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ADAPTIVEREUSERebuildingthepastintoapromisingtomorrow|imteecjamir

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May10,2015

ADAPTIVEREUSERebuildingthepastintoa
promisingtomorrow
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Inthisfastpacedeverchangingworld,everybodyisconstantlylookingfornewwaystoreinventand
explorefurtherfornewthings.Thingsthataremoreecient,morerapidandfresherthanitsprecursor.
Thisnewformofconceptstakingoverourmindsisnotonlyrelatabletoourlifestylesormodern
technologies,butalsointermsofarchitecture,environment,constructionandbuildings.
Rebuilding,reusingandrecreatinganoldspaceorabuildingwithaviewtowardsbridgingthegap
betweenthetraditionalidealsandmoderncultureiswhereAdaptiveReusezeroesin.
ButwhatisAdaptiveReuse?
Wikipediadenesitasbelow:
Adaptivereusedealswiththeissuesofconservationandheritagepolicies.Whilstoldbuildings
becomeunsuitablefortheirprogrammaticrequirements,asprogressintechnology,politicsand
economicsmovesfasterthanthebuiltenvironment,adaptivereusecomesinasasustainableoption
forthereclamationofsites.
And,whyAdaptiveReuse?
Thereareanumberofreasonstothisquestion.Hereareafew:
Itoersachancetoencapsulatethepastdesignideaswhilemovingforwardwithmoderndayideas.
Itservesasaconduitbetweentheestablishedandtheexperimental.
Itfostersadialoguebetweentheageolddesignmethodsandcurrentideasinscience,philosophy,
architectureandtechnology.
So,isitworththeeortandtimegivingawholenewimagetoanalreadyexistingbuilding?Whynot?
Hereswhy.Theideaisclearandsimpleenough.Ifacertainbuildingwasbuiltintherstplacewitha
purposeinmind,setwithanethicaltonebutithasoutliveditsoriginalpurpose,whyshouldntitbere
inventedthesecondtimearound?Onlythistime,itdhavebeerconstructionmethods,newermaterials
withawholeloadofnewdesigntechniquesandideas.Thisnotonlysoundsecientandinnovativebut
alsoitcanservemoderncommunitieswithenvironmentalsustainabilityandlandconservation.
https://imteecjamir.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/adaptivereuse/
Hence,AdaptiveReusecanbeapreyinspiringwaytoreviveandsaveanoldexisting

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Hence,AdaptiveReusecanbeapreyinspiringwaytoreviveandsaveanoldexisting
space/building.Afterall,whatgoodisaspaceifitisntredevelopedforamuchbeerenvironmental
purpose?Isay,reusingandreinventingisalwaysgoingtobetheanswertoanyprevailingorfuture
environmentalissues.Itcouldhelpreduceurbansprawls,creatinganeweraforsustainable
architecture.

Toprovidemeaningfularchitectureisnottoparodyhistorybuttoarticulateit.Daniel
Libeskind

SomeoftheprominentprojectsadoptingAdaptiveReuseinIndiathataretrulyinspirationalwiththeir
perplexinghistoricbackgroundstoriesarementionedbelow:
1.GANGUBAIHANGALMUSEUM,HUBLI,KARNATAKA
ThisiswhatINTACHBangalore(hp://www.intachblr.org/restoration.php)hastosayabouttheproject,
ThelateSmtGangubaiHangalwasaHindustanivocalistofunparalleledrepute.INTACHBangalore
restoredthevernacularstylehousewherethismusiclegendwasbornin1913andwhereshespenther
childhood.ThebuildingnowhousestheGangotriMuseumwithexhibitsonGangubaiHangalandon
Indianclassicalmusicawonderfulexampleofadaptivereuseofanoldbuilding.Theprojectcame
aboutwhentheStateGovernmentofKarnatakaboughtthecrumblinghousein2007anddecidedto
dedicateittothelifeandtimesofSmtHangal.
INTACHBangalorewasaskedbythethenDistrictCommissionerofHubliDharwad,SSrikar,to
undertaketherestorationofthishumbleyethistoricspace.
Ledbyconservationarchitect,PankajModi,thehousewasrestoredusingconventionalburntbricks
andreplasteredinmudmortar.
ThehouseinwhichGangubaiHangalgrewuphasbeenconvertedintoamuseum,withherfavourite
tulsiplantinplace.
Whenshereturnedtohernewlyrestoredchildhoodhomeattheageof95,GangubaiHangal,doyenneof
Hindustaniclassicalmusic,stillvividlyrecalledherfavouriteplacesaroundheroldhousethetulsi
plantattheentranceandthepillarinthecentreofthehousewheresheusedtopractisehermusicfor
hours.
Thiswasthehousewhereshewasbornandwhereshehadbeeninitiatedintotheworldofmusic.

