Preserving An Old-world Charm In A New-age Milieu

In a city clawing for space, there are pockets that still retain a built fabric reminiscent of the olden days. In a city competing for modernity, there are precincts that hold onto a culture that is distinct and adds flavor to the otherwise bland every-day life. Aptly demonstrating this dichotomy, the restoration of the Cama Building at Murzban Colony in Mumbai by conservation architect Vikas Dilawari is a shining example of how conservation and restoration efforts not only preserve structures of the past, but also a way of life that is impossible to replicate outside of its cultural context.

- Sharmila Chakravorty

Different entities approach problem-solving differently, but often the unanimously accepted approach is that of completely eliminating problem areas in order to implement the solution. Case in point is the current situation of choosing redevelopment over restoration and re-use. Of course, building from scratch has its own advantages. One can pre-empt issues that might crop up and design so as to mitigate them, aligned to the drastically different requirement of contemporary life. In comparison, restoration is tedious. One has to work within the set parameters of the existing structure, use rare crafts and materials, and adapt the often outdated program to keep pace with today’s times. And yet, what this kind of adaptive reuse does is something a new construction cannot – retain the old-world charm, the inherent culture of the site!

This is where conservation comes into the picture.

It is often said that ‘It is good not because it is old. It is old because it is good’ and nothing encapsulates heritage architecture better than this statement! Take for instance the Cama Building at Murzban Colony, Gilder Lane. Owned by the Garib Zarathostiona Rehthan Fund (GZRF), the colony was one of the first attempts at introducing the community housing concept in the late 19th century in and around central Mumbai, for the weaker sections of the community. Built in 1898, the colony has ever since nurtured a living tradition, a distinct culture and lifestyle for over a hundred years of its existence across generations of residents.