Excellent Project Award

Location: Near Kheri Gate, Amber, Rajasthan, India

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: 

The ruin, known as Chanwar Palkhiwalon-ki-Haveli, belonged to the family of pallinquin bearers, in the Court of Amber, the then kingdom of the Kachhwah Rajputs in Western India, and had been abandoned for many decades. It was not possible to establish whether the seller of the ruin, at the time of purchase by J.P.Singh and Faith Singh, was the direct descendant of the original occupants.

ISSUES OF CONSERVATION/RESTORATION CONSIDERED AND JUSTIFICATIONS: 

Since the objective was to re-establish the relevance of traditional

materials and technologies in the contemporary context, it was decided that

(a) only the traditional materials will be used in its conservation;

(b) none of the contemporary materials will be used

(c) no drawings will be made in the process of conservation; and

(d) all design/conservation decisions will be taken with the inputs of the traditional craftsmen.

Prior to the beginning of this exercise in Amber town, which has about 350 useable buildings and a greater number than that as ruins, the ruins were abandoned, with hardly any ownership records or claimants. As the conservation of the Haveli progressed and the results were seen, many ruins found more than one individual claiming ownership;

the prices of the ruins suddenly shot up to unrealistic levels, in the hope of finding a likely buyer who would invest money for such transformations; 

It took J.P. Singh three months to find the master craftsman, who came with five craftsmen to support him. Presently, each one of the original workers has become an independent contractor with his own team, and contributes to the Built Environment through the increased use of traditional materials and technologies;

The traditional plaster carried out here, has been emulated by Mr. P.B.S. Oberoi, the Vice Chairman of the Oberoi Group of Hotels, for his Fort near Jaipur and, subsequently, for his luxury Resort Raj Villas at Jaipur, which has set standards in traditional ambience in India.

RELATIONSHIP OF NEW TO OLD:

Since the entire property was a ruin and restoration was the principal activity, instead of renovation, there is no significant dividing line between the new and the old. Whatever was old has become new, and only an entirely new passage has been added, to facilitate circulation.

DISCOVERIES:

 There were many, and in many directions:

(I) The ruin was not as dilapidated as it appeared to be. It was restored at approximately Rs.3,800/- per sq.mt. (equivalent to U.S.$ 90.00 per sq.mt. at present rate of conversion);

(2) Maximum deterioration of our cultural heritage has occurred in the 20th century and the main cause of it is a change in the value system of the society which associates progress with rejection of the past; (3) Most traditional buildings are very respectful of the land and the surroundings they are set in;

(4) The traditional materials & techniques of construction are much more durable than the contemporary materials and techniques;

5) Common sense was the common denominator in the traditional process of decision making;

(6) The traditional design and construction process offered opportunity for creative inputs at all levels of implementation and was not restricted to the design studios of the architect’s office;

(7) Simple looking time tested solutions are much better for long-term interests than variety oriented experiments without innovative approaches

(10) The strength of Indian Architecture lies in the anonymity of its architect;

THE BUILDING’S PRESENT CONDITION AND STATE OF USE:

Source: UNESCO