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LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPES
Cultural tourism. Historic district
delineation. Preservation.
Restoration. WorksCulture preserved in landscape.
Santa-Fe. Mexico. Santa Barbara. New Orleans.
Williamsburg's garden.
Works of Mohammed Shaheer.
Humayuns tomb.
Bagh-i-wafa.
Bara mullah restoration.
Cultural landscapes are at the interface between nature
and culture. They represent the permanent interaction
between humans and their environment, shaping the surface
of the earth. With the rapid social and economic
development cultural landscapes belong to the most fragile
and threatened sites on earth. Adapted protection and
proper management is urgently needed (von Droste,
Plachter, and Rssler 1995).
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WHAT ARE CULTURAL LANDSCAPES?
Defined as a diversity of manifestations of the interaction
between humankind and its natural environment. (in 1992-world
heritage committee @ the world heritage convention adopted in
1972)
By this definition, a cultural landscape is created through the
interrelationship of culture and nature, which shapes environments
over time and results in landscapes of today.
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DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPES ACROSS THE WORLD
Cultural landscapes across the world were broadly categorised
into 3:
Category 1 clearly defined landscape designed and created
intentionally by man
Largely concentrates on parks and gardens
Category 2 the organically evolved landscape
reflects that process of evolution of cultural factors in
association with the natural environment over time in their form
and component features
A relict (or fossil) landscape (such as an archaeological
landscape) A continuing landscape (retains active social role in
contemporary society closely associated with
traditional way of life-evolutionary process still in
progress)
Category 3 associative cultural landscape
derives its significance from the powerful religious, artistic
or cultural associations of the natural element rather than
material cultural evidence, which may be insignificant or even
absent
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WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
A cultural landscape perspective explicitly recognizes the
history of a place and its cultural traditions in addition to its
ecological value. Thus, this approach is appropriate for places
with a settlement history.
A landscape perspective also recognizes the continuity between
the past and with people living and working on the land today. It
explores how sense of place, cultural identity, and connections to
the past can become touchstones for deepening and broadening the
impact and relevance of conservation
Today, the field of natural resource conservation recognizes an
ecosystem approach and the importance of working with people, their
knowledge of the local ecology, and their cultural traditions in
developing conservation strategies.
These concurrent developments in cultural and natural
conservation have set the stage for a rethinking of landscape
conservation and an unprecedented opportunity for
collaboration.
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INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL TOURISM
Tourism, by denition, involves a journey, a passage through
time, space and through a diversity of cultures, peoples and
pasts
Cultural and natural heritage attracts many tourists, and is a
resource for development, fortunately, distributed throughout the
world, thus providing an additional opportunity for many
non-industrialized countries.
Raising awareness, educating and training the staff concerned,
is essential in involving communities in the process of conserving
and enhancing their heritage.
It is the involvement of all that will enable the heritage of
humanity to be better preserved, living conditions to be improved
and poverty reduced.
Preserving cultural and natural heritage, to bring it within
reach of all, making cultures and civilizations better known,
improving daily living conditions and reducing poverty, is what
gives meaning to the sustainability of tourism development
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ROLE OF TOURISM IN CULTURAL EXPRESSION
The negative impacts of tourism are, by no means, inevitable.
Tourism can have positive and lasting effects on our cultural and
natural heritage, on creativity and cultural diversity, and on the
environment and balance of societies.
It is seen that there is a clear role for tourism in the process
of expressing culture and cultural difference.
Mounir Bouchenaki, General Vice Director for Culture at the
UNESCO, (In his intervention at the Barcelona 2004 Universal Forum
of Cultures) emphasised the role of tourism to enable spaces
for
all cultures to express themselves and make themselves known,
and hence to achieve a form of intercultural dialogue leading to
peace and facilitating sustainable development(UNESCO 2004).
He further stressed that without tourism, cultural diversity is
not lived, experienced or felt through aesthetic emotions and a
comprehension of values it contains and expresses.
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CULTURE --- TOURISM INTER-RELATIONSHIPS
Culture heritage and diversity as tourism resources
Cultural tourism as a form of economic development
Tourism as a vehicle for intercultural dialogue cross cultural
understanding & peace
Tourism and environmental protection
Preservation and mobilisation of cultural resources
Economic empowerment and poverty alleviation
Mobilising nature for sustainable tourism
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF HISTORIC DISTRICT DELINEATIONHistoric
preservation is now an integral component of community planning.
However, in the United States interest in preserving historic
resources was slow to evolve.
One of the first preservation efforts in the country was to save
Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of
Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of
the United States were signed.
1816: a proposal was made to subdivide the site into parcels for
sale(despite the sites historic significance)
After a number of historical associations appealed, the city
bought the structure and kept it from the hands of private
developers.
