Conservation and conversion as an element of urban design and a tool for sustainable development in asian cities

Ref.: 5
Área temática: 01 Integridad física de los paisajes urbanos históricos
Fecha de recepción: 15/11/2008

AUTORES (* Autor principal)

BOSE, Shivashish * (India) - Jadavpur University

ABSTRACT

In Asia, conservation of cultural tangible properties and action for safeguarding the environment to minimize global warming and climate change has been given low priority. Moreover, gradual erosion of local culture by the impact of globalization has also been observed. Based on this reality, and in search of the `appropriate path' of development in Asian cities which can address to the complex problems of cultural erosion, huge energy consumption for modern development and environmental degradation, the role conservation and conversion are to be explored on their application for retaining historic and old buildings within their `traditional urban setting' going beyond the `history saving' issues to the `environment saving' issue of present world concern.

In urban design, a `place' matters more than individual buildings. The history of urban environment in a city is the chronological story of architectural and urban development and the evidence of physical changes in it according to the pattern of its growth and changes for certain purposes. The historic buildings, monuments and precincts are any city's cultural properties and physical assets with various important values and are the focal attractions in a `place'. On the other hand, old ordinary buildings are living images of architectural development of various time-periods under minimum or controlled financial investments and are cultural layers, which constitute the backdrop for the glamorous historic buildings to glorify as focal points and landmarks in the place. Old ordinary buildings abutting on the road in a semi-detached fashion constitute a street façade. They constitute enclosure for urban spaces and interesting fabric of a place. Destruction of any one building in the constituting whole would disturb the basic composition, the only exception being the very ugly and utmost dilapidated buildings that can be replaced. Though historic buildings are conserved and restored in many Asian cities in a sporadic manner, the old ordinary buildings especially are neglected and vulnerable for demolition to make space for rapid urban development with modern universal-type buildings. This altogether changes the traditional urban setting in Asian cities.

However, apart from their historic, socio-cultural, economic and urban design values, the historic buildings, as well as the old ordinary ones represent and include in them huge materials, engineering and artistic endeavour, investment of finance, use of energy and water, and above all, they are mass, material and energy resources and usable space. They generate works for the maintenance and conservation and utilization of the buildings themselves, and enhance economic growth through usage and cultural tourism. Conservation, which continues the useful life in an existing building or fabric and adapting existing structures to new requirements, as an alternative to demolition is a sustainable development approach.

Extensive research and technological advancements have created enormous possibility to preserve, conserve, restore and convert old buildings with mitigation of problems of structural defects, decay and inadequacy, rising dampness, rainwater penetration, poor air-ventilation, service systems degradation and other physical factors. Modern facilities can be skillfully inserted in the existing buildings and fabric to suit for adaptability. Sir Bernard Feilden observed and stated that skilful rehabilitation of historic buildings can be economical, often costing only two-thirds of new buildings of the same area and saving the cost of renewing the infrastructure (Feilden 1994).

Conservation and conversion are interventions by which, an existing building can either be preserved and conserved for continuity of its use; restored with objective for adaptive reuse; or converted into a structure with modification and new addition of appropriate mass and space for required new function while retaining most of the structure, materials and space of the old-existing one ­ thus minimizing use of water and non-renewable energy resource and generating minimum waste, pollution and greenhouses gases in the environment, than that required for destruction of the old and construction of the new building, while retaining cultural patina of development of the community and the historic traditional image of the urban district either in its entirety or partially, are tools for sustainable development. Moreover, important historic buildings with classical architectural styles and ornamentations are most valued physical possession of any city and their value cannot be qualified and quantified by money or be compared with any new building of whatever quality. Conservation and conversion is to be understood as a tool, which not only saves and sustains history and cultural patina of a society, but also as a tool of development, that impacts minimum on environment. Hence, Conservation and Conversion is a tool of "Sustainable Development" (Bose, 2004-2008). Management of existing building stock through conservation and conversion for continued use for sustainability has to be in the planning and design consideration and attitude of an architect and urban designer and in the society for retention of `Asian-ness' of urban setting and for our common future towards environmental sustainability.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA

1) Bose, S. 2008; Conservation as an Element of Urban Design and a Tool for Sustainable Development in Asian Cities: Case Study Kolkata. Paper presented at the National Seminar on Urban Design titled "Designing and Redesigning the Cities" organized by the Centre for Built Environment, Kolkata, held at the Town Hall in Kolkata during February 9-11, 2008. Abstract Volume has been published; Proceeding Volume will be published shortly.
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