Presentation on

“Conservation, Reuse and Regeneration Plans for Historic Areas

and Heritage Buildings – few cases and issues in India”

on Wednesday, 31st October, 2012 ; 1415 hrs to 1430 hrs

at HICC, Hyderabad

GSV Suryanarayana Murthy, Conservation ARCHITECT, Hyderabad – +91-9849347322 (M)

History of Conservation Movement -Regeneration of Traditional and Historical Building Knowledge Systems in India

• History of Conservation In India– Forms/levels of conservation

• Culture, History, Identity, Resource (Cultural, Natural)

– Objects, artifacts, paintings– Buildings– Area/ Human settlements

» Water bodies, Forests» Villages and Towns

– Through Traditions• Oral Traditions

• Practicing Traditions

• Traditional Texts and Literature

– Through Archaeology and Cultural History• Including Architectural, Technology, Science History

Background history….

For Knowledge Systems Perception

• Education and initiatives of Education in the Society as a Key component to understand the existing pattern of understanding

• William Jones 1784 - Royal Asiatic Society• Ram Raz -1834• James Fergusson - 1840• Alexandar Cunningham -1870

– Formation of Archaeological Survey of India

– Geographical Survey of India

– Survey of India (Biological, Linguistic, Population...)

• Administrative Reforms under East India company– Formation of Town Administration

– Surveyors, Engineers in Military

• Nizam Dominion and other Princely states in India– Circar Districts

– Madras Presidency

• James Burgess (1900)

Background history….

For Knowledge Systems Perception

• Railways

• Industrial Revolution in the West

• 1904 – Ancient Monuments Act

• 1924- Guidelines for Conservation- John Marshall

• 1st and 2nd world wars

• Archaeological explorations in India (Sir Wheeler )

• Independence (1947)

• Constitution of India

• Central and State

• 1958 – Monuments Act

• AMASAR Act,2010

• List of protected Monuments under Central and State

• Local Governments

Built Heritage In India

• India is known for its rich and diverse cultural heritage

• India’s colonial history has resulted in the inheritance of the western system of cultural resource management

• The Nature of Indian Built HeritageIndian historic cities and settlements have always been viewed by planners, urban managers and architects over simplistically.

• Historic cities have been seen as a blob on the Master Plan and simply called the “walled city” or the “inner city”. In truth, Indian historic cities and settlements are complex and highly developed cultural resource entities.

A few case studies in India

• Travancore Palace

• Cochin house

• Old jail, Monda Market,

Secunderabad

• Victoria Public Hall, Chennai

• Kalas Mahal, Chennai

• Mysore, Bidar, Bijapur,

Gulburga – heritage listing

and mapping

• Bidar, Gulburga – Condition

mapping and assessment

• Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal,

Banasankari – Condition

mapping and assessment

• Assam

• Tirupati eco city Project

• Konarak, Orissa

• Gandikota

• Charminar pedestrianisation

project

• Charkamans, Pathergatti and Streetscaping including parking and traffic management

• Secunderabad Club

• Mozam jahi market

• Pratap karan gir Palace

• Nizamia Tibbi college and

Unani Hospital

• Osmania general hospital

Cases across India….

Cases across India….2

Cases across India….3

Cases across India….4

Cases across India….5

Tirupati, Eco-city Project

• Significance– Temple Towns in South India

– Temple Architecture

– Connection to the Sacred Hill Tirumala– Part of Enhancing Environmental and

Cultural aspects, significance of the place

– Archaeological, Architectural and Urban Design

• Issue– No of Pilgrims, Unauthorised constructions,

un-used buildings, New Developments, Disorganised Garbage and Sewage disposal system

– Misuse of old water bodies and Springs – Lack of orientation towards conservation

• What is done– Significance mapping, building heights

analysis for guiding new developments and suggestions for repairs and restoration in the existing identified heritage buildings

– Identification of Heritage Components in Eco-City Project area

Tirupati, Eco-city Project

Group of Theaters

APSRTC Bus Stand

TTD Choultry

Railway Station

Koneru

Govindaraja swamy temple.

KONARAK, World Heritage Site

• Significance– Integrated Cultural Tourism Plan

– World Heritage Site

– Sun Temple depicting knowledge of the world, planets and sun

– Temple Architecture

• Issue – Tourism oriented Master Plan

– New Developments

– Environmental Condition

• What is done– Analysis and an Integrated

Cultural Tourism Plan• Tourist facilities, infrastructure,

Overall Maintenance • General Development sensitive to

the significance of place

Gandikota, Heritage and Adventure Tourism

• Significance– 11th Century Fort

– Temple Architecture

– Qutubshahi Architecture– Vijayanagara Architecture

– Natural Surroundings with a gorge

– Rock Formations

– Vernacular Settlements

– Local Culture, Local Image and Local Language

• Issue– Many abandoned houses

– Neglected portions of the fort– Non-presence of water in the gorge and river

penneru

– Lack of safe drinking water for the villagers

– New Development Plans under Tourism

– ASI Protection

• What is done– Existing ownership of Heritage Components

– Present condition of Heritage Components

– ASI Regulations from 1952 Monuments Act– APTDC acquired land outside the fort

– Potential locations for Camps, Restaurants, Stores, Office and Tourist requirements

– Water Supply, Sanitary network and signage

– Local Community Perception and needs for integrating into the project

Pratapkaran Gir Palace, Hyderabad

• Significance– Pratap karan Gir Palace was

constructed during 1920-1924 AD– constructed by Pratap Karan Gir, who

was the relative of Kishan Pershad the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad during the reign of Nizam – VII.

