AND 2015 (First Issue) PLANNING VOLUME EIGHTEEN VOLUME ISSN 1728-7715(print) ISSN ISSN 2519-5050(online) ISSN ARCHITECTURE JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN RESEARCH OF JOURNAL

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) ISSN 1728-7715(print) ISSN 2519-5050(online)

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

VOLUME EIGHTEEN 2015 (First Issue) Department of Architecture & Planning, NED University of Engineering & Technology, City Campus Maulana Din Muhammad Wafai Road, Karachi.

Reference to Digital publication available online at: http://www.neduet.edu.pk/arch_planning/NED-JRAP/index.html

ISSN: 2519-5050 (Online) ISSN: 1728-7715 (Print)

© Publication Designed at Department of Architecture and Planning NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

Editorial Board S.F.A. Rafeeqi Noman Ahmed Anila Naeem Asiya Sadiq Polack Fariha Amjad Ubaid M. Fazal Noor Shabnam Nigar Mumtaz Editorial Associates Suneela Ahmed Farida Abdul Ghaffar Layout and Composition Mirza Kamran Baig

Panel of Referees Muzzaffar Mahmood (Ph.D., Professor, PAF KIET, Karachi) Arif Hasan (Architect and Planner, Hilal-e-Imtiaz)

Bruno De Meulder (Ph.D., Professor, K.U. Leuven, Belgium)

Nausheen H. Anwer (Ph.D., Associate Prof. of Urban Studies, IBA, Karachi)

Ghafer Shahzad (Ph.D., Deputy Director Architecture Punjab Auqaf Department, Lahore)

Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman (Ph.D., Professor, Kingdom University, Bahrain)

Mukhtar Husain (B.Arch., M.Arch., Turkey)

Shahid Anwar Khan (Ph.D., AIT, Bangkok Professor, Curtin University, Australia)

Fazal Noor (Head of Department of Architecture, Sir Syed University, Karachi)

Pervaiz Vandal (Senior Practicing Architect) Farhan Anwar (CEO, Sustainable Initiatives and member SHEHRI) Jawaid Haider (Ph.D, Dean of Academics, Indus Valley School of Arts & Architecture, Karachi) Christophe Polack (Faculty, Saint-Lucas Brussels Campus, KU Leuven, Belgium)

Published by Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

Printed by Khwaja Printers, Karachi.

© Copyrights with the Editorial Board of the Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning CONTENTS

Editor’s Note vii

Sarwat Viqar Interrogating Conceptions of ‘Modernity’ and ‘Tradition’ in the Production 01 of the Built Environment in South Asia

Samra M. Khan Revitalizing Historic Areas; Lessons from the Renovation of Saidpur Village, 11 Islamabad

Muhammad Saad Khan, The Impacts of Urbanization on Avian Communities of Lahore 23 Fatima Javeed and Shama Anbrine

S.F. Sajjad, N. Naz Spirit of the Place: Evolution and Transformation of Istanbul Chowk, Lahore 33 and G.A. Anjum

Muhammad Asim, Increasing Trend Towards Passive Recreation in the Metropolitan 44 Rumana Khan Shirwani and Saima Gulzar

Book Review

Dr. Anila Naeem Shikarpoor: Historic City, Sindh, Pakistan 50 Inventory and Mapping of Heritaeg Properties, Volume 1 and 2 A Review by Mukhtar Hussain

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) v EDITORS’ NOTE

This issue of JRAP includes five papers, on very different topics. These papers present discourse on different issues, ranging from concepts of modernity and tradition, to tangible and intangible values associated with traditional cities and their historic districts, to the role of urban planning in promoting a healthy life style. Two papers included in this issue were presented in the Sixth Seminar of Urban and Regional Planning, 2011, which was organised by the Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology.

The first paper questions the concepts of modernity that emerged in the context of imperial encounters with the local cultures during colonization and the built forms produced. It is argued in this paper that the traditional aspects of the urban built form displaced by the colonial order faced native resistance and resulted in hybridization. The second paper reviews the revitalization process of the Saidpur village near Islamabad and its impacts on the village residents, in terms of social and cultural norms, economic opportunities and resultant effects of gentrification, which excluded participation from the local communities and made the social and historic organization of the area vulnerable.

