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 Heritage
Indian 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

• 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
• 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
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
APSRTC Bus
Stand
Govindaraja swamy temple. Group of
Theaters

TTD
Choultry

Railway
Station
Koneru

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)