Conservation planning in France&Urban conservation of

Ahmedabad

Prepared by,Miral KaloliyaFaisal Alam

Master of Urban and Regional Planner,Department of Architecture

Le Marais is a historic district in Paris, France.

It spreads across parts of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements in Paris

Why conservation planning for Marais??

Long the aristocratic District of Paris, it hosts many

outstanding buildings of historic and architectural

importance.

For the open spaces.

To Control the industrialization.

For the rehousing of peoples.

1. National Archives, including the Hôtel de

Soubise and Hôtel de Rohan

2. Carnavalet Museum

3. Church Notre-Dame-des-

Blancs-Manteaux

4. Church Saint-Merri

5. Church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis

6. Hôtel d'Angoulême Lamoignon (housing

the Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de

Paris)

7. Hôtel d'Aumont

8. Hôtel de Beauvais

9. Hôtel de Sens

10. Hôtel de Sully

11. Place des Vosges, including the home of

Victor Hugo and Café Ma Bourgogne

12. Maison européenne de la photographie in

the Hôtel de Camtobre (1706)

13. Mémorial de la Shoah, including the

Memorial of the Unknown Jewish Martyr

and the CDJC

14. Musée Cognacq-Jay

15. Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme

(housed in the Hôtel de Saint-Aignan)

16. Musée des Arts et Métiers

17. Musée Picasso

Places and monuments of note

Why conservation planning for Marais??

Interior of Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais Church

Entrance of the Hôtel d'Albret

Temple du Marais, a Protestant Church

Courtyard of the Hotel de Saint-Aignan, which houses the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du

Judaïsme

The corps de logis of the Hôtel de Soubise.

Medieval cellar of the Hôtel de Beauvais

Hôtel de Sens

What was the conservation plan?

The conservation plan for The Marais

• Specific recommendations for demolitions.

• Demolitions for new building , open spaces , car parking.

• Restoring building of different construction types.

• Retrofit the old structure and monuments.

• Underground the public utilities.

• Provided guidelines for suitable wall and roof finishes in particular

areas

• Attention paid to design of shop fronts, street lights and signs.

Urban renewal or restoration ????

The 1967 plan scheduled to receive heavier, transport-oriented

industry displaced from elsewhere in The Marais.

Interesting buildings fronting were kept but the interior of the

block was to be demolished and replaced by a system of

factories and workers housing.

Urban conservation initiative in The Walled City of Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat

• The city founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in 1411 AD, lies on the banks of the Sabarmati river

• The city is having a wealth of heritage resources like Jama Masjid, Bhadra Fort, Teen Darwaja, Rani and Raza no Haziro (Tombs), Tomb of Sidi Sayed.

• There are nearly 600 pols in the walled city

City with wealth of heritage.

• The historic fortification was pulled down to facilitate access and people started migrating to newer areas of the city seeking modern settings and facilities, resulting in neglect of the Pol houses.

• Deterioration and degeneration of the heritage resources were further induced by changes in the land use resulting in the breakdown of the traditional social fabric, pressure on infrastructure caused by subdivision of houses, etc.

• Concerned with the rapid decline of its heritage resources, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) with the help of Ford Foundation took initiative. Why initiative for urban conservation of walled city???

Start with available resources

Elicit support of local architects, professionals and NGOs

Get support of local people

Identify implement able projects

Involve elected wing

Coordinate with other government and non-government agencies

Establish a dedicated heritage unit in the local government

Sensitize all official agencies towards heritage work

Recognize and cooperate with International bodies and

coordinate their actions

Strategies employed by AMC

New Delhi first undertook a study in 1984 to initiate policies for the conservation and preservation efforts in the walled city

Ahmedabad was one among three cities (Jaipur and Hyderabad are other two cities) in the country at that time to be chosen for such an exclusive study and grant from the Ford Foundation .

1996, AMC invited the Conservation and Research of Urban Traditional Architecture (CRUTA) Foundation.

AMC became the first local government body in India to devise the Heritage Programme and prepare a comprehensive plan for the conservation and revitalization of the walled city.

WALLED CITY PLAN

The walled city revitalization plan

Modification in the old heritage regulations.

To reduce the density allowed for new constructions in old areas.

Make larger areas available for pedestrians.

Restoration of the Pol houses, chabutaras and the city walls and gates.

Heritage Centre was planned for providing technical assistance and guidance to heritage property owners.

What is the conservation plan?

A MoU was signed between Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the French Government for rehabilitation of the Historic Centre of Ahmedabad.

About 12,502 heritage properties were listed by 2001.

AMC and the French Government collaborated with the HUDCO to initiate a project called "Enabling Communities to Invest in Heritage“

India's first PPP model to enable historic city centre preservation.

HUDCO along with support from the French Government provided loans to heritage house owners at subsidized rates interest.

In 2001, the Heritage Cell introduce a new clause in the (GDCR) under the GTPUD Act, 1976 for prohibiting any heritage property from being pulled down without prior permission from the Heritage Cell.

Reduction in property tax for traditional buildings.

Reduction of FSI (Floor Space Index from 3 to 1.8) to prevent high density and unplanned development in the walled city.

Other Tools Used :

Project Implementation

Generating awareness

1. heritage walk

2. freedom march

3. celebration of Pol- day

4. Auto rickshaw guides

A freedom walk is held linking together eight houses which have association with eminent leaders of Indian independence including Mahatma Gandhi.

The auto-rickshaw drivers were trained and supported with maps and photographs.

The Pol signage was one of the successful initiatives that were posted at every Pol gates.

Traditional street theatre (Bhavai) performed in the Pols were great attractions and effective in awareness generations.

Training of administrators, City heritage award, revival of the

traditional local governance 'Part& were among the many initiatives.

Heritage walk attended by AMITABH BACHCHAN

Tourist walk

• Revitalisation of the Walled city of Ahmedabad (an AMC-France

Collaborative project)

• Setting up of the City Museum

• Repair and restoration of the Heritage houses

• Restoration of Chabutaras (bird feeders)

• Restoration of Dwarkadheesh temple and Hadkeshwar Temple

• Revival of the 'tankas'

• Design of a special fire fighter

• Restoration and Development of the Manek Burj

• Restoration and Development of the Dutch Tomb Complex at Kankaria

• Repair and restoration of several earthquake damaged Municipal School

Buildings Results and Impacts

Results and Impacts

Conclusion:

Ahmedabad has demonstrated how the local government can successfully establish an effective institutional framework for addressing the physical socio-economic, cultural and environ-mental problems of the inner city.

The Ahmedabad Initiative has become a national model for revival of the inner cities across India.