Located in the dense commercial streets of Chotta Bazaar in Kashmere Gate, the Seth Ram Lal Khemka Haveli is part of the historic urban fabric of Shahjahanabad. The house dates to the mid-nineteenth century and has been home to the Khemka–Bagla family since the early twentieth century.

Like many residences in the old city, the haveli had gradually deteriorated as commercial activity around it intensified. Hidden beneath layers of neglect, however, were the spatial qualities typical of Old Delhi’s domestic architecture — a central courtyard, projecting balconies overlooking the street, and rooms organised around shared family life.

The project began when the current owner approached the architects in 2010 with a simple brief: to repair the house so that it could comfortably accommodate the next generation of the family. What followed was a longer process of rediscovering the architectural value of the building and gradually shifting the conversation from renovation to conservation.

The work began with measured documentation and the preparation of a conservation plan that studied the evolution of the house and its architectural significance. Repairs were undertaken using traditional materials and techniques, including lime plaster and masonry repairs carried out by local craftspeople. Modern services were carefully integrated so the building could continue functioning as a contemporary family home.

Over time the haveli became more than a private restoration project. It demonstrated that historic houses in Old Delhi could be repaired and reused without turning them into museums or commercial heritage properties. The project showed that conservation could begin at the scale of the everyday home — through the decisions of a single family choosing to care for their house.

Today the haveli continues to function as a living residence. Its restored courtyard once again anchors family life, while the project itself has become an important example of how private citizens can participate in preserving the historic fabric of the old city.

https://www.reinwardt.ahk.nl/media/rwa/docs/Publicaties/Engagements_in_the_Courtyard_Aiswarhya_Tipnis.pdf