World Heritage Day 2025: Architects and conservationists share ways to protect Mumbai's urban heritage

Informed use of infrastructural heritageRahul Chemburkar architect and conservation expert Vaastu VidhaanA view of the Kothari pyaav and Kabutarkhana at CSMT Pics CourtesyVaastu VidhaanAs a city we ought to look at heritage as an asset Every tangible heritage also has a strong intangible narrative For instance natural heritage like Gilbert Hill is fragile and ought to be looked after alongside edifices like the Gateway of India Opportunities also lie in aspects like city squares in Central Mumbai Dadar Parsi Colony or Kingrsquos Circle mdash among the earliest planned residential coloniesAt a micro level there needs to be a balance established in the adaptive reuse of heritage This is not limited to real estate but also to bridges and roads The S Bridge in Byculla is a prominent example of infrastructural heritage that we may neglect and could be lost in the progress of urbanisation The Pyaav Project has been a lesson to that end It cannot be a blueprint to be copied but functional heritage infrastructure in place can be revived and restored for a future generationBuild in continuityNandini Sampat principal architect Somaya SampatTokyorsquos Marunouchi station balances heritage structures with modern edificesMumbai is filled with complexity and we must take the time to understand our context Our efforts must extend beyond Grade I structures to larger precincts It is not about scale either We need to map the layered cultural history of the city and protect it in a sustainable wayWe also need to study how modern infrastructure can layer with the old while being sensitive to ground reality This is a familiar practice in many Asian countries particularly in Tokyo Japan where you are able to intertwine culture heritage and modernity into a singular ideaConservation as a wholeAlfaz Miller principal architect ABM ArchitectsMiller offers IM Peirsquos glass pyramid in the Louvre as an example of heritage sensitive design Pics CourtesyWIkimedia CommonsConservation should go beyond individual buildings and structures and encompass the surroundings precincts and the cityscape While heritage buildings need conservation adjoining structures to these buildings may need to be redeveloped for various reasons namely age deterioration or commercial considerationsIt is important that the design of these redeveloped structures is sensitive to the historical context of the heritage structures and compliments them without affecting the visual balance or the feel of the whole precinct This can be done in many ways for example with massing and the use of materials which are neutral or even reflective glass to mirror the heritage structuresAdapt to prosperApoorva Iyengar associate director FORT Heritage Conservation AssociationFrom left Representational heritage streets in Notting Hill York in the United Kingdom Pics CourtesyApoorva IyengarWe can learn a great deal from the more flexible and experimental approaches to the adaptive reuse of heritage structures and spaces Such sites have the potential to become vibrant community spaces mdash something our city continues to lackThe UK Government for instance provides certain tax exemptions for heritage property owners under the agreement that they maintain their heritage property and make it available for the general public to view These measures not only encourage conservation efforts but also foster a greater sense of ownership and respect for heritage The absence of such support often leaves heritage building owners without the resources to maintain their properties pushing them toward reconstruction or redevelopmentValue the contextAdil Dholakia director principal architect Five Cross ArchitectsA view of the town of Sesslach in Coburg district of Germany Pics CourtesyAdil DholakiaHeritage must be seen as part of a larger ecosystem rather than in isolation Our work in heritage conservation mdash particularly in places like Bamberg and Coburg in Germany and now extended in India mdash has highlighted the importance of integrating historic structures within the fabric of their communities and a strong focus on ecology Germany is a model where heritage is not only preserved but also actively supported through government incentivesSuch progressive approaches contrast with current practices in India where financial incentives for heritage conservation are still limited That said India is beginning to gain momentum in recognising the value of its heritage There is growing awareness though more needs to be done to highlight the historical significance of local heritage especially at the community level Access to and engagement with public heritage remains a critical area of focus for usatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params

World Heritage Day 2025: Architects and conservationists share ways to protect Mumbai's urban heritage

Informed use of infrastructural heritage
Rahul Chemburkar, architect and conservation expert, Vaastu Vidhaan

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Home / Mumbai-guide / Things To Do / Article / World Heritage Day 2025: Architects and conservationists share ways to protect Mumbai's urban heritage

World Heritage Day 2025: Architects and conservationists share ways to protect Mumbai's urban heritage

Informed use of infrastructural heritageRahul Chemburkar, architect and conservation expert, Vaastu Vidhaan

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Informed use of infrastructural heritage
Rahul Chemburkar, architect and conservation expert, Vaastu Vidhaan