The third paper identifies existing biodiversity of bird species and impacts of urbanisation on the diversity of avian communities from two case study areas of Lahore. The conclusions of this paper point towards the fact that more than any natural disasters these avian communities get negatively impacted most by uncontrolled urbanisation. The next paper documents and analysis the makeover of Istanbul Chowk in Lahore over the last century within the premise that urban spaces lose their sense of place if transformed insensitively. This paper also highlights the fact that if urban heritage, which forms an integral part of identity of a place, is misplaced over time, then also a public space ends up losing its sense of identity.

The last paper questions the objectives with which urban plans are produced and the amount of importance given to the notion of creating healthy societies in the Pakistani context. The general trend of shifting of societies towards passive recreation in the Pakistani context is discussed and the role of urban planning as one of the reasons behind this trend is analysed.

This issue of JRAP has a book review of ‘Shikarpoor Historic Town: Inventory and Mapping (February 2013)’ authored by Dr. Anila Naeem.

Editorial Board

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) vii INTERROGATING CONCEPTIONS OF ‘MODERNITY’ AND ‘TRADITION’ IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTH ASIA·

Sarwat Viqar*

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

It has been argued that concepts of modernity and The question of preserving the traditional built environment tradition are historical categories that emerged in the context inevitably brings up the problem of how something is deemed of imperial encounters with the ‘other’ during Colonization. traditional and hence worthy of preservation. For Post- This paper will show how the contingent nature of these Colonial historians working on the Sub-Continent, attempts categories becomes apparent when considering the production to preserve the materiality of the past become a problem of the built environment in South Asia. when they fall into a romanticism that manifests either as a nativism which advocates a return back to the ‘roots’, or The advent of British Colonialism in the 18th century as a nationalism that strives to rewrite histories in the service precipitated a significant change in the urban landscape of of nation-building, or as the nostalgia of a bourgeois class South Asian cities. It also created a binary conception of a striving to distance itself from the monotony of a uniform modern order that was a break from the local or native order modernity. Part of this problem is the casting of the traditional of space. From then on, modernity became the institution against the modern – a result of the way history itself is of a liberal western order and tradition was what was retained imagined in the subcontinent. by the natives that had been eclipsed by the new order. This trope of the dysfunctional Pre-Modern entered into native, As Chakrabarty (1992:24) suggests, the ‘transition narrative’ nationalist imaginings of the past as well by establishing a in writing histories in South Asia presumes a fundamental binary between what was and what came after as being point of historical rupture which is the Colonial encounter. forever opposed to each other. In order to assert one, the This encounter achieved two things: on the one hand it other had to be negated. The Imperialist narrative achieved established a Pre-Colonial world and order that was supposed this through asserting the inherently moral nature and to have skidded to a halt at the moment of encounter; on the legitimacy of the Colonial order while the Nationalist narrative other it was supposed to have launched the Colonized world strove to recover the ‘tradition’ that had been displaced by on a new path of self-realization that would bring it in line the Colonial order. The modern disciplines introduced with with the liberal, modern order of the west. From then on, Colonial rule did provide a powerful prescriptive model of the binaries of native/non-native, Colonial/Pre-Colonial, urban planning that created a privileged position for what despotic/liberal, civilized/non-civilized entered into the very has come to be seen as the modern form of the city. However, way that Indians conceived of their reality, including the drawing upon contemporary South Asian urban built environment. historiography and research it is argued here that this order was constantly destabilized by native resistance, THE COLONIAL MIND-SET appropriation, hybridity and accommodation. In doing so, it appears that the production and reproduction of space in The values and mind-set that informed Colonial governance the built environment of South Asia constantly challenges is illustrated very well in the writings of British travelers, notions of a dynamic, all-consuming modernity against a geographers and even military men from that period. For static tradition that needs to be preserved. example, in Sindh and the Races that Inhabit the Valley of the Indus, Burton (1851), after laying out the general state Keywords: Modernity, tradition, colonial, culture of ‘decline’ of the inhabitants of the region of Sindh suggested

· This paper was presented in the the 6th Seminar on Urban and Regional Planning, 2011, organized by the Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology. * Sarwat Viqar, Faculty Member, John Abbott College, Humanities Department.

