A tale of two cities

Chakraborti, a fast-talking 42-year-old Bengali, is on a mission to rescue Kolkata’s colonial-era buildings from the ravages of time. It’s his life and his passion. “These old buildings lend a wonderful mosaic to the city’s history. Losing them is like losing a real sense of the city — like losing ourselves,” he explains. This style combines Gothic, Greek revival and Victorian styles in a powerful combination that speaks of the Empire’s imperial aspirations. Many buildings are near replicas of European structures. Kolkata’s Government House looks suspiciously like Kedleston Hall, a stately home in Derbyshire, England and the city’s law courts are eerily similar to Cloth Hall in Ypres, Belgium. The colonial architecture inspired Winston Churchill to write: “at night, with a grey fog and the cold wind, it almost allows one to imagine that it is London.” Conservation efforts are slim and many of the heritage structures have fallen into various stages of decay. Recently, some of the more prominent public buildings have been restored and named as heritage structures. Maintaining private sites is more difficult and often hampered by legal problems, squatter troubles, ownership disputes, old tenancy laws and a lack of funds. A trained architect, town planner and conservationist, he formed the Action Research in Conservation of Heritage (ARCH), an organisation to preserve heritage buildings. He has a conservation design practice and to raise awareness, conducts heritage walks around North Kolkata and Dalhousie Square. “Calcutta needs to be experienced from the hidden surfaces of the metropolis. You cannot experience her by traversing the city in a comfortable coach. You need to be on your feet,” he pitches on his website. Chakraborti’s two-hour walk takes in the astonishing collection of colonial buildings in Dalhousie Square created by European architects between 1695 and 1945. Highlights include the Writers’ Building (1765), the newly renovated Town Hall (1814) and the GPO (1868). “You can see from the way they built that the British thought they would stay here forever,” Chakraborti jokes. The World Monument Fund has called Dalhousie Square “one of South Asia’s few surviving Colonial centres” and, on Chakraborti’s urging, put the area on its endangered or “Watch” list in 2004 and again in 2006.

Colonial Door Styles - News


Portals to Georgetown

Look at the door knockers around the village. There are only a few distinctive styles: The purely stylized and the symbolic. First, the most common door knocker is the "slide". Look for an "S-shaped" vertical swoop- usually in brass and with some



Kumar Sangakkara's 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture in full
Kumar Sangakkara's 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture in full

Yet cricket, somehow, managed to slip through the crack in our anti-Western defences and has now become the most precious heirloom of our British Colonial inheritance. Maybe it is a result of our simple sense of hospitality where a guest is treated to



A tale of two cities
A tale of two cities

The colonial rulers built a huge number of imposing edifices and today the city boasts one of the world's finest collection of British imperial architecture. This style combines Gothic, Greek revival and Victorian styles in a powerful combination that



Tour shows off efforts to save grand old residences
Tour shows off efforts to save grand old residences

The spacious homes, a mix of Victorian, Georgian revival and Dutch colonial styles, offer a different experience from home tours at nearby sites such as German Village, Macke said. "In German Village, the challenge is what amazing things you can do in



British Constitutional Model and Morocco
British Constitutional Model and Morocco

Manchester depended on the colonial trade in two ways: it supplied finished textiles for export to Africa, the West Indies, and America: and it received the necessary raw material—cotton. The capital which accumulated in Liverpool from the slave trade




Bi Fold Doors

Install Bi Fold Doors For Elegance And Functionality

Bi fold doors are an alternative to standard closet doors and standard sliding door systems. These doors fold in or fold out to open up a space in a desired location. Bi fold doors have located application specifically where spaces are limited such as in laundry rooms, pantries, and closets. You will be surprised to know that the earliest mention of bi fold doors dates back to the Temple of Solomon around 953 BC. Popularity of these doors has fluctuated since then. But, these days, more and much more folks are rediscovering its advantages, especially those wanting to add a touch of flair and functionality to their homes.

