Bank bldg gets grand revamp

After 5-month refurbishment, HSBC building’s neo-classical façade will please the eye

This is one building restoration project which has raised the hopes of conservationists. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC) building, which was designed by the architectural firm Chambers & Fritchley in the early 20th century, has been externally restored and illuminated.

The renovation has brought into sharp focus, the neo-classical features of the building, which is situated next to Horniman Circle St Thomas’ Cathedral on Veer Nariman Road.

The imposing building is one of 37 banks around the precinct, also known as the bank district. Conservationists are hoping this project will initiate interest amongst other banks to revive their buildings. “Many structures are just hidden behind sign boards and parking spaces. In fact, the entire line of heritage buildings from DN Road to Horniman Circle and Ballard Estate can be used for night walks. With small cafes and street furniture it can trigger a unique night life for Mumbai,” said architect Abha Narain-Lambah, who led the team that conducted the restoration work.

Realising the building’s potential, the bank initiated the work last year and a team of conservationists, headed by Narain-Lambah, completed the Rs1 crore restoration on the façade in five months. Built in 1913, the three-storey building is best remembered as the British Bank of Middle East (BBME), which facilitated trade in India (from the trading hub of Mumbai) and was eventually acquired by HSBC.

“Though there are tenants in the building, we did not compromise on the work throughout. So, window air-conditioners were removed and the small, yet characteristic balconies were restored,” said Narain-Lambah. Since the building’s third floor was added in the ‘50s, and constructed in concrete, it had to be uniformly blended with the rest of the stonework.

So, the revamped building, with its improved signage, waterproofing and terrace, is ready to claim its spot in the sun. Long-term supporters of the heritage movement in Mumbai, HSBC officials are in a celebratory mood. “The whole plan was worked out in such a way that it the project would be completed before monsoon. The plans were were discussed in details with several top international officials,” said Sumeet Anand, head of HSBC’s property and realty division. “The internal restoration of the building is also on the cards,” he added.

The bank actively supports the Banganga and Kala Ghoda festivals and has sponsored many books on the city’s landmark heritage precincts.