SS
S. Sengupta
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“Gangchen-Yul:Village of the Glaciers” is a project that is based in Kulum- a remote high altitude village in Ladakh (North Western Himalayan region in India). Kulum is one of many villages in Ladakh that has borne the brunt of climate change and subsequent abandonment- posing a threat to livelihood and vernacular history. Situated at an altitude of 3800m, Kulum’s history dates back to the silk route era where it was a thriving agrarian community that was supported by the high glaciers. However, through the centuries, due to economic, climatic and geopolitical volatility, Kulum’s sustenance has been increasingly challenged. Glacial depletion and the 2011 floods led to a spike in emigration to cities due to loss of agricultural land. Because of Ladakh’s remote and extreme geographical location, the sustenance of these agrarian communities is critical. This has been increasingly recognized by governing authorities and researches leading to developments such as ice stupas or artificial glaciers which help in restoring agricultural land. While these new developments have incentivized the return of local communities, their built environment remains to be addressed. Therefore, rooted in extensive site study and personal experiences in Ladakh, the thesis aims to propose an urban and architectural rehabilitation strategy for Kulum based on vernacular processes. This is essentially done through restoring the original relationship between living and production by proposing an architectural dialogue between new modes of living and production that continue to emerge in Kulum.
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“Gangchen-Yul:Village of the Glaciers” is a project that is based in Kulum- a remote high altitude village in Ladakh (North Western Himalayan region in India). Kulum is one of many villages in Ladakh that has borne the brunt of climate change and subsequent abandonment- posing a threat to livelihood and vernacular history. Situated at an altitude of 3800m, Kulum’s history dates back to the silk route era where it was a thriving agrarian community that was supported by the high glaciers. However, through the centuries, due to economic, climatic and geopolitical volatility, Kulum’s sustenance has been increasingly challenged. Glacial depletion and the 2011 floods led to a spike in emigration to cities due to loss of agricultural land. Because of Ladakh’s remote and extreme geographical location, the sustenance of these agrarian communities is critical. This has been increasingly recognized by governing authorities and researches leading to developments such as ice stupas or artificial glaciers which help in restoring agricultural land. While these new developments have incentivized the return of local communities, their built environment remains to be addressed. Therefore, rooted in extensive site study and personal experiences in Ladakh, the thesis aims to propose an urban and architectural rehabilitation strategy for Kulum based on vernacular processes. This is essentially done through restoring the original relationship between living and production by proposing an architectural dialogue between new modes of living and production that continue to emerge in Kulum.
Renowned urban squares around the world seldom have a past that has not been marked by political upheaval and trauma. Tiananmen Square in Beijing or the Red Square in Moscow are examples that attest to this. Urban designers and architects approach politically volatile squares in varying ways that may or may not consider their complex histories. For instance, the urban fabric of Berlin adopts a design approach that confronts its past by integrating structures such as the Berlin Wall within its present context, thus honoring a collective memory.
The paper focuses on the context of Kashmir and more specifically, Srinagar, which has witnessed increasing political tensions ever since India gained its independence in 1947. These heightened tensions have hurled Srinagar into a constant state of political volatility.
With competing political narratives and multiple religious sentiments, Srinagar’s central square (Lal Chowk) has emerged as the focal point of historical turbulence. Increased political volatility encodes its built fabric and consequently alters the various personal associations it holds. Today, town planning proposals for Lal Chowk aim for urban solutions that veil its troubled past and opt for a seemingly modern approach that mimics dissimilar contexts.
Through chronological mapping between political events and transformations in the built fabric, this paper draws attention to how Lal Chowk serves as a political archive for Kashmir. It therefore argues for urban planning possibilities that confront Srinagar’s past. Following this, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and commemorating collective memory while supporting a progressive future. ...
The paper focuses on the context of Kashmir and more specifically, Srinagar, which has witnessed increasing political tensions ever since India gained its independence in 1947. These heightened tensions have hurled Srinagar into a constant state of political volatility.
With competing political narratives and multiple religious sentiments, Srinagar’s central square (Lal Chowk) has emerged as the focal point of historical turbulence. Increased political volatility encodes its built fabric and consequently alters the various personal associations it holds. Today, town planning proposals for Lal Chowk aim for urban solutions that veil its troubled past and opt for a seemingly modern approach that mimics dissimilar contexts.
Through chronological mapping between political events and transformations in the built fabric, this paper draws attention to how Lal Chowk serves as a political archive for Kashmir. It therefore argues for urban planning possibilities that confront Srinagar’s past. Following this, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and commemorating collective memory while supporting a progressive future. ...
Renowned urban squares around the world seldom have a past that has not been marked by political upheaval and trauma. Tiananmen Square in Beijing or the Red Square in Moscow are examples that attest to this. Urban designers and architects approach politically volatile squares in varying ways that may or may not consider their complex histories. For instance, the urban fabric of Berlin adopts a design approach that confronts its past by integrating structures such as the Berlin Wall within its present context, thus honoring a collective memory.
The paper focuses on the context of Kashmir and more specifically, Srinagar, which has witnessed increasing political tensions ever since India gained its independence in 1947. These heightened tensions have hurled Srinagar into a constant state of political volatility.
With competing political narratives and multiple religious sentiments, Srinagar’s central square (Lal Chowk) has emerged as the focal point of historical turbulence. Increased political volatility encodes its built fabric and consequently alters the various personal associations it holds. Today, town planning proposals for Lal Chowk aim for urban solutions that veil its troubled past and opt for a seemingly modern approach that mimics dissimilar contexts.
Through chronological mapping between political events and transformations in the built fabric, this paper draws attention to how Lal Chowk serves as a political archive for Kashmir. It therefore argues for urban planning possibilities that confront Srinagar’s past. Following this, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and commemorating collective memory while supporting a progressive future.
The paper focuses on the context of Kashmir and more specifically, Srinagar, which has witnessed increasing political tensions ever since India gained its independence in 1947. These heightened tensions have hurled Srinagar into a constant state of political volatility.
With competing political narratives and multiple religious sentiments, Srinagar’s central square (Lal Chowk) has emerged as the focal point of historical turbulence. Increased political volatility encodes its built fabric and consequently alters the various personal associations it holds. Today, town planning proposals for Lal Chowk aim for urban solutions that veil its troubled past and opt for a seemingly modern approach that mimics dissimilar contexts.
Through chronological mapping between political events and transformations in the built fabric, this paper draws attention to how Lal Chowk serves as a political archive for Kashmir. It therefore argues for urban planning possibilities that confront Srinagar’s past. Following this, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and commemorating collective memory while supporting a progressive future.