A Comparative Study of Two Structures from the British Raj in Dhaka: Curzon Hall and the Old High Court Building

In the late 19th century, British architects developed a distinct architectural style that blended Indo-Islamic and Indian traditions with elements borrowed from Gothic Revival and Neo-Classical styles, which were still prevalent in Victorian Britain. During this period, the region now known as Bangladesh was largely neglected by British colonists due to its limited urbanization and industrialization. Nonetheless, several significant structures were erected by the British colonial administration, which remain notable today for their architectural and historical importance. As British colonists transitioned from traders in the 18th century to rulers in the mid-19th century, their architectural practices underwent a series of developmental phases. Initially, British churches in Dhaka and its surrounding areas were constructed in the European Renaissance style, which was later adopted for secular buildings as well. The subsequent phase saw the emergence of structures featuring Classical orders, such as semi-octagonal or rounded corners and tall Doric columns, characteristic of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This paper aims to examine two colonial buildings constructed in the early 20th century in Dhaka—Curzon Hall and the Old High Court Building—analyzing their socio-economic, political, and architectural dimensions, and exploring the reasons for their differences, despite being built by the same colonial power.