Across the globe, the international World Heritage Day, shows people the importance of the heritage structures in our day-to-day life and how we are responsible to preserve them. But, in India celebrating cultural heritage is an everyday affair, by living our lives in a way that depicts who we are and where we come from.
As we all should agree, one day in a year to celebrate the heritage is not enough, it should be beyond that in order to bring awareness to import- ant heritage structures, monuments and to espouse the need of preserving them. Let’s delve deeper into knowing about how heritage elements can be incorporated in the contemporary structures and what an architect can do to preserve the heritage and what steps needs to be taken.
LET’S PROTECT OUR PAST.
BR Ajit Chief Executive Architect at Ajit Associates speaks about the importance of adopting the heritage in modern architecture to ensure it lives for the years to come for the future generation.
According to BR Ajit, there are only two ways to incorporate heritage in contemporary structures. The two namely being adopt or adapt is what most of the architects consider while doing any kind of project. For him its always about adopting. “When we adapt it only means we are considering parts of the heritage and doing the contemporary structures. But when we adopt, the entire heritage is adopted and depicted in the contemporary structures. We do practice adopting our heritage as a whole and not part by part. In Kerala architectural work is all about doing in proper proportions, be it a roof or a floor, while rest parts of the country the proportions are not given much importance. We have done a shiva temple in Ernakulam which is inspired by the idea of Gopuram in Kerala’s heritage. Kootu pora architecture is another one that we have incorporated in our work.
How as an architect can help preserve the Indian Hertiage, is all about preserving the values men- tioned BR Ajit. According to him Indian architecture has got lot of values and an architect who understands those values can preserve it for the upcoming generations too. The best part an architect can play is by adopting sustainable practices, which were a part of the architecture in the past and has somewhere diminished due to the modern technologies.
Highlighting the need to preserve the heritage structures in our country he said, “Already the govern- ment is taking up steps to preserve the structures but there is a need to have a dedicated protection agency to track it and bring in funds for the preservation for both the small and big cities. The agency should do the job of ensuring all the heritage structures are preserved well on time and it is alive for the generations to come.
Three major points to ensure when it comes to heritage struc- tures according to BR Ajit are tak- ing up the preservation of heritage as an individual, incorporating all the elements of heritage structures and not just a part of it, involve in research and development to ensure the preservation is carried out considering the climate change and work towards methods that can help protect the climate too, so that it indirectly helps protects our heritage.
EVERY CONTEMPORY WORK HAS AN ECHO INTO THE PAST
Amit Sardesai Partner- Amit & Associates shares his views saying, “If we, architects/designers dig deeper into our own creations we may find that almost every con- temporary solution has an echo into the past. Most of my design decisions are sub conscious copies of what I refer to as visual memory of heritage past, sometimes etched through travels, others through re- search and reading. Mediums like photography, sketching, antique collections and visits to museums etc can also be useful in seamless use of heritage elements into con- temporary Designs.
According to him the Role of Designer/Architect is first, to be a good student of Indian History. One's promise to the future is strengthened by what one has done in the past. “In India we are lucky to be a part of thousands of years of living civilization. The Relics of the past are all around us. We can definitely look at historical urban planning, drainage, passive cooling, energy efficiency with low carbon footprint and living symbiotically with nature. These are some of the broader aspects that we can look at today, from our past heritage. We must remember that the Indian sub-continent has been densely populated throughout history. We must take at the past practices to meet this challenge in today's context,” he said.
Speaking about the steps to be taken to preserve our heritage he said, “Govt of India through ASI and other organizations protects the very important heritage struc- tures and non-profit organizations and heritage action groups, through donations. As Individuals we can contribute through a process of adaptive use of heritage structures. Making them economically viable by reincarnating them as self-income generating venues. For instance, in Goa where I hail from, many Indo Portuguese homes which were crumbling down are today bustling Boutique Hotels, Cafes, Designer stores etc.”
ARCHITECT CAN BRIDGE THE GAP
Ranit Maiti Co-Founder of Square speaks in detail about his experiences and contribution as an architect. “As an architect here in India, incorporating heritage elements into contemporary structures is a fantastic way to bridge the gap between our rich past and modern innovation. Some ways to do so are, reinterpreting classic forms like arches, domes, jali work (intricate lattice screens). These elements can be translated into modern materials like steel and concrete, creating a fresh take on traditional motifs. India has a vast tradition of using local and sustainable materials. Incorporating these materials, or using modern interpretations of them, can add warmth and texture to a contemporary space,” he said.
