Adaptation of residential spaces in historic old cores of India based on socio-economic factors: <i>a case of Bowbazar, Kolkata</i>

Purpose This research critically analyses how residential spaces in historic neighbourhoods are adapted according to the living patterns of residents. As a case, it focuses on a household residing in a century-old residential building in the heart of Kolkata. Once organically developed, the old city cores (especially in historic cities like Kolkata) have become dilapidated, characterised by minimal modifications and relatively poor living conditions. This often leads residents to consider moving to newer and/or formally planned areas of the city. However, the family selected for this study (as a case) has chosen to remain in their home since 1919 (106 years till today). Design/methodology/approach The research uniquely utilises a “respondent-specific event mapping” approach, interpreting information from the 76-year-old longest-standing resident of the household and verifying it with old statutory documents and photographs preserved by the family. This was achieved during a 176-h interview session conducted over eight months. The data collected was used to create three types of mappings: (1) User-Time Event Mapping, (2) Space Utilisation-User-Time Event Mapping, and (3) Physical Conditions-Time Event Mapping. Additionally, the study considered temporal changes during special occasions. Findings The findings reveal that residents in such historic buildings develop a deep emotional bond with their neighbourhood and living space, which motivates them to stay in the same place despite the liveability challenges. The research highlights how these emotional ties are influenced by significant life events, such as marriage or death within the family. Originality/value The article is an empirical, longitudinal, interpretive (critical instance) case study using oral history and event mapping to examine residential adaptation in a historic perspective. Overall, the uniqueness of this study lies in its exploration of the architectural planning of residential spaces from a temporal perspective that is further influenced by social attributes. Moreover, its methodology, based on user narratives, can inspire future interpretations of space adaptations in the historic cores of cities across the globe.