Sonal Gautam Shah

CR4000

The studio focuses on redefining conservation as a regenerative architectural practice that blends preservation, repair, and reimagination. It views conservation as a process of revitalizing buildings, balancing historical character with the materiality of the structure. Exploring structures as living archives, examining their material and spatial histories to understand the layers of time and change. The program includes analyzing redundant buildings, using archival research to uncover their past, and mapping how they’ve evolved. The idea of Cronocaos—the overlap of time and decay—guides the understanding of conservation as a dynamic and creative process. Developing a forward-thinking approach to transform buildings, experimenting with retrofitting strategies, and proposing innovative interventions for these structures ensuring their relevance for present and future.