Situated on the elevated site of the ancient village Vatapatraka, the Record Tower, also known as the General Record Office, is a remarkable example of 19th-century architecture. Designed by the celebrated architect Robert Chisholm between 1886 and 1888, this complex of 8-9 buildings, including the Record Tower itself, was specifically designed to highlight the verticality of the administrative center of the city.
The Record Tower
The center-piece of this complex, features an imposing facade with a symmetrical central axis and a porte cochere. Despite its name, the building spans 200 feet in frontage and rises three storeys above ground, with its towers reaching up to four storeys. The structure includes four levels, one of which is a full basement designed with sunken courts to provide adequate light and ventilation. The uppermost floor has two large terraces nestled between three blocks, with each block, except for these terraces, covered by double-pitched, hipped roofs.
The exterior is painted in brick red with ivory bands running across the facade, a common style of the era. The segmental arches above the windows and the semi-circular arches of the corridors are also painted in ivory, while the doors and windows are highlighted in a distinct shade of blue. Notable features include the balustraded parapet on the third-floor terraces and the port-cochere.
In addition to its aesthetically pleasing design, the Record Tower was equipped with advanced safety features for its time, including an elaborate drainage and pump system to prevent water accumulation during floods and a sophisticated fire safety and alarm system. Today, this majestic building continues to house the records of the Old Baroda State as well as those of modern-day Baroda, standing as a prominent landmark and a testament to its historical significance.
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