The two storied building that was on the verge of being demolished is now restored and will be the home to TAMIL NADU STATE POLICE MUSEUM. We are taken back in time as we see the shut doors and windows opened up, the restored balcony, the original corridor with its high parapet walls, the original Madras terrace roofing, and the walls plastered with the original recipe of the lime plaster (chunam) used in the building a century ago. This restoration has brought the building back alive and makes us realize what it would’ve been to live and interact in this building in 1882. Be rest assured that J.C. Boulderson’s spirit was working overtime in ADGP Mr. Amalraj IPS, working under the direct supervision of the then DGP Mr. Tripathy IPS to get the building back in form and fit for another century.
The surprise came when the Police Bosses voted against occupying the prestigious building again and instead chose to house their Museum in the piece of art. By any standards, this building is itself a Museum object. Immense energies have guided this project. Mr. Steve Borgia was invited as Honorary Executive Consultant into this project to make the dream come alive. Mr. Steve with his team of architects and passionate heritage enthusiasts has put the Museum together, with articles and stories that can be found only here. He has also donated the largest taxidermied tiger of India, to honour the men in uniform. The seed is sown for posterity. Generations will pass by. But this Boulderson building and all its content will stand here singing praise to the men who protected human lives around. May the spirit of Boulderson and his men, this Sarcenian piece of Art, and all the objects it.
THE CONSERVATION STORY
The decision to restore the building to its original glory and the historic fabric is what makes the building’s conservation story a beautiful one. This bungalow was the seat of the Commissioner of Police for several years after acquiring it from C. Arunagiri Mudaliar way back in 1856 by the first Commissioner of Madras Police, Lt. Col. J.C. Boulderson. The structure and its outlying grounds of 14 acres was bought for rupees 21,000.Needless to talk about its style, it made heads turn when passing by the Pantheon Road.
Post-independence, demand for additional space led to several structural inclusions such as partition walls, sealing of doors and windows, and closing up of the balcony spaces has not only brought down the functionality of spaces but also has ripped the aesthetic value of the building. The so-called development made it uninhabitable and dangerous to dwell. Humans were forced to make way for flora and fauna.
When this COP office campus was taken up for restoration, the old bungalow’s status was in such a poor condition that it was almost going to be demolished. But the decision to do so was put off with the department deciding to restore. Thanks to the values of the bosses. The real icing comes with the decision to create a world-class Museum here. The Tamil Nadu State Police Museum.
The Reach Foundation and Conservation Mainstream, along with The Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation took up the conservation and adaptive reuse of the building. A literal rebuild. The building’s terrace condition due to several layers of bitumen in order to arrest water seepage had only worsened the structure leading to vegetation and roots growing into the building. This, in turn, had damaged the rafters, beams, and lintels. As the COP office grew. the number of officials working in the building and the infrastructure also increased exponentially, therefore, increasing the live load and dead load of the building. This load had been the major villain to the already damaged structural elements and had worsened the situation in the years that passed.
This Museum will exhibit the passage of Police from colonial age to the present technologically improved force. Doric columns are used to erect a grand portico which houses a blue Plymouth Belvedere, which was once used by the Commissioner of Police. Landmark cases dealt by the police of Chennai are displayed . Mannequins wearing different uniforms of various wings are displayed surrounded by a bandsman with different musical instruments. Rare sculptures recovered from the Idol wing are kept on display. A battery of guns from 303 to the latest Bren light machine are found with 12 bore bullets. On the verandah one could see the Penny Farthing Bicycle used by the Constables, Royal Enfield Bike used by the Dispatcher and a Motorized Speed Boat used by the coastal security Personnel. Brass bells used by Firemen are displayed to signy different alarms. Several important cases dealt by the police of Chennai are showcased. A time map showing from the sangam era to the present can be seen there. Swords, Cameras, Riot Gears, Exploves, Handcuffs used by the Police Personnel are found there. A replica of the Commissioners office is recreated.