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Introduction Fig. 1 Archival

Mumbai was the first city in India to have heritage regulations image of the
to protect its living heritage. Even since 1995, not many Fort area with
cities in India have heritage regulations to protect their Commissariat
city’s living heritage. Along with individual buildings, listing Building at the
of heritage precincts was an important step towards junction of Dr.
preserving the urban fabric of Mumbai and also the image D.N. Road and
and essence of the city. This corresponding regulations R. Dadaji Street
binding these precincts would protect these old areas from
burdening the fragile infrastructure with high-rise buildings.
Dr. D N Road in Fort, is one such identified historic precinct
which has an exceptional unifying urban design quality along Fig. 2 Image
the entire stretch with different revivalist styles architecture. showing
It is listed as a heritage spine due to buildings across the Commissariat
road that came up after the demolition of Fort Walls in late building in
19th century. the ensemble
This precinct is not just architecturally important but it retaining its
is also instrumental in the economic and environmental character
sustainability of the area. and setting

Location - Dr D N Road

Post demolition of the Fort walls in 1860’s, the then Hornby
Road i.e. present-day Dr D.N. Road was planned with wide
footpaths and arcade as an avenue with new properties
coming up on the Western side following new bye laws or the
Urban Design guidelines i.e., common building edge, mass,
floor heights, string courses and a mandatory arcade on the
ground floor. These buildings were used as commercial head
offices of the banks, insurance companies etc. mostly single Fig. 3 Fig. 4
ownership. These came up from the 1890s to 1910s and
then there was World War I and the construction activity
halted. Different architectural styles were allowed but they
were under strict design control. The arcade became a
popular element providing shaded areas for walking and
this was imitated over the pavement on the buildings on
the eastern side which underwent redevelopment i.e. native
town within fort area. These new buildings of the 1920’s
were multi-tenanted and had smaller commercial offices.
Fig. 5 Fig. 6

CONSERVING THE UNLOVED HERITAGE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT ERA OF MUMBAI – CASE
STUDY: COMMISSARIAT BUILDING, DR. D.N.ROAD, FORT, MUMBAI

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