In the 19th century, readers at Mumbai’s David Sassoon Library browsed through a rich collection of books in a regal setting: built in the Victorian Gothic style, the library and reading room boasted quaint arches, louvred windows, Minton tiles and lamps. In present times, the vista from its first-storey veranda may be vastly different, but purposeful interventions have ensured the appeal of its design continues to live on.

Latest among Kala Ghoda Association’s list of restoration projects in the precinct, the 16 month initiative for the library began in February 2022. The restored library was reopened to the public in June 2023, after conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah brought alive by the vision of the team.