Preserving Mumbai’s Art Deco legacy

Celebrating Mumbai's Art Deco heritage with Abha Narain, Cyrus Guzder, and Rahul Mehrotra, advocating for preservation and sustainability.

Conservation architect Abha Narain, Cyrus Guzder—who spearheaded the introduction of international air express services in India—and architect, urbanist, and educator Rahul Mehrotra, all admit to catching the “art deco bug” at different stages in their lives.

This conversation held to celebrate the revised edition of Bombay Deco (2024) by Pictor Publishing at the Experimental Theatre inside the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, was filled with anecdotes. Some were tinged with nostalgia for the Art Deco movement in Mumbai, including fond recollections of the 2018 moment when an ensemble of the city’s Art Deco buildings was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The discussion also touched on the challenges of living in these structures today, as they may no longer be safe or viable for future generations who have no other home.

But in their fond recollections, it was evident that Abha, Cyrus and Rahul fondly recollected how Bombay Deco stands as a testament to the late historian and activist Sharada Dwivedi’s unwavering commitment to preserving Mumbai’s built heritage. “Sharada dedicated much of her life to safeguarding the city’s architectural treasures and documenting its rich past,” says Rahul.

Rahul and Sharada collaborated on the first edition of Bombay Deco in 2008. At a time when there was little discourse on the city’s Art Deco period, the duo identified a pressing need to bring attention to this crucial yet often overlooked part of the city’s history. Art Deco, as they observed, was a transitional style that bridged Bombay’s colonial past with its modern identity. “The decorative yet minimalist aesthetic resonated deeply with a society undergoing cultural transformation, and this stylistic shift was evident in the buildings constructed between 1930 and 1950, says Rahul at the launch.

Their work was not just about celebrating Art Deco as a decorative style. It was also an act of advocacy, aimed at preserving these buildings, many of which were protected under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act and were in disrepair.

Watch | Did you know Mumbai has the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in India?