Heritage handling: A restoration photo story
Editor’s Note: Abha Narain Lambah Associates is a leading architectural firm that specialises in architectural conservation and restoration. They have brought heritage palaces, libraries and houses of worship back to life. This is a brief visual essay of some of their best work. It gives you a sense of the work that goes into preserving our heritage. You can follow them on Instagram and read more about their work on their website.
About the lead image: This is a post-restoration shot of Bikaner House—a princely house—and the seat of the Chief Minister of Rajasthan in Delhi. This sprawling building built in Edwardian Neoclassical style was recently restored and is now open to the public—as an art and culture hub.
David Sassoon Library: The David Sassoon Library and Reading Room is the oldest Victorian gothic building listed in Mumbai. It is listed as a Grade I heritage building—for its architectural significance. The restoration involved getting rid of the reinforced cement concrete slab installed in the 1960s–and restoring the original stunning ceiling.
Before:
After:
Lal Bagh Palace: The Lal Bagh Palace is spread on 72 acres of land on the banks of the River Kahn in Indore. First constructed by the Maharaj of Indore as a small garden house in 1890s, it was later transformed by Tukoji Rao III (1902-1925) who decorated it with Italian marble, and furnished it in the western style as seen today. The palace is built in the Renaissance Revival tradition, a style adopted for new palace facades by the Maratha rulers in the 19th century. The restoration aimed at preserving the structural integrity of the building and its shell—and restoring the original interiors.
Before:
After:
Bandra station: Bandra Railway Station is located on the Western and Harbour Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway Network and formally opened in 1888. As the suburb grew, the station, equipped with two platforms in 1888, became a popular point of interchange to other modes of transport.
The heritage concourse with its cast iron trusses and columns was restored and the entire station was upgraded. This also included signages, benches and railings. ANL added a new entrance porch for the general public and uplifted the ticketing block. The highlight of the restoration is the beautiful external illumination of the main building and concourse.
Before:
After:
Asiatic Society: The 1830s Grade I Heritage building is an essential component of Mumbai’s iconography. To conserve and rehabilitate the library, ANL needed to restore the interiors and employed multi-disciplinary teams for plumbing, electrical upgradation, lighting design and signage design. State-of-the-art space planning has made this eminent library—brighter and more illuminated.
Before:
After:
Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue: This turn-of-the-century synagogue was built in the renaissance revival style in the art district of the colonial city of Bombay. This is one of the few projects where the restoration of structure and interiors was done with exquisite stained glass and original stencilling.
Before:
After:
Royal Opera House: The only surviving opera house in India—the Royal Bombay Opera House—was built in the early 20th century as a grand baroque structure with opulent interiors and a pedimented façade. After it served as an opera house and then a cinema hall—it was shut down for 20 years, and faced near collapse. ANL’s undertaking involved a comprehensive and keen conservation management plan—after which it was restored and its magnificent interiors were revived.
Before:
After:
BMC Headquarters: The BMC headquarters was originally a Victorian neo-gothic heritage building designed by British architect—FW Stevens with elements of Indo-Saracenic architecture and is a Grade IIA heritage building. ANL created a conservation masterplan as the entire structure had to be rehabilitated alongside lighting, plumbing, electrical and signage upgradation.
Before:
After:
Bharatpur Museum: The Bharatpur Museum is a historic palace of the rulers of Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Conservation and restoration was focused on renewing the facade of the museum—especially executing the design of the galleries, lighting and visual branding. New features added included visitor facilities such as a museum shop and cafe.
Before & after:
