Heritage as a motivating force in sustainable urban conservation
AMASR
development.
The 2011 ICOMOS Symposium entitled “Heritage, a driver of
development” represented a major, comprehensive effort to address
the role ofculturalheritagein development.
It was attended by nearly 1,200 heritage experts from over 100
countries with the aim of measuring the effects of globalization (and,
where applicable, de-industrialization) on communities and heritage;
to identify the actions needed not only to protect heritage, but also to
ensure that its use, its promotion and enhancement, and its economic,
social and cultural value are harnessed to the benefit of local
communities and visitors; and to assess the ability of heritage and its
inherent values to inspire and to build tomorrow’s societies, curbing
the negative effects of globalization.
.In view of the foregoing, the value of cultural heritage for promoting
sustainability of cities includes:
and districts.
Cultural Heritage and Creativity as a Driver for Inclusive Economic
Development:
• Historic towns, districts, and the historic parts of cities are valuable
for their uniqueness, identity, and sense of place:
o Commands higher real estate values for their uniqueness and ‘sense
of place’
o Attracts tourism, employment, and local investment
o Results in further improvement to urban areas
• Creativity in historic areas has increasingly become part of culture-
led redevelopment of urban areas • Museums, art galleries,
performance theaters, and a variety of cultural festivals make creative
cities. From the perspective of a cultural capital framework, such
cultural assets are the cultural capital of the city (Throsby, 2001).
Cultural Heritage as an Enabler for Social Cohesion, Inclusion
and Equity
From these, attention to cultural heritage promotes social
cohesion, inclusion and equity in the following ways:
• Heritage has the power to strengthen communities where
citizens associate the historic environment with a shared identity,
attachment to place and everyday life, including people who are
minorities, disadvantaged or socially excluded.
• Traditional settlements, with their lasting cultural identity and
socio-economic traditions, raise the awareness and pride of
citizens in local history and culture no matter where they
originate or how they may be adapted.
Cultural Heritage and Historic quarters of cities can improve
livability and sustainability of urban areas:
• Walkability and compactness of urban areas are enhanced in
dense historic cities.
• Adaptive re-use of existing built fabric, including buildings,
historic urban districts, and towns, can be resource efficient and
ecological.
• Traditional building technologies and materials may still be
available and relevant and offer low-energy, regional appropriate
examples of human adaptability.
• Mixed use and multi-use structures and spaces are an integral
aspect of historic towns
1.
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act (or AMASR Act) is an act of parliament of the government of
India that provides for the preservation of ancient and historical
monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national
importance, for the regulation of archaeological excavations and
for the protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects. It
was passed in 1958.
The Archaeological Survey of India functions under the provisions
of this act.
INTACH CHARTER
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is
a non-profit charitable organisation registered under the Societies'
Registration Act, 1860.
In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH a special consultative
status with United Nations Economic and Social Council.INTACH
was founded in 1984 in New Delhi with the vision to create a
membership organisation to stimulate and spearhead heritage
awareness and conservation in India.
Document unprotected buildings of archaeological, architectural,
historic and aesthetic significance, as well as the cultural resources,
as this is the first step towards formulating conservation plans
Develop heritage policies and regulations, and make legal
interventions to protect India’s heritage when necessary.
Mission:INTACH’s mission[18] to conserve heritage is based on the
belief that living in harmony with heritage enhances the quality of
life, and it is the duty of every citizen of India as laid down in the
Constitution of India. The objectives spelt out in the Memorandum
of Association constitute INTACH’s Mandate and Vision. Its stated
mission to date continues to be:
Sensitise the public about the pluralistic cultural legacy of India
Instill a sense of social responsibility towards preserving India’s
common heritage
Protect and preserve India’s living, built, and natural heritage by
undertaking necessary actions and measures
WASHINGTON CHARTER-ICOMOS
CHARTER FOR THE CONSERVATION OF HISTORIC TOWNS AND URBAN
AREAS (WASHINGTON CHARTER (1987)
PREAMBLE AND DEFINITIONS
All urban communities, whether they have developed gradually over
time or have been created deliberately, are an expression of the
diversity of societies throughout history. This charter concerns historic
urban areas, large and small, including cities, towns and historic centres
or quarters, together with their natural and man-made environments.
