Retaining façade of old, interesting building and developing rest of the plot to retain unique character of Kolkata is new plan on the anvil

The West Bengal Heritage Commission is placing a proposal before the Kolkata Municipal Corporation that can help save the city’s distinguishing architectural character and not come in the way of modern development at the same time.

Partha Ranjan Das, conservation architect and member of the state heritage commission spoke of the need to preserve the old buildings of Kolkata like precious memories of childhood. “The buildings can be changed inside, but their exterior helps retain the character of the city that is such a distinguishing feature in Kolkata,” Das said. “These heritage buildings form the fabric of the city. Despite the need for new buildings in the city, the old, heritage structures should be conserved like fond memories. Otherwise, we’ll be destroying the memories of the city.” Das was speaking at the release of the coffee table book, “Kolkata Happening City”, published by the Belani Group.

The proposal before the Kolkata Municipal Corporation will be to ensure that the façade of the old buildings are retained when it comes to development. There can be construction on the same plot behind the interesting buildings without reducing the floor area ratio. The new building act as a muted backdrop instead of drawing all the attention to itself.

The development can be glass and steel buildings or any other kind of backdrop structure that does not clash with the architecture of the original structure. These glass and steel style structures can form contrast to the original building, preferably as a backdrop. Some buildings in Kolkata have already been developed along these lines. Examples of these are the Vintage Pretoria on Pretoria Street, Diamond Heritage, a glass and steel building behind Mackinnon Mackenzie Building façade on Dalhousie.

Anuradha Lohia, Vice Chancellor of Presidency University, narrated how the University authorities and conservation architects had painstakingly restored the Presidency University rooms and halls, bringing back the original colour of the walls, demolishing illegal toilets inside and retaining the character of the building despite introducing modern facilities in laboratories and common rooms for the benefit of teachers and students.

Developer Nandu Belani, chairman of the Bengal chapter of Real Estate Developers Association of India (Credai), said that it was a huge challenge to introduce new, modern living and working spaces in the city without destroying the old character of the city and without tampering with the city’s green space and its breathing space. Belani said that government should offer incentives for retaining and developing old buildings which will help the city retain its character without loss to old structures that are part of our precious past.