ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

C H H AT R A PAT I S H I VA J I T E R M I N U S

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE
SEMESTER - IV
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COLUMNS WALLS
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 OPENINGS
STAIRCASE

ROOFS
 ANALYSIS OF ELEMENTS OF SPACE MAKING OF CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI
MAHARAJ TERMINUS , MUMBAI

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known

as Victoria Terminus, is a historic railway
station and a UNESCO world heritage site.

Location : Mumbai, India

The station was built in Bori Bundar area of
Mumbai to commemorate the Golden
Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Architect : Frederick William Stevens and
Axel Haig

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is an

outstanding example of late 19th Century Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai
Railway Architecture in the British Common
Wealth, characterized by Victorian Gothic
Revival and traditional Indian features, as well
as its advanced and structural technical
solutions.

Indo-Saracenic | Victorian Gothic | Neo Classical | Art Deco

 ABOUT THE STYLE

The terminus was designed in Victorian Italianate Gothic style adapted to suit
Indian context. The skyline, turrets, arches and eccentric ground plans resemble
to traditional architecture of Indian palaces.
 The planform is ‘C’ shaped.
The form is such that the curve opens
towards the road.
 FLOOR

1. Floor for differentiating spaces:

Unmodulated floor demarcates spaces

for different activities and can also
differentiate between the interior and
exterior.

2. Floor as movement guide:

The floor accentuates movement

patterns by creating guidelines through
articulations in shapes levels or surface
differentiation by colours and textures.
 WALLS

1. Walls as subdivision of spaces:

The walls do not contribute majorly but helps in dividing larger spaces
into smaller pockets in the interior of the structure.
 COLUMNS

1. Directionality:

Columns placed linearly guide

direction, thereby establishing an
imaginary plane with consistently
perforated visual features.

2. Rhythm:

Linear repetition of columns gives rise

to rhythm, a sense of continuity.
 3. Column as movement guide:

Setting up strong perspectives results into

establishing direction, inviting movement
along them. Here, the arrangement of
columns creates circular movement.

4. Column as image maker:

The style and intricacy, imparts

uniqueness and becomes an image maker.
 OPENINGS

1. Penetrability:

As a puncture in barrier plane, the fundamental aspect of door is to provide access .

2. Differentiation:

Door acting as a point where two different realms are separated.

 3. Openings as image maker:

It manifests as the most noticeable Element on the façade offering great

potential in creating first impression, providing identity of a place.
 WINDOWS

4. Transparency and porosity:

Aperture for light

Illumination of the interiors

with natural lights from the sun
without losing out on the
notion of enclosure of security.

5. Passage for air:

Apart from providing light, the

openings in the wall also allow
the diffusion for fresh air into
the room.

6. Scaling element: 7. Windows as façade 8. Window as image

With respect to length, width
spacing, rhythm, stretch and
alignment in vertical or
horizontal direction contribute
towards scaling the building
mass.
modulator: maker:
Windows, as elements, Window acting as a
which adorn the wall, key element in the
play significant role in visual imagery of the
façade modulation. building, framing the
façade surfaces.
 STAIRS

1. Movement in volume:

The stairs act as negotiation of the vertical displacement

as its oblique components ensures the break up of the
height over a particular horizontal distance.

2. Stairs as aesthetic element:

The stairs here integrates sculptural form due to its

volumetric connection becomes an additional aspect to
treat it as a visual and aesthetic element in composing
space from within or externally as a façade element.

3. Stairs as movement guide:

The junctional position upon the movement path gives a

special reference value to the stairs.
 4. Steps as threshold:

As building is raised on the plinth, steps form the

natural link to negotiate these level differences.

5. Stairs as space modulator:

The stair here contain volume within itself

between the inner edges of stair flights within the
stairwell.

6. Ventilation shaft:

The stair cuts across the multiple levels of the

volume creating a vertical shaft penetrating the
entire vertical dimension within the volume all
the way from ground floor to roof.
 ROOF
Sectional
The roof is a ribbed dome resting on an elevation of
Dome
octagonal drum.

1. Roof providing shelter:

The basic purpose of any roof is to provide

overhead covering or shelter.
Roof truss

2. Roof as spatial enclosure:

The roof provides an enclosing surface

which defines and limits interior spaces and
demarcates between the notion of in and Details of
out. tower

3. Roof as modulator of volume:

Modulation of the roof profile and height

affords possibility of getting a diversity both
in sizes and shapes. Modulation also helps to
generate subspaces within a larger
continuous space.
 4. Roof as encoder of symbol:
Since the structure is a combination
of different styles, the roof form also
resembles the same. The roof gives
identity and leaves strong impression
on the visitor.
The sculpture of Victoria on the roof
definitely symbolizes strong notions
of that era.
5. Roof as image maker:
The roof being the topmost part of
the edifice, forms the crown, the most
conspicuous element in the skyline
and easily recognisable from the far.
The outer form as well as its height
and proportions therefore become
critical in forming an image of the
structure.
Group Members:

Khushi Daxini
Aditi Itankar
Payal Kshirsagar
Anushka Nagpure