India House, Adolphe Valette

India House 1912 Adolphe Valette 1876-1942 Valette loved the rivers and canals of Manchester, exploiting their bridges to dramatic artistic effect. This view shows the River Medlock. It is taken from Oxford Road Bridge, which is just by the railway viaduct. The arch at the top is part of the viaduct and the projecting building on the left is the Refuge Assurance Building (now the Palace hotel). At the rear is the back of India House, a large terracotta office building on Whitworth Street. This was constructed in 1906 and was thus very modern. Valette has used its even rows of illuminated windows to create patterns of light and reflection in the water.