BRINDA SOMAYA Taking up heritage conservation:

At the age of eight, my parents took me to Nalanda in Bihar. I think it was perhaps after visiting the ruins of Nalanda that I decided to become an archaeologist. However, destiny had other plans; but, perhaps it led to my becoming an architect and installed in me the love for history and conservation. Architecture, for me, is about connecting and creating spaces between man and the earth.

How challenging is it to restore a heritage structure:

Conservation projects with their sense of place are very rewarding. I enjoy the challenges of greenfield projects as much as conserving old heritage buildings. To create a future for buildings from the past is equally important. There are some buildings, which connect us to the past and to each other, which show us who we are and give us a sense of place.

Projects that you have worked on:

The first restoration project of my career was The Westend Hotel in Bengaluru in 1980. Over the years I took up many restoration, preservation and retro-fitting projects amongst which we have restored the famed Rajabai Clock Tower and the library building of University of Mumbai. The restoration and upgradation of the historic Louis Kahn buildings of IIMA, the TCS House, NRK House, the old Yacht Club and Cathedral and John Connon School are other such projects.