PRESERVING HERITAGE

Aishwarya Tipnis Architects, Delhi

Chandernagore is a sleepy French town with a Bengali heart, a testimony to the confluence of both cultures, a mélange of Indo European expression superbly manifested in its quaint meandering streets, its elegant promenade and homes planned around courtyards with European looking facades with intricate stucco detailing. The architectural milieu is a brilliant combination of European planning principles with Indian aesthetics, stucco embellishments in terracotta work, floral patterns, decorative cast and wrought iron railings. The most critical challenge in the conservation of urban heritage is balancing the significance of the past with the needs of tomorrow. “A large part of the conservation approach is hinged on creating a climate for conservation, education, and outreach apart from the physical restoration. Each building has a story to tell and we find those clues which help us arrive at a design solution that is most appropriate,” says Aishwarya Tipnis. by Jahnavi Chakravarty

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