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{{Short description|Heritage building in India}}
{{coord|13.0817|80.2716|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
[[Image:Ripon Building Chennai.JPG|right|thumb|200px]]
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Ripon Building
| native_name_lang = Ripon Building
| alternate_names = Greater Chennai Corporation Headquarters
| image = Ripon building, Chennai.jpg
| caption = The Ripon Building in [[Chennai]], India
| image_alt =
| map_type = India Chennai
| map_caption = Location of the Ripon Building in [[Chennai]], India
| building_type = [[Government Buildings]]
| architectural_style = [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]]
| structural_system =
| cost = {{INR}}750,000 (in 1913)
| owner = [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
| current_tenants = Seat of the [[Greater Chennai Corporation]]
| location =
| address =
| location_town = [[Chennai]]
| location_country = {{flag|India}}
| coordinates = {{coord|13.0817|80.2716|display=inline}}
| start_date = {{start date and age|df=yes|1909}}
| completion_date = {{start date and age|df=yes|1913}}
}}
The '''Ripon Building''' is the seat and headquarters of the [[Chennai Corporation|Greater Chennai Corporation]] in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is an example of [[neoclassical architecture]], a combination of [[Ionic order|Ionic]] and [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] styles. The Ripon Building is an all-white structure and is located near the [[Chennai Central railway station]].


==History==
'''Ripon Building''' is the seat of the [[Chennai Corporation]] (Madras Corporation) in [[Chennai]] (Madras), [[Tamil Nadu]]. This is a fine example of [[Indo-Saracenic]] style of architecture, a combination of three types of architectural styles - [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], [[Ionic order|Ionic]] and [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]].
Commissioned in 1909, the Ripon Building was designed by G.T.S. Harris. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Minto, Viceroy of India, on 11 December 1909.<ref>[https://sriramv.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/centenary-of-a-civic-landmark/ Centenary of a civic landmark // Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music]</ref> It was built by Loganatha Mudaliar, and took four years to build at a cost of {{INR}}750,000, including a sum of {{INR}}550,000 paid to Mudaliar.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} The Ripon building was named after [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|Lord Ripon]], Governor-General of British India and the Father of local self-government. [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto|Earl of Minto]], the then Viceroy and Governor General of India laid the foundation on 12 December 1909.


The Municipal Corporation of Madras, after functioning from several other places including Errabalu Chetty Street, settled at Ripon building in 1913, with P. L. Moore as the President of the Municipal Corporation at the time of the inauguration. The inaugural function was attended by over 3,000 of the city's elites.{{fact|date=April 2023}}
The Ripon Building is white in colour and is located near the Central station in Chennai. Commissioned in 1913, it was built by Loganatha Mudaliar. It took 4 years to build at a cost of {{INR}} 750,000. Ripon building was named after [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|Lord Ripon]], Governor-General of British India and the Father of local self-government. [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto|Earl of Minto]], the then Viceroy and Governor General of India laid the foundation on 12 December 1909.

The Municipal Corporation of Madras, after functioning from several other places, settled at Ripon building in 1913, with P.L. Moore as the President of the Municipal Corporation at the time of the inauguration.


==Building details==
==Building details==
[[Image:Ripon Building panorama.jpg|thumb|left|350px]]
[[File:Ripon Building panorama.jpg|thumb|Panorama of the Ripon Building]]
The building is rectangular, {{convert|85|m|ft}} long and {{convert|32|m|ft}} wide, with a {{convert|43|m|ft}} high central tower containing a clock {{convert|2.5|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} in diameter.{{fact|date=May 2023}} The first of its three floors has approximately {{convert|2800|sqm|sqft|0|abbr=on}} of space.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} The walls were constructed with stock bricks, set and plastered with lime mortar and the roof is supported with teak wood joists.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} The original flooring of the ground floor was [[Cuddapah]] Slate that has been replaced with marble.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} In 1913, one of the building's main attractions, the [[Westminster Quarters|Westminster Quarter]] chiming clock,{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} was installed by Oakes and Co. The clock has a mechanical key system, which must be wound daily. There are four bells, which were cast by [[Gillett & Johnston|Gillet and Johnston]] in 1913.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
* The building is rectangular and is 85 meters long and 32 metres wide.

