Original use

CVS Sabha School

Owner RBANM’s Educational Charities
New use Arts/Culture Hub & Cafe
Location Bangalore, India
Plot size 1,185 m2 (12,750 sft)
Original Building area 585 m2 (6,295 sft)
d
r o a Proposed Building area 792 m2 (8,525 sft)
n g a m
s a Land use & Transformation
The buildings were once used as a Tamil Medium School by the
RBANM’s Educational Charities, a prominent trust in the area.
When we first got here in 2020, the school had been shut for
almost a decade and was in a state of disrepair – roofs badly
damaged, walls cracked and floors infested with rats. Our
client, V. Ravichandar (Ammini Trust) in collaboration with the
r o a d

RBANM’s Educational Charities, adopted these buildings and

thanks to their vision, have found a new life as a public venue
for exhibitions, performances and gatherings. This part of the
Cantonment, between the barracks and the bazaar has many
such deteriorating colonial-era buildings and hopefully Sabha
can serve as a precedent for how these could be re-imagined as
community institutions.
A B
j

Aesthetic Qualities and Cultural Integration

The project is located in Ulsoor, a dense commercial area
k a m a r a

that once constituted bungalows for merchant-traders, their

commercial establishments, and settlements of disadvantaged
communities who catered to the British military station.
Today, much of this built heritage is altered or lost. In such a
context, this restoration stays true to its colonial context by
taking cues from the existing buildings of a similar vintage
in the neighbourhood. We added a small cafe whose roof is a
nod to Monkey Tops in the Cantonment, and opened up all the
existing compound walls using light-gauge metal grills making
the campus visually porous from the street. These courtyards
in our campus offer places of respite, sequestered from the
cacophony of what is now one of the busiest commercial and
retail districts in the city.

Community Impact and Resilience

Institutions established in Ulsoor during pan-India reformist
2020 windows opened up / partition walls removed / unplanned additions demolished movements of the 19th century positioned it as a site of social
change and community upliftment. The project responds to this
identity as a public space that:
a. Programmes free, open events — art, craft, music, dance
c and theatre, as well as workshops and training for children, to
enhance/enable artistic interests, support emotional and social
well-being.
b. Suggests guidelines for conserving other vintage structures
d in the area, thus building a heritage cluster and pride of place
r o a
n g a m for local communities.
s a c. Represents new potential for Ulsoor as a walkable art district/
6 neighbourhood for the city.
d. Offers local people new careers in the arts and income
generation opportunities.
7
e. Becomes a much needed community space for this low-
income neighborhood.

5
r o a d

Sustainable building design through passive measures

Much of what we did here was to remove all the detritus that
b had accumulated on these century old colonial-era buildings
and reveal again their simple and effective passive design
a strategies. We opened up all the blocked off windows, for ample
4 cross ventilation; repaired the madras-terrace and composite
B sloping roof structures, for better thermal and acoustic
insulation; stripped off all the cement plaster and relaid lime
x
A plaster, for a breathing, cool envelope; and introduced power
j

drains below the floors to manage the high water table.

k a m a r a

1 These buildings showed us the power of simplicity - the right

proportions and scale, and a direct response to climate.
3 An architecture without adjectives.

3 2
2 8
3 4
1
8 5

7
2025 new additions: 1. cafe, 2. kitchen. 3. restrooms, 4. store, 5. utilities, 6. security, 7. entry ramp, 8. services above
new additions
a. Courtyard, b. Rear Yard, c. Anna Vasanthi Library

store cafe slope connector flat kamaraj road

rear yard hall B courtyard hall A

section x
Kamaraj Road Facade (2021)

The facade was in a bad condition with walled up openings,

damaged masonry and external plaster, algae deposits and
many insensitive alterations and additions. The doors and
windows were also damaged and many were unusable.
The existing conditions were studied extensively to understand
the extent of the damage and document construction methods
and details (cornices, window jambs, and other surface
articulations).

Drawings: Condition mapping of the facades indicating the

different kinds of damage.

photo: Hundredhands

Flat / Hall A (2021)

The interiors were subdivided into classrooms using timber
partitions, the circular column bases were deteriorating and
light inside the rooms was limited due to blocked up and
damaged windows.
Much of original ‘surkhi’ water proofing on the roof was covered
with layers of concrete and this additional weight had caused
much of the water logging, sagging and eventual structural
damage. The large granite slab flooring laid simply on rammed
earth was damp due to the high water table and the earth
below was infested with rats. All of the primary timber beams
were sagging significantly and their ends embedded in the
masonry were rotting due to moisture from the roof.

Drawings: Documenting the existing wall sections in Hall A.

photo: Hundredhands

Courtyard

The courtyard was filled with garbage, the floor was slushy
from the high water table, and there were a few insensitive
additions here (room for the caretaker, water storage tank,
etc.). The openings in Hall A were partially blocked up, the trace
of the arch still seen and new smaller windows replacing the
original ones. A large wall blocked off Sangam Road and due to
the new level of the road (after the Smart City work) the gate
here couldn’t be opened anymore. Due to the shade of the large
Mango tree the walls of the buildings here were in a much
worse condition than elsewhere – moist, with the plaster falling
off and deep structural cracks seen in many places.

photos: Vivek Mathew

Slope / Hall B Roof

The interiors were subdivided into classrooms using timber and
masonry partitions, the roof was considerably damaged with
gaping holes, broken rafters, and missing or damaged roof tiles.
Structural cracks were seen where the metal roof truss rested
on the masonry walls.

photo: Hundredhands

Slope / Hall B

The Cudappa flooring laid simply on rammed earth was damp

due to the high water table and the earth below was infested
with rats. The floor was covered in debris and garbage and was
at the same level as the surrounding yard, leading to issues
with drainage and moisture. The walls were damp with large
structural cracks seen in the masonry and the plaster damaged
due to seepage and settling. The Doors and windows were in
bad condition and many of the openings had been walled up.

Drawing: Hall A ceiling damage analysis

photo: Vivek Mathew

Rear Yard

The rear yard was a garbage dump with weeds growing, hens
roaming around and stagnating water and slush. The verandah
at the edge of Hall B was in a bad condition with significant
structural damage due to a large tree. The roof was sagging and
many of the roof tiles were damaged.

photo: Hundredhands
Flat / Hall A

The first exercise in the restoration of Hall A was to determine

the structural soundness of the roof. A non-destructive test was
conducted from which it was evident that the existing wooden
members were weak and were to be replaced. Significant
sagging (beyond acceptable limits) was also seen in most of the
primary beams. 16 beams and many rafters were replaced. The
salvaged wooden members were re-purposed to make the cafe
roof and new window/door frames.

The existing wooden internal partitions in Hall A were removed

to make one large hall.

Damaged sections of the Madras terrace roof were repaired

to address cracks and leaks. The terrace was thoroughly
waterproofed using traditional methods, and the slope was
adjusted for proper drainage. Cast iron pipes were installed to
effectively channel the water off the terrace.

External and internal plaster was removed. Masonry cracks

were repaired by stone stitching.

Stone pillars within the hall were removed and replaced with
brick pilasters. These long stone pillars were used as flooring in
the courtyard.

Expressive details like stone sills, plaster bands around the door
and windows, cornices, grooves etc, were repaired as per the
original design and details.

Inside Hall A, the borders and jambs around the doors and
windows were made with Karaikudi plaster, a smooth, high-
luster plaster.

The blocked windows were opened and the windows were

repaired and redone to cater to the space’s requirements.

Additional walls were added to partition the office space and

the store room from the main hall.

Existing Granite flooring was removed to re-purpose for stone

sills and other stone requirements.

Images from top to bottom:

Kamaraj Road (2021)

photo: Vivek Mathew

Kamaraj Road (2025)

photo: Anand Jaju

Kamaraj & Sangam Road Corner

photos: Vivek Mathew, Anand Jaju

Flat / Hall A
photos: Hundredhands, Anand Jaju
The main pedestrian entrance to the campus opens into a
tranquil courtyard, home to majestic Mango and Jackfruit trees,
creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.

The courtyard is enclosed by light gauge metal grills, opening

up the space to passersby offering a subtle invitation to explore
further.

