KRVIA MASTERS CONFERENCE: COMMUNITY HERITAGE

KRVIA Urban Conservation Department initiated the workshop and conference (Collaboration with University of Coimbra, Portugal) on Community Heritage on the fringes of an Indian Metropolis. The intent of the workshop was to unearth the important community architecture that has helped and shaped the ethos and cultural practices within the cities and fringes of such cities. 

The workshop began with such sites and situation along with students to explore its history and its cultural significance by means of documentation. The documentation helped in shaping the ideas of restoration and imagination of its revival. The conference attended by research scholars from Portugal, KRVIA Conservation Faculties, practicing Conservation Architects and visitors from History department within the city. 

The conference began with the question on relevance of community heritage in contemporary cities and nature of practices that can be resulted out of such concerns. The scholars from Portugal presented the history and process of Portuguese settlement across the sea fronts, its land management systems by means of archival navigation maps and sketches. The paper also emphasized the trade and cultural relationship between two nation dated back. The research also navigate through the ideas of city-scapes and architecture of Mumbai’s catholic communities and its cultural and trade ties with early Portuguese colony

The KRVIA faculty built the case for diverse practices that possibly can emerge out of community heritage. The argument demonstrated that our responsibilities towards heritage architecture are as custodians and need to transmit such heritage values to the next generation in same condition or better conditions. The conservation initiatives and trends have its own problems and issues but requires mass awareness for any of such attempt. The concerns on conservation trend also stated with question on "What is Heritage?". The heritage needs to be re-contextualize and scope of heritage must expand beyond its Object boundaries into intangible aspects of Indigenous communities. In order to be effective the heritage also should encompass and recognize the aspects of livelihoods, environment and  socializing patterns.

Professor Ravindra Vasavada (CEPT, Ahmadabad) presented the paper on "Community, Heritage in Continuum". He presented the argument that the spirit of conservation is in continuity and its relevance and the heritage program must go beyond the pure restoration and conservation.