Similarly, when local residents requested Congress to provide
funding to preserve George Washingtons deteriorating home, Mount
Vernon, Congress refused to allocate any money
1853 : the Mount Vernon Ladies Association was founded (to save
the homestead) through private efforts.
The Association was the first preservation organization in the
country and served as a model for other organizations involved in
saving threatened landmark structures.
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Early twentieth century - Americans had begun to take a
concerted interest in protecting natural features
1916: the National Park Service (NPS) was created in the U.S.
Department of the Interior to establish federal parklands and
eventually was given responsibility to administer programs to
protect historic structures.
1931 : First historic district-Charleston, South Carolina,
1936 : Second historic district-Vieux Carr (old French Quarter)
of New Orleans
Charleston and New Orleans became prototypes for other historic
districts: in San Antonio, Texas (1939); Alexandria, Virginia
(1946); Williamsburg, Virginia (1947); Winston-Salem, North
Carolina (1948); and Washington, D.C. (1950).
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1949: The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a
nongovernmental organization represents
all segments of the preservation movement, both public and
private.
1966 : National Historic Preservation Act (the most important
historic preservation legislation) was passed
Historic districts also promote the character and image of a
community.
Rehabilitated buildings encourage diversity in economic levels,
race,
occupations, and education levels by allowing for a range of
building
opportunities. Historic neighbourhoods are usually walkable
areas where
interaction among businesses, visitors, and residents takes
place, forging
a stronger neighbourhood identity and a more cohesive
community
structure.
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"Historic preservation has become a
fundamental tool for strengthening
American communities. It has proven to
be an effective tool for a wide range of
public goals including small business
incubation, affordable housing,
sustainable development, neighbourhood
stabilization, centre city revitalization,
job creation, promotion of the arts and
culture, small town renewal, heritage
tourism, economic development, and
others."
Donovan Rypkema, Measuring economic impacts of historic
preservation, 2011
Preservation is not about longing for the past or resisting
progress. Its
about building on the past toward the future.
Preserved historic character can boost a local economy,
attracting
tourists who tend to stay longer and spend more money. Most
important,
designation gives protection to a communitys heritage and
promotes a
better image and pride for its residents. In many communities
there is
little integration between preservation efforts and the
comprehensive
plan. Too often, historic preservation plans are prepared by
preservationists, and comprehensive plans by local planners,
each with
little awareness of the activities of the other. Local planners
need to
better integrate the two activities.
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HISTORIC DISTRICT DELINEATION & PRESERVATION WHAT IS IT?
In the United States, a historic district is a group of
buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of
several entities on different levels as historically or
architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and
siteswithin a historic district are normally divided into two
categories, contributing and non-contributing. Districts greatly
vary in size.
The U.S. federal government designates historic districts
through the United States Department of Interior under the auspices
of the National Park Service.
Federally designated historic districts are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places, but listing imposes no
restrictions on what property owners may do with a designated
property.
State-level historic districts may follow similar criteria (no
restrictions) or may require adherence to certain historic
rehabilitation standards.
Local historic district designation offers, by far, the most
legal protection for historic properties because most land use
decisions are made at the local level. Local districts are
generally administered by the county or municipal government.
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Historic districts are generally two types of properties,
contributing and non-contributing.
A contributing property is any property, structure or object
which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities
that make a historic district, listed locally or federally,
significant.
Different entities, usually governmental, at both the state and
national level in the United States, have differing definitions of
contributing property but they all retain the same basic
characteristics.
In general, contributing properties are integral parts of the
historic context and character of a historic district.
In addition to the two types of classification within historic
districts, properties listed on the National Register of
HistoricPlaces are classified into five broad categories.
They are, building, structure, site, district and object; each
one has a specific definition in relation to the National
Register.
HISTORIC DISTRICT DELINEATION & PRESERVATION MORE WHAT IS
IT?
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SITE INTEGRITY SEVEN QUALITIES
A property must possess integrity in order to be listed in the
National Register of Historic Places.
Decisions about historic integrity require professional
judgments about whether a property today reflects the spatial
organization, physical components and historic associations that it
attained during the periods of significance. A property's periods
of significance become the benchmark for measuring whether
subsequent changes contribute to its historic evolution or alter
its historic integrity.
Historic integrity requires that the various characteristics
that shaped the land during the historic period be present today in
much the same way they were historically. .. The general character
and feeling of the historic period . . must be retained for
eligibility (McClelland et al. 1999:21).
