Claude Batley
Encyclopedia
Claude Batley 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.
Among his works are the Bombay Gymkhana
(1917), Wankaner Palace (1933) now Lincoln House, the American Consulate, Breach Candy
, 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) later Hotel Nataraj and now Inter-Continental Mumbai, Lalbhai House (1942) and Breach Candy Hospital
(1950).
He became a visiting professor in the J. J. School of Art in the year 1914, and its principal in the year 1923. He held this post for a period of 20 years, during which he took his students on trips all over the country making measure drawings of buildings of architectural significance. He spent a lot of time in research and documented Jaipur
's architecture. He was the president of the "Bombay Architectural Association" (now merged into The Indian Institute of Architects
) from 1925 to 1926.
He died in the mid 1950s in one of the buildings he had designed--the Bombay Club.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who left for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
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.
Among his works are the Bombay Gymkhana
Bombay Gymkhana
Bombay Gymkhana ,, established in 1875, is one of the premiere gymkhanas in the city of Mumbai, India. It is located in the South Mumbai area and was originally built as a British-only club, designed by English architect, Claude Batley. The Gymkhana Grounds lie in the southern end of the Azad Maidan...
(1917), Wankaner Palace (1933) now Lincoln House, the American Consulate, Breach Candy
Breach Candy
Bhulabhai Desai Road, better known as Breach Candy or Warden Road, is a niche up-market residential and semi-commercial locality of South Mumbai. Home to many of Mumbai's affluent class, it is also the location for the in Mumbai....
, Bombay Central Station (1930), Jinnah House
Jinnah House
Jinnah House was the residence of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan; in Mumbai, India. Now known informally as Jinnah House, it was named South Court and was built in 1936 at a then exorbitant price of 2 lakh rupees when Jinnah returned to Mumbai from England to take charge of the...
(1935), Round Building (1937), Cusrow Baug in Colaba Causeway
Colaba Causeway
The Colaba Causeway is a commercial street , and a major causeway or land link between Colaba and the Old Woman's Island in the city of Mumbai, India....
(1937-59) and its Agiary, known as The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary (1938), Bombay Club (1939) later Hotel Nataraj and now Inter-Continental Mumbai, Lalbhai House (1942) and Breach Candy Hospital
Breach Candy Hospital
-History:It was established in 1958 at Breach Candy suburb, and designed by an English architect Claude Batley. Many famous Bollywood stars have given birth to their children at this hospital, including Bollywood actress Karishma Kapoor who gave birth to son Kiaan Raj Kapoor in 2010 and actress...
(1950).
He became a visiting professor in the J. J. School of Art in the year 1914, and its principal in the year 1923. He held this post for a period of 20 years, during which he took his students on trips all over the country making measure drawings of buildings of architectural significance. He spent a lot of time in research and documented Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
's architecture. He was the president of the "Bombay Architectural Association" (now merged into The Indian Institute of Architects
Indian Institute of Architects
The Indian Institute of Architects is the national body of Architects in India with more than 20,000 members. It was established in the year 1917 with its headquarters in Mumbai...
) from 1925 to 1926.
He died in the mid 1950s in one of the buildings he had designed--the Bombay Club.