Conservation Site School: An initiative by Center for Heritage Conservation

Historic sites are valuable resources of traditional architectural knowledge systems that embody individual and collective values, meanings, memories, and associations of past and present generations. While these sites significantly contribute to the cultural identity and foster a sense of place, growing developmental pressures and the demand for ‘modern’, upgraded living conditions are increasingly putting the existence of the historic built fabric under threat. A large portion of this fabric comprises privately owned heritage buildings which lack access to adequate funding mechanisms, resources and professional expertise for their maintenance and upkeep, leading them into a state of disuse, neglect, abandonment and eventually, demolition. Moreover, complex ownership patterns and other on-ground contingencies arising from internal and external stakeholder dynamics add to the challenge of conservating these sites, subsequently causing a rapid loss of historic built fabric and material evidence representing traditional systems and local community narratives.

CEPT Conservation Site Schools (henceforth referred to in the document as ‘Site Schools’) Program addresses this challenge by focusing on the conservation and regeneration of heritage sites through academic engagement, professional training, research and knowledge dissemination that can potentially inform conservation practice and education in the Indian context. The program taps into the scientific and educational value of these sites while acknowledging and working with the multi-layered associations of these sites with a wide range of stakeholders.

Under this program, CHC-CRDF adopts an unprotected site, that requires conservation-based intervention, as a ‘Conservation Site School’ and conducts on-site educational workshops, student research projects and awareness and outreach activities that are underpinned by scientific historic evidence as well as stakeholder consultation. Through this process, the site is repaired, restored and upgraded for sustainable future use. All activities of the program are carried out by CHC-CRDF as part of a non-binding agreement entered with the owner/custodian of the site, and supported by financial resources such as crowdfunding, CSR funds and voluntary contributions. Once conserved, the site is handed over to the community or the owner/custodian to be actively used for a function agreed upon as an outcome of stakeholder consultation processes.

The program intends to foster collaborative engagement among the community, the site owners/custodians, conservation experts, architects, consultants and academicians with a shared goal of developing best practice standards for heritage conservation in the Indian context with a specific focus on community-led processes and pedagogic frameworks for engaging with real sites and scenarios.

Tankshal Pol-ni-Masjid, Ahmedabad

The first site to be adopted for the Conservation Site School is at Tankshal ni Pol, City Survey no. 603, Kalupur Ward 1 that is under the custodianship of Ahmedabad Sunni Muslim WAQF Committee. This structure is listed as a Grade IIA heritage site and is one of the rare timber mosques in urgent need of conservation efforts in the historic city. CRDF and ASMWC have entered into an agreement that is financially non-binding and based on a mutual understanding where CHC will carry out educational activity and initiate conservation processes.

Kalidas Jethabhai House, Dharmaj

Kalidas Jethabhai House has been adopted as a Conservation Site School at Dharmaj as part of ‘Dharmaj Heritage Collaborative’, a joint effort by Center for Heritage Conservation (CHC), CRDF and Avichal Heritage Foundation to safeguard the heritage of Dharmaj. The site, located within the historic core of Dharmaj, is under the ownership of the heirs of Kalidas Jethabhai Patel. CHC, CRDF and Avichal Heritage Foundation have entered into a financially non-binding agreement with the owners of the house under which CHC will carry out educational and outreach activities at the site and in the process, conserve the building.

Mukhi Delu, Dharmaj

Mukhi Delu has been adopted as a Conservation Site School at Dharmaj as part of ‘Dharmaj Heritage Collaborative’, a joint effort by the Center for Heritage Conservation (CHC), CRDF and Avichal Heritage Foundation to safeguard the heritage of Dharmaj. The site is located within the historic core of the village and is owned by Harish Patel, a former resident of the village, now based in the USA. CHC, CRDF and Avichal Heritage Foundation have entered into a financially non-binding agreement with the house owner under which CHC will carry out educational and outreach activities at the site and conserve the building in the process.

Nagarkhana, Darbargadh, Bhuj

CHC CRDF and M.M.K.B. Trust have signed a M.O.U. for the CEPT Conservation site school in Nagarkhana, Darbargarh, Bhuj, in Kutch,Gujarat. Bhuj Darbargadh has been the capital of the Kutch state since the establishment of Kutch. Kutch has established itself as a superpower and Darbargadh was a symbol of the ultimate authority of the region of Kutch, Saurashtra, and Kathiyawad. Nagarkhana is considered one of the earliest establishments of the Darbargadh. In the 2001 earthquake, the Nagarkhana got heavily damaged with the rest of the Darbargadh. Nagarkhana lost its two stories and the ornament elevation on both sides. 

Activities

CEPT Conservation Site Schools will be carrying out educational activities and awareness sessions (exhibitions and seminars) while it conserves and regenerates the site for any present use. The specific activities that are identified so far are:

• Detailed Condition Assessment including Scientific investigation of issues, Non-destructive testing, Structural assessment and Material analysis 
• Workshops on traditional building materials and construction techniques for architects and engineers
• Training for site managers and contractors
• Exhibitions and Seminars for conservation advocacy
• Workshops for conservation education
• Training for craftspeople
• Training for professionals on Heritage Impact Assessment, Disaster Mitigation and Management etc when possible.

All activities proposed and undertaken at the Site Schools are discussed and verified by the collaborators and due permissions to carry out respective conservation processes are sought from the relevant authorities.

Pledge for Donation

Conservation of such sites world over are heavily dependent upon funds from citizens and concerned organisations. We request you to donate generously to this initiative. Your support will be acknowledged on all information disseminated around this initiative through CHC and CRDF web presence, through newsletters and on the site. The funds generated for the Conservation Site School will be used for the following:

• Conducting research and material tests for conservation purposes
• Materials and Labour required for conservation in addition to volunteers
• Organising awareness events
• Subsidising educational activities

For any donation related queries please write to us on crdf@cept.ac.in

*Note: CRDF is a registered non-profit organisation and is not registered under 80G. A detailed audit of expenses for donors will be provided at request.

Spread the Word

We will be constantly updating our processes through our Instagram page (@chccept & @ceptresearch) and twitter handle (@chccept & @ceptresearch). You can help us by spreading the word about CEPT Conservation Site School and encouraging Donations and Volunteers.

For more details check out our Website!

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