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 1 Figure 1: View of Karachi Circa 1830. Source: Aijazuddin (1992) that “the means of restoring health and vigour to the system are always in our hands.” Another quote from Baillie (1890) referred to the Port of Karachi and attributed its sudden development to “the infusion, into its languid trade, of the commercial spirit of its invaders” (Baillie, 1890:2). According to Baillie (1890:7) it was also a city that “can hardly be said to possess a history.” Baillie’s monograph further went into great detail in terms of establishing the historic point of origin of the city of “Kurrachee.” It is interesting to see how his investigation into the historic origins of the city took as its basis local accounts of its origin and went into painstaking detail in interrogating the credibility of these accounts. He Figure 2: Karachi seen from Clifton, 1851. then corresponded these accounts with the physical Source: Aijazuddin (1992) topography of the area. In the end, this exercise led him to discount many of these accounts as having weak foundations because of the “worthlessness” of “unwritten evidence authority on what the land was as well as the values that handed down from generation to generation” (Baillie, 1890:8). inhere in it (Figures 1, 2). On the other, it became a In this way, local histories, largely based on oral traditions justification for the transformation of the land into something were not seen as real histories. As Chakrabarty (1992) has that conformed to the desires of the observer. The land was suggested, history became knowable only with the advent supposed to be transformed for improvement and productivity of modernity, for which, read the modern order of European but there was also a need for constant justification of the liberalism. benefits that this intervention would bring to the local population (Figures 3, 4). It was important for the Colonial The planning practices of Colonial rule also assumed these power to be seen as instituting a liberal, modern order and binaries in order to serve the purpose of empire building. one way that this concern was expressed was the way the For example, the idea of improving the landscape so that it form and character of local life and local ways was fulfilled the objectives of British rule is to be found in much represented. Local culture and ways of life were portrayed of the writing from the period (Arnold, 2006). On the one in such a way as to constantly provide a contrast to Colonial hand it established the outside gaze of the observer as the rule, thus helping to establish the basis of Colonial legitimacy.

2 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN FORM

In terms of spatial orders and built form, the building of institutions that represented the civilized order of the British became important. These included town halls, museums, churches and schools along with sanatoriums, prisons and barracks. The establishment of sanitation was an important priority for the Colonial regime. The existence of an efficient sanitary system came to symbolize the effectiveness of Colonial rule on several levels. Arnold (2006) has suggested that the issue of disease and medicine as it affected Indians became important for the British when their power had grown to such an extent as to require more scrutiny and control of Indians. At this time the nature and durability of British rule in India had become a practical concern.

In the same way architectural forms were also used to create an imagined past for India. Metcalf (1984) refers to the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture as an invention of British architects which was considered a representation of what the British thought should be an appropriate past for India. In this way Indian people became an audience for Britain’s architectural activity and the Indo-Saracenic style became a trope for telling the story of India’s past to the Indian people (Figures 5, 6).

Figures 3, 4: The transformation of Karachi under British Rule. Source: Aijazuddin (1992)

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 3 Figure 5: Mohatta Palace in Karachi. Figure 6: Clock tower in Shahi Bazaar, Sukkur.

The objective of the empire was to control the Colonial this classification assumed the “centrality of a religious peoples and their past, not just the future. Through the identity, which took shape in fixed architectural styles, census, surveys and ethnographic accounts, the range of defined an India that was in effect an “Orientalist” construct: India’s architectural heritage became known. The British a timeless land of tradition-bound peoples for whom religion attitude then became one of ownership of this past as they alone had meaning” (Metcalf, 1989:41). This ‘fixing’ of were the ones who had laid it bare for the first time, in their built form into an unchanging cultural and religious identity own fashion. Thus a process of classification of Indian denied the reality of the production of the built environment. architecture began. This classification created a knowable A reality in which forms and their cultural meanings and history of Indian architecture that could be analyzed and identities arose from multiple sources, fused and diffused critiqued. However it is the terms of this classification and and produced new meanings. the assumptions behind it that reveal its subjective nature. As Metcalf (1989:9) suggests, Imperial Architecture was an As an example of Colonial interpretations of local spatial architecture of both power and knowledge: “To rule, one practices, the problem of the private and public use of space had to master, by ordering and labeling, that which one had for the Europeans became a problem of legibility. conquered; to know was, in some measure, already to rule.” Chattopadhyay (2006) suggests that the inability of the In the construction of India’s past, its imperial rulers identified Europeans to decipher the way public and private spaces the two dominant markers of Indian identity as caste and were configured in native spaces led to a rejection and religion. India was also divided into two categories of condemnation of these spaces. By contrast, the white part population: Hindus and Muslims. This dichotomy found its of town was visually transparent and the boundaries between way into classifications of architecture as well where the what was public and what was private were clearly coded variety of architectural styles were either fit into the Saracenic and legible for the Europeans. For example, in the native i.e. Muslim style or the Hindu style. The problem was that neighbourhoods, the outer envelope of the house had very

