used to live across the road, the club was still almost exclusively used by Europeans. The first native member was admitted to the Sind Club on August 15th, 1947, when Quaid-e-Aazam Muhammad Ali Jinnah took oath of office as a Governor-General. However, it took almost two decades before a Pakistani, Masud Karim became chairman of the Club in 1965.
(referenced from Lari, 1996)
Old Picture
Present condition
The Denso Hall was built in memory of Max Denso, a prominent resident of the city who had also chaired the Karachi Chamber of Commerce from 1870-71. A sum of Rs. 9,000 was collected by his friends for the construction of the building, whereas the Karachi Municipality allocated an important site on the fast-developing Bunder Road, as well as additional funds in order to provide the facility of a public hall, reading room and library in an area close to the "Old Town".
The Denso Hall was designed by James Strachan and was built in 1886 in the Market Quarter of the city, and was made out of local Gizri Sandstone. The architecture of the building was a relatively simple design which was Venetian Gothic in character. It employs Tudor arches in the ground floor of the building whereas ogive arches are used for the first floor openings. Projecting balconies with carved balusters punctuate the long facade. The building includes an entrance hall, library, reading room and some small rooms on the ground floor. The upper floor is a large hall (60 ft x 30 ft) accommodating about 500 persons and was used for different types of social gatherings. The illuminated clock on the eastern front of Denso Hall was a gift from Rao Sahib Ramdas Morarji.
(adapted from Lari, 1996)
