Park View, Sindhi Colony, Sion. The suburb of Sion was laid out in the early 20th century and developed simultaneously with Dadar and Matunga, under the Dadar-Matunga-Wadala-Sion Development Scheme. It emerged at a time of rapid new development in the city and absorbed the building style of its neighbouring areas which were witnessing a spurt of Deco buildings in the late 1940s. Sion also became home to the Sindhi community, which migrated to Bombay from the Sindh region after Partition.

Park View, a stunning Deco residential complex is an example of how the style was adapted in the suburbs, and also came to be linked to complex patterns of migration and partition histories. While it holds muted down features of Art Deco, the exaggerated stepped profile of the crown is hard to miss. The horizontal lines appear behind the crown to create an interesting geometric grid. The balconies subtly curve towards the centre, directing one’s gaze to the long vertical band leading to the geometric stucco motif on top.

The compound wall mimics the bands and stepped profile of the crown - a common design language seen even in Deco around Marine Drive.

An assortment of box metal grilles, pigeon nets and alterations to the windows have successfully hidden the sleek wavy railings on the balcony parapets. Is there a better way to carry out these design interventions?

Chikitsak Samuha’s Shirolkar High School, Girgaon. Year: 1937. The Chikitsak Samuha was founded as a social club in 1908, by the Saraswat community. Within a decade, the club took over a nearby primary school, expanding its philanthropic activities into education. By 1918, the first batch of students sat for their “matriculation” examinations. Till 1937, the school operated out of a rented premise on Girgaon Road, in a building called “Sanzgiri Bhuwan”.

With a timely contribution of Rs. 1 lakh by Vishnu Janardhan Shirolkar, the school got its own building on Sadashiv Cross Lane in Girgaon, a modest but stunning Deco structure, where it continues to run till date. It was eventually named Shirolkar High School, after Vishnu Shirolkar, for his generous donation. This new school building features a unique representation of the Indian vernacular style interwoven with Art Deco, a western import. The stepped crown boasts of a stunning bas-relief featuring Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and learning, complete with her veena, peacock and lotus seat – apt for a school building.