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(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_77470.jpg)
Thehousewassoldin1957andchangedhandsonceagainuntilitwaseventuallyboughtbythefamilyof
DasoiKulkarniwholivedheretillthelate1980s.
Subsequently,thehouseremainedlockedandneglectedforseveralyears,yearswhichtooktheirtollon
thestructure.Partsofthehousecollapsed.Theheavyrainsof2005didfurtherdamage,andportionsof
theroofandmoresectionsofthewallscavedin.
RestorationProject:
TherestorationprojectwasexecutedbyNirmithiKendra,Dharwad,undertheguidanceoftheBangalore
chapteroftheIndianNationalTrustforArtandCulturalHeritage(INTACH),whichalsooversawthe
seingupofthemuseum.INTACHworkedcloselywithManojHangal,PresidentoftheHangalMusic
Foundation,founderoftheSchoolofIndianClassicalMusic,Hubli,andthegrandsonofGangubai.
Thehouseisalowrisestructurewithanentranceverandahhavingatulsiplantandanarrowpassage
withroomsoneithersideleadingtoacentralhall.
Thebuildingisnarrowbutdeep,withroomsplacedoneafteranother.
Therearportionofthehousewiththekitchen,storeroomandserviceareawascoveredwithasloping
roofwithcountrytiles.Thereusedtobeabackyardwithsomecoconuttrees,ofwhichonlyasmall
areanowremains.
Anarrowwoodenladderaccessedtheterracewherethewindowsfromtheaicopened.
Thehousehadmudwallswithtimberframework,mudplasterandmudroofonbambooreeds.These
materialsconstitutethestructureofthishouse.
AttheentranceisalargeportraitofGangubaiHangalthatinvitesvisitorsinside.Intheentrance
passagewayaretwolargephotographsofthesingertakenatdierenttimesinherlife,bothshowingher
smiling,holdingatanpura.
Source:Deccanherald(hp://m.deccanherald.com/content/63413/museummemories.html/)
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Imagesource:Hubballionline(hp://im.hunt.in/cg/hubli/CityGuide/Museum.jpg)
Thismuseumisaclearevidenceofkeepingthingssimplebyadaptingtheoriginalstyletoamuch
broaderpresenceofstyleanddesign,yethonoringtheidealsoftraditionalart.
TheINTACHteamdidanastonishingjobataccomplishingadaptivereusewiththisproject.Wecansee
andfeelhowhomelyamuseumcanbe!
2.TOLLYGUNGECLUB,KOLKATA
Anotherexquisiteexampleofadaptivereuseisseenhereinthisoldestandmostuniquecountryclubof
India.

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7756.jpg)Imagesource:GolngIndian
(hp://www.oldworldwandering.com/2011/06/23/tollygungeclubcalcua/)
AccordingtoWiki,thisiswhatithastosayabouttheclub,
https://imteecjamir.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/adaptivereuse/
TheTollygungeClub,popularlycalledTolly,isoneofthepremiercountryclubofIndia,located

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TheTollygungeClub,popularlycalledTolly,isoneofthepremiercountryclubofIndia,located
inTollygungeinsouthKolkata.
SirWilliamCruikshankestablishedtheclubasanequestriansportsfacilityintheyear1895to
2
promoteallmannerofsports.Itisspreadovera100acres(400,000m ),withaclubhousethatis
over200yearsold.

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7757.jpg)Imagesource:OldWorldWandering
(hp://www.oldworldwandering.com/2011/06/23/tollygungeclubcalcua/)
Thisclubhasthewidestandrarestcollectionsoforaandfauna,manyofwhichhasbeenbroughtfrom
AustraliaandSouthAmerica.Thoughthestructureapparentlyappearstobeingoodshape,acloselook
laysbarecoatsofpaintpeelingo,cracksdevelopingandmoistureseepingthroughtheroof.
DulalMukherjeeandAssociates(DMA)(hp://www.dmaindia.org/heritage.html#)hastakenupthis
projecttorestorethis225yearoldbuildingandmodernizeitwithanaimtotakeitbacktoitsearlier

looksandfeels.
https://imteecjamir.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/adaptivereuse/
(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7758.jpg)Imagesource:GolfGaga

