LuxeBook September -2021

Challenges Prior to the renovation, Bihani tells us that less than 40 per cent of the property was being utilised. She recalls, how, when the crew first opened the door to an unused wing of the property, a barrage of birds flew out. The floor was even covered in pigeon droppings — and that is when she knew she had her work cut out for her. Bihani started her research with identifying the structural status of the building. She explains that this is a crucial step in heritage sites, as they have survived many generations superimposing their changing needs on the building. A second generation may inherit and add an extra floor or board up an entrance. “Sometimes the third generation doesn't even know what the first generation has done, leading to confusion about the original structure,” she says. In the Belgadia Palace, Bihani noticed the presence of extra mezzanine floors; these were built to house the royal treasury of antique furniture, crockery, lampshades and lights. The Bhanjdeo’s ancillary palace was taken over by the government to open a school, leading to a need for extra storage in the Belgadia Palace. Bihani discusses a special challenge she faced while working on this project – getting skilled labour to work at the site due to the height of the ceiling and the distance from Kolkata. The palace’s ceiling touched 19 to 22 feet and required special scaffolding and wire for workers to get to that height. The scenic location of Baripada, about four hours drive from Kolkata also acted as a deterrent in getting skilled labourers. Surprising Discoveries When asked about the primary consideration to bear in mind while working on a heritage project of this scale, Bihani stresses on the age-old formula of ‘less is more’. And further elaborates: “As an architect, the ability to withdraw and not overdo things is extremely important as you must match the elements 18| L U X E B O O K | S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 1 S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 1 | L U X E B O O K | 19