Old remains old: 111-yr-old bungalow restored in Bengaluru’s Malleswaram

Bengaluru: Glass facades replacing vintage homes is a story told many times. Here’s a counter-narrative: The two-storey house of HV Nanjundayya, a towering intellectual of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom and founding president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat, has been restored to its former glory in a six-year-long exercise.The restoration of the landmark building on Malleswaram 13th Cross comes at a moment when Bengaluru’s architectural memory is steadily thinning, especially in sepia-tinted areas which house century-old edifices.Sitting across a 75x75ft plot, the bungalow built in 1915 housed over 30 rooms — bedrooms, padasaales (living quarters), bathrooms, dressing areas, foyers, a pooja room, kitchen and dining spaces — along with multiple entrances, two staircases, a private office and an open courtyard.

Built using brick, lime, and mortar, the structure also featured extensive teakwood and rosewood detailing.The conservation initiative was undertaken at the behest of Malleswaram MLA CN Ashwathnarayan by the Greater Bengaluru Authority. “This project is a reminder that Bengaluru once valued permanence over speed,” he said, adding it was a Rs 2-crore project.“Architecturally, the home is a striking blend of Indian courtyard planning and Gothic aesthetics,” said Yashaswini Sharma, founder of Esthétique Architects, who led the restoration.

“One of the first-floor rooms has Spanish mosaic tiles and Victorian stained-glass windows. The house had beautiful fascia boards and artistic sills,” she said.This was the first residential building in Malleswaram to get electricity and plumbing system. The building also offers a glimpse into everyday life a century ago. The sauna-like room particularly stood out during restoration. “We did not find such rooms in other buildings of the Mysore kingdom from the same period,” Sharma said.

“We learned that Nanjundayya used to apply oil and sit there before showering.”Keeping longevity in mind, Yashaswini said rockwool and grasswool insulation have been introduced to improve thermal comfort and durability. “Overall, the objective is to keep Nanjundayya’s legacy alive,” she said.After Nanjundayya’s death, his family sold it to the government, which transformed it into a Govt Girls High School.

Over time, it housed government offices and functioned as a Veena examination centre.Ashwathnarayan said there is a proposal to start a language lab dedicated to Nanjundayya, a Kannada Sahitya Parishat outlet and an interactive cultural space. The final decision rests with GBA West, custodian of the property.“The bungalow has been wonderfully restored now. It was difficult to procure materials that matched those from over a century ago. I was a part of the restoration process and it was a learning curve for me too,” said VN Ramaswamy, great-grandson of HV Nanjundayya.