The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

Facade facts

Facade summary

A grand, symmetrical Indo-Saracenic facade of yellow and grey basalt stone, dominated by a towering central onion dome and highly detailed,projecting wooden balconies.

Documented intention

The facade was intended by Jamsetji Tata and the architects to present a world-class, modern image of Bombay that synthesized grand European scale with traditional Indian ornament, thereby asserting local capability and high-end hospitality to domestic and international elites.

Street relationship

The ground level features a robust, continuous stone arcade that shelters ground-level display windows and walkways, interacting smoothly with the surrounding public promenade.

Climate relationship

The deeply cantilevered wooden balconies and projecting chajjas protect the window openings from severe direct solar gain and heavy monsoon rains, while the operable timber shutters permit cooling sea breeze ventilation.

Window pattern

Repetitive vertical bays, aligned strictly to create classical bilateral symmetry around the central dome axis.

Glazing

Single glazing

Depth

High structural depth produced by deep recessed arches,protruding bay windows,and massive projecting balconies.

Rhythm

Regular, repeating vertical arcade bays that terminate symmetrically on both sides of the central axis.

Yellow Basalt (Kurla Stone)

Yellow Basalt (Kurla Stone) — Upper floor wall dressings and ornamental details — Finely dressed,carved

Grey Basalt

Grey Basalt — Ground floor base and structural piers — Rough rusticated

Teak Wood

Teak Wood — Projecting jharokha balconies and window frames — Carved,treated

Steel / Structural Iron

Steel/ Structural Iron — Central onion dome frame and cantilever bracket supports — Concealed structural core with exposed ornamental details

Load-bearing Masonry

Thick exterior load-bearing walls built of local basalt stone, standard for grand buildings of the late British colonial era.

Cantilevered Timber Balconies

Traditional Indian jharokha system constructed of teak wood,cantilevered out from the stone facade,supported by structural iron brackets.

Steel-Ribbed Dome Structure

A pioneering steel-rib frame forming the internal support skeleton of the massive central onion dome.

Gallery

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Sources

• The Taj at Apollo Bunder · Sharada Dwivedi and Charles Allen
• The Taj Mahal Palace - Our Heritage · IHCL (Taj Hotels)