In the internal courtyard, we removed the existing caretaker’s

room and reworked the roof of the connector, replacing the old
metal sheet roofing with Mangalore tiles salvaged from Hall B.

The windows that had previously been blocked off in Hall

A were reopened, allowing more light and views into the
courtyard, bringing a sense of openness and connection
between the indoor and outdoor areas.

The stone flooring from Block A was re-purposed as edge stones

for the outdoor flooring in the internal courtyard and the
adjoining verandah, maintaining continuity and preserving the
character of the original materials.

Cudappa tiles salvaged from Hall B were resized and used here
in the connector and other circulation areas.

The long stone pilasters, removed from Hall A, found new life in
the landscaping, enriching the design of the courtyard area.

The existing well was preserved and a pump was introduced to

direct surplus water to one of two large sumps on the courtyard
and rear yard.

Images from top to bottom:

Courtyard
photos: Hundredhands, Anand Jaju

Connector
photos: Hundredhands, Anand Jaju

Sangam Road / Hall B

photos: Hundredhands, Arjun Krishna

Sangam Road Corner / Hall A

photos: Hundredhands, Anand Jaju
Flat/Hall A & Courtyard

Hall A is seen as primarily an exhibition venue. Folding plywood

panels serve to block out external light and ample lighting and
mounting options have been provided. The Indian Kota stone
floor replaces the existing granite, which has been re-purposed
as sills for the new windows along the courtyard. Much of the
timber roof structure is new.

We opened the windows in Hall A, dropped the sills down and

brought the garden into the building (facade on the left). The
high water table and threat of flooding has been handled by
introducing large sump tanks under the courtyard to manage
the quantum of water and stage its drainage to the municipal
system on the street.

photos: Anand Jaju

Slope/Hall B & Sangam Road Entrance

Hall B has been re-purposed as a black box, with sophisticated

audio, video and lighting capabilities. We added acoustic panels
on the soffit of the large roof and this has made the hall an
effective venue for acoustic performance. A retractable seating
system helps give flexibility to this large room.

By opening up the courtyard and the rear yard to the street,

with a light-gauge metal screen, the campus becomes part of its
neighborhood, open and accessible.

photos: Anand Jaju

Rear Yard & New Additions

A new cafe, restrooms and utility rooms have been added in

the rear yard. These additions give the rear yard definition. The
damaged roof of the existing veranda has been repaired. All the
black Cudappa flooring is salvaged material from Hall A. A large
underground sump here (like in the courtyard) helps manage
flood water.

The new cafe roof is a nod to Monkey Tops in the Cantonment

& the Anna Vasanthi Library across the street. The utilities are
behind the he brick facade This clearly defined yard offers a
welcome respite from the busy commercial neighbourhood.

photos: Anand Jaju

Verandah & Cafe

The verndah roof has been repaired, replacing broken rafters

with new members. Old roofing and under tiles salvaged from
the Hall B roof have been used here.

The structure of the new cafe roof (posts, rafters, ties, etc.) is in
keeping with the language of the existing colonial-era buildings
within the campus and in the neighborhood.

photos: Anand Jaju

Context

Set within the dense context of the cantonment, between the

barracks and the bazaar, this small campus offers an incredible
respite to the bustle and density of the area. The two courts
within are surprising to encounter, and by opening them
up to the street visually we create moments of pause in this
busy environment. Our cafe and rear yard respond to the
Anna Vasanthi Library across the street creating a rare urban
moment of conversation and exchange.

photo: Anand Jaju

Details
(From left to right)

1. Post Capital
The new wooden posts in the cafe have the same capital as the
existing posts in the verandah and connector.

2. Post Base
When the existing blue paint was stripped from the circular
wooden posts in Hall A, it was found that it had a brass band
right below the capital of the column to prevent cracks and
keep the wood intact. A brass band was added at the bottom
just above the post base.

3. Anchor plate junction

The Cafe is designed with an elegant metal tie detail to keep
the roof together in place. The base plate for the tie member is
counter sunk to flush with the surface of the beam

4. Post Base
The new wooden posts in the cafe have the same base as the
existing posts in the verandah and connector.

5. Column Bracket
The central posts in the cafe have an elaborate metal bracket
capital that helps in transferring the loads from the two
beams to the posts. This flamboyant capital is a nod to similar
large capitals/brackets in the building across the street (Anna
Vasanthi Library).

