Old buildings in walled city to get new lease of life
Following the MoU, architects from France have started the tough job of revitalising walled city areas

Plans to breath new life into the old city areas may have come as a pleasant surprise to residents, but ask those at the helm of affairs and they will tell you that the job is easier said than done.

The process will be carried out as per internationally accepted standards liad down by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). However, if the views of those involved in the project are anything to go by, the one-year time-frame of the Indo-French MoU might, in fact, not be enough. The MoU, signed on January 14, aims at establishing a model plan for revitalisation of the walled city.

Revitalising the old city is a challenge itself. The city has been influenced by different kinds of architecture during different periods. Also, the original form of several structures has changed significantly. Mapping these itself will take quite some time," said French architect Frederic Auclair who is in-charge of formulating various surveys in the area and setting up a database.

Auclair said the process would begin with detailed surveys and mapping based on various parameters.

"Maps identifying the period during which various structures were constructed, the purpose for which they are being utilised, roads, open spaces, supply lines and even pedestrian roads will have to be made. The actual conservation work will begin only later," he said.

"We will also have to segregate the buildings depending on the amount of restoration they need. Those which need immediate attention will be revitalised on priority basis," Auclair informed. He added that other architects and experts would visit the city during the course of the project and work on various other aspects.

One of the major reasons for zeroing in on Ahmedabad was the complexity of architecture in the walled city areas.

"A team of experts form France had visited different cities in India before deciding on Ahmedabad. There is a large diversity in culture and architecture of the city. The influence of different eras can be seen in a single house! If we can revitalise this centre, we can do so in any other city," Auclair observed.

Besides, Auclair added, the city had a strong support system for carrying out the revitalisation programme. "Premier institutions like National Institute of Design, Centre for Environment Planning and Technology as well as the Indian Institute of Management can play a key role. Such facilities are not available in other towns," he observed.

Auclair has been in the city for about a month and has stayed in the 'pols', a vital part of the architectural heritage of the walled city. He says the experience has been a memorable one and also encouraging for the work they have taken up.

"People who have chosen to stay back in the old city are fond of their houses. The closely knit social structure with families staying together for decades is unique. People are more co-operative and take care of each others' requirements and problems," he says.

However, he was disappointed to see that people had deserted their houses for modern structures. "If this continues, lack of maintenance will take a toll on the buildings," he said.

At the same time, he sounds optimistic. "We have taken up similar projects in France. The experience there has been that once the revitalisation was complete, people returned to stay in these heritage properties and were proud of them. We hope the same happens here," he said.

Compiled from local news media