JSW Realty to Redevelop 70-Year-Old Art Deco Building in Malabar Hill into Luxury Tower
MUMBAI: Malabar Court, an over 70-year-old Art Deco building in the prestigious Malabar Hill area, is set to undergo a major transformation. JSW Realty, the real estate arm of JSW Group, has signed a development agreement with the Patel family to redevelop the five-storey property into a boutique luxury residential tower.
Malabar Court has been a symbol of the neighborhood’s residential fabric for over seven decades, serving as the home of the Patel family. The building, originally constructed by Salina Sassoon from the merchant-philanthropist David Sassoon family, was designed by renowned architect David William Ditchburn, who arrived in Mumbai after World War I. According to Art Deco Mumbai, an organization dedicated to documenting Art Deco neighborhoods, Ditchburn later merged his practice with Mistri & Bhedwar to form the architectural firm Ditchburn, Mistri & Bhedwar.
The property, sprawling across just under an acre and located adjacent to the Malabar Hill Club, will retain its Art Deco legacy while adopting a contemporary design approach. “Planned as a boutique luxury residential tower, the development is expected to generate a top line of over Rs 2,000 crore,” said a spokesperson from JSW Realty. “It will offer exclusive residences, including single floor homes, duplexes, and a signature penthouse,” they added.
The project is also expected to feature a curated suite of wellness and lifestyle amenities, designed to offer residents a private and tranquil retreat within the city. Sujal Shroff, CEO of JSW Realty, emphasized the project's vision: “Malabar Court is envisioned as a rare offering shaped by continuity rather than reinvention. Over the last five years, we have meticulously built a portfolio that prioritizes quality and architectural integrity. With Malabar Court, we strengthen our commitment to developments that honor the legacy of the neighborhood while delivering enduring institutional value.”
Bombay, now Mumbai, adopted the Art Deco style after it emerged in the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. Since the 1930s, Mumbai has become home to perhaps the world’s largest collection of Art Deco buildings, numbering around 1,528. However, many of these historic structures have been demolished over the years. Atul Kumar, founder trustee of Art Deco Mumbai, expressed concern over the redevelopment: “Malabar Hill is being reimagined. Malabar Court, a magnificent Art Deco building in fine condition, is the latest to fall under the pressure of redevelopment. Low-rise neighborhoods are giving way to ultra-high rises, and the sense of dismay and loss is palpable.”
Despite the concerns, the redevelopment of Malabar Court represents a significant investment in Mumbai’s real estate market, promising to bring a blend of modern luxury and historical charm to one of the city’s most exclusive areas.
