CHURCH: LUND, SWEDEN.

The church in lund represent the fine Romanesque Architecture built out of sandstone, built in 1000 AD. The similar time frame the various monuments built across the world. In Indian context it was Brihadeeshwara Temple in Thanjavur by Chhola Dynasty and Qutub Minar by  Qutub Al Din Aibak. In the context of Europe there were some of the finest architectural monuments emanating out of Roman and Gothic Architecture,  however the material of construction (esp. Bricks, Lime Stones, Granite)  would be different, depend on the context. 

The characteristics of the architecture relies heavily of buttresses system of construction but adopting flat and concealed within the massive walls. The pleated arches and cascading apertures from big to small, accentuating the loftiness of the architecture. The interior also resonate the quality of exterior by presence of massive masonry columns alternating with piers of clustered shafts supporting the earliest pointed high ribs forming a ribbed vault as a roofing system. 

HOUSE AND HOUSING: SWEDEN & NETHERLAND

This is in addition to earlier post " HOUSING EXPERIMENTS", it is interesting to observe the new experiments and issues in housing in different region of similar context. The issues of housing with methods on participatory approach or rejuvenate old housing stocks or re-claim the neighborhood qualities through open spaces and importantly the issues of re-inventing qualities of neighborhood affected by  crime and violence are some of the important virtues of such experiments. All these experiments attempting to address the issues of reinventing the housing typology, promoting the network for social sustenance, balance of want and need in housing imagination, capture the small to large aspects of housing. 

The high density and vertical housing coupled with large open spaces brings in the new urban landscape in dealing with migrants while typical low-rise middle income housing estates addressing the individuality to collective,  by means of participation in re-designing of lost neighborhood. The important of public spaces and public realm at neighborhood level is an interesting experiments and allowing positive social and cultural porosity for vibrant neighborhood. 

RE-CONSERVATION: KREMS, AUSTRIA

The town of Krems along the Danube Valley is an important historical town, which has witnessed the consistence architectural sustenance across the centuries. The old town of Krems offers high quality of Urban and Architectural landscape spreaded across the river Danube. The town has two parts, showing excellent quality of architectural monument and experiential urban experience. The important churches are dated back to 12th Century AD, perhaps the same time frame when Sun Temple Konark was constructed. 

The quality of architectural restoration work for urban fabric and important monuments are note-worthy. The UNESCO guidelines provides important restoration and conservation work, mainly focusing on Integrity, Authenticity and Regional Value. The old town of Krems is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, demonstrating valuable account of restored natural and man-made objects value systems.

The Heritage Management program is also emphasizing the key areas of conservation,  sustainable development and  Cultural Landscape of the region. The triad  relationship is an important areas in conservation as it embraces the Socio - Cultural equity, Environmental equity & Economic equity, perhaps indication to the control the development of the Danube Valley Region.

The most of the monuments are living monuments  and  urban fabrics are lived spaces. This is possible with strict control and protective measures to ensure the conservation is central to any development.