Mumbai’s Iconic Palm Court Restored In Classic Art Deco Hues Amid Heritage Revival

Palm Court’s cream, plum, and salmon pink hues, as residents of the building on Oval Maidan describe the new colour scheme, are a vibrant addition to the palette of the Art Deco style buildings lining the ground. 

Art Deco Mumbai Trust, a group chronicling and conserving buildings like Palm Court, suggested the colours to the building's residents and landlords as there were no photographs that could provide a clue about the original colours. The colours, chosen from classical Art Deco tints, are one of the reinterpretations suggested by ADMT to preserve the authenticity and integrity of the buildings that form part of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage site of the 'Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai'.

ADMT documented Palm Court in 2017 when the building had already lost some of its original design features. As the building is a cessed property under the pagdi system of tenancy, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority was involved in the restoration. Atul Kumar, trustee and founder of ADMT, said that the brief for the contractors was to maintain authenticity of the structure.

Art Deco style, which emerged at the Paris Industrial Exposition in 1925, is defined by its use of decorative elements in relief, symmetry, curved edges, balconies, neon lights, stylised lettering, and metal grilles. Palm Court had lost some of these features during piecemeal repairs in the past. ADMT’s team reinterpreted many of these elements. The external AC units were remounted on new window grilles designed using elements from the original Art Deco metal railings on compound walls, a compromise between aesthetics and contemporary needs, without overwhelming the architectural intent, Kumar said.

Padmini Mirchandani, committee member of the Oval Cooperage Residents Association and a resident of Palm Court, praised the ADMT for guiding the restoration process. "They had done stellar work in advising different buildings on what to restore and maintain. They have the knowledge and historical reference," said Mirchandani, who added that the building's colours are close to the original. "We are very happy; we love it."

Kumar said that the restoration of Palm Court, which was built in the 1930s, and other buildings along Oval Maidan, was a significant event since reinforced cement concrete buildings have a life of about 100 years. “There are questions about the physical viability of these buildings. In the phase of redevelopment to rebuild and maximise space, it is heartening that such restoration projects are seeing the light of the day,” said Kumar.

Another factor involved in the repairs and restoration of tenanted buildings like Palm Court is the question about who will finance the repairs. “All these issues were set aside,” sad Kumar.

The restoration of Palm Court is happening in a year when Art Deco is celebrating its centennial. Mumbai has the second largest collection of such buildings in the world, after Miami in the United States. Most of the buildings lining the Oval ground, including the Eros Cinema, have undergone extensive restoration recently. The buildings were documented in the book ‘Bombay Deco’ by Sharada Dwivedi and Rahul Mehrotra.