KASHMIR Losing links with the past

Concrete Constructions Threaten Architectural Heritage

Srinagar, Jan 9: A ride around the city of Srinagar is reflective of the construction boom that it has witnessed over the years—from shopping malls to giant houses and buildings—all concrete. Yet, at places there are sights clearly reflecting the traditional architecture, staying distinct from the new buildings that have come up mainly in the past two decades.

 The new buildings only reflect how the city is fast losing its links with the past, if architecture was any indicator. 

 All along the Old City, there are houses and religious places reflecting the traditional architecture that has attracted world attention many a time. Similar houses and buildings are located in the areas of Civil Lines in Srinagar, mostly along the Bund of river Jehlum.

 But, over a period time, the concrete-based constructions have marred the ‘uniqueness’ for which the city of Srinagar is known the world over. 

 “The uniqueness of the city is being comprised,” says Saleem Beg, who heads the J&K Chapter of Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). “We are losing our historicity and links with the past.”

 While the conservation of architectural houses is a gigantic task that calls for strong will by the concerned agencies, the Valley is fast losing the traditional architecture, which is not a good sign.

 “The new houses betray the residential requirements in cold climes of Kashmir. These houses unfortunately add to the miseries of winter as also the brief but hot summer months,” said Beg, observing that concrete-based constructions retrain both cold and heat during summer months, adding to the discomfiture of the residents.

 As if this is not enough, the larger issue of the ‘identity’ of the city is at stake. “Srinagar is slightly a different place from other cities. We have precincts and sites that represent the architectural tradition which has evolved over a period of time. The property located in areas of Old City and Civil Lines represents building technologies, building crafts and architectural elements which have evolved in response to climate, social setting as also during cultural interface with other historic cities in Central Asia,” Beg, well-versed with the historicity of the city, said. “These structures have thus become unique in their façade, usage and other architectural elements. The City has therefore got an identity not only in terms of its geographical location but also due to its architectural and building traditions. These buildings are a blend of both social and commercial usage. Most of these river-side craft showrooms were actually shop-houses which housed workshops, showrooms and residences.”

 Observers believe such buildings suited the residents in cold climate as well. “Progressively we are losing this cultural strength and the architectural treasures represented in vernacular houses and shrines, mostly made of wood,” Beg said.

 All this is notwithstanding the world attention that this architecture has attracted over the years. 

 The UNESCO has already adopted a convention for protecting wooden architecture in the Asian cities, most of which are located in Islamic countries.

 Interestingly, the INTACH has carved out four heritage zones in the city of Srinagar, which it demands should be preserved. These include: Jehlum river front; downtown areas and the link between Rainawari and Mughal Gardens. 

 “We must revert back to window patterns, plasters, roofing systems which will add charm and beauty to the houses and also provide comfort during cold and hot seasons,” Beg said.

 There is also the issue of threat that the new buildings are posing to the lives of residents. 

 A couple of years back, a renowned architect underlined the threat to the vernacular architectural heritage of Kashmir in his book titled “Traditional is Modern: Don’t tear it down!” 

 Randolph Langenbach wrote that “the remarkable heritage of the Valley is under threat, especially after the 2005 earthquake. This architecture is being displaced by non-indigenous reinforced concrete buildings, many of which are constructed in a way that has proven particularly dangerous in earthquakes, as was demonstrated in 2005.”

 The book was published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

 Langenbach, who has specialized in architecture and building conservation from Harvard University, referred to two main traditional construction systems called taq [timber-laced masonry] and dhajji dewari [timber from with masonry infill], focusing on taq and dhajji dewari construction and their earthquake-resistant attributes. 

 The J&K Chapter of INTACH has conducted a study sponsored by the University of Kyoto Japan in 2007. The study brings out a strengthened wisdom of adopting Dhajji Dewari type of construction as a perfect to answer to earthquakes.

 “This earthquake resistant building technique has now been documented in other parts of earthquake prone zones of the world. Kashmir, especially the Srinagar city would do well to revert back to this technology as it is located in the most sensitive seismic zone-4,” Beg said. 

 Lack of earthquake proofing in houses has resulted in death of a hundred thousand people across J&K in 2005 out of which 80,000 people died in Pakistan Administrated Kashmir. 

 “Most of the deaths occurred in schools in PaK as the children had just assembled at 9.30 am in the schools of the newly constructed concrete buildings in this area. These buildings fell down in the first shock resulting in colossal loss of human lives and property. The disaster would not have been different in this part of Kashmir, but for the fact that epicenter of the earthquake was located across LOC,” said Beg. “So we must think about it and revert back to something which can save us and also the identity of the place.”