The seven qualities are:
LocationDesignSettingMaterialsWorkmanshipFeelingAssociation
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SAN LUIS OBISPO AREA, CA
Legend
Downtown
Old Town
China Town
Mill Street
Rail Road
San Luis Obispo has a number of historic sites/buildings
and a number of guidelines have been formulated to restrict
new construction so as to ensure that it conforms to the
Historic
Preservation act.
Shown below are some examples of the architectural control
measures undertaken in the historic districts (next slide)
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IMAGE GALLERY
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ACOMA PUEBLO , NEW MEXICOAcoma Pueblo is built atop a
sheer-walled, 367-foot sandstone bluff in a
valley studded with sacred, towering monoliths.(Since 1150
A.D)
It has earned the reputation as the oldest continuously
inhabited
community in North America. The mesa-top settlement is known
worldwide
for its unique art and rich culture.
A federally recognized Indian Tribe, Acoma Pueblo has a land
base
covering 431,664 acres and is home to 4,800 tribal members with
more
than 250 dwellings, none of which have electricity, sewer, or
water.
In 1629, construction began on the massive San Esteban del Rey
Mission,
a Catholic mission. Both the Mission and the Pueblo are
Registered
National Historical Landmarks and are on the National Register
of
Historic Places.
Acoma Pueblo was named the 28th Historic Site by the National
Trust for
Historic Preservation (NTHP) in 2007 and is the only Native
American site
to be designated.
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WILLIAMSBURG GARDENEarly 1700s : Originally laid out by
Lieutenant Governor Francis Nicholson
20th century: restoration of the town centre supported by John
D. Rockefeller, Jr.
1927 : more than 600 non-period buildings were demolished, 100
restored, and 350 reconstructed in the Georgian style, including
the Wren building and the Old College Yard of the College of
William and Mary.
1928-1941 : Arthur Shurcliff oversaw Williamsburgs gardens,
landscape, and town planning, with his deputy Alden Hopkins
assuming responsibility when Shurcliff retired.
The Colonial Revival gardens were inspired by the Anglo-Dutch
style popular in the colonial period but are more decorative and
formal than the original gardens would have been.
Consistent among the gardens is the use of evergreen shrubs,
particularly boxwood, and paving in either a more formal basket
weave pattern or functional brickbat paving that uses broken
bricks.
All lots are surrounded by 4.5-foot fences, which were required
by colonial law to protect from free-roaming cattle. The extensive
Governors Palace gardens were restored using a 1739 engraving known
as the Bodleian Plate.
Using conservation easements and large land purchases, Colonial
Williamsburg has sought to preserve views and keep the arrival
experience as non-commercial as possible. With a historic area of
301 acres, Colonial Williamsburg was named a National Historic
Landmark in 1960.
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1 Dr.Barraud House
2 Bassett Hall
3 John Blair House
4 Bracken Tenement
5 Bryan House
6 Christiana Campbells Tavern
13 James Geddy House
14 Governers Palace
15 Orlando Jones House
16 Kings Arms Tavern
17 David Morton House
18 Palmer House
19 Pasteur & Galt Apothecary
LEGEND
7 Elizabeth Carlos House
8 Coke-Garrett House
9 The Colonial Garden and Nursery
10 Alexander Craig House
11 Custis Tenement
12 Thomas Everard House
20 Benjamin Powell House
21 Prentis House
22 Alexander Purdie
23 George Reid House
24 Taliaferro-Cole House
25 Wetherburns Tavern
26 George Wythe House
The Map of Williamsburg Gardens
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Ballroom Garden Custis Tenement Garden Governors Palace
Aerial view of the governors palacepanoramic view of the flower
borders (North Garden , Ballroom Garden & Governors Palace in
the background)
IMAGE GALLERY
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Elkanah Deane House Garden
Orlando Jones House
North GardenJames Shields Tavern Garden
John Blair house herb garden
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SANSKRITI KALA KENDRA, ANANDGRAM
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Char-bagh in courtyard
Of terracotta museum
Water bodies as kunds and ghats
Groves of champa trees
Kund court
The Banyan square
Courtyard within
terracotta museum
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Workspaces adjoining
terracotta terrace
Terracotta terrace
Bankura horses on terracotta terrace
Open air theatre
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Edge of water landscape
Urlis at various thresholds
Banyan tree as sculpture
Water landscape as artWater landscape of the ghats
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INTRODUCTION
The first privately funded restoration of a World Heritage Site
in
India was completed in March 2003 through the joint efforts of
the
Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the Archaeological Survey
of
India (ASI), under the aegis of the National Culture Fund.
The objective of the project was to revitalise the gardens,
pathways,
fountains and water channels of the chahr-bgh, or four-part
paradise garden surrounding Humayuns Tomb in Delhi, according
to
the original plans of the builders.
