Evaluating the adaptive reuse of Moazzam Jahi Market as a public plaza

Adaptive reuse is increasingly recognized as a viable urban development and cultural preservation strategy. The 1935 Indo-Saracenic Moazzam Jahi Market (MJM) in Hyderabad, which was renovated as an open space in 2020, is analysed in this research for adaptive reuse. Notwithstanding the restoration, MJM is still underutilized with poor daytime activity and a restrictive emphasis on nighttime food-themed activities. The research examines MJM via a mixed-methods approach, integrating stakeholder questionnaires, site observation, archival research, and literature benchmarking. Assessment is based on six indicators of successful public markets: accessibility, diversity of use, inclusiveness, cultural identity, comfort, and economic vitality. Results show that the architectural conservation objectives have mostly been met, while functional performance is still incomplete. Daytime activity is poor, pedestrian comfort is affected by shop over-spill and vehicle intrusion, and programming is youth-oriented food culture-biased. Absence of mixed uses and civic-based activities further reduces inclusivity and daily relevance. Comparative study with international and Indian adaptive reuse examples identifies that effective reuse is possible through combined spatial, programmatic, and governance responses instead of architectural conservation. The research concludes that MJM’s adaptive reuse is an “asymmetrical success” in adaptive reuse, where architectural conservation is achieved more effectively than social activation and functional activation. To overcome post-renovation underutilization, it proposes interventions like stakeholder co-management, greater pedestrian connectivity with adjacent bazaars, and cultural programming that can animate the plaza during the day. These interventions have the potential to balance heritage conservation with socio-economic vibrancy, ensuring the market’s continued functionality in Hyderabad’s urban life.