Kolkata's heritage buildings get new life through jazz bars and immersive performances
In Kolkata, a city known for its colonial-era architecture, several heritage buildings are being repurposed for cultural and commercial use. Two recent examples highlight how owners and organisers are combining preservation with modern entertainment.
The 109-year-old Royal Insurance Building in Dalhousie Square, which reflects early 20th-century colonial commercial architecture with Edwardian and Classical influences, hosted a flamenco performance on March 27 as part of 'Kolkata Unforgettable', an experiential tourism initiative. The event used the building's stairwells and multiple levels as a stage, with choreographer Soujit Das and his troupe Beatbusters performing while art walker Navpreet Arora guided attendees through the building's history.
The initiative is led by Shailaja Mundra and her daughter Vasudha Pachisia. They aim to generate public interest and revenue for heritage properties that often lack financial support for maintenance. 'Dalhousie, which is the downtown area of the city, is dead on weekends despite its architectural richness,' said Vasudha. The organisers blend storytelling, music and dance to make the venue itself the attraction, rather than offering history lessons. Past events included a theatrical production at the General Post Office, a dastangoi performance inside a North Kolkata rajbari, and a concert at St. John's Church featuring its pipe organ. The events are held every few weeks and are intended to become self-sustaining, with a portion of revenue supporting the upkeep of the buildings.
Another example of adaptive reuse is Skinny Mo's jazz bar and Nutcase cocktail parlour, housed in a 109-year-old late colonial building on Manoharpukur Road. Co-owner Munir Mohanty acquired the property in 2019 and spent a year restoring it. 'I had to take all the sewage pipes, electricals and the plaster on the inside and outside out until the building became a brick shell,' he said. The restoration involved repairing dampness, soundproofing the building without using glass, and using aluminium composite panels. The building now hosts a jazz bar and a thrift shop, preserving its historical character while serving a commercial purpose.
These efforts reflect a broader trend in Kolkata where old buildings are being given new life through cultural venues, cafes and performance spaces. Owners see restoration not as nostalgia but as a way to ensure continuity of the city's architectural heritage.
