Ruplal House

Last updated
Ruplal House
Aratoon House
Ruplal House old.jpg
Ruplal House in early 1900s
LocationFarashganj, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Coordinates 23°42′13.1″N90°24′49.1″E / 23.703639°N 90.413639°E / 23.703639; 90.413639
Built1825
Architectural style(s) Renaissance architecture

Ruplal House (formerly known as Aratoon House) is a 19th-century mansion in Farashganj area in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was built on the northern bank of the Buriganga River, beside the Buckland Dam. The house was built in 1825 by an Armenian businessman Stephen Aratoon. It was later bought by two merchants, Ruplal Das and his brother Raghunath Das, in 1840. Later, an architect firm of Calcutta, Martin Company, re-constructed this building. [1]

Contents

History

Ruplal Das, after whom the mansion is named. Ruplal Das.jpg
Ruplal Das, after whom the mansion is named.

Ruplal House first came into limelight in 1886 when Ruplal Das threw a ball dance party in the honor of the Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin. [2] After the partition of India in 1947, the family of Ruplal Das left for Kolkata. [2] In 1962, through a formal deed of exchange, Siddick Jamall bought the house. [2]

Features

Divided into two unequal blocks in slightly different styles, it is a two-storeyed edifice. It presents a Grand River front, about 9144 m long. It replicated Greek Doric column and there used to be a huge clock at the top of the building. In the earthquake of 1897. [3] Its ground plan follows the shape of the letter 'E', with three arms extending towards the north or the city side, of which the middle arm projects about 1830 m. It accommodates a grand portico carried on a series of lofty semi-Corinthian fluted columns, and surmounted by a triangular pediment, characteristic of Renaissance architecture.

The two blocks include, in two floors, over fifty rooms of various sizes and of them the central hall on the upper floor of the more impressive western wing was an elegantly decorated dance hall with a wooden floor. On the north and south two broad verandas run the entire length of the block and are supported on either round semi-Corinthian columns or rectangular brick pillars with segmented or trefoil arches above. The Ruplal House was the only competitor to the Ahsan Manzil during the British colonial era. [4]

Architectural style and structural features

Ruplal house has three distinct blocks of different architectural style; these blocks were separated in the ground floor, but related at the upper floor by arch way. Those three blocks were: [5]

  1. Ruplal block [western wing- around twenty five thousand square ft.]
  2. Raghunath block [eastern wing- around twelve thousand square ft.]
  3. Central block [approximately nine thousand square ft.]

Architectural Features: Ruplal Block Ruplal block was designed in the Neo-classical style. This grand wing was square in plan with a square central courtyard. The lighter plain columns give the court sense of light and proportions. The rooms were arranged around this central courtyard in order to give privacy. Its main entry is from the northern portico with a triangular pediment over fluted columns with Corinthian capitals, which emphasizes the entry and its secondary entry from the front court through the series of archways which is also inviting. Service block lowering height is slightly detached from the main block.

Structural Features: Ruplal Block Foundation: load bearing brick masonry foundation is used as the superstructure without using any reinforcement. There is no crack or sag seen in the foundation. Plinth is 2’ high from the ground level.

Walls: Load bearing 25” thick. Brick masonry is layered in walls. Lime concrete is used as the mortar and plastering materials. Columns: Three types of columns; Neo-Corinthian, circular, squares columns. Arch: Serve as lintels made of bricks over the doors, windows, and also on the circulation passages. Beams: Steel I beam. For wide span double steel beams are used. Steel I beam of Size- 3”x6”, 4”x8” and 6”x12. Wooden beams: Size 3”x3” Floor: 11” thick layered floor of Red oxide, Brick masonry Tiles, Lime Concrete. Stair –case: Wooden staircases. One stair is partly reinforced. Wooden stairs are used with iron joists. Material: Bricks are used as the main building material. They are varied in size and shape. Brick tiles are used in the cornice. Plaster: Lime concrete. No blister is seen in the walls and columns because of using glue. Finish materials: Marble tiles, Terrazzo, Red oxide, colored tinted glass.

