Haveli Dharampura: A UNESCO Award-Winning Revival
A six-year journey reviving a 200-year-old Mughal-era ruin in Old Delhi. See how we balanced heritage conservation with contemporary hospitality needs.
The restored courtyard of Haveli Dharampura, featured by NDTV Travel. This 19th-century Mughal-era gem was brought back to life, earning UNESCO recognition for its blend of old-world charm and modern luxury.
The third-floor terrace offers a stunning view over Chandni Chowk, with landmarks like the Red Fort and Jama Masjid in the distance. This space connects guests to the vibrant life of Old Delhi.
A tour of the haveli's accommodations, including Shahjahan Suites and Jharoka Rooms. Each room opens to the courtyard, ensuring natural light and visual connectivity while featuring custom-designed heritage furniture.
A Diwan-e-Khas room, where traditional decor and antique furniture create a unique atmosphere. The arched openings and windows connect the interior space to the historic bylanes of Chandni Chowk.
The restored courtyard features an octagonal flooring pattern and a central water fountain, inspired by traditional haveli design. This space allows for natural light and circulation throughout the entire structure.
The haveli is not just a building but a cultural venue. We designed the courtyard to be visible from all floors, making it a perfect stage for classical Kathak dance performances that evoke the Mughal era.
The multi-level corridors provide a unique vantage point for watching cultural performances. The inward-looking design ensures that the entire haveli becomes a part of the experience.
About this collection
Restoring a 200-year-old structure is essentially an act of archaeology. Before we consider aesthetic finishes, we conduct rigorous structural mapping of every foundation and wall, using methods like epoxy grouting and carbon fiber wraps to ensure the building is sound. This preparatory phase is what allows us to integrate modern hospitality needs, such as HVAC and electrical conduits, without compromising the historical integrity of the architecture.
The Haveli Dharampura project stands as a case study in adaptive reuse. When we began, there were no existing drawings of the 19th-century structure. Our process started with a comprehensive feasibility study and digital archiving, treating the ruin as a repository of local history. We had to stabilize collapsed floors and foundations, ensuring the new usage as a boutique hotel could coexist with the delicate original masonry.
We focused on restoring the inward-looking character typical of Mughal architecture. The central courtyard was reactivated not just as a visual element, but as the primary channel for natural light and passive ventilation. We worked with artisans from North India to replicate traditional jaalis and lakhori bricks, ensuring the material vocabulary remained authentic.
Integrating modern MEP requirements into a historic haveli presents unique challenges. We concealed HVAC ducts and electrical conduits behind ornate cornices and redesigned drainage systems to handle modern capacities without damaging the historic fabric. The terrace, previously unused, was converted into a dining space, utilizing a glass pergola that respects the sightlines of the surrounding Old Delhi skyline. This project earned the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage, validating our belief that architecture can serve as a bridge between historical preservation and modern functionality.
Kapil Krishan Aggarwal
Restoration is a slow, methodical process that demands humility. I spend time mapping the history within the bricks before we even sketch a design. My practice is dedicated to the continuity of heritage, ensuring that the architecture of our past remains a living, functional part of our present.
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