Vikas Dilawari Explained

Vikas Dilawari
Nationality:Indian
Alma Mater:L S Raheja School of Architecture
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
University of York
Birth Date:1964
Birth Place:Mumbai, India
Significant Projects:Restoration of Mumbai's heritage sites, including Flora Fountain, Wellington Fountain, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum and Rajabai Clock Tower
Awards:Award of Distinction, Merit and Honourable Mention under UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation for J. N. Petit Library (2013), Christ Church, Byculla (2017) and Flora Fountain (2019)

Vikas Dilawari (born 1964) is an Indian conservation architect who has restored at-risk monuments and heritage buildings in Mumbai, including the Victoria Terminus, Rajabai Clock Tower, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Wellington Fountain and Christ Church, Byculla.[1] [2] 16 restoration projects carried out by his team have been recognised by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, including the 2019 work on the Flora Fountain, which was designed by architect Richard Norman Shaw and completed in 1864.[3] [4]

Biography

Dilawari was born in Mumbai and attended Jamnabai Narsee School. He then went to L S Raheja School of Architecture for a degree in architecture, and later got a master's degree from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. He was awarded a fellowship in conservation studies by the University of York, UK.[5]

Career

In 1984, as a student, Dilawari worked part-time with Ved Segan, one of the country's first architectural conservationists, who designed Prithvi Theatre and restored Gaiety Theatre in Shimla. After his fellowship in York ended in 1995, Dilawar returned to India and set up his eponymous practice Vikas Dilawari Associates.[5] One of his first major projects was to restore the Army and Navy Building in Kala Ghoda, which was designed by Frederick William Stevens.[6] In 2000, the firm restored the Rajabai Clock Tower, a World Heritage Site designed by George Gilbert Scott.[2] In recent years, his team has restored Mulji Jetha Fountain, Bomanjee Hormarjee Wadia Clock Tower and the Wellington Fountain, in association with INTACH and the Kala Ghoda Association.[7] Around 16 restoration projects undertaken by their team have been awarded under the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The bigger question is how and what to conserve: Architect Vikas Dilawari. 29 March 2019.
  2. Web site: Breathing life back into Mumbai's fountains. Benita. Fernando. 19 July 2019. Livemint.
  3. News: Vikas Dilawari, the unassuming conservationist behind the grand facades. Anjuli. Bhargava. Business Standard India. 21 June 2019. Business Standard.
  4. Web site: Man on a mission. Cherylann. Mollan. 27 June 2019. The Asian Age.
  5. Web site: In conversation with the charismatic Mumbai based conservationist Vikas Dilawari. Elle Decor. Sakshi. Rai. 25 February 2020. 23 June 2022.
  6. Web site: A two-decade-long urban conservation movement is winning accolades for Mumbai. 6 November 2017. Hindustan Times.
  7. News: Mumbai's monuments man. The Hindu. 30 September 2017. Sriram. Jayant.