Adaptive reuse of Taj Mahal Palace, Bhopal into a heritage hotel

Abstract

In India, during the past few years, there has been a significant rise in the adaptive reuse sector. India, with its rich heritage, culture and tradition has finally found the strength in its roots. The adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in the form of hotels, museums, galleries, etc. has ensured a sustainable approach and also has inserted a sense of pride in hearts of the people regarding their past. Appropriate adaptive reuse projects ensure environmental, economic and social sustainability which also happen to be some of the major challenges in the path of creating a future for the past. Old buildings, with years of use, overuse, neglect and/or low maintenance tend to start losing their structural strength and aesthetic lustre deeming the built form unsafe and unfit for continued use. Another major issue arises when we consider the fact that the structure that we consider a cultural and social asset today might become a liability in the next few years down the lane. The idea is to ensure the sustenance of the built form for the entire period of time that it has been planned for in addition to generating revenue which acts as a form of incentive for the local population for taking care of their heritage. For this purpose we have to look deep into the most pressing domain of an adaptive reuse project, the financial benefits that can be generated through it.