The Principal Positive aspects Of These Doors Are As Follows:

* Flexibility to be fully opened, partially opened, or fully closed. * You can get a view of closet’s both sides in contrast to in a sliding door where you get a glimpse of only 1 side at a time

How Does A Bi Fold Door Function?

Bi fold doors are two panels attached by centralized hinges with the innermost door panel having a pull or a knob to facilitate the user to fold both doors together.

Apart from the benefits mentioned earlier, bi fold doors are also preferred by the people who appear to produce a lot of flair in their rooms. Connoisseurs and aficionados can choose from a significant selection of bi fold doors. You have styles such as louvered, raised panel, plain, and even French door style.

These doors do have some drawbacks although. They need regular maintenance on the tracks and hardware. Irregular maintenance can trigger rust to develop on hinges, thereby hampering smooth movement of these doors.

Deciding on The Appropriate Style Of Bi Fold Doors

Bi fold doors are very well-liked with the men and women who are undertaking residence remodeling projects. The reasons are not far to seek. Apart from its suitability for little areas, bi fold doors provide flexibility in style for any type of contemporary home décor. It adds wonderful functionality to a residence, not to mention the artistic decorative touch. You can blend the design of the door to any style of your property regardless of whether it is colonial, classic, retro, or contemporary. Another considerable advantage is the expense-effectiveness of these doors that permit you to save great cash. You can choose from a wide variety of material and optional features depending on your budget. Here are a few examples.


Colonial Door Styles - Bookshelf

Colonial style, creating classic interiors in your cape, colonial, or saltbox home

Colonial style, creating classic interiors in your cape, colonial, or saltbox home

This sitting room illustrates classic 18th-century Colonial woodwork. Boxed ceiling beams and a salvaged six-panel door create a more refined look, ...

Old-House Journal

Old-House Journal

Storm doors and authentic hardware available. Other styles include Colonial, Cape Cod, and Ranch. Catalogue. Grand Era Reproductions. $2.25. 332. ...

Old-House Journal

Old-House Journal

There are dozens of innovative styles to choose from, ranging from the classic ... Offering finely detailed Colonial doors, windows, shutters, wainscot, ...

Southwestern Colonial Ironwork, The Spanish Blacksmithing Tradition

Southwestern Colonial Ironwork, The Spanish Blacksmithing Tradition

PLATE 1 Colonial door at El Santuario. Chi mayo, New Mexico, showing use of a ... 1) Also, hinges of this style forged of wrought iron could be constructed ...

Popular Mechanics Garage Makeovers, Adding Space Without Adding On

Popular Mechanics Garage Makeovers, Adding Space Without Adding On

Colonial style. The stunning custom doors below are a good example of what you can get in a custom door: almost anything you want. Custom grilles create the ...

Daily Article Directory


Door Styles Colonial Styles VictoriananaEast
... line of wooden storm doors and other products, including wooden storm windows, shutters, and porch parts. Each door is custom made. Choose from...

Garage Door - South Bound Brook, NJ - Colonial Door
Colonial Door, we service New Jersey homeowners and builders, providing excellence in quality and service since 1965. With our established, solid ...

Barzotti Woodworking Ltd | Door Styles
Barzotti Woodworking Ltd. has unlimited door styles to choose from including traditional, shaker, colonial, flat panel, all with varying details and refinements

LaFata Cabinets: Door Styles
Colonial Plank. Executive. Fallbrook. Georgetown. Glacier. Hampshire. Harvest. Jamestown. Lexington. Liberty. Madison. Malibu. Manhattan. Midwest. Milano. Millridge. Millridge II ...

Solid Iron Colonial Style Door or Gate Thumb Latch
Solid Iron Colonial Style Door or Gate Thumb Latch: pull lever measures 9 3/4 inches tall and 2 inches wide with a projection of 2 3/8 inches. Latch measures 3 inches ...