The preservation of historic gardens requires close attention to
the
living and renewable landscape elements. Currently a
management
plan is underway for the long-term sustainability of the
enhanced site.
THE REVITALISATION OF THE
GARDENS OF HUMAYUNS TOMB, DELHI
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INTRODUCTION OF THE RESTORATION PROJECT
The gardens are laid out in classical chahr-bgh pattern. They
are divided into quarters by raised causeways. The quadrants are
divided, in turn, into eight plots, each with walkways. At the
intersection of these walkways are octagonal or rectangular
pools
Site works encompassed a variety of disciplines, including
archaeological excavation, the application of conservation
science
and hydraulic engineering.
The projects implementation phase began when the Trust began
work on the 12 hectare (30 acre) garden site in 2000.
Working under the aegis of the National Culture Fund and in
collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the
Trust
undertook the first privately funded restoration of a World
Heritage Site in India.
Landscape architect Mohammed Shaheer played a major role in
the
restoration project
Work was completed in March 2003.
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DETAILS OF THE RESTORATION PROJECT
The US$ 650,000 restoration project has featured:
Removal of 3,000 truckloads of earth (12,000 cubic metres)
Planting of 12 hectares (30 acres) of lawn
Re-setting and alignment of over 3,500 kilometres of path
kerbstones
Preparation by some 60 stonecutters of 3,000 metres of hand
dressed red sandstone slabs (to edge the channels)
Creation of 128 ground-water recharge pits and the de-silting
and creation of other wells as part of the largest
rainwater-harvesting system scheme in any heritage site in
India
Creation of a site exhibition
Planning and installation of a new water-circulation system for
the walkway channels
Planting of 2,500 trees and plants, including mango, lemon,
neem, hibiscus and jasmine cuttings, according to Mughal texts
Repair of fountains, wells and rainwater-harvesting systems
Provision of wheelchair access to a significant part of the
site
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A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH
Excavations
&
Archival research
Benches
Wells
Octagonal platform
Wall mosque
Craftsmanship
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Earth removal
&
Pathway repair
Wheelchair access
Childrens workshops
Planting
Illumination
Documentation
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PROJECT SUMMARYThe rehabilitation project included the following
main elements:
Reinstating the walkways and conserving the edging stones
Repair, extension and reactivation of the irrigation system
Establishing water sources for the water channels and irrigation
system, including a pump station for a water-recycling system
Conserving, repairing and rebuilding the water channel
system
Re-levelling the planted zones and revitalising them with
species and arrangements that conform to the customs and patterns
of Mughal sources
Support for research that informs the conservation and
restoration process, contributes to the development of educational
materials for use in schools of architecture, conservation and
heritage management, as well as for
visitors to the Tomb.
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HUMAYUNS
TOMB
RESTORATION
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In the latter years of the 20th century, the Humayuns Tomb
site
suffered from a condition that had befallen many World
Heritage Sites.
Its gardens were worn, its masonry cracked, and the
stonework
broken or incomplete, the ruinous appearance resulting in
few
visitors to the site.
The competition for resources made restoration of cultural
sites
an unpalatable position for many authorities. The challenge,
therefore, was to find ways for cultural sites many of great
beauty and tourist interest to sustain themselves.
Around the same time, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture set out
to
prove that heritage sites could not only sustain themselves,
but
could become catalysts for the revitalisation of historic
districts
In India, AKTC began by restoring the gardens of Humayuns
Tomb, as a gift to India by His Highness the Aga Khan on the
occasion of the 50th anniversary of independence.
Following the completed garden restoration in 2004, AKTC
expanded its activities to encompass an urban renewal
project
that comprises the adjoining areas of Hazrat Nizamuddin
Basti,
Sundar Nursery and the Humayuns Tomb complex.
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The conservation works thus aimed at restoring the
architectural
integrity and the original Mughal splendour by using
traditional
building craft skills of masons, plasterers, stone carvers, and
tile
makers all of whom would be working with the traditional
materials. In view of the scale of work to be carried out and
with
a major departure from a preserve as found approach, a
Conservation Plan detailing the all proposed works was peer-
reviewed at the outset by international experts.
At the centre of the project is Humayuns Tomb, built in the
1560s to a far grander scale than any other earlier tomb in
the
Islamic world, which was the precursor of the famed Taj
Mahal.
Once, Humayuns Tomb stood in isolation on the outskirts of
the
city, but today is surrounded by the city.
It continues to be an auspicious place because the Mughal
builders chose to build Humayuns Tomb at this site owing to
its
close proximity to the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.
Several other garden-tombs were built abutting Humayuns Tomb
in the 16th century, including seven within Sundar Nursery