Beyond their role as historical documents, these areas embody the
values of traditional urban cultures. Today many such areas are being
threatened, physically degraded, damaged or even destroyed, by the
impact of the urban development that follows industrialisation in
societies everywhere.
PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES
1. In order to be most effective, the conservation of historic towns and
other historic urban areas should be an integral part of coherent policies
of economic and social development and of urban and regional planning
at every level.
2. Qualities to be preserved include the historic character of the town or
urban area and all those material and spiritual elements that express
this character, especially:
a) Urban patterns as defined by lots and streets;
b)Relationships between buildings and green and open spaces;
c) The formal appearance, interior and exterior, of buildings as defined
by scale, size, style, construction, materials, colour and decoration;
d) The relationship between the town or urban area and its surrounding
setting, both natural and man-made; and
e) The various functions that the town or urban area has acquired over
time. Any threat to these qualities would compromise the authenticity of
the historic town or urban area.
3. The participation and the involvement of the residents are essential
for the success of the conservation programme and should be
encouraged. The conservation of historic towns and urban areas
concerns their residents first of all.
4. Conservation in a historic town or urban area demands prudence, a
systematic approach and discipline. Rigidity should be avoided since
individual cases may present specific problems.
ATHENS CHARTER –UNESCO
The Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments - 1931
Adopted at the First International Congress of Architects and
Technicians of Historic Monuments, Athens 1931
At the Congress in Athens the following seven main resolutions were
made and called "Carta del Restauro":
1. International organizations for Restoration on operational and
advisory levels are to be established.
2. Proposed Restoration projects are to be subjected to
knowledgeable criticism to prevent mistakes which will cause loss of
character and historical values to the structures.
3. Problems of preservation of historic sites are to be solved by
legislation at national level for all countries.
4. Excavated sites which are not subject to immediate restoration
should be reburied for protection.
5. Modern techniques and materials may be used in restoration work.
6. Historical sites are to be given strict custodial protection.
7. Attention should be given to the protection of areas surrounding
historic sites.
5.1972 CONVENTION
The United States initiated the idea of cultural conservation with nature
conservation. The White House conference in 1965 called for a "World
Heritage Trust" to preserve "the world's superb natural and scenic areas and
historic sites for the present and the future of the entire world citizenry".
The International Union for Conservation of Nature developed similar
proposals in 1968, and they were presented in 1972 to the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. Under the World
Heritage Committee, signatory countries are required to produce and
submit periodic data reporting providing the World Heritage Committee
with an overview of each participating nation's implementation of the
World Heritage Convention and a "snapshot" of current conditions at World
Heritage properties.
A single text was agreed on by all parties, and the "Convention Concerning
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" was adopted by
the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972.
The Convention came into force on 17 December 1975. As of May 2017, it
has been ratified by 193 states parties[9], including 189 UN member
states plus the Cook Islands, the Holy See, Niue, and the State of Palestine.
Only four UN member states have not ratified the Convention:
Liechtenstein, Nauru, Somalia and Tuvalu.
6.VENICE CHARTER
The Venice Charter, adopted by ICOMOS in 1965, codifies
internationally accepted standards of conservation practice relating to
architecture and sites. It sets forth principles of conservation based on
the concept of authenticity and the importance of maintaining the
historical and physical context of a site or building.

The Venice Charter continues to be the most influential international

conservation document.
The Venice Charter states that monuments are to be conserved not
only as works of art but also as historical evidence.
It also sets down the principles of preservation, which relate to
restoration of buildings with work from different periods.