The Dalhousie Square of Kolkata later named Binoy-Badal-Dinesh (BBD) Bagh is one area of the city which has been termed the historic urban core. Within this historic urban core, there exist numerous areas which are under severe stress in terms of loss of historical character, rupture of historic fabric and tremendous economic pressure trying to make an indentation into the historicity of the area. There also exist numerous buildings of historical importance which are under bad state of preservation and utilization, many of which are also dilapidated. This paper takes a look at one of the few identified areas within the historic urban core and proposes sensitive infill which intends to establish the approach towards construction of historically sensitive buildings such that the thriving historicity of the area may be maintained on the one hand but on the other more economy may be generated adhering to the existing municipal byelaws.

An urban core is the heart or nucleus of a city. Generally it is a place buzzing with commercial activities and may also be the seat of government. In most of the cases, an urban core experiences tremendous economic pressure due to high return value per unit space.

A historic urban core is one which is not only the center of activities, but also has a significant concentration of heritage structures. Such an urban place or historic urban core generally has an identity of its own—a distinct townscape character that is worthy of preservation. Thus, in addition to its economic importance, the place gains a symbolic value attributing common identities for the citizens.

The Dalhousie Square of Kolkata, later named Binoy-Badal-Dinesh (BBD) Bagh is one such area of the city which can rightly be termed the historic urban core. In fact, the post-independence BBD Bagh had its early origin as a settlement which grew on the fringes of this great tank that still forms the center of the area. This was within the enclosure of the offices of the former landlords. English inhabitants lived primarily in the immediate neighborhood of the fort which the British built during the initial period of their settlement, and majority of the residences were found north of the fort and along the main thoroughfare leading to the central market area, Burrabazar.

Kolkata became the official capital of British India in 1773. Lord Wellesley was instrumental in the construction of few government houses and town hall at their present sites. The Treasury building and St. Andrew's church were the contemporary creation of the British, who also made the Secretariat, High Court and many more such eminent structures that followed later.

Architecture Journal, Infill Proposals, Historic Urban Core, Government Houses, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Restoration Requirement, Dilapidated Buildings, Architectural Vocabulary, Architectural Styles, Potential Sites, Modern Construction, Peripheral Sites, Urban Design Guidelines, Internal Courtyard.