Architectural Features: Raghunath Block This block has different architectural style which lies in the eastern part of the complex. There are no arches in the façade which faces the entrance court in the north. The capitals are no longer Corinthian, but seem to be more Indian origin. These columns are mostly circular brick columns with plain square capitals. Workmanship of this block is in fact much ordinary to that in Ruplal's Block. This block also consists of two rectangular courtyards. The rooms are rather elongated.

Zoning and Hierarchy of spaces: An attempt of zoning is noticeable. Service areas are grouped together and located at the rear side of the building and stairs are at corners. A gradual sequences of spaces unfolds as we go up to the stairs on the transitional space- the veranda, across the living room to the bedrooms and beyond that the open interior court and then to the service blocks.

Lighting and ventilation: The two interior open courts act as light wells and allow enough light and air to the rooms of both floors. Each room has a considerable number of doors and windows.

Structural features: Raghunath Block 22” Load bearing brick masonry as Ruplal Block. Brick and lime mortar are used here. Walls are finished with lime plaster and paint.

Floors were constructed with burnt clay tiles covered with lime concrete finished and red oxide.

Ceiling supported on wooden beams which run along the length at one tile length apart. This frame is fixed in the walls with steel plates. Absence of steel I beam. The roof has a layer of lime terracing.

Brick arches are used.

Architectural Features: Central block This block has similarity with Ruplal Block but in plan this is very alike to Ahsan Manzil, a building of its contemporary period. Two archways connect this to the Ruplal and Raghunath block which are treated differently. The western archway is topped by an essentially oriental gabled detail which seems to have a later addition. The eastern archway, on the other hand, continues in the same style as the central block. This block consists of recreational facilities, such as ballrooms, classical music hall etc. There are double veranda on both the sides of the block which makes the place airy and create indoor outdoor relationships. Because of huge openings in every wall the rooms are adequately lit naturally. The immense thickness of the wall protected the building thermally.

Structural features: Central Block This block is constructed of load bearing walls; columns are used in veranda and the portico. 2’6” thick wall and entirely constructed of brick masonry because of 22’ high dance hall.

Floors made of brick tiles that rest on the wooden cross beam system, and then a thick layer of lime concrete is applied over it. The most attractive feature of the dance halls is its wooden floors which are made of wooden planks, rest on thick wooden beams. Circular Columns are constructed of circular bricks. Most of the openings are arched and made of brick that exclude the use of lintels. Wooden staircases supported by crossbeam system. Brick as the main structural material, all are load bearing walls. Brick tiles are used to construct the floors. Lime concrete as bonding material also used in the floor of dance hall. Wood in the construction of beam system. Wooden planks are used in the floor of the dance hall. Steel I beams are used as the reinforcements in the beams. Bricks of different dimensions are used in constructing the columns, arches etc. Mosaic is used in the intricate decorations on the ceiling of the dance hall and other decorative places. Marble slabs were used on the floor of the veranda. Colored glass was used to create the dramatic space quality. Mirrors were used on the ceiling of the dance hall.

Backgrounds

Rooplal Das was a Jamindar and a merchant. He was the first educated member of his family. In the Probeshika Exam he stood first and got a scholarship of tk 10 and he was a great fan of music. He did not spend much on social causes but he spent a lot for the musicians. Rooplal house is well known to have hosted a lot of cultural activity of the time. Gurus of Indian classical music like Ostad Alauddin Khan, Ostad Wall Ullah Khan and Lakshmi Devi regularly hosted shows. In 1888 when Lord Dafrin was invited to visit Dhaka by the Elites of that time, a competition was held between Ahsan Manzil and Rooplal house and Rooplal house won by the vote of the elites; this added political importance to Rooplal house at that time. For showing off their social status they spent tk 45000 to decorate it.

After the earthquake of 1897 the watchtower of the house broke down and the family shifted their home to another place. The great house was abandoned for 50 years. The story of Shyam Bazaar starts from after the Dash family left the house. There was a garden on the eastern side of Rooplal House named 'Roghubabur Bagaan' and there was a pool named 'Shayambabur Pool'. After the family left the house the garden lost its beauty because of no maintenance. The market then started here and was known as Shyam Bazar. The bund area was developed as a rich residential area which was occupied mainly by the high class European officers and merchants. But by 1930 the riverfront lost its residential quality and was developed as a highly commercial area.

