Restoration and Adaptive Reuse of Thomas House

In Mumbai’s historic Fort precinct, Thomas House demonstrates how heritage buildings can be carefully adapted to meet contemporary needs without compromising their architectural identity. Formerly known as Kodak House, the Grade IIA Neoclassical structure stands on Dadabhai Naoroji Road, within the buffer zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai. Acquired by the Anglo Scottish Education Society from Deutsche Bank in 2017, the building forms part of an institutional legacy deeply connected to Mumbai’s educational and architectural history. The Society has been involved in the city’s educational and intellectual life since the 1860s, while its Cathedral and John Connon Schools remain custodians of the 300-year-old St. Thomas Cathedral. The project called for a conservation strategy that would address restoration and long-term maintenance while retaining the authenticity and integrity of the existing structure. This required close coordination between the school, specialist consultants and the heritage committee, alongside systematic planning, phasing and execution. A central challenge was integrating contemporary requirements into the historic fabric. Upgraded building services, structural strengthening and current fire and safety measures had to be incorporated without compromising the character of the existing building. The intervention therefore demanded a measured approach in which new requirements were carefully accommodated within an established architectural framework. The project also faced an unusual structural challenge from the ongoing underground Metro works along D.N. Road. Located within the 50-metre impact zone, the building experienced vibrations that resulted in structural cracks. Crack monitoring systems, subsoil grouting and carefully designed structural interventions were introduced to address these conditions while safeguarding the existing structure.