6. Spout
The rain water from the Cafe roof and the verandah roofs
are managed by gutters in MS, lined with GI sheet which
terminates in an MS spout.

7. Door Handle
The existing door bolts in Block A were retained and polished.

8. Drain cover
Water at the site is managed by trenches in the two courtyards
covered with Sira grey stone with notches that let water seep
into them.

9. Metal Tie detail

Cafe Roof structure has a metal die detail that holds the two
wooden rafters from splitting apart.

10. Double Column Base

The Cafe area has the central supporting member as double
posts which have a single stone base that is detailed similar to
the rest of the existing stone post bases.

11.Rose Window
A small rose window with an articulated edge band marks the
gable end wall of the cafe room. A stained glass panel fills the
small opening.

12. Signage
The beautiful Sabha logo, designed by Sujata Keshavan, makes a
strong impression on Sangam Road.

photos: Tharini. S

photo: Anand Jaju

 Recycling

A lot of the material salvaged from the old buildings has been
reused.
1. We reused most of the existing clay roofing tiles and
decorative under tiles in the connecting veranda between Halls
A & B, the new cafe and the long veranda behind B.
2. Damaged timber roof elements (main beams, rafters, purlins,
etc.) were re-purposed to make the new cafe roof, and window
frames and shutters.
3. The large stone columns were replaced with brick piers and
were used as paving in the courtyard.
4. All the existing flooring in A & B was removed to put in
a power drain system to address the high water table. The
salvaged stone (Granite and Cudappa) was resized and used
for most of the veranda & cafe flooring, window sills, and
thresholds.

Construction

Nilesh Thakkar’s team from Jeernodhar Conservators,

used traditional techniques and materials in the repair and
alterations in the building.

1 Lime was used extensively in the mortar, plaster, roofing and

waterproofing here. Kadukkai, a traditional organic additive,
was used extensively in the lime mortar along with jaggery,
Bel fruits, soap nuts, Aloe Vera, etc. This was mixed at site and
the proportions were altered depending on the strength and
adhesion required.

2 Portions of the madras terrace roofing were removed (especially

along the edges) and replaced with new brickwork, cut to size
and set in lime mortar, damaged parts of the wall, where the
masonry had fallen off, were filled in with new brick work,
2 structural cracks were stitched together using stone strips,
set in a rich lime mortar mix, and all external and internal
plastering was done in lime in varying textures, with the
smoothest, high-luster, Karaikudi plaster on the borders of all
the doors and windows.

In Hall A, the roof repairs were substantial. All the primary

beams were sagging and were rotting at the ends. The damaged
beams were replaced with new ones by carefully removing
them from an opening in the wall and sliding the new members
in, without disturbing the madras terrace roof (see photos
below). This work was also done by Jeernodhar.

Shaju and his team from Shilpi Wood Crafts, repaired the
large sloping roof in Hall B, replacing damaged members with
new ones, extending the eaves beyond the walls to keep water
away from the masonry, and adding timber wall plates along
both the long ends to support the new extensions. Traditional
techniques were used for all this new joinery. Shilpi also made
all the new doors and windows.

4 All the wood we removed from both roofs was reused in making
the new cafe roof and for the doors and windows.

After the floor levels were established a new damp proof course
4
3 in stone was introduced all around both buildings. In Hall B
we introduced a power drain below the floor to catch all rising
ground water and drain this out to the sumps in the courtyard
and rear yard.

