UNESCO World Heritage Inscription Signage

Connecting People with Mumbai's World Heritage Through Interpretation and Public Engagement

UDRI collaborated with partner organisations under the Federation of Residents' Trusts (FORT) to secure UNESCO World Heritage inscription for Mumbai's Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles. Endorsed by the Government of Maharashtra and the Government of India, the Ensemble of 94 sites was inscribed on 30 June 2018. Following the inscription, UDRI and its partners developed and implemented a comprehensive interpretation and signage programme to help residents and visitors better understand and navigate the World Heritage Site. The project introduced a bilingual, accessible, and UNESCO-compliant signage system featuring over 110 interpretive, directional, and wayfinding signs, along with a three-dimensional model of the Ensemble. Implemented in partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, and supported through Corporate Social Responsibility funding, the initiative enhances public awareness, enriches the visitor experience, and promotes the long-term conservation of Mumbai's World Heritage.

UNESCO World Heritage Inscription Signage

A World Heritage Site in the Heart of Mumbai

The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles bring together 19th-century Victorian Gothic structures and 20th century Art Deco buildings, conjoined together by the vast open space of the Oval Maidan, a listed Grade I heritage ground. It is one of the world's largest contiguous collections of Art Deco buildings and one of only a few places where two globally significant architectural traditions exist in direct dialogue reflecting Mumbai's transformation from a colonial port to India's financial capital.

Aerial View of the Art Deco buildings along the Marine Drive promenade. Image Credit: Abeer Khan for Federation of Residents’ Trusts (FORT)

Aerial View of the Art Deco and Victorian Gothic buildings encompassing the Oval Maidan. Image Credit: Jehangir Sorabjee

A Citizen Led Journey to World Heritage Recognition

The inscription of Mumbai's World Heritage Site was the result of nearly fourteen years of collaboration between conservation professionals, citizen groups, heritage organisations, and government agencies. As a member of the Federation of Residents' Trusts (FORT), UDRI worked alongside the Organisation for Verdant Ambience and Land Trust (OVAL Trust), Oval Cooperage Residents Association (OCRA), Art Deco Mumbai Trust (ADMT), Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens' Association (NPCCA), and Kala Ghoda Association (KGA) to prepare and advocate for the nomination.

In July 2018, the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, comprising 94 buildings, were officially inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The inscription recognised the site's Outstanding Universal Value, but it also marked the beginning of a new phase. Protecting a living heritage precinct required more than conservation regulations; it demanded public awareness, interpretation, and a stronger connection between people and the place they were visiting.

Making World Heritage Visible

Following the inscription, one of the immediate priorities was ensuring that residents and visitors could easily identify, navigate, and understand the World Heritage Site.

UDRI developed a comprehensive signage and interpretation strategy for the entire precinct. The plan identified strategic locations for different types of signage and established design guidelines that complied with UNESCO's recommendations while responding sensitively to Mumbai's historic urban context. UDRI conceived, managed, and executed the project, securing Corporate Social Responsibility funding for its implementation.

Designing an Accessible Heritage Experience

Today, the interpretation system comprises more than 110 signs across the World Heritage Site, representing 13 different sign types. Installed with the support of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, the system includes information plaques, building interpretation panels, directional signage, wayfinding maps, and engraved floor markers along the Marine Drive promenade.

Designed in English and Marathi, with building names also provided in Braille, the signage improves accessibility while encouraging visitors to engage more deeply with the precinct's history, architecture, and cultural significance. Rather than functioning solely as wayfinding infrastructure, the signage creates a cohesive interpretation system that connects individual buildings to the larger story of Mumbai's urban development.

One of the project's most distinctive features is a detailed three-dimensional model of the World Heritage Ensemble installed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS). The model offers visitors an overview of the entire precinct and has become an important educational resource for students, tourists, and residents alike.

Proposed UNESCO Signage Plan

Credits: UDRI

UNESCO Signage installed at Jehangir Art Gallery and in the Kala Ghoda Precinct. The floorboards engraved with the elevations of the Art Deco buildings are installed at the Marine Drive Promenade. Image Credit: Apoorva Iyengar and UDRI Archives

3D model of the Ensembles installed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahlaya (CSMVS). Image Credit: UDRI Archives

Building Partnerships for Conservation

Delivering the signage programme required close coordination across multiple institutions. Government departments, heritage authorities, educational institutions, housing societies, private property owners, and cultural organisations all played a role in the implementation process.

Over four years, hundreds of meetings and site visits were undertaken to determine appropriate locations, secure approvals, and ensure that every intervention respected both heritage regulations and the needs of a living city. The project demonstrates how effective heritage conservation depends on collaboration between public authorities, technical experts, local communities, and private stakeholders.

Beyond Signage

The UNESCO signage project represents more than a wayfinding initiative. It is an important tool for public education, heritage interpretation, and long-term conservation. By helping people recognise the significance of the World Heritage Site, the project strengthens public ownership and encourages responsible stewardship of Mumbai's historic environment.

The initiative also contributes to the city's tourism economy by improving the visitor experience while reinforcing the international significance of the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles. As awareness grows, heritage becomes not only something to preserve, but also an asset that enriches Mumbai's cultural identity and supports sustainable urban development.

The UNESCO World Heritage Inscription Signage project demonstrates how design, research, and collaboration can transform heritage interpretation into a powerful tool for education and conservation. By making Mumbai's World Heritage more visible, accessible, and understandable, the project helps ensure that this remarkable cultural legacy is valued and protected for generations to come.