Kolkata, 8th September 2025: The Calcutta Heritage Collective, in collaboration with School of Architecture, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, unveiled the Sovabazar Urban Conservation Exhibition at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity, bringing together conservation architects, developers, property owners and concerned citizens to reimagine one of North Kolkata’s most culturally rich neighbourhoods.
The exhibition saw the culmination of a semester-long Conservation and Regeneration studio at CEPT University, led by some of the institution’s most respected faculty members. As part of their immersive engagement, students traveled to Kolkata and studied the culturally vibrant neighbourhood in North Kolkata, Sovabazar – home to Kumartuli’s sculptural traditions, colonial-era mansions and ancient canals – developing nuanced proposals that balance preservation with modernization. Their designs ranged from adaptive reuse and sensitive restoration to public realm enhancements and policy toolkits, shifting the conversation from monument-centric conservation to a holistic vision of urban revitalization.
The showcase opened with a formal inauguration, followed by insightful panel discussions featuring eminent voices in the field of conservation. The panelists included Vikas Dilawari from Mumbai, a conservation architect with more than three decades of experience and 19 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Preservation to his credit; Gurmeet Sangha Rai from Delhi, Founding Director of CRCI and The Lime Centre, with projects spanning UNESCO World Heritage sites and national monuments, recipient of multiple UNESCO awards including the Award for Excellence in 2023; and Sonal Mithal from Ahmedabad, an academic and practitioner in heritage studies whose work bridges policy, practice and education. They were joined by Hemant Bangur & Darshan Dudhoria, eminent industrialists and heritage conservation enthusiasts from Kolkata who brought on-ground perspectives to the discussion.
The panel discussion was facilitated by faculty members, Ayan Sen and Sonal Mithal, who reflected on ‘Conservation as a tool for sustainable urban future’ and the idea of ‘Architectural alchemy – turning heritage into opportunity’ with industry experts. Together, the speakers highlighted how urban conservation can be reimagined as a dynamic process that not only preserves the past but also shapes resilient futures for historic cities like Kolkata.
The seminar itself offered a before-and-after lens: it began with presentations on Sovabazar’s current state – crumbling colonial mansions, fragile canals, and the living but endangered traditions of Kumartuli – before moving into student-led proposals that reimagined these spaces as vibrant, adaptive and sustainable. This shift allowed the audience to see clearly what is at risk, and how timely intervention could reshape decline into opportunity. The exhibition showcased detailed documentation, measured drawings, urban analyses and visual renderings alongside innovative proposals for adaptive reuse, community spaces, streetscape improvements, and conservation toolkits – demonstrating both the academic rigour and creative imagination required to address heritage in today’s urban context.
The event underscored the power of academic inquiry in shaping the city’s future, while also emphasizing the role of citizens in heritage preservation. As an inclusive initiative, the Calcutta Heritage Collective encourages participation from all — whether through volunteering, pledging support or lending expertise.
At the exhibition, CHC also announced the launch of its Volunteer & Association Program, a city-wide initiative designed to involve citizens directly in the safeguarding of Kolkata’s built heritage. The program invites individuals to contribute time, skills, and resources — from documentation and research to awareness campaigns and hands-on restoration efforts. A poster announcing the program was also unveiled, creating a symbolic call-to-action for collective citizen engagement in heritage conservation.
Speaking at the occasion, Mukul Agarwal, Founder Trustee of the Calcutta Heritage Collective, said “The Sovabazar exhibition is not just an academic showcase; it is a call to action. It exemplifies our belief that preserving any city’s built heritage is the road to a sustainable future and Kolkata definitely deserves this as a collective effort. We want that conservation inspires the future, where Kolkata’s timeless past finds new life!”
Vikas Dilawari added, “Our metropolitan cities like Kolkata and Mumbai were the finest cities east of Suez in the 19th century from an architectural and townscape point of view. These are now lived-in heritage structures – some unloved and uncared for, whereas others being public landmarks are looked after and often beautified rather than conserved. The seminar gives us an opportunity to discuss the difficulties, odds and challenges in conserving these great landmarks in the present day, with the help of case studies and charting the way forward to balance heritage and development for sustainable growth. The efforts of CHC are commendable as Kolkata’s heritage always amazes me, and we all need to find a way forward for sustainable development.”
Sonal Mithal shared, “These are interesting times for architectural conservation in the country. The profession is widening and moving beyond the confines determined by ASI and similar institutions. With growing interest among the corporate sector and government bodies to mobilize conservation of historic structures, projects are taking on newer dimensions. I believe there is an emerging space for conservation projects to be treated as radical architecture – undertaken with careful restraint to make a case for responsible interventions that prioritize aesthetics, contemporary materials, ecological economies, and cognizance of history. At CEPT’s Master’s program in Conservation, we reject the traditional anti-design stance rooted in modernist connoisseurship ideals and instead embrace experimental architectural acts that integrate innovation. The Sovabazar exhibition is one such example. We hope to do many more such collaborations with CHC, bridging the gap between pedagogy and practice.”
Gurmeet S. Rai noted, “I was delighted to be in Kolkata for this wonderful initiative put together by the Calcutta Heritage Collective. It was inspiring to see how CHC is not only advocating for the city’s rich heritage but also building meaningful partnerships with educational institutions. The involvement of CEPT University students in documenting and reimagining Sovabazar brought a breath of fresh air to the conversation on conservation — showing how heritage can be repositioned within communities and given new meaning. I was glad to share my own experiences from Punjab and across India, and to engage with fellow conservationists, industry leaders and citizens on how precious heritage is for a city and its people.”
Ayan Sen further reflected, “The exhibition showcased the works of graduate architecture students with a conservation focus from CEPT Ahmedabad. The project aimed at the revitalization and contemporization of the Sovabazar sector. The various proposals seek to bring life back to this critical quarter. Against the backdrop of the exhibition, the panel discussions involved leading Indian architects from Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata, alongside industrialists who are connoisseurs of heritage conservation and adaptive reuse. The Calcutta Heritage Collective and CEPT University have together created a seminal event for Kolkata, hosted at KCC.”
Also present at the event were Apurva Salarpuria, Chairman of CREDAI, as Guest of Honour, and CHC’s Cause Ambassador, renowned percussionist Bickram Ghosh, along with his wife, acclaimed actor-dancer Jaya Seal Ghosh.
The Sovabazar Urban Conservation Exhibition stands as a testimony to what collaboration between academia, practitioners, and the community can achieve – bridging the past with the present, and ensuring that Kolkata’s cultural fabric remains resilient and relevant for generations to come.