Metropolitan Building (Kolkata)

2021-07-13T18:05:02Z

2409:4060:E89:E240:1550:7B4E:D8A9:156D:

{{Short description|Building in Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India, 140, SN Banerjee Road, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013}}
{{Other uses|Metropolitan Building (disambiguation){{!}}Metropolitan Building}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Metropolitan Building
| former_names = Whiteway & Laidlaw department store
| alternate_names =
| status = Used as a residential and a commercial building
| image = File:Metropolitan Building, Esplanade Kolkata (Edited).jpg
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| image_size = 250px
| caption = Metropolitan Building in [[Esplanade, Kolkata]], from the [[Chowringhee]] Crossing
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| altitude = 9.509 m
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| owner = [[Life Insurance Corporation of India]]
| current_tenants = [[Life Insurance Corporation of India]] & houses many offices & stores such as [[Big Bazaar]] & the Central Cottage Industry Showroom. The upper floors are occupied by innumerable tenants residing in box like quarters.
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| location =
| address = 7, [[Chowringhee Road]]
| location_town = [[Kolkata]]
| location_country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|22.5637|88.3516|display=inline,title}}
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| start_date = 1905
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| website = [http://www.wmf.org/project/metropolitan-building Website]
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'''Metropolitan Building''' is the number 46.26 building on [[Chowringhee Road]] in [[Kolkata]] near [[Esplanade, Kolkata|Esplanade]]. Formerly known as the [[Whiteway Laidlaw department store]], it was a famous department store in [[Calcutta]] during the [[British Rule]] in India. This neo-baroque emporium—with domes, a clock tower and arched recessed windows—exemplifies fashionable shopping during the British Raj in [[British India]].

The building was built in 1905. Post Independence Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. assumed ownership, so people know it more commonly as Metropolitan Building.<ref>{{cite book|title=INTACH (Guide to Kolkata)|year=2009|publisher=INTACH}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Preserving Kolkata’s Heritage Buildings|url=http://www.maamatimanush.tv/articles.php?aid=233|access-date=31 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101140408/http://www.maamatimanush.tv/articles.php?aid=233|archive-date=1 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is located near the [[Shaheed Minar, Kolkata|Shaheed Minar]] and the [[Grand Hotel (Calcutta)|Grand Hotel]].

== History ==
The building was built in 1905.

After Independence, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. assumed ownership, so people know it more commonly as Metropolitan Building.[[File:ChowringhrrKolkata1945.jpg|thumb|left|The building's clock tower seen at the end of the photo taken in [[Esplanade, Kolkata|Esplanade, Calcutta]] in 1945]]

=== 1991 Fire ===
In 1991, a fire ravaged the top floor of the majestic Metropolitan Building and hundreds of original negatives of [[Bourne and Shepherd]], reputed to be the world’s oldest operational photography studio,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person.php?LinkID=mp08090&role=art|title=Bourne & Shepherd (active 1863-)|publisher=National Portrait Gallery|access-date=31 December 2013}}</ref> established in the late 19th century, perished in the fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/2011/02/24183136/Kolkata8217s-march-to-the-p.html|title=1991 fire|date=2011-02-24|publisher=Livemint.com|access-date=2012-03-24}}</ref>

===Renovation===
The building was restored by the [[Life Insurance Corporation of India]] (LIC). But it still houses a commercial complex.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-16/kolkata/33879967_1_heritage-buildings-heritage-conservation-committee-heritage-structure|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102004454/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-16/kolkata/33879967_1_heritage-buildings-heritage-conservation-committee-heritage-structure|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2014|title=History can mean big business too|last=Ray|first=Saikat|date=16 September 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=31 December 2013}}</ref> The building was freshly repainted with white and golden paint and its exterior structure was also renovated while making extensive changes within.

==Features==
It is a large building recognisable by its corner tower with the dome raised high on a pavilion. Rustication in the ground floor and a semicircular arched arcade in the first floor. The facade is punctuated by a series of projected and pedimented bays with plain columns and [[Corinthia]]n capitals. Repaired recently, the Metropolitan Building still stands as an important landmark overlooking the crowded [[Chowringhee]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Datta |first=Rangan |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/rangan-datta/4372075577/ |title=Metropolitan Building, Esplanade, Calcutta | Flickr - Photo Sharing! |publisher=Flickr |access-date=2012-03-24}}</ref>
==Gallery==

<gallery class="center" caption="Metropolitan Building Gallery" widths="125px" heights="100px" perrow="4">
File:Metropolitan Building - Esplanade - Kolkata 2011-12-18 0026.JPG|Metropolitan Building in [[Esplanade, Kolkata]] after the recent renovation
File:Whiteways and Laidlaw Building.jpg|The Building under renovation
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Esplanade, Kolkata]]
*[[Jawaharlal Nehru Road]]
*[[Chowringhee]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat-inline|Whiteways and Laidlaw Building|Metropolitan Building}}
{{Kolkata topics}}
{{Tourist attractions in Kolkata}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kolkata]]

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Metropolitan Building (Kolkata)