Reviving Lahore's Colonial Heritage: Conservation and Adaptive Reuse of Indo-Saracenic Edifices

Abstract

Indo-Saracenic architecture was developed in Lahore during the British colonial period, which represents a distinctive fusion of Mughal, Sikh, and European influences. During the British colonial period, Lahore's administrative and public buildings were designed in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. Prominent administrative buildings, such as Town Hall, Bradlaugh Hall, and Montgomery Hall, exemplify this stylistic integration, serving not only as civic structures but also as cultural expressions of power, identity, and adaptation. The conservation status of three significant Indo-Saracenic administration halls, Town Hall, Bradlaugh Hall, and Montgomery Hall, has been analyzed in this research. These significant civic and political activity buildings are now threatened with decay due to urban development pressures or abandonment. To ensure their sustainability for future generations, the research proposes conservation and adaptive reuse possibilities, while also highlighting their historical significance, architectural elements, and the reasons for deterioration. This qualitative research methodology incorporates archival analysis, site assessments, and case studies to examine the architectural, cultural, and historical significance of these halls. The findings underscore the pressing conservation challenges while also revealing opportunities for adaptive reuse, for instance, transforming these structures into cultural, educational, and tourism hubs.