Learning to Live with Cultural Heritage in Urban Indian Contexts

Ref.: 230
Key theme: 03 Visual integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 14/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

MAHAJAN, Shalini * (India) - Conservation Architect (M Sc from IUAV, Venice)

ABSTRACT

The preoccupation with saving aesthetic monumental values is so strong in India that preservation in the country has become a synonym implying `no change'. Applicable to all historic sites, this phenomenon though is unthinkable and impractical in living historic settlements. The outstanding values of the historic urban landscapes instead demand innovative design principles and solutions, to help conserve and simultaneously develop these places. The Western World has been making conscious efforts towards incorporating area conservation in revitalizing historic urban areas by employing the principle of integrated conservation, in turn guided by the methodology of historical typological and morphological analysis and restoration etc.

The historical typological analysis method primarily calls for `reading' the historic buildings as `historic documents', but they have an additional advantage of elucidating the methods of constructions in order to outline the future restoration of the built heritage. These traditional methods of building and materials in fact reveal the `skills' needed to bring back the ensemble to its original state of historical integrity and authenticity. Unlike the West, India to a large extent still possesses a rich and living tradition of indigenous knowledge and traditional craftsmanship and skills, constituting the irreplaceable intangible heritage. Deprived of the patronage of the elite and the intellectual leadership of the professional architects, these craftsmen have since long been left out of the mainstream of `legitimate' architecture in the country. But the existence of these traditional skills still constitutes as one of the `strongest allies' in re-creating historical authenticity in the urban Indian contexts and in retaining the architectural character and cultural identity of the country's historic landscapes.

What is required is a strong will and a conscious intention to `use' these traditional cultural practices and thus save the intangible knowledge from extinction on one hand, and alongside saving the physical and visual integrity of the historic urban Indian landscapes. The state authorities in fact need to play an active role here by recognizing and reinforcing these skills through simple yet powerful strategies like the `Rehabilitation Manuals'. These can indeed turn into vital tools for urban conservation in the hands of the administrative authorities in India, by making the universal methodologies culture-specific. This will help provide a new impetus in the country for `Crafts based Conservation' that will not only help in preserving the historic buildings (the tangible heritage) but also the historic ways of building (the intangible heritage).

Urban Conservation in India if carried out in the above manner will help in:
- keeping the historic urban fabric intact, aesthetically
- keeping the Indian traditional building skills alive, our dying arts.
- help in the socio-economic development of the historic area by promoting cultural industries, giving the locals an opportunity to improve their living conditions.

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