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Heritage is the cultural legacy we have been left by our ancestors and which we will hand over to the future generations. Built heritage could be in the form of buildings, townscapes, structures, street furniture, columns.
Heritage preserves our collective memories and helps us preserve our traditional systems. Our heritage provides us the guidance to understand our past and present so that we can plan better for the future. It adds character to our cities and gives us a sense of identity.
It has been defined in many different ways, by different organisations. The important definitions which have been accepted internationally by most of the countries are given here.
- Movable cultural heritage (paintings, sculptures, coins, manuscripts)movable cultural heritage (paintings, sculptures, coins, manuscripts)
- Immovable cultural heritage (monuments, archaeological sites, and so on)
- Underwater cultural heritage (shipwrecks, underwater ruins and cities)
Tangible heritage includes buildings and historic places, monuments, artifacts, etc., which are considered worthy of preservation for the future. These include objects significant to the archaeology, architecture, science or technology of a specific culture. Objects are important to the study of human history because they provide a concrete basis for ideas, and can validate them. Their preservation demonstrates recognition of the necessity of the past and of the things that tell its story. Preserved objects also validate memories; and the actuality of the object, as opposed to a reproduction or surrogate, draws people in and gives them a literal way of touching the past. This unfortunately poses a danger as places and things are damaged by the hands of tourists, the light required to display them, and other risks of making an object known and available.
The term ‘cultural heritage’ has changed content considerably in recent decades, partially owing to the instruments developed by UNESCO. Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects. It also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
While fragile, intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization. An understanding of the intangible cultural heritage of different communities helps with intercultural dialogue, and encourages mutual respect for other ways of life.
The importance of intangible cultural heritage is not the cultural manifestation itself but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from one generation to the next. The social and economic value of this transmission of knowledge is relevant for minority groups and for mainstream social groups within a State, and is as important for developing States as for developed ones. Traditional, contemporary and living at the same time: intangible cultural heritage does not only represent inherited traditions from the past but also contemporary rural and urban practices in which diverse cultural groups take part;
- Oral traditions, performing arts, rituals
Intangible heritage is
Inclusive: we may share expressions of intangible cultural heritage that are similar to those practised by others. Whether they are from the neighbouring village, from a city on the opposite side of the world, or have been adapted by peoples who have migrated and settled in a different region, they all are intangible cultural heritage: they have been passed from one generation to another, have evolved in response to their environments and they contribute to giving us a sense of identity and continuity, providing a link from our past, through the present, and into our future. Intangible cultural heritage does not give rise to questions of whether or not certain practices are specific to a culture. It contributes to social cohesion, encouraging a sense of identity and responsibility which helps individuals to feel part of one or different communities and to feel part of society at large;
Representative: intangible cultural heritage is not merely valued as a cultural good, on a comparative basis, for its exclusivity or its exceptional value. It thrives on its basis in communities and depends on those whose knowledge of traditions, skills and customs are passed on to the rest of the community, from generation to generation, or to other communities;
Community-based: intangible cultural heritage can only be heritage when it is recognized as such by the communities, groups or individuals that create, maintain and transmit it – without their recognition, nobody else can decide for them that a given expression or practice is their heritage.
We define conservation as the process of managing change to a significant place in its setting in ways that will best sustain its heritage values, while recognising opportunities to reveal or reinforce those values for present and future generations.
Understanding the values describes a range of heritage values, arranged in four groups, which may be attached to places. These are:
- Natural sites with cultural aspects such as cultural landscapes, physical, biological or geological formations
Conservation / Maintenance Guidelines
Maintenance increases the life of all buildings. Regular maintenance will also reduce the cost of repairs substantially. The main causes of deterioration in heritage structures are easily preventable. In Nagpur most of the damage to heritage buildings can be traced to a few factors, i.e., neglect, leakages, rising damp, growth of vegetation and termites. In the case of historic buildings these factors are more fatal and need to be prevented on an urgent basis.
Maintenance requires funds and therefore it is important that it be planned. Inspections should be carried out on a regular basis so that action can be taken at the right time rather than allow a problem to grow and require repairs. For example, replacement of roof tiles is a very minor cost but if not undertaken in time, the leaks could result in damage to the false ceiling and interior thus necessitating more expensive repairs.
All heritage buildings must create their own in-house maintenance programs. A maintenance program should be on three levels:
Long Term : 3/5 years or longer
Medium Term : 1-3 years
Short Term: This includes immediate repairs.
The inspections should be timed as per the climatic cycle. For example inspections of the terraces and roofs should taken place before the Monsoon in sufficient time to undertake repairs in order to prevent leakages. Maintenance could also involve repairs. Repairs should be in materials and technique as close as possible to the original.
