Old municipal office building still in good shape

VISAKHAPATNAM: The old municipal office building, which now houses the All India Institute of Local Self Government, is in an excellent condition. The building, constructed in the late 1930s, is a relatively modern structure with a curious mix of both, modern and colonial styles of architecture with the European arch and the flat cantilever occupying equal space.
Situated opposite the old harbour, the structure is spread across 6,000 square feet and made entirely out of cut stone. A break away from the old world Madras terrace, the old municipal office was one of the first buildings along with the Andhra University physics department to have a self supporting, steel and concrete enforced roof.
The building earmarked the beginning of modern architecture in Vizag. However, the plan of the building was typically functional and open. Built up equally on the ground floor and the first, the building boasts of a dome in the central hallway, which also houses a staircase leading upstairs, six big halls with annexure rooms and spacious open verandahs.
"The roof of the building is steel framed RCC and is a rather interesting one, in the sense that there is an inbuilt self-supporting arch within the roof which enables it to dip from one perpendicular (90 degrees) steel beam to another. It was probably the earliest of experiments in building the modern RCC roof, at least in Visakhapatnam," said P Rama Krishna, a civil engineer and architect.
BS Mahesh, history buff, said the building was built at a time when Burra Hume Sastry was the municipal chairman of Visakhapatnam. "Much of the furniture that it then boasted of was nationalised and resourced from some of the old families of Visakhapatnam," he said.
Surprisingly, the building has not found a place on Intach's list of heritage structures. "The building has never found a place on the heritage list. Though it is a cut stone structure and quite an old one, it was not considered old enough to be listed," said PV Prasad, convener of Intach's Vizag chapter. However, he said the building has been well maintained is still thoroughly functional.
"It is surprising that such a beautiful building, which earmarks the break away from the traditional architectural style, has not been registered as a heritage structure. It is high time that it is listed," said Rama Krishna.
Today, the building is cut off from the general public and entry is strictly restricted as it houses a national institute. The stone structure, which suffered some damage during Cyclone Hudhud, was immediately repaired and spruced up.