Collective memory as a vital instrument in ensuring a perpetual image of a historical city- case of jodhpur

Abstract

Each city has a unique collective memory which gets reconstructed over a given period of time. Collective memory helps in providing a cultural identity to the city. As the city grows the collective memory also keeps on getting re invented and new elements keep on getting added to it. The attributes of collective memory are certain tangible and intangible elements present in the urban system of the city. There are certain elements of permanence which form the core of the collective memory. Threats to these elements in terms of urbanization needs to be intervened into. The aim of the thesis is to strengthen the attributes of collective memory in a historical precinct. The site chosen for the topic is Jodhpur, in the state of Rajasthan which offers a unique plethora of tangible and intangible heritage. The precinct lies in the walled city of Jodhpur near the foothills of Mehrangarh fort. The existing urban system of the city has presence of various tangible and intangible elements like Mehrangarh fort, Ghanta ghar, Nai sarak, indigenous water conservation structures and the colour yellow. As per people’s perception the yellow colour, the tangible heritage forms the elements of permanence while the indigenous water conservation structures form a layer which is getting eroded away. The design objectives for the city focus on safeguarding the spatial quality of the historical structures as well as re-establishing the associations of the people with the water conservation structures.