What can Heritage teach us about good Design?

Source:- Antique Stories

Heritage is an undeniable force shaping the development of cities. If cities are defined as a "permanent aggregation of people settled in an administratively defined boundary", then history is the pivot behind that movement. Cities are a reflection of the social, cultural, and political milieu they have been shaped under. Be it 19th Century Hausmann's Paris under Napoleon III, or 21st Century New York under the American Democratic Party, cities worldwide have been shaped by their unique history.

This is easier observed than stated. When working with the Indian Government in India's fourth-largest city, Hyderabad it became evident to me how heritage shapes the contemporary urban life of citizens. Heritage Conservation is considered a cornerstone of Hyderabad's 2031 Masterplan, which seeks to promote planned and balanced urban development and land reform. Hyderabad, a city with a history going back 600 years is one of India's fastest-growing cities. As a city in a rapidly emerging country, Hyderabad also represents an aspirational city whose growth is primarily driven by India's IT Sector. Unfortunately, much of this urbanization is unplanned leading to urban sprawl and depletion of resources.

So where does heritage even fit into all of it?

Historic Context

My time working with the Government of Telangana made me realize not just how heritage fits into the larger urban plan of the city but how the city is what it is today as a result of its unique heritage. The history of Hyderabad began with the fort of Golkonda a 15th-century fort, that housed the capital of the Qutub Shahis - a dynasty with roots in Central Asia. Golkonda was the center of the Global Diamond Trade, an endeavor that made the Qutub Shahis one of the world's wealthiest dynasties. The rapid growth of the city of Golkonda led to overpopulation and resource shortages prompting the dynasty to establish the new city of Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi River. Today the Old City of Hyderabad lies on the banks of the Musi River. Driven by the growth of the IT industry, HITEC City is now the commercial heart of Hyderabad providing employment to thousands of workers and fueling India's robust economic growth. The new Hyderabad has developed in complete opposition to historic urban trends. One of the consequences is that it has led to crowding and haphazard urban growth throughout the city. It has also led to poverty and decline in the Old City of Hyderabad, As a consultant, my role was to help in promote Hyderabad's heritage and restore Heritage Structures in the Old City to help promote tourism and economic development.

The Role of Heritage in Good Design

Many interventions at restoring heritage have a strong design aspect. This is because such interventions have to keep in mind aesthetic and commercial value and the evolution of the city's plan over a period of time. Accordingly, these measures adapt, re-adapt, or reimagine existing properties or monuments in a way that respects the past and recognizes the changed circumstances of the present. This was reflected in my experience in projects in Hyderabad:-

i) Tourism in Charminar:- The plan of the Old City of Hyderabad was inspired by the design of Classical Persian Gardens consisting of a Charminar ( monument with four minarets) and Char Kaman (four gates). Today the Charminar is iconic in Hyderabad and is a bustling Marketplace and Tourism Hotspot. Tourists and Locals flock to the Charminar for various reasons. The historic section is known for its Pearl and Jewellery Shops. The cafes also serve some of the city's most popular dishes, the world-famous Biryani (Spiced Rice) and Irani Chai. It is also home to many ancient monuments and structures including the 400-year-old Charminar and Mecca Masjid, the 300-year-old Chowmahalla Palace, and other mosques and mausoleums. Some of the main problems affecting the area include heavy crowding and congestion, poor hygiene and cleanliness, poor state of historic conservation, and insecure livelihoods.

As part of the Charminar Pedestrianization Project, I was involved in identifying monuments, houses, shops, markets, and bazaars in the vicinity of the Charminar that needed restoration. My role was part of a much larger initiative aimed at pedestrianizing the section of the city so that it could be made more tourist friendly. This was not limited to just creating a walkable path for tourists and shoppers. Restoration of ancient markets and monuments also improved the livelihoods of locals who stood to gain from increased tourist arrivals and shoppers. Improving the quality of buildings in the area also sought to improve the quality of life of local families and merchants. Providing licenses to Streetside Food Vendors in the area also upgrade hygiene standards and helped make what was an informal market formal.

Source:- Captured in Charminar Area, Old Hyderabad

2) Culture and Cooperation:- One of the major projects as a consultant I worked on was getting Hyderabad selected as a UNESCO Creative City in the area of Gastronomy. The UNESCO Creative Cities is a league of 346 cities around the world that have been selected as role models in using Creativity as a strategic factor in Sustainable Development. The designation seeks to bring together cities that can brainstorm how cultural industries such as music, television, art, and gaming can be channeled to promote Sustainable Urban Development. The goal of this endeavor was to build a partnership of cities that are committed to preserving cultural practices that promote sustainability as well as enable cooperation between the cities. The project brought me in contact with Hyderabad's rich food culture which is not just globally famous but also integral to the city's identity as a city. Employing nearly 12% of the city's population, the culinary industry in Hyderabad is also reflective of its cultural values such as Charity, Family, and Respect. These were reflected in the city's institutions and festivals. The designation helped project Hyderabad's culture into the international arena and enabled closer partnerships with other international cities.

3) Environmental Sustainability:- Article 2 of the UNESCO Convention on Natural and Cultural Heritage recognizes the importance of natural heritage. Natural Heritage sites have been a source of livelihood, recreation, and worship for human beings for millennia. They have also evolved with changes in human activities over generations. The city of Hyderabad is home to several lakes, rivers, ponds, and other man-made water bodies. Many of these water bodies have been threatened by the rising pressure of urbanization. In collaboration with the Hyderabad Design Forum (HGF) and Blue Hyderabad, I was involved in restoring the city's ancient stepwells which have stored groundwater for hundreds of years. Stepwells are a traditional water-saving device used in India for nearly 4000 years. They were used to store water during the dry season as well as regulate run-off during the wet season. They also have religious significance. The restoration of nearly 50 stepwells throughout the city has helped revive an ancient technique of storing rainwater. Additionally, these stepwells have now been turned into public spaces which are visited by tourists, young students, and locals.

Source:- Blue Hyderabad

It would be foolish to set out to create a better city without understanding its history, heritage, environment, and people. While this may seem obvious, witnessing it firsthand helps validate this fact. My time working with the Government in India's fourth-largest city gave me an insight into the complex and layered nature of our cities. It also helped me understand the complexity of designing cities that can provide for a growing population with changing needs. If design can never be divorced from the context which nurtures it, an effective conception or vision of a city cannot be divorced from its the environment or heritage which spawns it.