Traditional crafts like hand-painted murals or carved wooden panels can also be incorporated as unique design features. Courtyards, verandas, and open layouts were prominent features in historic Indian architecture. These concepts can be adapted to contemporary buildings to promote natural light, ventilation, and a connection to the outdoors. When working on a new structure near a heritage site, consider how the new building can complement the existing one. This could involve mirroring the scale, materials, or even sightlines of the historic structure.
Modern buildings can incorporate traditional art forms, sculptures, or textiles to create a sense of place and cultural connection. Murals or installations depicting stories or folklore can add a unique layer of meaning. The key is to find a balance. The heritage elements should enhance the contemporary design, not overpower it.
Speaking about the contribution of an architect in preserving the heritage he mentions, Architects can be champions for the restoration and conservation of historical buildings and monuments. Their expertise in structural integrity and traditional building techniques al- lows them to ensure these structures are preserved for future generations. Adaptive reuse or repurposing involves creatively transforming historic buildings into functional spaces that meet modern needs. This could be converting a haveli (traditional mansion) into a museum or an old colonial palace into a hotel. This approach breathes new life into heritage structures while keeping their history alive.
He also emphasized on story-telling through design saying, “Designers can incorporate elements of Indian heritage into contemporary structures, acting as storytellers of the past. This can be done through Motifs and Patterns, Local Crafts, Sustainable Practices, Public Engagement and Education,Designers can raise public awareness about the importance of heritage through exhibitions, work-shops, and public installations. They can also use their designs to educate people about different aspects of Indian culture and history.
According to Ranit, heritage is tangible link to the past-Heritage structures are physical manifes- tations of our history and culture.They offer a window into the lives, traditions, and achievements of past generations. To conserve certain steps that needs to be taken up are documentation and advocacy, Government Regulations with clear laws and regulations are needed to identify, protect, and manage heritage sites. These regulations should also provide incentives for restoration and adaptive reuse.
Financial support from public and private entities is essential for undertaking conservation projects. Skilled professionals with expertise in restoration techniques and traditional materials are needed to ensure the work is done properly. Actively involving local communities in the conservation process fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility. This can be achieved through educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and community events. Finding new, functional uses for heritage structures is a sustainable approach to conservation. This ensures the continued use of the building, generating revenue that can be used for its upkeep.”
NEED TO PROLONG LIFE OF A BUILDING
Madhav Raman, Principal & Cofounder – Anagram Architects shares his insights on the importance of heritage in architecture. “We have to look at it like building that were done before industrialization and now after industrialization. Heritage structures are mostly building before the industrialization. One has to look into all the parameters to literally adopt the entire elements. So, the thing is the architect can be inspired by all the elements, but mostly its visual inspiration.
There is misunderstanding that heritage buildings are preserved for its timeless looks or aesthetics, but for architect it is beyond that, it has a lot to do with the construction technology, region, the time it was built, socio-cultural conditions of that time which leads to the way the building works or behaves, what we call the architectural program. So, these are all important markers that one tries to protect.
In public architecture, things go through changes like a palace turns into a governor’s residence. These are the adaptive reuse of a building. This is called adaptive reuse. This looks into the life of the building, considering the climate change. The idea is not to only conserve the iconic looking building but also incorporate the regular architectural practices, prolong the life of a building. One has to be mindful of this while adopting. We are into the era of climate change where we need to learn the techniques to prolong the life of a building.
Promoting the heritage in India,it is all about how we live our lives which haven’t changed, so how does one program the building how it connects the culture we have. Very often when people want to get a building, they want certain innovation and uniqueness, here as an architect has to explore the idea that involves the idea of heritage. Not everyone has wants innovation but there are people who wants to have the part incorporated. Most apartment layouts are designed like they are designed in the west, like for nuclear families, but most families in India is a multigenerational family. So as an architect just having the number of bedrooms or big hall its more about how the family is able to socialise in it. When client wants in a traditional the architect can actually help with ideas of older ways which the client might not be familiar with.
What steps can be taken to preserve the heritage structures? There is a need to ensure the owner and the society is on the same page when it comes to preserving a particular structure. In many times, there is paucity of materials and skill set, the technology has changed and we don’t find right people to do the traditional way, craft work. This is something needs separate attention.
The idea that modern construction is all technology and not craft is little misplaced, because 90 percent of the Indian construction although is done through computers, simple thing like brick work- masonry is still done like it was done before. There are still many things done in a tradi- tional way, like carpentry. It’s import- ant while designing to be mindful about how the regular parts of the buildings are made. For an architect it is more important to prolong the life of a building, by being intelligent while programming the buildings, thinking about how people will use it, looking at the heritage and using it, making of the building through incorporating old techniques into the modern innovation.”
.jpg)