We have documented these processes and the videos can be

seen here -

photos: Hundredhands
 Acknowledgment

The biggest challenge was our own limited knowledge of the

FLAT (Hall A)
processes and protocols of working on a conservation project.
12mm thk, 100x100mm terracotta tiles laid with We began by inviting experts like Prof. R.J. Vasavada early on
25mm thk lime screed (Chadurbille) to guide us on how to document and then develop strategies to
address the serious structural issues evident in both buildings.
0.5mm thk geotextile membrane
brick bat coba (with lime) laid to 1:100 slope
We were very fortunate to have worked with Nilesh Thakkar
2mm thk stainless steel mesh (50 x 50mm grid) as
of Jeernodhar Conservators, a widely recognised conservation
reinforcement for the Madras terrace roofing
contractor, and S.C. Shaju of Shilpi Wood Craft, a seasoned
230 x 100 x 35mm wire-cut brick laid flat with lime
mortar roofing contractor, on this.
original diagonally laid brickwork repaired on the
edges The project benefited greatly from the contributions of some
1:3 lime plaster (1 part lime:3 parts river sand) incredible collaborators like Raghu Tenkayala from our client’s
70x130mm wooden rafter (many are new) team, and Sanjana Pande, Amriteshwari Arun, Ganga Menon,
new 200x330mm wooden beams (replacing existing Shantanu Mude and Riya Raikar from our office. Their deep
beams which were sagging significantly and were interest in getting to know these buildings as closely as they
damaged at the ends due to water ingress). could, helped us approach this work with sensitivity and care.
new 450x300mm brick pilasters (with lime mortar)
with stone capitals (replacing existing stone piers) And of course without Ravi’s incredible vision and patronage
none of this would have been possible. Through the course of
working together for almost 12 years, on BIC and here, we have
100mm thk PCC bed under brick pilaster
been deeply inspired by his incredible commitment to public
causes and attention to detail.

new 370mm diameter stone base (below floor We are grateful to Hema and Ravi for this wonderful
finish) replacing existing weathered timber base opportunity and hope Sabha serves as a precedent to inspire
the re-imagination of the amazing historic fabric that still exists
600mm wide stone strip foundation for timber
posts in the city.

Sunitha & Bijoy

450-480mm thk load bearing brick masonry walls Hundredhands
with arched openings 2025
500mm wide stone strip foundations for load
bearing walls

SLOPE (Hall B)

terracotta ridge tile

230x430mm Mangalore tiles
25x50mm timber purlins at 350mm centre to
centre
50x25mm timber battens at 750mm to raise up the
purlins and allow for water drainage
3mm thk ‘Veltisun’ (roof underlay) waterproofing
and heat barrier membrane
12mm thk 2440x1220mm Bison Board laid across
the rafter below. All joints sealed with Silicone and
aluminium strips

90x220mm timber ridge beam

72x125mm timber rafters (some members replaced)
450-480mm thk load bearing brick masonry walls
with arched openings
230x430mm Mangalore tiles
new 100x50mm timber wall plate
mild steel truss (strengthened) Sabha
recycled terracotta under-tile RBANM’s EDUCATIONAL CHARITIES &
existing stone bracket to support timber beam AMMINI TRUST
30x50mm timber purlin
75x50mm timber rafter
Architects
100x150mm timber beam
HUNDREDHANDS DESIGN (BENGALURU)
75x75mm timber tilting fillet
Bijoy Ramachandran & Sunitha Kondur Partners
Sanjana Pande & Ganga Menon Project Architects
120x120mm timber post
Amriteshwari Arun, Shantanu Mude & Riya Raikar Architects
500mm wide stone strip foundation for the load
bearing walls Adon Naiju, Nidhish Gupta, Tharini S. & Pranil Mahajan Interns
250x250mm stone base for timber post
Primary Contractor
JEERNODHAR CONSERVATORS (MUMBAI)
Nilesh Thakkar Contractor
Prajakta Chaugule Conservation Architect
Swami Nanjundaswamy Supervisor

Roofing Carpenter & Woodwork

SHILPI WOOD CRAFT (KOZHIKODE)
S.C. Shaju Head Carpenter
Shiva Supervisor

Structural Consultant
RAYS CONSULTING ENGINEERS
C. Ramkumar

HVAC & Electrical Consultant

LEAD CONSULTANTS (INDIA)
Krishnan C.G.

INTELLIMECH SYSTEMS
Narayanan Vaidyanathan
cafe . rear yard slope . hall B connector . courtyard flat . hall A

PHE Consultant
ESVE DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Vidya Veeresh

Acoustics Consultant
ihD
Prabhu Raja

Sound
AUDIO ACADEMY
Aman Dubey

Quantity Survey and Bill Checking

Muralikrishna P.