The restoration project was undertaken for a forgotten, abandoned and utterly dilapidated heritage property located at the foot of the historic Ajaigarh fort. The unclaimed building witnessed significant decay and theft whereby it was stripped off all of its reusable building materials and components- timber beams, shutters and frames, stone slabs and even vandalised by treasure hunters. And once the process of vandalism and theft was complete, mother nature begun its own process of reclamation with several large trees taking roots into the building’s masonry walls and an accelerated decay due to the building’s exposure to the elements.

First line of the restoration process was to clear the building of accumulated debris, damaged or fragile components and surgery-like careful removal of deeply entrenched tree trunk roots from the masonry walls and foundations. Next step was to stabilise the structure and make the building weather-tight by adding new roofs wherever missing and repair vulnerable joints against water seepage etc.

All repair and conservation works involved the use of lime mortar as the primary binding material. Now that the built fabric has been restored and stands protected from the elements, the next phase of rehabilitation and reuse to be carried out in phases as technical and financial feasibility factors may allow.