Centre for deccan heritage: restoring lost linkage in the from of a contemporary urban insert in a dominant historic core

Abstract

Many India cities emerged and grew out of fortified citadels and even today such historic cores/precincts continue to exist and thrive. As architecture evolves and grows adapting to newer styles and technologies it becomes imperative to question where historicity in architecture stands and how it may be responded to in today’s context. What is the most important factor to be evaluated when design a contemporary building in a dominant historic core and what role does architecture play in merging or creating a connect as well as a balance between the past present and the future. The fortified citadel of Golconda was the very first walled settlement of the city of Hyderabad, the seat of power to its founders the Qutb Shahis for nearly 2 centuries. The city’s founders are buried at the foot hills of the fort in Ibrahim Bagh- now the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park. It is believed that a very physical connection (now spotted as a barren piece of land sharing boundaries with the tombs wall and the fort wall) existed between the two heritage complexes that facilitated the funerary procession for the royals. Over the years due to neglect connection lost meaning only and form. This thesis therefore, aims to investigate and analyze this very site, its historical linkages as well as its relevance and significance in todays’ times to finally propose suggestive interventions that would seemingly fit in as appropriate contemporary urban insertions. The design proposal responds to the site at both an urban design level as well as an architecture point of view while emphasizing the need to create a centralized collective of resources about the Deccan and its varied layers of history and ecology for the general public. The project aims at appropriately using all historical structures on site and ensuring visitor engagement to the maximum extent possible while minimizing ‘built’ interventions near and around historically and ecologically sensitive. Therefore, apart from the design conceptualization of built interventions in the form of a centre for Deccan heritage the design program also aims at creating ecological sensitivity so as to inform and preserve indigenous ecological elements of the site and the Deccan at large. This thesis though, is limited to borrowing concepts from the history and culture of the rule of the Qutb Shahi rulers alone and does not delve into the intricacies of other Deccan states. It is also limited to conceptualizing an appropriate and creative architectural program and does not impose policy driven strategies as is normally the case with precincts with strong historical character.