A conversation with Neelesh Kumar of 23 Degrees Design Shift and Mitul Desai of Studio ii

In the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc developed a bold thesis on adaptive restoration that proposed returning monuments to idealized, complete states that may never have historically existed. He suggested using scientific evidence such as photographs and archaeological evidence. Completely contradictory to this, John Ruskin, a theorist, firmly opposed restoration, arguing that it was a hypocritical way of destroying a building. Embodying the romantic theories of the 19th century, he advocated for an archaeological approach and respect for the original building, no matter its ruined state.