Conservation

1. Urban Conservation
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi
Dept. of Architecture, School of Technology
North-Eastern Hill University

2. What is Conservation
Conservation encompasses actions taken toward the long-term
preservation of cultural property. Conservation activities include
examination, documentation, treatment, and preventative care, supported
by research and education.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 2

3. What is Conservation …
• The vision of artists, identity of peoples, and the very existence of history are in a threat to disappear.
• If left alone, old buildings will crumble and disintegrate.
• Preserving this cultural material is of paramount importance, but it still presents complex challenges to our
society.
• Conservation professionals are those who embrace these challenges with passion, commitment and
dedication.
• By melding art with science, conservation professionals protect our heritage, preserve our legacy, and
ultimately, save our treasures for generations to come.
• Future generations should not be deprived of knowing and understanding their history, because priceless
artifacts were allowed to fall into disrepair.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 3

4. Why to Conserve
• As a unique legacy of an ancient civilization,
• Since living heritage are still in use, they are legally not protected & are subjected to demolition or
unsympathetic intervention,
• To ensure survival of the very character of the place in which the building is situated,
• Living heritage has a symbolic relation with its surrounding and also has strong impact on it,
• As a historic document with a composite culture and tradition,
• To re-establish the traditional building skills and crafts men (ensuring survival of skills),
• To preserve the value attached with the building (memory, time, life style, etc.)
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 4

5. What to Conserve
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 5

6. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 6
Source: Mumtaz’s
Mahal: The story of
influence that royal
women enjoyed
Written by Swapna Liddle
| Updated: October 29,
2017 12:04 pm
http://indianexpress.co
m/article/lifestyle/life-
style/mumtazs-mahal-
the-story-of-influence-
that-royal-women-
enjoyed-4911222/
Accessed : 11:02 am
24-Feb-2018

7. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 7
Source: Twitter -
Mirza Ghalib
@GhalibPoetry 9 Sep
2012More
A closer view of the
Taj Mahal - 1880's
Accessed : 11:11 am
24-Feb-2018

8. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 8
Source:
http://mughalshit.tumb
lr.compost6505091366
3taj-mahal
Accessed : 11:11 am
24-Feb-2018

9. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 9
Source:
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/2012/09/Taj-
Mahal-Agra-
c1880s.html
Accessed : 11:11 am
24-Feb-2018

10. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 10
Source:
File:The Taj Mahal and
its Garden, Erastus
Salisbury Field, c. 1880 -
Museum of Fine Arts,
Springfield, MA -
DSC04002.JPG
https://commons.wiki
media.org/wiki/File:Th
e_Taj_Mahal_and_its_
Garden,_Erastus_Salis
bury_Field,_c._1880_-
_Museum_of_Fine_Ar
ts,_Springfield,_MA_-
_DSC04002.JPG
Accessed : 11:19 am
24-Feb-2018

11. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 11
Source:
National Gallery of
Canada
Entrance Gateway of the
Taj Mahal, Agra C.1863-
1866
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/2013/06/entr
ance-gateway-to-taj-
mahal-agra.html
Accessed : 11:19 am
24-Feb-2018

12. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 12

13. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 13

14. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 14
Source:
Delhi-Gate-Red-Fort,-
Delhi---1895,
Photographed by Lala
Deen Dayal
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/search?q=red
+fort
Accessed : 11:35 am
24-Feb-2018

15. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 15
Source:
Boats-across-the-River-
Jumna-near-the-Red-
Fort-walls---Delhi-1858
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/search?q=red
+fort
Accessed : 11:35 am
24-Feb-2018

16. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 16

17. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 17
Source:
Water-Gate-of-Red-Fort-
Delhi-1868
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/search?q=red
+fort
Accessed : 11:35 am
24-Feb-2018

18. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 18
Source:
Naqqar-or-Naubhat-
Khana-within-Red-Fort-
(Lal-Qula)-Complex,-
Delhi---1858
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/search?q=red
+fort
Accessed : 11:35 am
24-Feb-2018

19. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 19
Source:
File:Naubat Khana Red
Fort 1857.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.or
g/wiki/File:Naubat_Kh
ana_Red_Fort_1857.jp
g
Accessed : 08:36 am
21-Feb-2019

20. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 20
Source:
Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photo
s/asienman/15155523970
Accessed : 09:09 am
21-Feb-2019

21. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 21
Source:
The-Lahore-Gate-
(Western-Gate)-of-Red-
Fort-or-Lal-Qila---
Delhi-1858
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/search?q=red
+fort
Accessed : 11:35 am
24-Feb-2018

22. What to Conserve …
The heritage, both in tangible and intangible form.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 22
Source:
Motee-Musjid-(Pearl-
Mosque)---Delhi,-Circa-
1866
https://www.oldindian
photos.in/search?q=red
+fort
Accessed : 11:35 am
24-Feb-2018

23. How to Conserve
a) Authenticity
b) Conjecture
c) Integrity
d) Minimal intervention
e) Minimal loss of fabric
f) Reversibility
g) Legibility
h) Rights of the indigenous community
i) Respect for the contributions of each period
j) Inseparable bond with its setting
k) Demolish / rebuild
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 23

24. Classifications of Conservation
Architectural
Form
Plan
Structure
Façade
Material
Physical
Element
Balance/Symmetry/
Rhythm/Harmony
Historical
Use
Historical
Evidences
Imp.events/
people/
achivements
Cultural
Time/period
Place/
precinct
Settlement
Tangible &
Intangible
aspects
Civilizations
Traditional
Indigenous
bldg.
practices/
skills
Customs
Belief
Systems
Knowledge
systems
Social
Associative
Emotional
Sense of
Belonging
Respect
Memory
Life Style
Religious
Rites/rituals
Faith
Festivals/
ceremonies
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 24

25. Why to Conserve …
• The Value system attached with the building needs to be understood for its
conservation.
• These sets of value define the grade of a building.
• These values must be conserved, to keep a building/ structure/ monument/ settlement
alive in our minds and also for the future generations.
Ar. Rameez R. Gazi, Dept. of Architecture 25