Editorial>>>
As professionals or researchers, be it architects,
historians, environmentalists, conservationists or planners,
we are often cocooned in our own professional or academic
shells- providing expertise from a singular perspective. Although
‘Sustainability’ and ‘Conservation’
have become keywords for all professionals and researchers
today yet the solutions provided fall short of a pluralistic
approach. Despite an inherent linkage between built heritage,
people and nature, a multidisciplinary attitude is still lacking
in the country. “Context: Built, Living and Natural”
provides a forum for exchange of ideas and dissemination of
knowledge about the spectrum of people, place and architecture
within the Indian scenario.
The introductory section ‘Compiling
Records’ aims to regularly feature archival data in
the form of measured architectural drawings, GIS mappings
and community studies in different regions of India. This
issue particularly records two interesting historic structures-
the Narsimha temple in Uttaranchal and the Ahirtola Ghat in
Kolkata.
The articles in the ‘Methods and Approaches’
section comment on the prevailing methods used for conservation
and sustainable projects as well as problems faced in implementation
and future sustenance of specific conservation ventures. The
first article in this section elaborates on the dynamism of
indigenous knowledge accumulated by the local communities
of India. Subsequent articles focus on issues of holistic
approach to heritage planning, role of professionals in conserving
traditional skills, integrated spatial planning, environmental
insecurities, sustainable energy, children’s participation
in environment management and community participation in planning.
The article on ‘Gaiety Theatre’ presents an interesting
dual saga of the architectural heritage and history of theatre
in Shimla.
The section on ‘Sustainable solutions’
showcases three outstanding projects that successfully deal
with issues of sustainability and conservation along with
social upliftment- Initiatives of CIBART in villages of Rahimawad
and Kotwa, efforts on water conservation by Tarun Bharat Sangh
and the changing face of Ralegansidhhi with motivations of
Anna Hazare.
There is a deliberate mix of articles covering
both in depth research as well as fieldwork and experiential
notes as the journal emphasizes on the essentialities of combining
research work with ground realities to achieve success in
such ventures.
We keenly look forward to your feedback on
this first issue of “Context: Built, Living and Natural”.
Contents>>>
Editorial
Compiling
Records
Temples of Uttaranchal
R&D Centre, Vastu Kala Academy. College of Architecture
Ahirtola
Ghat at Kolkata
Debeshi Chakraborty
Methods
and Approaches
Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainability
Sarita Anand and Divya Thimmaiya
The
Ganga Riverfront in Varanasi- A Heritage Zone in Contestation
Rana P. B. Singh
What
else is Heritage and How to Ensure its Continuity: Emerging
role of architecture for interventions in the historic settlements
Nimish Patel and Parul Zaveri
Conservation
in Shimla- Gaeity Theatre Revisited
Cheena Kanwal
Integrated
Spatial Environmental Planning- a tool for environmental protection
Avinash Karera and Anurag Mishra
Environmental
Refugees from Sundarbans
Sugata Hazra
Society,
Energy and Sustainable Development
Patrick Devine Wright
Children’s
Participation in Environment Management
Meenakshi Batra
Community
Planning for sustenance in a Heritage Environment
Manu Gupta and anshu sharma
Sustainable
Solutions
Bamboo and Sustainable Living- Rahimawad and Kotwa villages
I.V. Ramanujarao and Inderpreet Jaijee
Reviving
the Johads of Alwar-water Conservation by the Community
Juhi Shah
The
Story of Ralegansiddhi and Baburao Hazare
S D Chavan and P.S. Bhonsle
Heritage
Album
World Heritage Site of Hampi by Suchandra Bardhan
Monuments
of Gurgaon by INTACH Gurgaon Chapter
Book
Review
Conferences
and Events
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