* The first of its three floors offers about 2,800 square metres of space.
==Annexe building==
* Its central tower is 43 metres tall and has a clock 2.5 metres in diameter.
To the rear of the main building is an annexe building ([[American English]]: "annex"), inaugurated in September 2015 under the name "Amma Maaligai".<ref>{{cite news
* The walls were constructed with stock bricks, set and plastered with lime mortar.
| last = Xavier Lopez
* The roofs are supported with teak wood joists. The original flooring of the ground floor was Cuddapah Slate. This has now been replaced with marble.
| first = Aloysius
* One of the main attractions Yof the building is the [[Westminster Quarters|Westminster Quarter]] chiming clock. This was installed by Oakes and Co. in 1913. The clock has a mechanical key system, which is wound every day. There are a total of 4 bells, which were cast by Gillet and Johnston in 1913.
| title = 'Amma maaligai' to be inaugurated tomorrow
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 14 September 2015
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/amma-maaligai-to-be-inaugurated-tomorrow/article7650016.ece
| access-date = 17 February 2020}}</ref> All departments of the Chennai Corporation, except the offices of the Mayor and Commissioner, function from the annexe building. The offices of the Mayor and the Commissioner offices are in the main building. The annexe building was constructed at a cost of {{INR}} 230 million and has a built-up area of 150,000 sq. ft. and a parking space for 50 cars and 150 motorcycles. The building, built with aspects of a green building, could accommodate about 1,000 officials. The building also features a 500-seat auditorium, a 100-seat conference hall and 70 toilets with facilities for disabled people. The building has been able to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by means of a water-cooled air-conditioning system and heat-reflective tiles on the roof. The building has been designed in a post-modern style, with some elements of traditional architecture. Some design elements would suit the colonial-style architecture of the Ripon Buildings.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Xavier Lopez
| first = Aloysius
| title = 'Amma Maaligai' emerges as hub
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 1 August 2014
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-infra/amma-maaligai-emerges-as-hub/article6268928.ece
| access-date = 9 Aug 2014}}</ref>

==Restoration==
In 2012, a massive renovation was initiated at a cost of {{INR}}77 million under the [[Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission]] (JNNURM), to preserve the building's original grandeur. Under this, an annexe building measuring 12,540&nbsp;sq&nbsp;m will be constructed alongside the main structure to house all the departments of the corporation, and all structures in the premises that do not blend in with the main structure aesthetically will be demolished in June 2013 when the annexe building is completed.

The annex building, with an auditorium to seat 500 persons, will be built in a contemporary and post-modern style, highlighting with elements of regional architecture, to blend with the Indo-Saracenic style of the main building. The main building is also being renovated under the process with the use of lime mortar for plastering. It is the first heritage building in the country to have received funds from JNNURM for renovation.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Xavier Lopez
| first = Aloysius
| title = Eyesores on Ripon Buildings premises to go
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 9 January 2013
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/eyesores-on-ripon-buildings-premises-to-go/article4288972.ece
| access-date = 9 Jan 2013}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Chennai corp.jpg|Entrance View
File:Ripon Building Chennai.JPG|Alternate view
File:Ripon building, Chennai 2.jpg|The Ripon Building under dark clouds
File:Ripon Building panorama.jpg|The building's front façade
File:Ripon building (12232197345).jpg|The Ripon Building in 1990
File:Ripon Building panorama 2.jpg|A panoramic view of the Ripon Building
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Architecture}}
* [[Architecture of Chennai]]
* [[Heritage structures in Chennai]]
* [[List of Tamil Nadu Government Estates, Complexes, Buildings and Structures]]


==References==
==References==
{{Commonscat|Ripon Building}}
{{Commons category|Ripon Building}}
{{reflist}}
{{Portalbox|Chennai}}
* [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/02/stories/2003040200100300.htm The Fist Corporation - ''The Hindu'', Apr 02, 2003]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040128034716/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/02/stories/2003040200100300.htm The First Corporation - ''The Hindu'', 2 April 2003]
* [http://www.tourtravelworld.com/hot_spots/chennai/ripon_building/ Ripon Building - Chennai]
* [http://www.tourtravelworld.com/hot_spots/chennai/ripon_building/ Ripon Building - Chennai]


{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Chennai Topics}}


[[Category:Buildings and structures in Chennai]]
[[Category:Office buildings in Chennai]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Chennai]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Chennai]]
[[Category:Municipal buildings in India]]
[[Category:Municipal buildings in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1917]]
[[Category:Office buildings completed in 1913]]
[[Category:Government of Chennai]]
[[Category:Government of Chennai]]
[[Category:Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture]]

[[Category:Heritage sites in Chennai]]
{{India-struct-stub}}
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
{{Chennai-geo-stub}}
[[Category:1913 establishments in India]]

[[Category:Neoclassical architecture in India]]
[[hi:राइपन बिल्डिंग]]
[[ta:ரிப்பன் கட்டிடம்]]

