‘It’s our duty to save Kashmir’s traditional architecture for future generations’

Srinagar, Jun 14: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Kashmir chapter on Saturday organised a day-long seminar on “Enduring Appeal of Traditional Architecture: Lessons for Modern Construction” at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar.

The event was organised with an aim to bridge Kashmir’s architectural heritage and modernity.

The seminar highlighted how traditional Kashmiri architectural practices, which are noted for their climate responsiveness, seismic resilience, and cultural depth, can serve as vital models for more sustainable and context-sensitive construction in the 21st century.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, J&K INTACH’s Convenor Saleem Beg said Kashmir's traditional architecture was fading away, and given this, INTACH J&K chapter provided a platform to discuss how the traditional architecture can be merged with the new architecture.

"How do we make it feel like the old houses, the features of those houses, the cultural features, the features of the mosque, the earthquake resistance, can be adopted in new buildings?" he said.

He said there are two or three elements, including the intervention of the architect.

"There is a lot of need for architectural understanding. Our architects should know what the basic needs of our life are. So that they can be integrated in new buildings," Saleem Beg said.

He said there was a time when there were no architects, no educated people. "They didn't understand this issue. Now, our people are ready. We have a college of architecture. We have architects who have an understanding of these things," he said.

He said these architects have studied from outside, and all of them were gathered to show how important it is that the cultural asset of Kashmir is being represented in buildings and in architecture, and should not move away from that.

"We should use new materials. But we should keep the old style of architecture in mind and use it. This is the basic purpose of today's event," he said.

He said Valley has independent architects from the university besides the teachers who have studied outside.

"We also have people from our civil society. We hope that we will be able to move this movement forward," Saleem Beg said.

A speaker at the event said that the event was organised to discuss different heritage-related topics.

"It is a very important time in our history when there is a smart city project. The government is spending a lot of money. So there should be constant exercises where the common citizens, young architects, stakeholders can come, and it can create a space for dialogue for such things," she said.

The speakers said there were so many heritage buildings that were completely neglected and are just getting demolished in the city.

"So, it is a very urgent and important issue for which we have gathered here today. We want to discuss this and incorporate these things in the future," the speakers said.

Advisor to J&K Chief Minister, Nasir Aslam Wani, who was the chief guest at the occasion, said, “Kashmir has a very big treasure of heritage, including the architecture, cuisine, music, and social values.’

"We have a very big heritage, and we must save this heritage for future generations. There is a big role of architecture in it," he said.

Wani said that for some years, the Valley has seen that the total pattern of architecture has changed here.

"The material that was traditionally used here is no longer used. More emphasis is given on concrete and glass, which do not match our environment nor do it meet our requirements," he said.

He said it takes a lot of effort for us to heat this concrete and glass in winter.

"All of us talked about brainstorming that the traditional architecture here should be revived.  There is also a problem with it, which is the material that is traditionally used in it,"

He said that hopes are high that the coming young architects keep these things in mind because the tourists who come from abroad do not arrive here to remain locked in the hotel rooms.

"They have to go to these places. There are some destinations in Pahalgam, while some have opened in Sonamarg. I hope that in the coming days all these places will open again," he said.