HSBC Bank building, Fort. This street corner building at a prime location on Mahatma Gandhi road is one of 76 Art Deco buildings in the “Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles” World Heritage Site. Originally known as the Mercantile Bank, it was designed by J.A. Ritchie with his partner L. Palfi in association with Ditchburn, Mistri & Bhedwar. The building was designed as a ground plus six storeyed building with a basement level 8 feet below the street. Constructed soon after the end of the Second World War by contractors Shapoorji Pallonji, the sprawling structure was claimed to be the largest post-war construction in Bombay at the time. The Mercantile Bank of Bombay was founded in 1853, moved its headquarters to London in 1858, and in 1959 it was acquired by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). The initials of Mercantile Bank are prominently displayed at the top of the chamfered corner façade (Image 3) and are also visible on the spandrels, flanked by chevron patterns (Image 4). The windows throughout the building are made of steel, and from the first to fourth floor they are intercepted by faceted columns with ziggurat-like patterns on the capitals (Image 5). Unlike most other office buildings in the precinct with buff Malad stone facades, this building is distinctive for its white and pink marble façade. Image 1: Archival image from 1950 - Journal of IIA

HSBC Bank building, Fort. This street corner building at a prime location on Mahatma Gandhi road is one of 76 Art Deco buildings in the “Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles” World Heritage Site. Originally known as the Mercantile Bank, it was designed by J.A. Ritchie with his partner L. Palfi in association with Ditchburn, Mistri & Bhedwar. The building was designed as a ground plus six storeyed building with a basement level 8 feet below the street. Constructed soon after the end of the Second World War by contractors Shapoorji Pallonji, the sprawling structure was claimed to be the largest post-war construction in Bombay at the time. The Mercantile Bank of Bombay was founded in 1853, moved its headquarters to London in 1858, and in 1959 it was acquired by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). The initials of Mercantile Bank are prominently displayed at the top of the chamfered corner façade (Image 3) and are also visible on the spandrels, flanked by chevron patterns (Image 4). The windows throughout the building are made of steel, and from the first to fourth floor they are intercepted by faceted columns with ziggurat-like patterns on the capitals (Image 5). Unlike most other office buildings in the precinct with buff Malad stone facades, this building is distinctive for its white and pink marble façade. Image 1: Archival image from 1950 - Journal of IIA

HSBC Bank building, Fort. This street corner building at a prime location on Mahatma Gandhi road is one of 76 Art Deco buildings in the “Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles” World Heritage Site. Originally known as the Mercantile Bank, it was designed by J.A. Ritchie with his partner L. Palfi in association with Ditchburn, Mistri & Bhedwar. The building was designed as a ground plus six storeyed building with a basement level 8 feet below the street. Constructed soon after the end of the Second World War by contractors Shapoorji Pallonji, the sprawling structure was claimed to be the largest post-war construction in Bombay at the time. The Mercantile Bank of Bombay was founded in 1853, moved its headquarters to London in 1858, and in 1959 it was acquired by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). The initials of Mercantile Bank are prominently displayed at the top of the chamfered corner façade (Image 3) and are also visible on the spandrels, flanked by chevron patterns (Image 4). The windows throughout the building are made of steel, and from the first to fourth floor they are intercepted by faceted columns with ziggurat-like patterns on the capitals (Image 5). Unlike most other office buildings in the precinct with buff Malad stone facades, this building is distinctive for its white and pink marble façade. Image 1: Archival image from 1950 - Journal of IIA

HSBC Bank building, Fort. This street corner building at a prime location on Mahatma Gandhi road is one of 76 Art Deco buildings in the “Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles” World Heritage Site. Originally known as the Mercantile Bank, it was designed by J.A. Ritchie with his partner L. Palfi in association with Ditchburn, Mistri & Bhedwar. The building was designed as a ground plus six storeyed building with a basement level 8 feet below the street. Constructed soon after the end of the Second World War by contractors Shapoorji Pallonji, the sprawling structure was claimed to be the largest post-war construction in Bombay at the time. The Mercantile Bank of Bombay was founded in 1853, moved its headquarters to London in 1858, and in 1959 it was acquired by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). The initials of Mercantile Bank are prominently displayed at the top of the chamfered corner façade (Image 3) and are also visible on the spandrels, flanked by chevron patterns (Image 4). The windows throughout the building are made of steel, and from the first to fourth floor they are intercepted by faceted columns with ziggurat-like patterns on the capitals (Image 5). Unlike most other office buildings in the precinct with buff Malad stone facades, this building is distinctive for its white and pink marble façade. Image 1: Archival image from 1950 - Journal of IIA

HSBC Bank building, Fort. This street corner building at a prime location on Mahatma Gandhi road is one of 76 Art Deco buildings in the “Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles” World Heritage Site. Originally known as the Mercantile Bank, it was designed by J.A. Ritchie with his partner L. Palfi in association with Ditchburn, Mistri & Bhedwar. The building was designed as a ground plus six storeyed building with a basement level 8 feet below the street. Constructed soon after the end of the Second World War by contractors Shapoorji Pallonji, the sprawling structure was claimed to be the largest post-war construction in Bombay at the time. The Mercantile Bank of Bombay was founded in 1853, moved its headquarters to London in 1858, and in 1959 it was acquired by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). The initials of Mercantile Bank are prominently displayed at the top of the chamfered corner façade (Image 3) and are also visible on the spandrels, flanked by chevron patterns (Image 4). The windows throughout the building are made of steel, and from the first to fourth floor they are intercepted by faceted columns with ziggurat-like patterns on the capitals (Image 5). Unlike most other office buildings in the precinct with buff Malad stone facades, this building is distinctive for its white and pink marble façade. Image 1: Archival image from 1950 - Journal of IIA

At its time, the Syndicate Bank Building was a distinct departure from the usual type of architecture that was used in early 20th century Mumbai. Its unique design showed how attractive frontage could be designed without the employment of heavy, conventional architectural features. This was an incredible achievement for Messrs. S. and C.K. Bhedwar, F. and A.R.I.B.A., the Architects. The façade depicts elements characteristic to the Art Deco style, with the primary façade having a stepped profile and dominating vertical bands. The low relief work along the balconies (Image 1 & 2) complements the stepped form. The entrances and window openings as seen in Image 4 & 5 are stylized with zig-zags and geometric ornamentation that is an exemplar of Art Deco- sharp edges, sleek lines and right angles.