KARACHI: Development ideologies embraced without critically examining their pros and cons have almost wiped out vernacular architecture in developing countries, including India and Pakistan. There is a need to learn and revive traditional style of architecture, which wasn’t only beautiful and long-lasting, but was also eco-friendly.

This was stated by Mohammed Maroof Shah, author and columnist based in India-held Kashmir, while speaking to Dawn on the sidelines of an international conference which concluded at the NED University of Engineering and Technology here on Saturday.

Titled ‘Urban Resilience and Adaptation’, the two-day conference was organised by the department of architecture and planning of the NED University.

“Both India and Pakistan have failed to take into account the best Indian architectural traditions (in the structure of their present dwellings). Currently, there is an emphasis only on the space needed to live in,” Mr Shah explained, adding that traditional architecture centred on beauty, though it had an element of utility, too.

According to him, the concepts of modernity, corporatisation and capitalism somehow couldn’t go along with traditions. “Today, there are no homes, only houses. There used to be a whole cultural philosophy in the construction of homes that we have now lost,” he said.

He shared these thoughts at the conference through his paper “Refusing Heaven by Banishing the Sacred Spaces: Engaging with the costs of Secularisation of City Design” in which he critically examined certain aspects of building designs in Srinagar, the summer capital of India-held Kashmir.

About Kashmir’s built heritage and the factors which have led to its deterioration, M. Saleem Beg, the convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage-Jammu and Kashmir chapter, said that though a lot of unique architecture had faded away on account of multiple factors, including urbanisation, lack of awareness and weak implementation of the law, still there were a number of historical and cultural attractions in the region.

“We have identified around 900 heritage buildings, which need protection. Proper documentation backed by laws has already been done and we have initiated the conservation process,” he said.

Disappeared gardens

Citing some references, he said Kashmir once had 700 Mughal gardens, though the surviving ones were six. “Still it’s a big number. These centuries-old gardens have been included in the tentative list of the World Heritage Sites,” he proudly pointed out.

According to him, one of the most important features of Kashmir’s built heritage is its sacred/religious architecture, all based on wood. “The region has passed through various layers of architecture reflecting Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist influences. It’s unique that layers have been built on each other, without damaging the past or the old layer. Our interpretation is that people, perhaps, wanted to reconstruct the identity.”

Replying to a question regarding how the ongoing freedom movement has impacted the heritage sites, he said the first casualty in all kinds of conflict situations was urban governance and Kashmir was no exception, where it had affected the preservation process.

Tariq Ahmed Mir, a writer and activist based in Srinagar, regretted that the (Indian) government hadn’t done enough to protect Kashmir’s heritage.

“Kashmir has a great architectural beauty that needs to be conserved. Unfortunately, the government hasn’t given these historical structures due importance, though departments tasked with their preservation have been functioning for decades,” he said.

Mr Mir presented his paper “Traditional Architecture in Conflict: A study of Srinagar in Kashmir” at the conference in which he shed light on the development of the old city of Srinagar and impact of turbulence on traditional Islamic art and architecture, once a symbol of traditional sacred art and architecture.

Other experts who spoke at the event included Dr Asifa Iqbal, PhD scholar in Sweden; Ghulam Qadir Shah from the International Union for Conservation of Nature; Evandro Holz, senior urban development consultant from Brazil and Jon Calame, founding partner of Minerva Partners, a non-profit consultancy group based in New York.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2017