THE REVIVAL PROJECT

These restoration architects do more than preserve history, they give built spaces a new lease of life and allow us to experience their true intent

- RIDHI KALE

Abha Narain Lambah "Conservation is not only about monuments. It is about buildings people use every day"

From Royal Opera House in Mumbai and Bikaner House in Delhi to the Chamba Lakhang Temple of Maitreya Buddha in Basgo, Ladakh, and the restoration of Shalimar Bagh Kashmir, conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah's unique approach can be found stamped on heritage buildings across the country. Lambah set up Abha Narain Lambah Associates in 1998 and specialises in architectural conservation, building restoration and retrofit, museum design and historic interiors, among other things.

Here, she has been photographed at The David Sassoon Library and Reading Room in Mumbai. “We restored the original profile of the pitched tiles roof that had been demolished and replaced by a flat RCC slab, restoring the original spatial integrity of the library and restoring its interiors,” says Lambah.

But, is there a building she would love to restore? “The Watson's Hotel,” comes her quick reply. Vikas Dilawari

“All historic buildings are equally good, but some suffer neglect, others wrong repairs”

Vikas Dilawari "All historic buildings are equally good, but some suffer neglect, others wrong repairs"