In their sparse but tasteful Ballard Estate office, Brinda Somaya and Nandini Somaya Sampat are discussing patience. The mother and daughter team at the helm of Somaya & Kalappa Consultants (SNK) would be more prone, we imagine inaccurately, to deliberate on competition. But they speak of waiting for the right time, attention to detail, and continued hope in the face of urban despair.

They are basking in the mirth of a prestigious win at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards in Penang this October. But the Award of Distinction for the restoration of The Vikram Sarabhai Library, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, has come after "failure" at convincing the top bosses at earlier competitions that were marked by a belief against saving old structures. "Mum and I are constantly arguing in favour of saving sites. In two-three competitions we participated in, all we wanted was an opportunity to turn things around," says Nandini, director at SNK. And so, this win is significant because it is an affirmation that some clients get it right. "And this is IIM-Ahmedabad! The alumni hold positions of great importance. We are excited that the conservation approach may spread," says Brinda, principal architect and founder. The restoration was undertaken in July 2016 and completed in December 2018.