From Hyderabad’s British Residency to Delhi’s stepwells, ‘heritage is worth investing in’

WMF had a long association with the British Residency project. Why was it significant?

It’s a perfect example of what we try to do. The Residency is an extraordinary heritage site with a grand history of being a British outpost in Hyderabad, but today, it has found new life as the centre of a women’s university. That’s what we call adaptive reuse: giving historic buildings a meaningful contemporary role instead of letting them decay or become museums with no real social role.

What excites us is that this project has gone beyond just restoring one monument. We completed the main building in 2023, but now we’re working on the entire complex that includes the old physics and chemistry blocks, the gardens, and access to the Musi riverfront.

How did this project begin?

It started with interest from our international members who saw the poor condition of the building [just after the publication of William Dalrymple’s book White Mughals]. An American member and later a British supporter partnered with Indian conservation architects to nominate it to our ‘World Monuments Watch’ programme, which highlights monuments at risk.

Initially, most of the funding came from international donors. But today, something more important is happening. Strong local involvement. Hyderabad now has a real constituency for heritage. Business leaders, professionals and institutions are contributing, and the university itself is a key partner. That’s the future of conservation, where global expertise meets local ownership and pride.

The Musi Riverfront is a part of WMF’s Watch. Why?

Because heritage does not exist in isolation. The Residency stands on the Musi, and from this project emerged a larger idea of restoring an entire heritage corridor along the river. This includes old bridges, the Osmania General Hospital, Government City College, the State Central Library, and several other historic buildings.

The Telangana government has taken this forward through a public-private partnership model called ‘Adopt a Monument’. It invites corporations and citizens to support conservation. We see this as a natural extension of what began with individual monuments.

Why the focus on stepwells now? 

Because they are both historical and urgently relevant today. Stepwells were brilliant water-harvesting systems and social spaces. With India facing water stress, restoring them is not nostalgia, it is practical infrastructure. 

We are working with the Tata Trusts to restore stepwells across the country. One example is Rajon-ki-Baoli in Delhi, which was completely dry and neglected. Today, it has water again, it has fish, and it is being used by the local community. These structures recharge groundwater, improve microclimates, and bring back public spaces into neighbourhoods.

How do you work with local communities, especially where there is resistance?

 There is no alternative to community involvement. People must see direct benefits such as water access, tourism, social spaces and employment.

In many cities, stepwells were covered or forgotten because land became more valuable than heritage. We try to reverse that mindset by showing that conservation actually creates economic activity. Last year alone, our projects in India generated over 140 local jobs, involved nearly 60 conservation experts and trained around 280 students as guides.

How do you see the growing role of private companies in heritage?

It has to be a partnership. Governments often lack expertise or capacity, while private players bring money and management skills. But conservation professionals must always be involved. Across the world, including in Rajasthan in India, many historic buildings have been converted into hotels or cultural spaces and are better preserved because they generate revenue. 

What is holding back heritage conservation in India

It’s not just money. It’s the mindset. People must believe heritage is worth investing in. Look at cities like Paris. The conservation brings tourism, jobs, better quality of life, and a stronger sense of identity. It’s not about the past; it’s about the future. India’s heritage is incredibly rich. If conserved wisely, it can be one of the country’s greatest social and economic assets.