The Das family left Dhaka after the partition in 1947. In 1958 the Jamall family purchased Ruplal House and some other houses in Dhaka in exchange with their house in the posh locality of Auckland Square in Kolikota. Mr. Mohammed Siddique Jamall and his younger brother Mr. Ibrahim Siddique Jamall became co-owners of Ruplal House and renamed it "Jamall House". Mr.Mohammed Siddique Jamall and his son Mr. Hussain Siddique Jamall lived on the 1st floor. Another son Mr. Habib Siddique Jamall lived on the top floor. The ground floor was used as a police camp and revenue office. Mr Mohammed Siddique Jamall and family left for India and West in 1976. Most of his and his brother Mr. Ibrahim Siddique Jamall's grandchildren migrated to USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and the Gulf and may claim ownership. A portion of the 1st Floor of Jamall House block was used as Prince Karim Ago Khan Preparatory school from 1958. In 1973 the house was converted to a college but only lasted for 16 days. Later it was used as the residential accommodation of the family of staff of JCO and NCO army officers. The Roghunath block is under private ownership since 1948 AD. At present the building functions both as a residential and commercial complex. It is heavily encroached by the spice and vegetable vendors and by a colony of un-authorized squatters who have erected shanty hovels against the building. The east block is owned and used by a private owner as residence at first floor and warehouse at the ground floor.

Farashganj

The history begins with Farashganj. In 1730 the French came to Dhaka to set up their businesses. They bought a house on the bank of the Buriganga from Jamindar Sheikh Mutiullah and made their Kuthi in the place currently known as Ahsan Manzil. The Naib Nazim, Nawazish Ali Khan gave permission to the French to build their market in the area, and it was named 'Frenchganj1, but to the locals it came to be known as 'Farashganj'. The French could not profit much so they left by 1784. The Armenian Jamindar Pogose leased the property from British government.

Buckland Bund

In 1680 A.D. a bund was erected along the bank of the river Buriganga to protect the riverbank from flooding and erosion, and to provide a recreational area along Buriganga. In 1864, the bund was constructed by Commissioner C.T. Buckland and came to be known as Buckland Bund. The Buckland Bund was a new gathering place for the people of Dhaka; they used to come here to enjoy the view of the river. According to the autobiography of Ridoai Nath Mojhumder, 12 steel benches were provided there at first which were not sufficient so 8 more benches were added. The crowd visiting the Buckland Bund at that time proved that it was a very refreshing place and even today after almost 300 years the place is still used as a social gathering place by the local people. The construction of the bund quickly transformed the area into a very posh place and a lot of Zamindars started to erect their mansions on and around this bund.

Present condition

Today, the Ruplal House is occupied by local spice and vegetable merchants and a colony of unauthorized squatters. It has recently been "protected" by the Bengali Department of Archaeology; but a colony of squatters still continue to occupy parts of the building. Action is urgently needed to preserve this artistic architectural structure from further decay. Currently the surroundings of the Ruplal House, including the Buckland Dam area, consists of one of the biggest spice markets of Dhaka. Wholesale traders of different types of spices have occupied the entire area. Inside the house, some families are even residing. The other part of the complex, known as the Raghunath Block, was handed over to a family of Indian origin by the descendants of Raghunath Babu. A good number of spice shops are currently operating in this part as well. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonry</span> Building of structures from individual units of stone, bricks, or blocks

Masonry is the craft of building a structure with brick, stone, or similar material, including mortar plastering which are often laid in, bound and pasted together by mortar. The term masonry can also refer to the building units themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Greek architecture</span> Era of architecture

Ancient Greek architecture came from the Greeks, or Hellenics, whose culture flourished on the Greek mainland, the Peloponnese, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies in Anatolia and Italy for a period from about 900 BC until the 1st century AD, with the earliest remaining architectural works dating from around 600 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stonemasonry</span> Creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone

Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. Stonemasonry is the craft of shaping and arranging stones, often together with mortar and even the ancient lime mortar, to wall or cover formed structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahsan Manzil</span> National museum in Bangladesh

Ahsan Manzil is a palace located in the Kumartoli area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was formerly the residence and seat of the Nawab of Dhaka and has been designated an Old Dhaka Heritage Site. It now serves as a museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of ancient Sri Lanka</span>

