GOVT COLLEGE OF ARTS & CRAFTS

NAME:GOVT COLLEGE OF ARTS & CRAFTS

LOCATION:

POONAMALEE HIGH ROAD
BROADWAY
CHENNAI-600003
TAMILNADU

APPROACH:POONAMALEE HIGH ROAD

OWNERSHIP: GOVT OF TAMILNADU
USAGE
PAST:SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS
PRESENT:COLLEGE OF ARTS & CRAFTS

SIGNIFICANCE:
DR.ALEXANDER HUNTER FOUNDED THIS INSTITUTION AS SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS IN MAY 1850. IN 1855 THE GOVT TOOK OVER THE INSTITUTION.UNTIL THEN IT WAS FUNDED BY PRIVATE FEES.AN ASSISTANT WAS APPOINTED FROM LONDON & SUBJECTS SUCH AS DRAWINGS,ENCRAVING IN METAL & WOOD,MODELLING AND CASTING IN PLASTER OF PARIS & POTTERY.ROBERT CHISHOLM & DEVI PRASAD CHOUDRY(THE WELL KNOWN SCULPTUR WHO MADE TRIUMPH OF LABOUR ON MARINA BEACH) WERE TWO OF THE PRINCIPALS OF THE COLLEGE.

THE 3 STOREYED REP-BRICK BUILDING HAS A CRUCIFORM PLAN & PITCHED TILE ROOFS.THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCE WHICH BLOCKED NOW IS ON PONNAMALLE ROAD LEADS INTO A SINGLE STOREYED HALL WHICH IS CURRENTLY USED AS A SMALL MUSEUM.ON THE FAR END OF THE MAIN HALL IS A LOBBY WITH A STAIRCASE WHICH IS NOW THE MAIN

MATERIALS

FOUNDATION: BRICK
WALLS: STONE & BRICK
FLOORS: STONE,CEMENT
ROOF: STONE
OPENINGS:THIN SHEETS,MADRAS TERRACE

DECORATIVE FEATURES
THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING IS CHARACTERISED BY A LARGE HORSE SHOE SHAPED WINDOW REMINISCENT OF CHAITYA HALL WINDOW.

STATE OF PRESERVATION: GOOD

DATE:1856