Two businessmen and a dream mission- to save Kolkata’s colonial charm

To give shape to their unique project, Ahsan and Chen bought the beautiful double-storied structure for Rs 2 crore, and plan to restore it for Rs 1.5 crore while preserving the original structure. “When we bought this property in July 2015, it was in shambles. The first thing we did was consult a conservation architect who would help us understand the property better,” says Ahsan.

Speaking on the idea behind the project, Ahsan, said, “While travelling in Europe, I was impressed by the way people there had managed to embrace modernity without compromising on their cultural heritage. The homestay there offers traditional hospitality and modern comforts. In our rush to be a modern country, we are overlooking our beautiful cultural heritage.”

Chen said this project would be his way of paying tribute to his birthplace. “I am an Indian of Chinese origins and was born and raised in Kolkata. The only thing that keeps bringing me back to India is my love for the city. Iftekar, who was my college friend shared my dream of doing something for the city, this is our little way of paying the city back,” he said.

Conservation architect Akhil Ranjan Sarkar shed further light to the project at 5, Radha Kanta Jew Street. “We have decided to house a small curio shop in the ground floor and a cafe on the rooftop. We will use the courtyard of the house to the best possible effect. Courtyards were an important part of most Bengali households of earlier times.”

Last year in an article in The Guardian, author Amit Chaudhuri had made an appeal for the restoration of Kolkata’s unique architectural heritage. He had insisted on not only the preservation of rajbaris in the north of the city and the grand colonial buildings of central Kolkata, but the old residential houses as well such as 5 Radha Kanta Jew Street, and others located across the city in Bakulbagan, Hindustan Park, Kidderpore, Paddapukur Road, Bhowanipore, Sarat Bose Road, and Ganguly Bagan. These buildings reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the city in the early 20th century and are characterised by certain common elements like red stone floors and windows which are in the slatted Venetian or French style.

Meanwhile, a mother-daughter pair of Shanta Ghosh and Sulagna Ghosh, who own a chain of designer boutiques called Sienna in Kolkata, also claimed to have invested in a 70-year-old two-storied structure in Hindustan Park area for ‘ethical’ reasons. “We spent about Rs 50 lakh in renovating it. Most of the old buildings in these areas are being pulled down because they are a commercial liability. Since they aren’t exactly declared heritage structures, they aren’t protected by law. When we decided to open a cafe-store , my daughter was insistent that it should be an old property that we will restore,” says Ghosh, who is a celebrated architect as well.

Throwing light on the issues that architects face while updating these old structures, Sarkar said, “Electrical wirings of those days aren’t equipped to handle the load of a modern, commercial structure. That’s one major issue,” he said. Moreover, the structural integrity of the building cannot be compromised to bring in cosmetic changes, Ghosh added. “We need to keep in mind that the building has to be safe for its inhabitants,” she said.

Ahsan and Chen plan to convert more such buildings in north Kolkata into commercially sustainable ventures. “In fact, we will be happy to help any interested party in their venture,” says Ahsan.