India has been one of the fast-growing markets in the real estate sector — But what does it mean for the country’s existing building stock? What are the potential approaches in this booming environment for heritage or simply aging properties? Benoy’s Design Director, Gregory Kovacs, and Divisional Director, Komal Datta, participated in a lecture followed by discussion titled “Reimagining Architecture – Making Heritage Alive”, sharing valuable insights with a diverse group of Indian and international artists and intellectuals in the field.
Organised by Avid Learning, the cultural philanthropy arm of Essar Group and India’s leading programming platform in arts and culture, the event was held on April 18, 2023, at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai and featured a panel of speakers including:
Gregory advocated for innovative adaptive reuse practices, drawing on examples of creative re-purposing of heritage buildings to unrecognizable transformations of failing assets built over the past few decades. These examples propose a holistic approach to sustainability: tackling environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability in tandem to create long lasting, successful destinations and communities.
In response to the significant contribution of the construction sector to global carbon emissions, Gregory stressed the urgency for a change of mindset on reuse vs new built projects.
During the discussion, the speakers delved into the decisions around what elements in an existing structure should be retained; both Gregory and Ed shared their unique perspectives. Gregory shared his experiences of working with the exigencies of densely populated areas in Asia, while Ed highlighted the difficulties of developing design codes to improve engagement with authorities.
We express our gratitude to Avid Learning for inviting us to participate in this insightful event. Benoy remains committed to supporting the growth of sustainable design and enhancing the world we live in.
