RESTORATION &

REVITALIZATION

BHAU DAJI LAD

MUSEUM, MUMBAI
UNESCO Award

The Museum Restoration Project won the 2005 UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award
of Excellence for Conservation.
 INTRODUCTION

The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai's oldest museum, is an institution of
the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). Formerly known as the
Victoria & Albert Museum, Bombay, the building first opened to public in 1872.
The Museum collection showcases the history and culture of the city.
By 1997, the Museum had fallen into a state of disrepair. In 2003, a tripartite,
public-private partnership between the MCGM, the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation
and INTACH established the 'Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum Trust' to restore,
administer and manage the Museum.
After five years of intensive restoration by the Indian National Trust for Art and
Cultural Heritage (INTACH), it was re-opened to the public on January 4,
2008.
Details of the capitals and RESTORATION & REVITALIZATION
cornices, and the
balustrades were repaired.

Growth of algae Celadon Green

Penetration of plant growth into building

core
EXTERIOR BEFORE RESTORATION EXTERIOR AFTER
RESTORATION
 BHAU DAJI LAD MUSEUM, MUMBAI

Museum exterior before restoration Museum exterior after restoration

(2003-2008) (2003-2008)
 Imported from England
Etched glass windows
with specially designed Staircase railings
Yellowing off-white paint grills and wooden louvres Corinthian capitals
brushed away the gold Broken etched glass to protect the objects from Arched support
gilding, the refined design windows the sun
details Periodical lighting
designs were used
Poor lighting

Richly Colored Details, The Intricate

INTERIOR BEFORE Woodcarving, The Minton Tiled Floors, The
Etched Glass And Gold Gilding make it an
RESTORATION
unique example of 19th century architecture In
the Country.
INTERIOR AFTER
RESTORATION
 RESTORATION & REVITALIZATION
LIGHTING

Poor lighting created a dull and gloomy atmosphere.

The Museum's richly coloured interiors and exquisite details had also been
effaced.
It was important to consider not only the ambient lighting but also lighting the
objects effectively.

There were debates as to

Lighting before restoration
(2003 - 2008)
whether the lighting should be
period or modern.
In the end the view prevailed
that in a building which such
ornate embellishment modern
lighting would be
inappropriate.
The time period of the
establishment of the Museum
Lighting after restoration was researched carefully and
(2003 - 2008) lighting designs were created.
 RESTORATION & REVITALIZATION
The checkerboard design basalt
floor had sustained much wear
and damage. It had to be ground
an inch to remove the scarring
and pitting.
The polishing took weeks to
accomplish but the effort has put
the sheen and colour back into
the floor, and the design which
was obscured is now visible.
Flooring before restoration (2003 - 2008) Flooring after restoration (2003 -
2008)

Master gilders from a family of artists

in Vasai were employed to restore the
original 24 carat gold gilding on the
columns.

The craftsmen had been gilding

church statues for generations. In this
way, the restoration project supported
a dying art

Pillar before restoration Pillar after restoration

REFERENCE

www.bdlmuseum.org/about/restoration.html

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/exhibit/4wKitkSfoUWh
IQ

http://wannabemaven.com/2014/05/bhau-daji-lad-museum-go-here-
for-the-renaissance-revival-architecture/
 JAISALMIR FORT , RAJASTHAN

The fort was built by Rawal Jaisal in 1156.

After eight years of invasion and siege, the Sultan's army finally breached and destroyed the castle.
Bhatis took control of the fort, but had no means to repair it. In 1306, Dodoo was elected the Rawal for
his bravery for ejecting the Rathors. He subsequently took up the work of repairing and strengthening
the fort.
 The fort contains 3 layers of walls. The outer or the lower layer is made out of solid stone blocks and
it reinforces the loose rubble of Trikuta Hill. The second, or middle, wall snakes around the fort. From
the innermost, or third, wall, the Rajput warriors once hurled boiling oil and water as well as massive
blocks of rock at their enemies, who would become entrapped between the second and third walls.
The defences of the fort include 99 bastions, of which 92 were built between the period of 1633-47.
Why Conservation of Fort ?
The 850 year old Jaisalmer
Fort was in a state of decay with
many of its beautiful palaces on the
verge of
collapse. The arrival of tourists put a
spotlight on these heritage buildings
leading to a major conservation
initiative by INTACH.

Today, Jaisalmer Fort remains a labyrinth of residences, shops, temples, and a palace complex. Its
walls surround a thriving city; its 2,000 residents make this the last living fort in India. Conservation and
preservation is integral to the longevity of this medieval architectural marvel and to the lives of people
who call Jaisalmer Fort home
Due to severe changes in climate and life style, there is irreversible damage to the structures. Adding
to it, repair patterns with modern materials caused further damage. The traditional building practices
involved use of stone and lime mortar or local material for construction as well as repair. This helped
the structures. Efforts are now being made to bring these practices back with the education of locals.
The new construction done in Jaisalmer city is a mix of traditional and modern building practices. The
stone used is not the same but still similar in qualities. However, the construction techniques of stone
masonry are still alive.
Conservation of the fort wall

From 1979 the wall started to collapse.

Many of these repairs were carried out with cement mortar and new stone, before .
There were very few instances where regional circle salvaged original stone.
Jaisalmer sandstone, which was originally used in the wall, is no longer available.
The quarry has been exhausted and new stone is brought in from other nearby locations.
Recent work is more sensitive in this respect and now the priority is to salvage as much original
material as possible.
RESTORATION
The Jaisalmer Fort today faces manifold threats that are a result of the increasing population pressure
on it.
Water seepage, inadequate civic amenities, derelict houses and seismic activity around the Trikuta Hill
are some of the major concerns impacting the Fort.
Unlike most other forts, the Jaisalmer Fort has been built over a weak sedimentary rock foothill which
makes its foundations especially vulnerable to seepage.
Over the years this has led to the collapse of significant portions of the Fort such as the Queens
Palace or Rani Ka Mahal and parts of the outer boundary wall and the lower pitching walls.

The Mori is a circuitous passage

running between the living area
sand the outer bastions of the fort.
Originally used by guards to protect
the Fort, this had become an open
garbage dump.
INTACH has completely cleaned
the Mori, which enables tourists and
residents to walk around the fort
and enjoy beautiful views of the city.
The first task was to clear the entire
passage of accumulated debris
Reference

https://www.austrade.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/1353/India-The-Hill-Forts-of-
Rajasthan.pdf.aspx

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uac
t=8&ved=0ahUKEwjepsnag5TTAhUJpI8KHV2xD3QQFgg7MAQ&url=http%3A%2F%
2Fheritageici.intach.org%2F%3Fpage_id%3D546&usg=AFQjCNGEh4WRQZrqNgpC
YnEKDeJUXXwANw&sig2=HQZ529LavK7-P7t_H6gsFQ

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&u
act=8&ved=0ahUKEwjWzpLbhJTTAhUBRY8KHWo4CLsQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F
%2Fwww.gounesco.com%2Fexploring-cultures-vernacular-heritage-of-
jaisalmer%2F&psig=AFQjCNH-
4qr1BcddPtKhV2X51tuTY7ZH5w&ust=1491712617888512

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uac
t=8&ved=0ahUKEwioyeGUhZTTAhXBOY8KHRqtBy8QFggzMAQ&url=https%3A%2F
%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FJaisalmer_Fort&usg=AFQjCNE9uzIb4mJmlKOQqy
333B_-8lzE8Q&sig2=p61UEc2fyLtqOSMB-0rJ0g
Presented by
Jayanthi.M
Dinesh raj. S
Sofana.S
Jagadeswaran.K
Rajalakshmi .V