Heritage Conservation & Adaptive Reuse
Available across India
We restore old buildings by keeping their original character, adding modern features where needed, and working with local craftsmen to make them useful for today.
Pricing Guide
Strategic Heritage Audit & Concept Vision
Strategic Assessment
- Principal-Led Walkthrough: Detailed site immersion by a Principal Partner to analyze building history and structural condition.
- Structural Health Check: Visual identification of dampness, cracks, and load-bearing capability of existing brick/stone walls.
- Roofing Evaluation: Assessment of condition for specific elements like Madras terrace roofs or timber beams.
Vision & Documentation
- Concept Note: Narrative outlining how the building can be reanimated for modern use while retaining its character.
- Feasibility Report: Dossier defining legal and structural alteration limits versus mandatory preservation zones.
- Material Palette Proposal: Initial recommendations on combining original materials (lime, brick) with new interventions.
End-to-End Adaptive Reuse Design Consultancy
Architectural Re-Engineering
- Structural Retrofitting: Engineering of transition grids to shift loads from old walls to new steel superstructures.
- Spatial Reconfiguration: Modification of internal partitions to create open common areas while retaining historic perimeters.
- Modern Insertions: Design of contemporary elements like mezzanines, glass bridges, or steel staircases.
Restoration & Detailing
- Material Restoration: Specifications for restoring original limestone plaster and antique teak wood joinery.
- Custom Fabrication: Detailed drawings for signature interventions like perforated metal screens or filigree facades.
- Light Integration: Incorporation of skylights or revitalized courtyards to optimize natural light.
Project Execution
- Vendor Selection: Assistance in selecting specialized craftsmen for stone masonry and lime plastering.
- MEP Integration: Concealing modern services like AC ducts and cabling within the historic shell.
- Site Supervision: Monitoring of joining details between steel interventions and original brickwork.
About Heritage Conservation & Adaptive Reuse
How We See Heritage Buildings
We believe the most sustainable building is the one already built. For us, every old structure is a living story - full of memories, scars, and possibility. Our job is to give them a second life, not by starting over but by working with what’s there. It’s tricky sometimes, finding that sweet spot between preserving history and making space for the future.
Our Way of Working
Every project starts with digging into the past - literally and figuratively. We look at what makes the building special, then figure out how to weave modern needs into those old bones.
- We keep the soul of the place intact, focusing on conservation of historic buildings.
- Modern touches are added carefully, like steel frames holding up ancient walls or new screens that sit lightly, without swallowing the old character.
- We team up with local craftsmen, using traditional techniques whenever possible, so that reviving traditional craftsmanship isn’t just talk.
Some Projects We’re Proud Of
- Brought new life to RBANM’s High School (Bangalore), fixing up classrooms from 1873.
- Turned Freedom Park (Bangalore) from a jail into a lively public space.
- VOC 1740 Stuber Hall (Fort Kochi), a Dutch building made into a luxury hotel with adaptive reuse architecture.
- Cinnamon Store (Bangalore), a 19th-century house now a cozy café and boutique.
- Home in New Delhi, rebuilt with skylit courtyards and lightweight steel floors.
Why We Do This
This work isn’t just about buildings. It's about cities, people, and giving back. We take on pro-bono work when we can, restoring schools and pitching in for city landmarks. Sometimes it’s slow, sometimes it’s messy, but it’s always worth it.
Meet your Expert
Mathew and Ghosh
140 connects in last 3 months
My Story
We’re Mathew and Ghosh Architects—Soumitro here, with Nisha. Bengaluru’s been our home for 30 years, watching the city grow, change, get noisier, and we’re in the thick of it. We don’t hide from the chaos, we try to find beauty in it. What really gets us going is the process, the people on site, the old buildings with stories waiting to be heard. Sometimes it’s like digging for treasure, not tearing things down. Architecture, for us, is a slow, meditative journey with the city.
My Work
Architectural Design and Conservation - We design new buildings, restore heritage sites, and adapt old spaces for new uses. Adaptive reuse architecture and heritage building conservation are core to us.
Context-Driven Spaces - Every project starts with the story of its place—brewpubs under flyovers, homes in the Nilgiris, all shaped by their surroundings.
Craft and Material - We love honest materials like concrete and stone, and often create custom metalwork solutions for light and comfort.
Human-Centric Approach - Buildings should grow with people. Our spaces are made to evolve, not stay static.
Team and Collaboration - It’s never just us—our team and the craftspeople on site bring every project to life.
