Building Type : Commercial
Location : Chennai
Status : Completed
Nature of work : Architect
In designing this building the chief aim has been to combine utility and beauty, and to economise space and material. The corner entrance which is a noteworthy feature, while units of offices are so planned as to facilitate easy and quick circulation of air, and natural ventilation and lighting, as well as safety and comfort. The straightforward planning has helped, in addition, to obtain balance and symmetry. The height of the building has been such as could be considered satisfactory in view of the surroundings and the widths of the two streets. This is the first planned six storeyed building in the city at that time.
The structural reinforcements have been put in sufficiently, to make these vaults capable of bearing all the superimposed load in the event of collapse of the super- structure. The load to be borne on this account although very considerable has been successfully provided for, in the design. A consideration of the features of the Sunk Basement leads us to the Safe Deposit Vaults-the first of its kind in Madras and the biggest in the East at that time.