The architecture of ancient Sri Lanka displays a rich diversity, varying in form and architectural style from the Anuradhapura Kingdom through the Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815). Sinhalese architecture also displays many ancient North Indian influences. Buddhism had a significant influence on Sri Lankan architecture after it was introduced to the island in the 3rd century BC, and ancient Sri Lankan architecture was mainly religious, with more than 25 styles of Buddhist monasteries. Significant buildings include the stupas of Jetavanaramaya and Ruwanvelisaya in the Anuradhapura kingdom and further in the Polonnaruwa Kingdom. The palace of Sigiriya is considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture and ingenuity, and the fortress in Yapahuwa and the Temple of the tooth in Kandy are also notable for their architectural qualities. Ancient Sri Lankan architecture is also significant to sustainability, notably Sigiriya which was designed as an environmentally friendly structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gedung Kuning</span> Mansion in Kampong Glam, Singapore

Gedung Kuning is a Malay historical residence in Singapore. Located at 73 Sultan Gate, Gedung Kuning stands just outside the Malay Heritage Centre, near Masjid Sultan in the historic district of Kampong Glam in Singapore. However, from 1919 to 1925, the Gedung Kuning's address was 33 Sultan Gate. Once forming an annexe to the adjacent palace of Singapore's Malay rulers, Istana Kampong Glam, it became the private residence of Haji Yusoff, a prominent Malayo-Javanese merchant and four generations of his family. Together with the Istana, the compound was refurbished as part of the development of the Malay Heritage Centre in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Dhaka</span> Port in Bangladesh

The Port of Dhaka is a major river port on the Buriganga River in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. The port is located in the southern part of the city. It is Bangladesh's busiest port in terms of passenger traffic. The port has services to most of the districts of Bangladesh. In 2013, a container terminal opened 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city to handle ocean-going ships. Along with Barisal, Chandpur and Narayanganj; the Dhaka port handled 53 million tonnes of cargo and 22 million passengers in 2013–14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian vernacular architecture</span> Buildings of local styles and materials

Indian vernacular architecture the informal, functional architecture of structures, often in rural areas of India, built of local materials and designed to meet the needs of the local people. The builders of these structures are unschooled in formal architectural design and their work reflects the rich diversity of India's climate, locally available building materials, and the intricate variations in local social customs and craftsmanship. It has been estimated that worldwide close to 90% of all building is vernacular, meaning that it is for daily use for ordinary, local people and built by local craftsmen.

The history of construction traces the changes in building tools, methods, techniques and systems used in the field of construction. It explains the evolution of how humans created shelter and other structures that comprises the entire built environment. It covers several fields including structural engineering, civil engineering, city growth and population growth, which are relatives to branches of technology, science, history, and architecture. The fields allow both modern and ancient construction to be analyzed, as well as the structures, building materials, and tools used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel N. Cornish House</span> Historic house in Nebraska, United States

The Joel N. Cornish House is located in South Omaha, Nebraska. The 1886 construction is considered an "excellent example of the French Second Empire style." The house was converted into apartments after the Cornish family moved out in 1911.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Cathedral of Cuenca</span>

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, commonly referred to as the New Cathedral of Cuenca, is the cathedral church in Cuenca, Ecuador. It is situated in front of Parque Calderon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiddenhurst</span> Historic house in New York, United States

Hiddenhurst is the former estate of businessman Thomas Hidden, on Sheffield Hill Road in the Town of North East, New York, United States, south of the village of Millerton. It is an elaborate frame house built at the beginning of the 20th century in the neo-Georgian architectural style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Madagascar</span> Buildings of Madagascar

The architecture of Madagascar is unique in Africa, bearing strong resemblance to the construction norms and methods of Southern Borneo from which the earliest inhabitants of Madagascar are believed to have immigrated. Throughout Madagascar, the Kalimantan region of Borneo and Oceania, most traditional houses follow a rectangular rather than round form, and feature a steeply sloped, peaked roof supported by a central pillar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farashganj</span> Human settlement in Bangladesh

Farashganj is a neighborhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The name comes from the Bengali word for French which is Forashi and ganj, meaning market-town.

