Mid-Day Anniversary Special: Nandini Somaya Sampat reveals why it was a privilege to restore her alma mater

Nandini Somaya Sampat, Architect 

Doesn`t this feel like Hogwarts?” Nandini Sampat, principal architect, Somaya Sampat, exclaimed, while posing for our photographer along the iconic wooden spiral staircase. It’s magical. We nearly slip into this Potter-verse as we accompany the Cathedralite down the historic hallways of The Cathedral and John Connon Junior School, after school hours. 

If the walls of this over 100-year-old building designed by John Adams, could speak, this story would make for a particularly inspirational listen.

When a wooden staircase whirls like a tornado, it is a delight to be caught in between, learns Sampat. Pics/Atul Kamble

“To attend school in a historic building is a distinct childhood memory. I was fortunate to learn within the walls of the Cathedral Schools. There are so many moments that remain in the mind’s eye: the arches, the basalt stone, the timber beams, the wooden joists enabling high ceilings, those verandahs with their foliage and fauna; not to forget our beautiful brass bell! Learning within these spaces and understanding their value over time has led to the journey,” revealed Sampat. That journey came full circle when she had the opportunity to play a part in the conservation of the Cathedral School buildings. “To help restore it was a tremendous privilege.” 

She feels that one of the greatest ways to teach historic preservation is to have grown up within that. “The Cathedral Schools stand for history of architecture and the story of a school. It teaches the value of functionality as well as Indian aesthetics.” By now, we’ve reached the fourth floor that offered a vantage view of Fort during evening rush hour. “These spaces are special; the spiral staircase, the hall and memories of arriving in our buses and eating raw kairi in the newspaper outside our bus lines!” We peek into one of the classrooms, “Look at these wooden doors, and the hooks on the outside walls to keep our bags!”

The conservation of the schools began when her mother,  Brinda Somaya and their studio Somaya Sampat (formerly, Somaya & Kalappa). It started with the Middle School building in 1993. This was followed by the Senior School completed in 1998 and Junior School in 2001.

“We balanced preserving the character and heritage of the buildings, and creating a contiguous construction of modern extensions. I witnessed my mother restore these with great care, technical prowess and patience resulting in completion of the projects that served as a catalyst for the revitalisation of other heritage buildings in the area.” When the opportunity arose to restore Thomas House, erstwhile Kodak House on DN Road, in 2017 to house the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, there was a wonderful sense of continuity between the past, present and future. Back on the ground floor after our walkthrough, we soak in this Gothic dream one last time. Sampat signed off, “My halls of learning eventually turned into multiple conservation projects for our studio over time, for which I will be forever grateful.”

2001
Junior School restoration finished