Inspections will also help identify elements, which are likely to damage the building such as the metal screen shown in the photograph, which has rusted and stained the stone. The stains will be more difficult to remove and damage the stone. With regular inspections, the mesh should have been removed before this damage was caused.
Causes of decay
There could be any number of reasons for the deterioration of heritage buildings. The cause needs to be identified before any repairs are undertaken. The factors listed below are the most common causes for the decay of heritage structures in Nagpur.
Leakages:
Maximum damage is done to old buildings due to leakages. Repair of such damage is extremely costly. If water leakage is prevented a lot of money can be saved. The following checks should always be maintained :
1. Roof tiles should be checked regularly and broken ones replaced.
2. The terrace should be properly waterproofed.
3. The terrace should be cleared of all debris and gutters should be cleaned before monsoon.
4. All vegetation growing in part of the building should be removed immediately and not allowed to take root.
5. Placement of new water tanks should be done after careful consideration. Arrangements should be taken for diversion of overflow. The overflow should not be allowed to fall on the building.
6. The origin of the leak and its cause should be traced before any repairs are undertaken. Treating the leakage at the end will result in the dampness transferring itself to a new location.
Rising Damp:
Rising damp is a serious problem mainly in colonial buildings. It is rarely found in the buildings of the Bhonsle period. The problem is not limited to bungalows but is present in such Grade I structures as the Old Secretariat. There are various ways to tackle this problem:
Ensure that the building has plinth protection.
Prevent water collection around the building. Water must be drained away from the building.
Remove all vegetation close to the building walls.
Allow the walls to breathe by allowing proper ventilation and by using lime washes and not cement and oil paints on the surface.
In many cases these solutions won’t work and lead sheeting can be inserted as a damp proof layer.
Vegetation:
Plants should be removed before they can take firm root. The entire plant must be removed as far as possible. The stumps can be injected with arsenic. A mixture of asafoetida, gur and unslaked lime can also be applied on the stump. The plants can also be killed with a weedicide. However large trees should be removed in parts and with care as damage could be caused to the masonry. This is particularly true in stone masonry structures. Removal of the entire plant at one go may dislodge the stone blocks and may result in structural damage.
Trees or plants should not be planted adjoining a heritage structure. While planting large trees, sufficient distance should be maintained.
Birds: Birds can damage a building with their droppings as well as create a lot of rubbish when they nest.
Algae and moss: Algae and moss can be removed by simple brushing with a bristle brush. Any other chemical treatment should be undertaken only under expert advice and supervision.
Termites: All the buildings must be inspected regularly for termite infestation. In case termites are found, anti termite treatment must be undertaken without delay.
Manmade Causes of decay:
Many buildings are damaged due to vandalism. The only solution is to impose stringent fines more strictly. One of the commonest forms of damage is due to the spitting of betel nut juice. This must be controlled. It is common to see posters / notices being stuck directly on the wall surface in Government buildings. It is a simple matter to prevent notices being stuck, however in the case of posters, those sticking them should be penalised. In order to prevent vandalism, the inmates/ staff should be educated in this matter. In some cases the damage is compounded by application of oil paint. Oil paint does not allow the stone to breathe and also spoils the natural appearance of the stone. This damage can easily be avoided.
Care of Building Materials
Building materials will last longer if they are maintained regularly.
Iron or steel:All surfaces should be clean of rust, paint, etc before any preservative is applied. On exterior surfaces, three coats of boiled linseed oil can be applied after letting each coat dry.
Wood: Wood deteriorates because of water and termite infestation. For the preservation of teak wood, applications of boiled linseed oil work the best. Wood should be painted only if there is historical evidence that it was painted.
Stone:
In many heritage buildings the stone has deteriorated. There are many reasons for this, from the quality of the stone to the workmanship. Each individual case needs to be investigated separately. In some cases this deterioration appears to be due to the weakness of the stone and in some it may be due to negligence. Sometimes if the stone has not been laid properly it will deteriorate. Most of the damage to stone masonry can be traced to growth of vegetation, which should be removed immediately.
Conservation Guidelines:
Repairs: Repairs should not be undertaken without the expert advice of conservation experts. This is necessary because in heritage buildings it is the conservation of the old fabric that is important and not only its maintenance and repair. During repairs care must be taken that, as much of the original material as possible is retained.
While undertaking repairs the materials should be as close as possible to the original. In case this is not possible the material of repair should be weaker than the original. This is very important in order to safeguard the original structure. For eg., if lime is replaced by cement, the behaviour of the structure will change. The life of cement is much shorter than lime, however, as it has waterproofing properties, it does not allow the building to breathe and traps moisture, which can weaken the structure. This is particularly true of the colonial buildings, which have rising damp. Application of cement plaster will trap the moisture within the walls. Cement application on stone will not be possible to remove without damaging the stone.
