Restore & Relive

Reinstilling the lost glory of the multi-cultural architectural scenario of India, conservation architects are the missing links between heritage and modern design sensibilities

- Aziz Amin

  

Over time, with the influence of a multitude of dynasties, cultures and religions, India has become home to architecture and design practices from across the globe. Gradually, the styles mixed, merged and evolved into new design ideas and philosophies that eventually came to be known as ‘Indian’.

However, post-independence, the awe-inspiring styles, a seamless blend of form and function, came to a gradual stop. Their design steadily devolved into mundane concrete blocks that lacked soul. The need to preserve ageing vintage architectural marvels gave an impetus to conservation about three decades ago. Vikas Dilawari, Principal Architect, Vikas Dilawari Architects, says, “Conservation, as a new field, was introduced as a Masters course in 1987 at SPA (School of Planning and Architecture), New Delhi. It had an intake of five students and ours was the second batch.”

FIRST LOVE

What started as mere curiosity eventually matured into passion and has now evolved into a way of living. Abha Narain Lambah, Principal Architect of Abha Narain Lambah Associates, grew up in Delhi, close to Mehrauli and was influenced by a variety of Sultanate-era buildings. “My sister and I, on any rainy day, would take our dog and a picnic hamper and go for picnics in the ruins, which created in us an affinity for old buildings. Eventually, I did my Undergraduate thesis in Tughlaq-period mosques and my Master’s thesis on Sultanate architecture,” she says.

On the other hand, Dilawari’s encounter with a project during his academic years in Mumbai triggered his curiosity for heritage architecture.