– Palace is situated at Pratap Bagh., Gosha Mahal, Hyderabad

– In use by the zonal office of Hyderabad Metro Water works

• Issue– Lack of documented record– Damaged portions of ceiling and Roof– Changes and modifications at later

point of construction

• What is done– Detailed documentation

– Condition mapping

Moazam Jahi Market,

Hyderabad

• Significance

– Landmark Historical

Structure of Hyderabad

– Constructed during 1935 along with two other

markets in the City

– Architecture and Urban

design Initiatives of Mir Osman Ali Khan, The

Nizam VII

Moazam Jahi Market,

Hyderabad

• Issue

– Inappropriate use, Over use

– No documentation

– Insensitive additions

– Signage Boards, banners

– Floor, Roof and Wall additions

– Damaged Roof, Ceiling areas

• What is done

– Comprehensive Survey,

Documentation

– Conservation plan

– Material Testing for

Specifications

Moazam Jahi Market,

Hyderabad

Moazam Jahi Market,

Hyderabad

Mahabupal Manzil (Wanaparthy Palace),

Hyderabad

• Significance– One of the palaces built by Rajas of Samsthans under Nizam Dominions

– 1916

– Listed Heritage Building under HUDA

• Issue– Roof area showing signs of dampness– Partly damaged in the Front Porch

area– Partly unused/ neglected area

– Immediate repair for Roof has been identified as priority by the owner

– Existing Theatre is a subsequent development – to be demolished?

• What is done– Condition mapping

– Comprehensive plan– Waiting for material samples collection

and testing of materials for specification for Roof

Old Homeopathy Hospital –

Mahaboob Chowk

• Significance– Shops and Residence facing

the chowk

– Above 100 years

– New Architecture during 1890

– Listed Heritage Building

• Issue– Redevelopment Proposal

– Conservation Plan

– New Developments adjacent to the building

– Ownership

• What is done– Documentation of the context

and general conservation Proposal

Hampi- Anegundi Reconstruction of a Vernacular House

• Significance– Existing site and building of an artisan

– Hampi world Heritage Site

– Royal Village Anegundi– Vernacular Architecture

• Issue– An NGO has taken up the task for

Reconstruction on the lines of Conservation of Traditional Architecture Principles

– Re use, Redesign with conservation Guideline

– Maintaining Property lines and local typology

• What is done– Based on a detailed study of Local

Architecture with similar requirements– New and contemporary requirements

integrated

– Local materials, reuse of the old material

– A+D spectrum foundation award– IIA AP Chapter Award for the approach

Hampi Manual Documentation of Prasanna Narasimha Temple and Vithala Temple Surroundings

• Manual documentation during Archeological excavation and exploration

Seetharambagh Temple,

Hyderabad• Significance

– Part of Main entry of the temple complex

– 1834 above 150 years old (1834 AD)

– Listed heritage Building– INTACH award

• Issue– Portion of Granite post damaged due

to hitting of a truck– Other portions are also facing threat

of damage due to weathering/abandoned/ unused etc.,

• What is done– Documentation of the entry– Inventory for the site and work– Identification of Sculptor and quarry

for original colour and texture of the Pink Granite Post

1) Army School, Cantonment

2) Directorate of Industries, Chirag Ali Lane, Hyderabad

Gagan Mahal and Rani mahal Anegundi

Kalas Mahal, Chennai

• Documentation – Photographic,

graphic, material and Construction

techniques, Building and Site system

• Condition mapping – drawing and

Quantification

• Chemical testing – Composition

• Physical testing – Strength, foundation pits

• Adaptive Reuse - analysis and

feasibility study

• Proposal - Conservation, reuse, new and

additions, MEP services and Quantification

– Heritage Conservation Committee/ Project committee vetting required periodically

– Permissions and access to old drawings

and documentation and details including archives

Heritage Walks, Hyderabad

ICCROM

Training Material Case Studies

• Charminar Precinct under Living Heritage Cities

• Nagarjuna Konda – Salvage Archaeology

• Alampur Kshetra temples – Salvage Archaeology - Transplantation

• Hampi - World Heritage Site - sites endangered

ICCROM

Training Material Case Study –

Charminar Precinct

• Significance– Historic Monument– Part of City Centre

– New City foundation in 1591 AD– Qutb Shahi Architecture

• Issue– Traffic Movement, Pollution

– Un protected Cultural Resource around the structure and lack of awareness

– Insensitive use/ Excessive and over use of land

– Commercial developments– Infrastructure changes like cables for

electricity, Telephones etc.,

• What is done– Case study developed on Managing

Risks to Historic/ Traditional Areas, Towns and Settlements (Urban/ Rural) -Tools, Techniques and Strategies

ICCROM

Training Material Case Study –

Charminar Precinct

Department of Culture Fellowship

•Structural

Aspects of

Historical

Buildings in

Vijayanagara

Organisations/ Individuals working on the issues of

Conservation

• ASI

• AP State Archaeology

• Local Government

• INTACH

• Centre for Deccan Studies

• Forum For a Better Hyderabad

• Architecture Colleges

• Geography and Planning Institutes

• History and Culture Teaching Departments in Universities

Regeneration of Traditional and Historic

Architectural Knowledge Systems

• Documentation

• Understanding the RIGHT meanings, patterns, Geometry, Composition and theory of Design

• Anthropological, Social, Historical , Geographical Knowledge

• Search for Truth in Indian Architecture

• Breaking “COLONIAL” HANGOVER in perception and knowledge

• Preventing disturbance to Built Environments of INDIA with Knowledge of appropriate and Contextual Construction Systems

•Let us put our efforts to

regenerate and bring New

value to

Future of the Past

Thank you

GSV Suryanarayana Murthy, Conservation ARCHITECT, Hyderabad – +91-9849347322 (M)