Roofs: To prevent roof leaks it may be necessary to introduce GI sheets in cases where the original structure had a tiled roof with a false ceiling. The tiles can be replaced on the GI sheets with the addition of wooden battens.
Plaster: Unless absolutely essential, that is in the event the plaster has failed, lime plaster should not be replaced. If the plastering is redone, the new plaster should be as similar to the old as possible. Cement plaster should not be used to replace lime plaster as cement does not allow the walls to breathe and will not allow the evaporation of moisture and may lead to further problems.
Pointing: When cutting out and cleaning joints for pointing in stone, care should be taken that the stone is not damaged. When the mortar has completely failed, the cleaning of the joints should take place as far as the tools will allow without use of hammer. Only lime mortar should be used for pointing and should be harmonised with the old work.
Wood: Any cracked or damaged structural members should be repaired as far as possible and not replaced. In case replacement is essential a wood member should be used. If this is not possible for financial reasons, the member can be replaced by steel rectangular sections of the same size.
Stone: Replacement of stone: Decaying stone should be replaced only when it could adversely affect the stability of the building. The new stone should match the old ones as closely as possible. It is important to remember that replacement of stone should be justified not its retention. Dowels should be of stainless steel, copper, and gunmetal. If iron dowels must be used, they should be galvanised and laid in cement. The stone should be laid on their proper bed.
Renovation: While renovating interiors, care should be taken that the interior design is in the same style as the building. Original panelling fixtures and fittings should be preserved. In case of restoration of any mouldings or decorative features, the material should be the same as the original.
Introduction of new services: When new services are added in heritage buildings, it must be done with utmost care so as not to damage the structure and also to merge them into the fabric. In many heritage buildings introduction of new services have needlessly caused damage to the structure. For eg. In the Fire Service College the water tank overflow is damaging the walls of the building. This can simply be avoided by the introduction of an overflow pipe, which carries water into a drain, or by the introduction of a float valve. Not only leaking pipes but also electric fixtures have been fitted and wiring laid insensitively. Wiring, pipes have been laid at the cost of cornices, which have been broken. The introduction of new pipes without careful planning can look ugly and also damage the fabric of the building.
Maintenance:
Maintenance increases the life of heritage buildings. Regular maintenance will also reduce the cost of repairs substantially. The main causes of deterioration in heritage structures are easily preventable. Most of the damage to heritage buildings can be traced to a few factors, i.e., neglect, leakages, rising damp, growth of vegetation and termites. In the case of historic buildings these factors are more fatal and need to be prevented on an urgent basis.
Inspections should be carried out on a regular basis so that action can be taken at the right time rather than allow a problem to grow and require repairs. For example, replacement of roof tiles is a very minor cost but if not undertaken in time, the leaks could result in damage to the false ceiling and interior thus necessitating more expensive repairs.
All heritage buildings must create their own in-house maintenance programs. A maintenance program should be on three levels:
Long Term : 3/5 years or longer
Medium Term : 1-3 years
Short Term: This includes immediate repairs
The inspections should be timed as per the climatic cycle. For example, inspections of the terraces and roofs should take place before the Monsoon, in sufficient time to undertake repairs and prevent leakages. Maintenance could also involve repairs. Repairs should be with materials and technique as close as possible to the original.
There could be any number of reasons for the deterioration of heritage buildings. The cause needs to be identified before any repairs are undertaken. The factors listed below are the most common causes for the decay of heritage structures in Nagpur.
Removal of Plant Growth
Plant growth in old buildings can cause severe damage, particularly when the plant is a large tree like a banyan or peepal. Pulling out plants will not solve the problem as the roots may remain in place. To remove woody plants, cut off the plant, retaining the stump. Add a solution of asafoetida to the stump and cover with a plastic bag. This is best done in summer as the plant will dry up quickly in the heat and the roots can be removed easily. In case of a large tree which has caused cracks in the structure, take professional advice, as sudden removal could also lead to a collapse. It is always better to remove all plants on a regular basis and ensure that there are no water leaks which will promote their growth.
Application of Linseed oil on Teak Wood
Before any application, the wood surface should be cleaned thoroughly. Firstly, with a dry cloth and dry soft brush to remove the dust and then with a wet cloth to remove any grime. After the wood has completely dried, the wood should be treated with an application of double boiled linseed oil. The linseed oil should be applied with a soft cloth. Any excess oil should be wiped off with a dry cloth. The same process should be repeated after 24 hours and once again after 48 hours. Three coats of linseed oil should be applied and then wiped off with a dry cloth. Only double boiled linseed oil should be used otherwise the oil may cause fungus growth.
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