Conservation planning in France & Urban Conservation

1. Conservation planning in France
&Urban conservation of Ahmedabad
Prepared by,
Miral Kaloliya
Faisal Alam
Master of Urban and Regional Planner,
Department of Architecture

2. Le Marais is a historic district in Paris, France.

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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Urban conservation initiative in The
Walled City of Ahmedabad

10. Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat

11. • 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.

12. • 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???

13.  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

14. 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.

15. WALLED CITY PLAN

16. 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?

17.  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.

18.  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.

19.  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 :

20. Project Implementation
Generating awareness
1. heritage walk
2. freedom march
3. celebration of Pol- day
4. Auto rickshaw guides

22.  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.

23. Heritage walk attended by
AMITABH BACHCHAN
Tourist walk

24. • 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

25. Results and Impacts

26. 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.