Town Hall: An Architectural Appraisal

Abstract

The present research aims to evaluate the architectural features of the Town Hall, a very distinguished Colonial monument. Lahore has always been a significant centre of different architectural and artistic activities. However, it served as modern capital of the Punjab during British rule that mainly reflected the imperial policies and ideologies. The Crown rulers introduced a new kind of building art to symbolize their power and characterized as Colonial architecture. It evolved in the course of almost hundred years and marks a contrast from the already existing structures. Each Colonial building exhibits distinctive architectural and decorative identity and contribute an important chapter in the heritage of Lahore. The study is practical and descriptive involving the qualitative research methods. The analysis of the Town Hall revealed that it manifests the blend of foreign and local architectural traditions. Since the nature of the building is administrative and it is strongly recommended to take measures regarding its conservation and preservation to protect our heritage.