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(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7758.jpg)Imagesource:GolfGaga
(hp://tollygungegolfclub.golfgaga.com/)
Thewholeheritagemakeoverprocesswouldinvolvesomeofthesemajorchangesbringingaboutfresher
facultiesandabeerappearance:
Ashedhasbeenbuiltonthegroundoorwherefurnitureandbuildingmaterialsarepiledup,a
servicecounterhascomeuptoserveguestsonthegravel,theCruickshanksBarandtheTipuSultan
restauranthavebeenbuiltonthegrandsprawlingverandah,thuscompletelyblockingit.
Themanagingcommieehasretrievedoldphotographsanddesignsoftheclubhouse,sothatsuch
lateradditions,thatwerenotoriginaltothebuildingcanberemovedwhilethedamagesarehealed.
Andthatmeansaseachange.Notonlywillthestockroomberemoved,butalsothestaircasethat
connectstheclubhousetotheadjacentadministrativeblockwillalsoberemoved.
Earliertheclubhousewasastandalonegrandbuilding.Itstoodoutinitsneoclassicalgrandeur
aroundwhichtheclubvibrated.Wewanttotakeitbacktoitsearlierlooksandfeel,saidmanaging
member,ARMukerji.
Thegreatestdamagehasprobablyhappenedbecausewhenevercracksappearedorthepaintstarted
peeling,theywererandomlyrepairedandpainted.Wearetryingtobringrestorerswhocanpeelo
suchpaintandplaster,bringthedamagetothesurfaceandthenstarthealingthembycuringthe
dampwithoriginalbuildingmaterialsthatwereusedsomanyyearsago.Itisalongandpainstaking
processandwearetryingtobringthebestrestorersonboardforthis,Mukherjeesaid.
Source:TheTimesofIndia(hp://m.timesondia.com/city/kolkata/HeritagemakeoverforTolly
Club/articleshow/10965261.cms)
ThefollowingchangesaretobemadeaccordingtoDMA:
Oncerestored,theclubplanstostoprentingouttherstoortweddingsandceremonies,sinceit
takesatollonthebuilding.
Insteadanexclusivelobbywillbecreated,decoratedwithperiodfurniture.Itwillleadtoanopensit
out.
ThewoodenawningsontheFrenchwindowswillhavetobecompletelyredonetobringinthat
classyEuropeanfeel.
ThereareplanstomovetheCruickshanksBarandTipuSultanrestaurantalilesothattheverandah
overlookingthegolfgreenscanbeopenedup.
Theteamischartingupplansonredoingthebilliardroom,thebridgeroomandthegroundoorlobby
too.Thelibraryblockistobeexpandedshiftingitoppositetothemainblock.Keepinginmindthe
originalfunctionandcharacteristicsofthisclub,DMAworksonkeepingitsbasicessentialsintactwhile
makingchangestotheclub.

3.TIJARAFORTPALACE,ALWARDISTRICT,RAJASTHAN.
Project.:TijaraFortPalace
Location:Alwar,Rajasthan
Client:NeemranaHotels
https://imteecjamir.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/adaptivereuse/
Area.:4Acres

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Area.:4Acres
ConservationArchitect:InHouseandVaniBahl

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7762.jpg)
Imagesource:RajasthanDirect(hp://www.rajasthandirect.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/01/TijaraFort
PalaceAlwar.jpg)
AnothergreatexampleofadaptivereuseisTheTijaraFortPlacelocatedatAlwarinRajasthan.Thisisthe
adaptivereuseofanunderutilizedfortandtransformingitintoaluxuryhotel.

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7763.jpg)Imagesource:OpenTheMagazine
(hp://www.openthemagazine.com/sites/default/les/imagecache/435by290/article_images/5618.hoteliers
2.jpg)
NeemranaHotelshastakenupthisprojecttorestoreandrebuildthefortintoaheritagehotel.

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Theyhavedoneanexcellentjobintheinstallationofsculpturesandlightingxturesthatbringsasenseof

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Theyhavedoneanexcellentjobintheinstallationofsculpturesandlightingxturesthatbringsasenseof
modernitywithoutreallycompromisingwiththetraditionalidealsofthepalace.

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7775.jpg)

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(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7777.jpg)
Imagesource:Ebuild.in(hp://ebuild.in/tijaraforthotelneemranahotels)

https://imteecjamir.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/adaptivereuse/
Eachpieceoffurnitureiscarefullychosenkeepinginmindthevariedthemesoftherooms.

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Eachpieceoffurnitureiscarefullychosenkeepinginmindthevariedthemesoftherooms.

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7778.jpg)

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7779.jpg)
Imagesource:Ebuild.in(hp://ebuild.in/tijaraforthotelneemranahotels)

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TheterracedlawnswiththeHawaMahalinthebackground
Thenewerstructuresarebuiltusingmodernmaterialsandalotofcareistakeninthedesignand
detailingtoweaveittogetherwiththeexistingstructure.

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(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7787.jpg)
TijaraFortbeforerestoration

(hps://imteecjamir.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/img_7780.jpg)
Progressshowingconversionintoahotel
Imagesource:OutlookTraveller(hp://www.outlooktraveller.com/hotelsresortsspas/makinghistory
1005204#5205)
Thenewerconstructionswillcomprisetheboundarywall,threegatewaysandunderground
buildingsexplicitlythekitchen,spaandlaundryroomstobehiddenbelowterracedgardens,which
willextendfromtheMahalstotheedgeofthecli.
Thepool,too,isbeingcreatedfromscratchandwillbesunkoutofview,afewlevelsbelow.
AmanNath,cofounderofNeemranaexplains,
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Forthenewstructures,wewillusestoneandlimemortar,aswellasRCCbeamsandcementinareas

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Forthenewstructures,wewillusestoneandlimemortar,aswellasRCCbeamsandcementinareas
suchasthepool.Brickswillbeusedwherewedontwanttheweighttobetooheavy.Intheend,it
willallblendinwiththeoriginalcolourandnish.

Thesethreeprojects,amongmanyothers,giveusanoverviewofthebenetsofAdaptiveReuse,the
techniquesused,whyandhowtheyarebeingrebuiltandthehistorythatcomesalongwithit.Itsimply
showstheinnumerablewaysinwhichanold,debilitatedbuildingcanbesavedratherthandemolished.
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Postedbyimteejamir.
Tagged:adaptivereuse,architecture,India,restoration,sustainibility

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