Introduction: Celebrating Architectural Visionaries

Welcome to The Drafting Table India, Rezovate’s heartfelt series that shines a spotlight on architects who weave India’s past, present, and future into their designs. Each feature celebrates those whose work doesn’t just build structures but tells stories, preserves legacies, and inspires communities. In this edition, we’re honored to showcase Abha Narain Lambah Associates, a name synonymous with breathing new life into India’s architectural treasures.

Abha Narain Lambah’s work stands out for its reverence for history and its bold commitment to sustainability. From restoring the ancient Ajanta Caves to reviving Mumbai’s Royal Opera House, her firm has safeguarded India’s cultural soul. Featuring her is not just a nod to her brilliance 9 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards but a celebration of how architecture can honor the past while embracing the future.

An Overview: A Legacy of Preservation

Abha Narain Lambah Associates began its journey in 1998, founded by Abha Narain Lambah, a visionary with a passion for preserving India’s architectural heritage. From a small Mumbai-based studio, the firm has grown into a globally recognized name, with a portfolio spanning UNESCO World Heritage Sites and iconic urban landmarks. Today, they stand as India’s leading conservation architects, with over 50 major projects, including the Ajanta Caves, Chandigarh’s Le Corbusier buildings, and Mumbai’s Victorian treasures.

Their numbers speak volumes: 9 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, over 75 national and international accolades, and a presence in Architectural Digest’s Top 50 Architects for three consecutive years (2014, 2015, 2017). Abha herself has been honored with fellowships like the Eisenhower and Charles Wallace, and in 2016, she was nominated as one of the Top 20 Women Architects Globally by Arc Vision. This is a firm that doesn’t just restore buildings—it restores pride in India’s heritage.

Details of Their Work: Restoring India’s Soul

Abha Narain Lambah Associates specializes in conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse, with a portfolio that reads like a love letter to India’s history. Their work on the Bandra Railway Station in Mumbai, a 19th-century Victorian gem, blended colonial and vernacular elements, setting a benchmark for railway heritage restoration. The Royal Opera House, India’s only surviving opera house, was reborn under their care, earning a UNESCO Award of Merit in 2017 for its meticulous restoration that preserved its gilded ceilings while adding modern acoustics.

Their work on UNESCO sites like the Ajanta Caves and Mahabodhi Temple showcases their ability to handle ancient structures with delicate care. Restoring the Ajanta Caves’ Buddhist murals required navigating crumbling rock surfaces and centuries of wear, a challenge they met with traditional techniques and modern engineering. Similarly, the Chandigarh Preservation Project, conserving Le Corbusier’s modernist masterpieces, balanced global heritage standards with local craftsmanship, ensuring the Secretariat and High Court remain functional icons.

Mumbai’s Victorian and Indo-Saracenic landmarks—like the Crawford Market and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya—owe their vibrancy to Abha’s team. The Convocation Hall at Mumbai University, with its Gothic arches, won a UNESCO Award of Distinction in 2007 for its restored grandeur. In Ladakh, the Basgo Monastery and Maitreya Buddha Temple restoration earned the highest UNESCO Award of Excellence, proving their versatility across eras and geographies.

“Conservation is about understanding the soul of a building and giving it a new lease of life,” Abha once said, a philosophy evident in every project.

Challenges abound in their work. Restoring heritage buildings often means grappling with decayed materials, limited historical records, and balancing stakeholder expectations. For instance, the Royal Opera House required sourcing rare materials to match its original 1911 design, while Chandigarh’s concrete structures demanded innovative solutions to combat weathering. Yet, Abha’s team navigates these hurdles with a blend of archival research, artisanal skills, and sustainable practices, ensuring each project is a triumph of heart and craft.

Conclusion: A Legacy That Endures

Abha Narain Lambah Associates is more than an architecture firm—it’s a guardian of India’s stories. Their work ensures that the Ajanta Caves’ murals, Chandigarh’s modernist lines, and Mumbai’s Victorian facades continue to inspire. Each project is a testament to their belief that heritage is not a relic but a living legacy, meant to be cherished and shared. Abha’s vision, coupled with her team’s expertise, has not only preserved India’s architectural soul but also set a global standard for conservation.

We at Rezovate are proud to feature Abha Narain Lambah Associates in The Drafting Table India. Their work reminds us that architecture is a bridge between generations, and they’ve built that bridge with grace and grit. Here’s to Abha, whose legacy is etched in stone, wood, and the hearts of those who walk through her restored masterpieces.

Join us at Rezovate to explore more stories of India’s architectural giants. Have a favorite project by Abha Narain Lambah Associates? Share it with us on info@rezovate.com, and let’s keep the conversation alive!