Buckland Bund is a historically significant architectural creation situated by the Buriganga river bank of Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was constructed by Charles Thomas Buckland in 1864 who was the commissioner of Dhaka during that period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Dhaka</span>

The architecture of Dhaka is a confluence of many architectural styles. From the Sena temples built by Ballal Sen, to the Mughal architecture of the Mughals, to the Indo-Saracenic style of the colonial era, to 20th century steel and chrome of skyscrapers. Dhaka has a colonial core in the river port area, surrounded by progressively newer areas as one travels away from the Buriganga, punctuated with old temples, churches and mosques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Structural clay tile</span> Class of building block

Structural clay tile describes a category of burned-clay building materials used to construct roofing, walls, and flooring for structural and non-structural purposes, especially in fireproofing applications. Also called building tile, structural terra cotta, hollow tile, saltillo tile, and clay block, the material is an extruded clay shape with substantial depth that allows it to be laid in the same manner as other clay or concrete masonry. In North America it was chiefly used during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reaching peak popularity at the turn of the century and declining around the 1950s. Structural clay tile grew in popularity in the end of the nineteenth-century because it could be constructed faster, was lighter, and required simpler flat falsework than earlier brick vaulting construction. Each unit is generally made of clay or terra-cotta with hollow cavities, or cells, inside it. The colors of terracotta transform from gray to orange, red, yellow, and cream tones. This is due to an effect of the firing process which hardens the clay so it can be used for structural purposes. The material is commonly used in floor arches, fireproofing, partition walls, and furring. It continues to be used in Europe to build fire-resistant walls and partitions. In North America the material has largely been replaced by concrete masonry units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gobindgarh Fort</span> Military fortress in Punjab, India

Gobindgarh Fort is a historic military fort located in the center of the city of Amritsar in the Indian state of Punjab. The Fort was until recently occupied by the Indian Army, but was opened to the public on 10 February 2017. Today the fort is being developed as a museum and theme park, as a repository of Punjab’s history.

<i>Bahay na bato</i> Style of Filipino house architecture

Bahay na bato, also known in Cebuano as balay na bato or balay nga bato and in Spanish as casa Filipino, is a type of building originating during the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. It is an updated version of the traditional bahay kubo of the Christianized lowlanders, known for its use of masonry in its construction, using stone and brick materials and later synthetic concrete, rather than just full organic materials of the former style. Its design has evolved throughout the ages, but still maintains the bahay kubo's architectural principle, which is adapted to the tropical climate, stormy season, and earthquake-prone environment of the whole archipelago of the Philippines, and fuses it with the influence of Spanish colonizers and Chinese traders. It is one of the many architecture throughout the Spanish Empire known as Arquitectura mestiza. The style is a hybrid of Austronesian, Spanish, and Chinese; and later, with early 20th-century American architecture, supporting the fact that the Philippines is a result of these cultures mixing. Its most common appearance features an elevated, overhanging wooden upper story standing on wooden posts in a rectangular arrangement as a foundation. The posts are placed behind Spanish-style solid stone blocks or bricks, giving the impression of a first floor. Still, the ground level contains storage rooms, cellars, shops, or other business-related functions. The second floor is the elevated residential apartment, as it is with the bahay kubo. The roof materials are either tiled or thatched with nipa, sago palm, or cogon, with later 19th-century designs featuring galvanization. Roof styles are traditionally high pitched and are include the gable roof, hip roof, East Asian hip roof, and the simpler East Asian hip-and-gable roof. Horses for carriages are housed in stables called caballerizas.

The House of Pešinoski family, or House of Pešinovci is a house in the village of Vevčani, Vevčani Municipality, North Macedonia. The house belongs to the Pešinoski family and the building is registered as a Cultural Heritage of North Macedonia.

References

  1. "Ruplal House: Waiting for a light of resurrection". The Daily Star. 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  2. 1 2 3 Durdana Ghias (2007-04-22). "Ruplal House: Unique features in wholesale wreck". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  3. Muntassir Mamoon. Dhaka Smrititir Nagari. Bangla Academy. p. 257.
  4. "Ruplal House: Waiting for a light of resurrection". 27 August 2018.
  5. Sanjida Ahmed Sinthia. Sustainable revitalization of the traditional old urban mansion: Ruplal house.
  6. "Ruplal House: Waiting for a light of resurrection". 27 August 2018.