1. Conservation Strategy for Twentieth Century Urban Vernacular Buildings
at Sadar Bazar, Ambala Cantonment, Haryana, India
Session 2: Intervention Methods and Approaches
Sachin Harry, Assistant Professor, Chitkara School of Planning & Architecture, Chitkara
University, Rajpura, Punjab – 140 401. Mobile – +919888673625. Email –
sachin.harry@chitkara.edu.in
Due to Industrial Revolution in Europe and other parts of the world, mass production of
construction materials like steel and glass occurred, resulting in the popularisation of these
materials in colonies of European powers. They replaced the traditional materials like timber,
stone and other locally available materials or resulted in unique construction technology by
the combination of traditional and modern materials.
In India, many buildings were constructed by the British and Indians alike using combination
of locally available and modern materials. Some famous examples include Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai), Rashtrapathi Bhavan (New Delhi), Ripon Building (Chennai),
and Victoria Memorial (Kolkata). All these and many more were constructed during the era
of British Raj which extended into first half of twentieth century. They varied from public
buildings, institutions, law courts to factories, railway stations, churches and barracks. The
larger and important buildings are recognised as heritage structures, thereby protecting and
maintaining them. But there are smaller buildings like residences, shops, factories and
hospitals which are not recognised as heritage structures and hence have resulted in
demolition of many as in the case of Bombay mills.
This study focuses on problems in conservation of twentieth century urban vernacular
buildings in the area of Sadar Bazar at Ambala Cantonment, Haryana, India. There are
bungalows, shop-houses, schools, religious centres, police station, factory and hospital in this
area built with different materials and construction technologies which are brick with lime-
surkhi mortar, brick tile-wooden batten-RSJ roofs, decorative ceramic tiles used for floors
and dadoes, steel railings and iron balustrades to name a few. Though most are in a state of
neglect and conservation is a problem due to non-availability of original materials, this paper
will analyse the present condition, causes of decay, and possibility of retrofitting or repair.