Latest revision as of 17:15, 30 June 2024

Ripon Building
The Ripon Building in Chennai, India
Ripon Building is located in Chennai
Ripon Building
Location of the Ripon Building in Chennai, India
Alternative namesGreater Chennai Corporation Headquarters
General information
TypeGovernment Buildings
Architectural styleNeoclassical
Town or cityChennai
Country India
Coordinates13°04′54″N 80°16′18″E / 13.0817°N 80.2716°E / 13.0817; 80.2716
Current tenantsSeat of the Greater Chennai Corporation
Construction started1909; 115 years ago (1909)
Completed1913; 111 years ago (1913)
Cost₹750,000 (in 1913)
OwnerGovernment of Tamil Nadu

The Ripon Building is the seat and headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is an example of neoclassical architecture, a combination of Ionic and Corinthian styles. The Ripon Building is an all-white structure and is located near the Chennai Central railway station.

History

[edit]

Commissioned in 1909, the Ripon Building was designed by G.T.S. Harris. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Minto, Viceroy of India, on 11 December 1909.[1] It was built by Loganatha Mudaliar, and took four years to build at a cost of ₹750,000, including a sum of ₹550,000 paid to Mudaliar.[citation needed] The Ripon building was named after Lord Ripon, Governor-General of British India and the Father of local self-government. Earl of Minto, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India laid the foundation on 12 December 1909.

The Municipal Corporation of Madras, after functioning from several other places including Errabalu Chetty Street, settled at Ripon building in 1913, with P. L. Moore as the President of the Municipal Corporation at the time of the inauguration. The inaugural function was attended by over 3,000 of the city's elites.[citation needed]

Building details

[edit]
Panorama of the Ripon Building

The building is rectangular, 85 metres (279 ft) long and 32 metres (105 ft) wide, with a 43 metres (141 ft) high central tower containing a clock 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in diameter.[citation needed] The first of its three floors has approximately 2,800 m2 (30,139 sq ft) of space.[citation needed] The walls were constructed with stock bricks, set and plastered with lime mortar and the roof is supported with teak wood joists.[citation needed] The original flooring of the ground floor was Cuddapah Slate that has been replaced with marble.[citation needed] In 1913, one of the building's main attractions, the Westminster Quarter chiming clock,[citation needed] was installed by Oakes and Co. The clock has a mechanical key system, which must be wound daily. There are four bells, which were cast by Gillet and Johnston in 1913.[citation needed]

Annexe building

[edit]

To the rear of the main building is an annexe building (American English: "annex"), inaugurated in September 2015 under the name "Amma Maaligai".[2] All departments of the Chennai Corporation, except the offices of the Mayor and Commissioner, function from the annexe building. The offices of the Mayor and the Commissioner offices are in the main building. The annexe building was constructed at a cost of ₹ 230 million and has a built-up area of 150,000 sq. ft. and a parking space for 50 cars and 150 motorcycles. The building, built with aspects of a green building, could accommodate about 1,000 officials. The building also features a 500-seat auditorium, a 100-seat conference hall and 70 toilets with facilities for disabled people. The building has been able to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by means of a water-cooled air-conditioning system and heat-reflective tiles on the roof. The building has been designed in a post-modern style, with some elements of traditional architecture. Some design elements would suit the colonial-style architecture of the Ripon Buildings.[3]

Restoration

[edit]

In 2012, a massive renovation was initiated at a cost of ₹77 million under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), to preserve the building's original grandeur. Under this, an annexe building measuring 12,540 sq m will be constructed alongside the main structure to house all the departments of the corporation, and all structures in the premises that do not blend in with the main structure aesthetically will be demolished in June 2013 when the annexe building is completed.

The annex building, with an auditorium to seat 500 persons, will be built in a contemporary and post-modern style, highlighting with elements of regional architecture, to blend with the Indo-Saracenic style of the main building. The main building is also being renovated under the process with the use of lime mortar for plastering. It is the first heritage building in the country to have received funds from JNNURM for renovation.[4]

[edit]
  • Entrance View
    Entrance View
  • Alternate view
    Alternate view
  • The Ripon Building under dark clouds
    The Ripon Building under dark clouds
  • The building's front façade
    The building's front façade
  • The Ripon Building in 1990
    The Ripon Building in 1990
  • A panoramic view of the Ripon Building
    A panoramic view of the Ripon Building

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ripon Building.
  1. ^ Centenary of a civic landmark // Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music
  2. ^ Xavier Lopez, Aloysius (14 September 2015). "'Amma maaligai' to be inaugurated tomorrow". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. ^ Xavier Lopez, Aloysius (1 August 2014). "'Amma Maaligai' emerges as hub". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  4. ^ Xavier Lopez, Aloysius (9 January 2013). "Eyesores on Ripon Buildings premises to go". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
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