At Aishwarya Tipnis Architects the team has been working on documentation and mapping projects for over a decade. The team consists of young and dynamic architects, who are encouraged to think out of the box. The core values of ATA are perseverance, sincerity and hard work that have remained engrained in every project as we evolve as a reputed professional practice. The firm has been recognised as a pioneering initiative striving to make conservation popular as a movement rather an elitist exercise.
Here are 15 projects by Aishwarya Tipnis Architects:
1. French Colonial Town of Chandernagore, West
Chandernagore is an erstwhile French Settlement, until Independence in 1951, situated 40kms north of Calcutta in West Bengal and is now part of the Kolkata Metropolitan Area. Characterized by its beautifully laid out Strand and promenade as well as garden houses of the French and rich Bengali merchants, Chandernagore is an example of a once flourishing trading town. It is now suffering from unplanned and piecemeal development which threatens its very sense of place. This project an initiative of ATA, was conceptualized to bring focus on Chandernagore which had since independence slipped into dereliction while Pondicherry rose as the iconic image of the French in India. The project involved the preparation of a conservation area appraisal to firstly define what is important about its character and appearance and to identify its important characteristics and buildings of heritage value. It identified the area’s special features and changing needs through a process which includes researching its historical development, carrying out a detailed townscape analysis and preparing a character assessment. It analysed the issues affecting the area as well as provided recommendations for its conservation and further sustainable development.
2. Dutch Heritage in Chinsurah
Funded by the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Delhi, this project is an initiative of Aishwarya Tipnis Architects (ATA) in collaboration with Presidency University Kolkata. The aim of this multi-disciplinary project is to identify and document this shared cultural heritage and develop a digital database for the shared cultural heritage of the erstwhile Dutch colony of Chinsurah in West Bengal, India. A one of its kind projects in India, this project attempts to bridge the gap between architecture and social sciences by adopting the Digital Humanities approach. ATA’s cultural mapping project aimed at providing a spatial dimension to the multiple layers of history and narratives of the town brought out by the research. Interpretative data collected from archival research, oral history interviews, building inventories and photo documentation was mapped on to open source maps using GIS technology; this has been presented in the form of user-friendly website to enable reach to a wider audience. The principal aim of this mapping project is to form a base for further work on the “integrated development” of Chinsurah, wherein the goals of urban heritage conservation would be integrated into planning the economic, cultural and social development of the town.
3. Conservation Strategy for The Maidens Hotel, Civil Lines Delhi
The Maidens Hotel is Grade I listed living functional four-star hotel in Delhi. As principal architects, the task involved preparation of a comprehensive conservation strategy for the Maidens Hotel Campus. The key objectives of the strategy are to analyse the significance of the site and develop a way forward for the Hotel. The project involved preparation of a situation analysis, measured drawings, condition assessment and overall conservation strategy.
4. Urban Design Strategy & Conservation Plan for Bandra Station, Mumbai
The Bandra Station is Grade I listed living functional suburban station in Mumbai. As principal architects, the task involved preparation of a comprehensive conservation plan and urban design strategy for the station and its immediate precinct. The key objectives of the project are to develop Bandra Station as an efficient transportation hub and multi-modal interchange. To develop stronger and more meaningful connections with the surroundings and encourage creative industries to enhance its profile as a local landmark. Additionally, to develop a high quality and culturally relevant, vibrant and diverse public realm to enhance the setting of the heritage building, a station that is legible and accessible to all by undertaking a sensitive restoration and upgradation programme for the Station. The project involved preparation of a situation analysis, measured drawings, condition assessment, urban design strategy as well as a detailed conservation plan for the works.
5. Urban Conservation Plan for Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals
Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals is the oldest hospital for women and children in Northern India. As a living and functional hospital in the heart of the capital, the Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals have evolved over the years as per the demands of the hours. It has incrementally developed on the freely available open space within the campus in the absence of comprehensive urban design masterplan. The hospital was under tremendous pressure due to the sheer number of patients. Also, the incremental nature of the hospital has resulted in tight spaces and haphazard locations of departments and wards which did not facilitate the proper and efficient dissemination of healthy Medicare. The condition of the hospital was chaotic, in dire need of upgradation of machinery and services. There are several areas of the hospital which are inaccessible to the essential services such as the fire brigade in case of an emergency. With this as a basis, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Centre for Design Bureau prepared the first master plan for redevelopment in 2003. This urban design masterplan builds on the above-mentioned scheme and identifies opportunities to adaptively reuse significant heritage buildings, remove intrusive buildings and replace them with new buildings that are more compatible with the functioning of a modern hospital and are compatible with the surroundings.
6. Adaptive Reuse of Old Masters Common Room into Faculty Housing for Doon School
One of the oldest building on the campus dating to pre 1914 as part of the Forest Research Institute known as the Ness House. When it changed hands over to the Doon School in 1935, it became the Masters Common Room or even the hospital at one point, then it became accommodation for the staff. Being over 100 years old, the other cottages of its kind had given way to newer buildings, while this one stood as a quaint landmark along the main field. The objective of the project was to use heritage led design to convert the dilapidated structure into accommodation for staff, which had to be contemporary yet respect the heritage of the site. As Principal Architects, we were involved in the design conceptualisation, working drawings and overseeing the execution of the project on site.
