IDENTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF HERITAGE

IDENTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF HERITAGE

Quality Improvement Programme

McGAN’s OOTY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE,

5/635, PERAR, NEAR MYNALA POST, THE NILGIRIS, OOTY, TAMIL NADU

Introduction

The built heritage of our country, which forms a part of our cultural heritage, is a priceless non-renewable resource that is seriously threatened. The responsibility of preserving our heritage rests with us – the citizens of India. The Central Government through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protects monuments more than 100 years old declared to be of national importance. Monuments of importance to the States are protected by the state governments through their respective Departments of Archaeology. However, existing legislation covers about 5000 monuments to be looked after by the central government and approximately 3500 by the states. Considering India’s vast cultural heritage, these numbers do not seem adequate. Innumerable historic buildings and precincts of architectural, historical, and aesthetic importance remain ‘unprotected’, largely neglected, threatened by urban pressures and thus are in need of conservation.

Since the policy framework for protection and integrated conservation is still a developing field in our country, it is essential to take stock of our built heritage. Rapid changes in the environment also entail a focused approach to the management of built heritage. Much of the loss of the historic building stock can be attributed to lack of information about the structures and their significance. The ongoing efforts of protection and management, though commendable, are not comprehensive.

In this context documentation emerges as the single most powerful tool for the conservation and management of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of our nation. Documentation not only equips professionals/ agencies in developing conservation interventions for heritage sites, but also equips communities to safeguard their heritage through understanding the significance and interpretation of cultural heritage.

What is listing of Heritage Properties?

Listing is an inventory of heritage buildings & sites based on the survey of the cultural heritage of an area. Areas of heritage in a town/city are explored, to uncover the various heritage components that depict the different time period and reflect the influence of history on the town/city. The different architectural styles and the landscape are also recorded. It attempts a comprehensive inventory of the built heritage of a state/city. However listed building or site essentially means inventoried buildings/site with statutory designations. When the inventory of heritage building is designated under the relevant legislation (Heritage Regulations, Municipal Acts, Heritage Bill, Town and Country Act, Ancient Monuments act etc.) it acquires the status of a Listing. Since a large part of our heritage is Unprotected Heritage it becomes most vulnerable without any documentation. Moreover no legislative framework is possible without baseline data or a data bank. This database of listing will serve as resource material for heritage regulations as well as to farm Heritage laws at the Municipal/Panchayat level. Listing also acts as a basic tool which is needed to identify conservation priorities and strategies in heritage planning especially for large regions.

Inventories are a primary tool for the conservation and protection of built heritage. Strategies for conservation are meaningless without knowledge and understanding of what exists. Survey, analysis and compilation of the inventory of buildings and structures are vital - individually and in groups. Only on the basis of an understanding of the areas can appropriate policies and programmes for conservation be drawn up. Inventories are useful for prioritizing work for conservation, identification of tourism potential and routes, for considerations in planning development projects such as infrastructure and education, improving public awareness by recognition of the value of this heritage and identification of potential projects.

Why is Listing of Heritage Properties important?

Listing helps us acknowledge and understand our shared history.  It marks and celebrates a building's special architectural and historic interest, and also brings it under the consideration of the planning system so that some thought will be taken about its future. The older a building is, the more likely it is to be listed. Listing is not a preservation order, preventing change. Listing is an identification stage where buildings are marked and celebrated as having exceptional architectural or historic special interest, before any planning stage which may decide a building's future.

Listing does not freeze a building in time; it simply means that listed building consent must be applied for in order to make any changes to that building which might affect its special interest.  Listed buildings can be altered, extended and sometimes even demolished within government planning guidance. The local authority uses listed building consent to make decisions that balance the site's historic significance against other issues such as its function, condition or viability.

Benefits of Listing

• Cultural resource data bank

• Formulation of heritage regulations

• Tourism development plans

• Prioritizing conservation works

• Potential for reuse

• Tourist & infrastructure facilities

• Identification of historic precincts

• Guidelines for urban & rural conservation

• Heritage walks

Quality Improvement Programme

This programme is mainly going to focus on the first step towards conservation of historic properties. Conservation of any historic property would ideally start with the identification of the same. This programme shall enable professionals and people in teaching community with the understanding of “Heritage” its importance and ways to conserve it.

Eminent Speakers

Prof. Nalini Thakur

Dean & HOD (Department of Architectural Conservation)

School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi

Professor Thakur is one of India’s foremost experts in the field of heritage conservation. Her experience over three decades in the field of architecture and conservation ranges from activist, professional, teacher, mentor and academician.

Dr. Priyaleen Singh

B.Arch., MLA., M.A. Cons. (UK), Cert In RM&HC (Italy), Ph.D.(UK).
Professor of Architectural Conservation

Priyaleen Singh is a Professor in the Department of Architectural Conservation at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. She has a Masters degree in both Landscape Architecture and Architectural and Urban Conservation. She was awarded the Charles Wallace India Trust scholarship to do her MA in Conservation from Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies, University of York, U.K. and subsequently got the Commonwealth Scholarship to do her D.Phil from the same institute in 1998 on 'Changing Attitudes to Design with Nature in the Urban Indian context'. As a practicing Conservation architect and a Landscape architect she has worked on several urban conservation and Historic landscape conservation projects. She is presently researching on the lesser known Indian landscape design traditions from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries to include the Rajput, Bundela and Jat garden design. She is also compiling a National Register of Historic Gardens of India but at the same time continues to be concerned with contemporary landscape design and urban conservation issues in India.

Sathya Prakash Varanashi

B.Arch, M.A. (University of York), Former Head of Department of Architecture, BIT Bangalore, Convenor INTACH Banglore Chapter, Principle Architect at Sathya Consultants

Sathya Prakash Varanashi studied architecture in Bangalore, urban design in Delhi and heritage conservation in England. A former Professor of Architecture, he is involved in academics, outreach activities, freelance writing, professional associations and NGO initiatives.

Right from his early days, he was attracted to designs ideas rooted in cost, culture, climate and creativity, thanks to the influence of architects such as Laurie Baker, Shankar Kanade, K. Jaisim, A.G.K. Menon and K.T. Ravindran. His consultancy firm, Sathya Consultants, in Bangalore has been professing and practising eco-friendly cost-effective architecture for the last 15 years.

Programme Schedule

Day 1

09:00 am:                   Participants Registration

10:00 am:                   Opening Ceremony to be chaired by Prof. Kersi Daroga

10:55 am:                   Tea Break

11:15- 01:15 pm:        Presentation and Talk by Dr. Priyaleen Singh

01:15- 02:00 pm:        Lunch Break

02:00- 03:30 pm:        Presentation and Talk by Mr. Sathya Prakash Varanashi

03:30- 03:45 pm:        Tea Break

03:45- 04:30 pm:        Lecture on Listing of Jaisalmer and Rajouri – Vaibhav Prakash

04:30- 05:00 pm:        Felicitation by Prof. Kersi Daroga 

Day 2

9:00 – 10:55 am:        Eminent speaker Prof. Nalini Thakur will present a paper.

11:15 – 12:15 pm:      Lecture on listing process in Lakshwadeep – Safiya MD

12:15 – 1:15 pm:        Sharing experiences on Listing of Lakkundi/Wai – Shruti Mutalikdesai

1:15 – 2:00 pm:          Lunch Break

2:00 – 4:00 pm:          Lecture on “Incorporation of GIS in listing process” - Kuladeep

Kumar Sadevi

4:00 pm:                     Certificate Distribution by Prof. Kersi Daroga.

Day 3

9:00 am – 4:00pm:    Outdoor workshop on “Listing of Heritage properties of Udhagamandalam”