Thomas Roger Smith
Indian experience and British imperial architecture
Indian experience and British imperial architecture
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Selected to design exhibition buildings in [Bombay](/wiki/Bombay "Bombay"), Smith went there in 1864\. The project was abandoned, after the contract was signed, because of the [cotton famine](/wiki/Lancashire_Cotton_Famine "Lancashire Cotton Famine"). Buildings were erected in India from his designs, including the post office and British Hospital at Bombay, and the residency at [Ganeshkhind](/wiki/Ganeshkhind "Ganeshkhind").

In 1873 Smith made much\-noted comments on the architectural styles appropriate to the [British Empire](/wiki/British_Empire "British Empire") and its public buildings. Speaking to the [Society of Arts](/wiki/Society_of_Arts "Society of Arts"), he urged that "European" styles should be adopted. On that occasion he was opposed by [William Emerson](/wiki/William_Emerson_%28British_architect%29 "William Emerson (British architect)"), whose view was that "Indic" styles should be used on such buildings, in India. The debate ran on for decades.Thomas R. Metcalf, *Architecture and the Representation of Empire: India, 1860–1910*, Representations No. 6 (Spring, 1984\), pp. 37–65, at p. 37\. Published by: University of California Press. Stable URL: <https://www.jstor.org/stable/2928537> Smith had made the same case in a RIBA lecture in 1868\. The topical context in which he spoke in 1873 was that (what became known as) [Indo\-Saracenic Revival architecture](/wiki/Indo-Saracenic_Revival_architecture "Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture") had strong proponents, in particular [Lord Napier](/wiki/Francis_Napier%2C_10th_Lord_Napier "Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier") in [Madras](/wiki/Madras "Madras"). Smith was defending the [Gothic Revival](/wiki/Gothic_Revival "Gothic Revival") style that was being introduced to Bombay. This style had the favour of [Henry Bartle Frere](/wiki/Henry_Bartle_Frere "Henry Bartle Frere"), the governor, but was in fact a hybrid. Part of Smith's thesis denied a characteristically "English" architectural style.


How did Smith's views influence public opinion on architectural styles?