Conserving The Past For The Future

While history is a largely intangible phenomenon, architecture is one of the few artistic sciences that lend history a certain kind of tangibility. It offers us a chance to experience the past through the built landscape, making it possible to, quite literally, walk down the memory lane. However, our increasingly apathetic attitudes have reduced heritage architecture to elaborate yet unkempt, decaying structures, and conservation to superficial beautification.

- Sharmila Chakravorty

Torn between intensive restoration efforts and quick-and-easy redevelopment, our cities are rapidly losing the cultural heritage reflected in the very essence of our built fabric. We speak to conservation architect Vikas Dilawari on issues plaguing conservation and restoration, and how, with a little bit of sensitivity and understanding, we might just be able to salvage the situation.

IA&B: What is the current state of public awareness regarding heritage and conservation?

Vikas Dilawari: Public awareness regarding heritage is much better than conservation, as conservation is more technical in nature and requires a philosophical understanding too. People are now aware of their city’s antiquity and built heritage, which are prime landmarks. They are aware that these aspects should be retained and respected as they are central to the identity of the area. On other hand, conservation is one of the means to retain built heritage and prolong its life. It deals with the scientific approach of understanding the cultural significance, the construction and material used, analyzing the defects and arriving at solutions respecting the traditional materials and techniques, and doing the minimum intervention possible. Unfortunately as the main focus is on retaining heritage buildings from being redeveloped, which is the majorly adopted trend in India, the concern for the technique of repair and restoration takes a back seat. Hence ‘beautification’ that is quicker, economical and conspicuous is gaining quick popularity.

IA&B: How does one prioritize conservation of one structure over another? What goes on during this decision-making process?