Should We conserve Heritage?

This topic has been debated in the past several times, but financial allocation and expenditure on monuments showcase that the organizations are paid very less to manage expensive conservation after fulfilling the demands for salary.

As architects, we can help find solutions which are affordable, interesting and generating revenue for sustaining maintenance. 

Zafar Mahal

Zafar Mahal in Mehrauli in New Delhi. The mosque in the background is the Shrine of Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. The royal graves in the palace are in a marble enclosure – with a vacant spot for the grave of Bahadur Shah Zafar II.

The last Mughal residential complex Zafar Mahal a.k.a Lal Mahal was made in honor of Hazrat Khwaja Quttubuddin Bakhtiyar Kak, a renowned Sufi saint. It is said that Bahadur Shah Zafar wanted to be buried here but since he was exiled to Burma, his last wish was never fulfilled.

The building was made in two parts. First part, constructed by Emperor Akbar Shah II was a single floor comprising of few rooms, some open area, Moti Masjid and Naubat Khana. Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar added another floor to it and erected the majestic Hathi Gate. He also constructed Chajja/Chhatri in the center of the palace.
Towards the east, adjoining the wall of Hz. Kaki's Dargah is the Moti Masjid. It has two exits, one in the south, towards the Naubat Khana of Zafar Mahal, and other in North, that opens in the property of Hz. Kaki's Dargah.Except for Hathi Gate, entire palace is in ruins. 70% of the roof has collapsed. Remaining 30% has been restored by govt. body and is supported with wooden planks. 

Passageways inside the complex

We can conserve this ruined palace by, 

• Creating an Exhibition elaborating the tussle between Mughals and Britishers reinvoking the love for our nation 

• Using this space for other educational purposes.

• Refurbishing the ruined parts into an Open space with installations of recreational things like swings etc.

• Using the existing structure as places where prayers can be practiced etc.

Proposed Design for a museum,

As an architect, the proposed design has to follow certain constraints like,

• The built form shouldn't be altered to retain the essence of spaces and distribution.
• The material used to build the structure should be preserved, which will help locals to understand the techniques used in past.

Current Major standing built forms,

• Hathi Gate- The grand entrance to the haveli has lots of niches and helps accelerate the dramatic experience of Mughal architecture. It can act as
• Chattri- The collonade raised 2.4 meters from the ground is built in the biggest existing space 2.3 meters high. It can act as a nodal point for circulation.

Distribution of Spaces,

• Entrance from Hathi Gate leads to question booth and reference material section.
• The lower level is perfect for seamless circulation and can serve as a museum for the early Mughal turmoil to later Mughal resistance.
• The upper levels can sinuate the peak of their dynasty and house precious artifacts as it is well walled and distant from exits.

Zoning,

Existing Plan,

Proposed Plan,