HYDERABAD: The good news for the heritage patrons of Hyderabad, the first phase of restoration of Koti Residency, which had served as the embassy of the East India Company during the reign of Hyderabad Nizam, has been completed at a cost of `2 crore and unveiled on Tuesday.
The restoration of the magnificent structure, located on the premises of Osmania University College for Women (OUCW), was done as a collaborative effort of Osmania university’s Department of Archeology and Structure, the state government and World Monuments Fund (WMF), New York.
On Tuesday, when OU announced its interim achievement on an evening lit up with the archaeology lovers, WMF’s Amita Baig shared that she was wowed by the heritage of Hyderabad.
WMF extended its support to the building by listing it among the 100 endangered buildings and initiated the preparation of a conservation management plan in collaboration with OU.
The phase-1 of restoration began in October, 2015. A Project Implementation Committee was formed to take up the reconstruction.
Elaborating on the details of the entire restoration project, the director of the department of Archeology and Structure Vishalakhi said, “The huge project was first documented, which included a monthly project report on inventory and cataloguing of movable assets, mapping of conditions and building services. ”
Phase-1 works were completed in 18 months, which involved structural consolidation of western portions of Darbar Hall Block, removal of modern accretions and restoration of the authentic facade of the building’s western balcony, reconstruction of Madras terrace roof and water proofing of the Darbar building using traditional methods.
BT Seetha, principal, OUCW, said, “The next phase will require an investment of `2.5 crore. We would like the entire Hyderabad to take a stand for the protection of this magnificent heritage building.”