This week, we gaze at FW Stevens’ Gothic landmark in Colaba that once served as an abode for sick seamen where they would recuperate while staring at stunning views of the harbour
Maharashtra State Police Headquarters in Colaba. Pics/Suresh Karkera
We must roll back a few years, when we had stepped into Sewri Cemetery. A nondescript black marbled grave with the name ‘Frederick William Stevens’ engraved on top, caught our eye. It belied the greatness of a man who spent a larger part of his life shaping some of Mumbai’s grandest landmarks. The architect, whose 168th birth anniversary was observed yesterday, is best remembered for his designs of Victoria Terminus (now CST) and the BMC building. However, there were other creations that tend to go unnoticed like the Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home, now the home of the Maharashtra State Police Headquarters. It was his first important commission in the city.
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The building was named to commemorate the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh to the city in 1870. The Maharaja of Baroda jointly laid the foundation stone along with the Duke. This Grade I heritage building was completed in 1876 and served as an important landmark at the Colaba junction facing the Wellington Fountain. The Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home could house over 70 seamen in its heyday.
This building is made from Kurla stone and was created in neo-Gothic style, which emerged as Stevens’ stamp. The central gable bears a striking relief sculpture by Richard Lockwood Boulton. Look out for elements that depict Neptune, sea horses, nymphs and wave-like curves — a tribute to the building’s proximity to the Arabian Sea.
Stevens ensured that the arcades were designed to offer comfort, air circulation and protection to its occupants from heat and rain, and at the same time, offer views of the harbour. The spot then was a far cry from the crowded traffic junction it is today.
Where: Near Wellington Fountain, Colaba.
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