7. Conservation and interior up gradation plan for Hyderabad & Kashmir House, the Doon School
A comprehensive conservation and interior up gradation plan for one of the oldest buildings on the Doon School Campus used as the student hostels. The concept of dormitory living has undergone a drastic change in recent times with the need for personal space and privacy. The pilot project reconfigured the existing space of the dormitories to adapt to the needs of the 21st century. The task involved preparation of conservation plan included documentation, condition assessment, preparation of estimates, detailed concept design, working drawings and supervision of works.
8. Conservation and Interior Upgradation Plan for Kashmir Villa into Faculty Housing for Doon School
As part of the larger conservation strategy of the school, the restoration and reuse of the Kashmir Villa was to convert the historic structure into accommodation for staff, which had to be contemporary yet respect the heritage of the site. As Principal Architects, we were involved in the design conceptualization, working drawings and overseeing the execution of the project on site.
9. Restoration and reuse of Doon School: The Smart Classroom
One of the oldest and most primer educational institutions in the country, a significant part of the restoration process was to also renew the building to meet the standards of 21st century learning and teaching. As teaching changed from being student centric and interactive, the rigid design of the classrooms was proving to be difficult. As principal architectural consultants our job was to conceptualise and implement for the Doon School a pilot project for a smart classroom that was not only in tune with the best of the 21st century but also was also sensitive to its historic ambience. The scope of work included interior design, working drawings and supervision of works.
10. Conservation Strategy for The Doon School, Dehradun
The Doon School is one of the oldest and most prestigious Public Schools in India embodying a high degree of architectural and aesthetic significance as an architectural ensemble within a picturesque wooded landscape at Chandbagh Estate Dehradun. ATA’s expertise lies in developing sensitive interventions in living buildings that make the structures relevant to the contemporary lifestyle. The project involved the preparation of a conservation strategy for the historic campus to guide the future conservation and development (additions, alterations, retrofitting) of the historic buildings within the Doon School campus and provides a framework for setting priority of actions for the work to be undertaken. The aim of this project is to ensure that the conservation requirements of the campus are considered and addressed while new projects are brought forward, it shall assist in prioritization of future works and provide a consistent approach to conservation.
11. Masterplan for Rewari Steam Centre & Museum
The contribution of steam technology in the industrialisation and development of the Railways in India is highly significant. The pioneering project an initiative of the National Rail Museum, New Delhi, the purpose of the project was to develop a Master Plan for India’s first working museum dedicated to Steam Locomotives. It is envisaged to develop the oldest meter gauge loco shed at Rewari, Northern Railway into a modern, attractive and World Class Steam Centre and a Heritage Museum, Knowledge Centre and a functional Maintenance Deport of MG & BG Steam Locos. The scope of work of the project included the preparation of Master Plan for Civil and Architecture Sub-Projects and Master Plan for Steam Loco Maintenance Facilities. Rewari Steam Centre is a celebration of industrialisation; it is a museum that reiterates the importance of steam technology in the evolution of industry and development of India through interesting narratives and exhibits. The design incorporates the restoration and reuse of the 19th Century shed, architectural interventions to create museum and working spaces as well as landscaped spaces for the visitors to the working museum. The chosen design language therefore enhances the “rugged” industrial nature of the site and its larger cultural context. It employs the re-use of industrial materials such as old shipping containers, old railway sleepers, concrete, grit, flagstones, metal sections etc. The design is deep rooted in the Indian context and draws on cues from the historical and archival information available on steam travel in India.
12. Restoration of Chamundamata Temple,Distt Ujjain,Madhya Pradesh
The project is a part of the Madhya Pradesh Monuments Project, a partnership between the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Department of Culture and the World Monuments Fund New York. Chamundamata Temple is a 11th Century Bhumija Style Temple in living worship situated in Gajnikhedi Village, about 45kms from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. Within the site is located the main shrine, a baoli (stepped well) and a few finery monuments (chattris). The vision of the project is to develop the sacred site for the pilgrims by the restoration of the key monuments, providing landscaping for a serene environment and interpretation of the layered history of the site. The work included documentation, mapping, condition assessment, preparation of Tender Documents and detailed project report for the restoration of the baoli and ancillary structures as well as on site supervision of execution of works.
13. Conservation Assessment Report for Everest Cottage, Mussoorie
Everest Cottage at Hathipaon near Mussoorie was the home of Sir George Everest, the Surveyor General of India from 1829-1835. Sir George Everest is known for completing the Great Trignometric Survey of India and calculating the height of Mount Everest. As Principal Architectural Consultants we were appointed to prepare a report on the Condition Assessment of the Everest Cottage, outlining its historical background, developing measured drawings and preparing a brief condition assessment of the structure. The project was completed in February 2016
14. Preparation of Handbook for Conservation of Heritage
Involved as part of team to prepare the Detailed Project Report for the Restoration of the Fort and Moat of Belagavi Fort as part of Smart City Mission. The project involved documentation, mapping and preparation of vision and concept plan for the restoration of the Fort a rejuvenation of the Public Space around the Fort area.
15. Restoration & Reuse of Laxmi Niwas Palace Bikaner
The palace was originally designed by Col. Samuel Swinton Jacob between the years of 1898-1902. The palace was built in Indo Saracenic style while the fine detailing of stone was done by the local designers and craftsmen. The Laxmi Niwas follows the pattern of the progressive Maharaja’s homes which helped plan spacious rooms on the lines of European plan equipped with banquet halls, billiards rooms and ballrooms.
