Adaptive Reuse and Heritage Conservation Architecture
We believe the most sustainable building is the one that already exists. Our approach respects the original stories of these structures while layering in contemporary needs.
This video details the adaptive reuse of an 80s office building, now ICP Brunton Central. We stripped the building back to its bones and added a new, lightweight skin of perforated metal, creating flexible, light-filled workspaces and demonstrating a sustainable approach to urban development.
The completed facade of ICP Brunton Central, an adaptive reuse project in Bengaluru. The new skin of perforated metal screens provides shade and a modern identity while allowing the original structure to remain, significantly reducing the environmental impact of the renovation.
An open-to-sky courtyard and pool area from our conservation of Stuber Hall in Fort Kochi, a 1740s Dutch East India Company residence. We added contemporary elements like this bold red wall while preserving the home's historic character, creating a dialogue between old and new.
A magazine feature on the Kara Hotel in Fort Kochi, a project where we conserved and adapted a 1740s Dutch residence. The images show how we created contemporary suites with modern amenities while retaining the original scale and details of the heritage building.
This magazine spread features our pro-bono conservation work on an 1873 school wing. The photo on the right, showing the restored arched corridor, exemplifies our approach of revealing and celebrating the original beauty of historic structures through careful restoration.
A feature on our notable works, highlighting the Stuber Hall project in Fort Cochin. We transformed the former Dutch Viceroy's residence into a three-suite hotel, blending contemporary design with heritage preservation to create an authentic and unique experience.
The presentation board for our Stuber Hall conservation project in Fort Kochi. It shows our process, from architectural plans and sections to photos of the finished spaces, detailing how we inserted modern elements like a pool into the historic fabric.
A detail of the exterior stairs and water channel at the Stuber Hall project in Fort Kochi. The design combines simple, modern forms in concrete with traditional elements, creating a layered landscape that respects the site's history.
A feature on our notable works, highlighting the Stuber Hall project in Fort Cochin. We transformed the former Dutch Viceroy's residence into a three-suite hotel, blending contemporary design with heritage preservation to create an authentic and unique experience.
A feature on Villa Trinity, the hotel that now occupies the 1740s Dutch heritage home we helped conserve in Fort Kochi. The project is described as a contemporary art hideout where heritage meets modern interiors, creating a space with warmth and character.
About Adaptive Reuse & Conservation
Conservation is rarely about erasing the past to make something new. When we restored the 1873 school wing, we didn't just clean the surface. We revealed the structural bones and integrated modern lighting to create a space that respects its history while serving students today. Our work here involves careful site analysis and minimal intervention to ensure the original character remains intact while the building gains a new life.
Architecture for us is a slow, meditative journey. Adaptive reuse and conservation require an ability to listen to what a building is telling you. We do not approach a site with a preset plan. Instead, we study the original construction, the material integrity, and the way light moves through the existing footprint.
Our Philosophy of Recovery
In projects like the ICP Brunton Central, we worked with an 80s office building that had lost its relevance in a data-driven era. Rather than demolition, we stripped the structure back to its bones and added a lightweight, perforated metal skin. This intervention serves a dual purpose. It provides shade to reduce cooling loads and gives the facade a modern identity without altering the structural essence of the building. This is the core of our practice—finding the balance between old-world heritage and new-world performance.
Handling Heritage
When working on sites like the 1740s Dutch residence in Fort Kochi (Stuber Hall/Villa Trinity), the challenge is to create contemporary suites within a protected heritage fabric. We introduce modern amenities, such as pools and climate-controlled glazing, but we do so as distinct, honest additions. The dialogue between the red of a contemporary wall and the weathered teak of the original structure creates a layered landscape.
The Process
We are stubborn about making something meaningful. Whether it is a heritage hotel or an urban commercial property, our process remains grounded in:
- Material Honesty: We leave stone, brick, and concrete exposed whenever possible.
- Light Architecture: We cut into slabs for light wells and design skylights that filter sun rather than just flooding space.
- Collaborative Craft: We work closely with local builders and specialized craftspeople to execute the custom steel and metalwork that defines our projects.
Mathew and Ghosh
We are Soumitro and Nisha, and we believe buildings should grow with time rather than being replaced. We treat every project as a conversation between the history of the site and the needs of today, focusing on spaces that feel lived in rather than merely designed.
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