Oval Maidan

The Oval Maidan Art Deco Precinct in Mumbai developed primarily during the 1930s and 1940s on reclaimed land. It remains one of the largest and most coherent collections of Art Deco architecture in the world, with Mumbai possessing the second-largest collection of Art Deco buildings globally.

The precinct, flanking the western side of the Oval Maidan, emerged as part of the Backbay Reclamation Scheme, a major step in Bombay’s transformation into a modern metropolis. The buildings blend international Art Deco aesthetics with Indian elements and modern construction materials such as reinforced concrete. Most of the structures are elegant residential apartments and cinemas.

UNESCO jointly recognised the area with the adjacent Victorian Gothic ensemble — including the Bombay High Court and Rajabai Clock Tower on the eastern side of the Oval — as the ‘Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai’ World Heritage Site in 2018.

The Oval Maidan itself acts as a central green space, visually linking these contrasting yet complementary architectural styles. It is the only place in the world where Victorian Gothic and Art Deco architecture stand face to face in this manner. Together, they narrate Mumbai’s journey from colonial outpost to global city.