Heritage Restoration & Adaptive Reuse
Available across India
We restore old buildings and adapt them for new uses by keeping original details, using sustainable materials, and making spaces work for modern life across India.
Pricing Guide
Turnkey Heritage Restoration
Core Structural & Civil Restoration
- Structural Stitching: Non-invasive strengthening of load-bearing walls and lime-grouting of historic cracks with concealed steel retrofitting.
- Traditional Lime Plastering: 3-5 coat Araish or lime plaster finishing requiring 21-45 days curing time to replace cement and allow walls to breathe.
- Roofing Overhaul: Restoration of pitched roofs using treated Sal/Teak wood rafters, thermal insulation, and double-terracotta Mangalore tiles.
Artisanal Finishes & Sourcing
- Antique Element Integration: Procurement and restoration of reclaimed Chettinad/Colonial teak columns, carved door frames, and rosewood beams.
- Flooring Restoration: Restoration of existing oxide flooring or installation of hand-made Athangudi tiles, yellow Kota stone, and river-finished Sadarhalli stone.
- Custom Stonework: Hand-chiseled laterite masonry or dressed stone cladding for facades.
Modern Services & Management
- Invisible Engineering: Routing modern electrical conduits and plumbing lines through heritage masonry without visible damage using precision cutting.
- Lighting Design: Warm 2700K LED fittings concealed in joinery to highlight niches, arches, and facades.
- Site Management: Full supervision of specialized artisan teams including stone-cutters and masons for the duration of the build.
Adaptive Reuse & Modernisation
Spatial Reconfiguration
- Demolition & Alteration: Strategic removal of internal partition walls and insertion of structural lintels to create open-plan layouts.
- Flooring Solutions: Cast-in-situ micro-topped concrete (IPS) with brass inlays or terrazzo restoration with palm-leaf imprint detailing.
- Skylights & Courts: Cutting slab/roof sections to insert internal courtyards or large skylights for natural light ingress.
Signature Fabrications
- Sanjhi Metal Screens: Custom laser-cut mild steel or corten steel screens with traditional motifs used for staircases and facade elements.
- Modern Glazing: Floor-to-ceiling toughened glass sections with slim-profile aluminum framings to connect indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Staircase Engineering: Fabrication of modern sculptural staircases using perforated metal treads or floating wood steps.
Interior Fit-outs
- Fixed Woodwork: Custom teak or veneer wardrobes and cabinetry designed to merge with the architectural shell.
- Kitchen & Bath: Renovation of wet areas using earthy ceramics, brass sanitary fittings, and stone vanity counters.
Architectural Design & Documentation
Research & Concept
- Heritage Documentation: Measured drawings of existing structures, photographic documentation of distress, and historical context research.
- Design Concept: Creation of spatial concepts, 3D visualizations, and planning focused on light, ventilation, and flow.
Technical Drawings
- Detailed Restoration Drawings: Specifications for lime plaster mixes, stone bonding patterns, and joinery details.
- Adaptive Reuse Details: Structural drawings for modifications, electrical/plumbing layouts, and reflected ceiling plans.
- Fabrication Drawings: 1:1 scale drawings for laser-cut screens and custom metal elements.
Material Advisory
- Material Palette: Curation of local material boards including specific stone quarry selection and lime shades.
- Site Visits: Periodic scheduled visits to check reinforcement and plaster quality against design specifications.
About Heritage Restoration & Adaptive Reuse
We look at old buildings as living beings, not just bricks and mortar. For us, every structure has a voice, memories, and a vibe that can’t be forced or faked.
How We Approach Heritage
- We listen to the building's story, then decide: do we restore its original character, or help it evolve for a new purpose?
- If conservation is the path, we’re all about the details—saving old carvings, respecting the stories, and keeping the cultural feel intact.
- For adaptive reuse, we rethink the space to fit modern life, but never lose what made it special in the first place.
From Quiet Homes to Community Landmarks
- In Dharmaj, Gujarat, working on one home sparked change for the whole town, turning a heritage house into a hub for old-school building wisdom and reconnecting people with their roots.
- In Delhi, we opened up a dark, closed-off house—knocking down walls, bringing in light, and letting the garden in—so it felt like a new place, but still familiar.
Our Materials, Our Language
- We mix old and new, using sustainable restoration materials like local stone, lime, reclaimed wood, and terracotta for that honest, lived-in look.
- Modern touches come in with metal screens, glass walls, and even concrete ceilings pressed with palm leaves—always with a nod to tradition.
We’re based in Gurugram, but we travel for projects across India, from Gujarat to Karnataka to Delhi NCR. If you want a place that’s got both soul and function, that’s where we come in.
Meet your Expert
Saka Studio
86 connects in last 3 months
My Story
We kicked off Saka Studio in '99, chasing the idea that architecture can be poetry. Not just walls and roofs—spaces that feel alive, you know? Awards are nice, but seeing a family light up in their new home, or catching sunlight dancing across a wall, that’s what gets us. Nature and old-school crafts like Sanjhi cutwork keep us inspired. Whether in a tiny Gujarat town or a hill spot in Coorg, we’re always hunting that ‘soul space’ vibe.
My Work
Our Services - We do architecture, interior design, turnkey projects, landscape design, and heritage home restoration.
Listening Architecture - We design by tuning in—to land, light, and you. Spaces that breathe, not just exist.
Modern Heritage - We blend Indian traditions with modern life, like Sanjhi cutwork interiors, for homes full of delight.
Materiality and Craft - We love earthy laterite walls, hand-chiseled stone, and local textures that give every space its character.
Sustainability at the Core - We use local materials, natural light, and rainwater harvesting—sustainable farmhouse design isn’t just talk for us.
