The tide of growth

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Surging population, pollution, incorrigible traffic jams and chaos all around, rapidly changing skylines mean that older structures are finding it increasingly to compete with the modern buildings. The character of Indian cities in general, has undergone a rapid transformation with the past being forgotten to bring in the future.

Take for instance the Mackinnon Mackenzie building at 16 Strand Road in Kolkata, which has been staring down at passersby since 1927, and has always housed companies. But it too has joined the list of heritage buildings that will be lost to history forever. It was to get a Rs l00 crore makeover to be transformed into a mall as stated in 2007. All that will remain of the old building now will be its stone facade, with almost everything inside it scooped out and refurbished.

The major cause of concern for town planners and architects is the growth of the cities in an unsystematic manner. There seems to be no harmony in sight between the old and the upcoming city heights. “When planning was done for the city, especially Delhi, it was a short-term planning. It did not conceptualise the blending of the old and the new architecture. The lighting, roads and even the plantation has changed. Delhi is not gloriously green anymore but has turned into a concrete jungle,” says RC Agrawal, principal director, Architectural Heritage Division, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. This short-term planning, without keeping the interests of people in mind is one of the major causes of worry. “People, who make a city, have not been considered at all while planning it. Their movement, their living conditions, nothing has been kept in mind. The sub-urban areas do not have adequate water or transportation facilities,” says Agrawal.

“How much can one build?” asks conservationist and Delhi Urban Arts Commission member Ratish Nanda. He cites the example of Delhi where the heritage that is remaining is what lies between the ridge and the Yamuna river. “Take for instance the Lutyens zone. Is it necessary to build buildings there? Can’t we even preserve 1% of our heritage?” queries Nanda.

Confused architecture