4 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) little exposure to the street outside while at the same time Chattopadhyay (2006) problematizes modernity in the there were no private spaces in the house. It was noted by context of the Colonial city by critiquing the placing of European observers that there were sometimes no locks on modernity either as the unrealized potential of a universal the doors, or sometimes no doors, and the two practices western idea or one possible manifestation of that idea. In were seen as contradictory and hard to understand. This is her view modernity involves negotiation and accommodation because although this spatial configuration contained notions as well as contestation and contradiction between individuals, of private and public it was not in a way that conformed to communities and the state. It is within this modernity that the Colonial notions of what should be private or public. notions of what is ‘modern’ and what is ‘traditional’ get For the European, the interiority of the house was a gradual framed and contested. What is implicit in this understanding withdrawal into individualism, and as one moved towards is also that these negotiations happen against a specific the outside of the house one opened up to the world. The historical and spatial backdrop. Kidambi (2007) has a similar native house turned away from the street and arguably created idea of modernity when considering the development of a communal and ‘public’ world inside the house. Colonial Bombay. In his view modernization is “a contested and contingent set of outcomes that flowed from the In this Colonial construct, Indian history occupies a position contradictory currents generated by the market, state and of sublaternity, forever seen through the lens of a politics against a background of rapid technological change, universalized, Europe centered history. This theme finds its demographic growth, urbanization and mass migration” way into representations and meanings of South Asian cities (Kidambi, 2007: 2). Thus, here, modernity itself becomes as well. The imperial narrative historicized Colonial cities a process in flux, generating and producing many different as having originated in the Colonial rule and having achieved currents. Following from this, the idea of multiple their heyday under Colonial administration. The existence modernities has often been used to deal with the of prior settlement and trade in the area were not just contradictions observed within the contemporary modern disregarded but were also placed within the framework of world. In this world, spaces get produced and reproduced the Pre-Modern which was cast as chaotic, undeveloped and through different interpretations of the nature of current uncivilized. Trade was not free and despotic powers limited reality and the nature of the particular history of places. free economic development, until the advent of Colonial rule (Blake, 1990). True autonomy and public life were DESTABILIZATIONS, HYBRIDITIES AND missing. In other words, these were not cities in the true ACCOMMODATIONS sense of the word. This trope of the dysfunctional Pre- Modern entered into native, nationalist imaginings of the One way in which the complex and interlinked character past as well by establishing a binary between what was and of notions of tradition and modernity becomes apparent is what came after as being forever opposed to each other. In through the way built forms in South Asia defied existing order to assert one, the other had to be negated. The Imperialist categorizations and expectations of fixed use and meaning. narrative achieved this through asserting the inherently moral For example, in the context of the Colonial city the specific nature and legitimacy of the Colonial order while the modern disciplines – sanitation regimes, urban planning Nationalist narrative strove to recover the ‘tradition’ that schemes, schooling and education, were not always had been displaced by the Colonial order. successful in eliminating, displacing or replacing other orders. Moreover, British intentions of the built environment It is obvious that a historicization of the built environment were constantly destabilized by the use that they themselves of South Asia has to take into account both the Pre-Colonial made of these spaces, and were changed in the process of order as well as the Colonial. However it is interesting to doing so. Thus British intentionality on a formal level, in see how the Colonial order had presented itself as the terms of control of spaces and the effects they were supposed instigator of modernity in this region. And it is true that the to produce, was being constantly contested in the lived markers of what is seen as South Asian modernity originate experience of these spaces by both British and Indians in this history. In the built form, this included schools, (Chattopadhya, 2006). This also applied to the order of hospitals, town halls and churches as “adjuncts of European governance. In other words, the spaces and buildings took civilazation” (Baillie, 1890:70). Politically the inception of on a life of their own in a constant dialectic with the changing the categories of the state, civil society and the bourgeois social experiences of the inhabitants. family accompanied the material form of the institutions that represented them. For example, the fixing of the meaning and uses of space was a strong imperative of the Colonial spatial order. It has

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 5 been argued that this prescriptive use of space came into direct conflict with the multi-functionality of space use in dwellings in South Asia. Similar, traditional, spatial patterns have also been noted in the Middle East. However, Chattopadhyay (2006) shows that it was not just the difference between the old use of space and this new order that created tensions. It was also the fact that when Europeans started living and working in the Colonial city, they adopted a multi- functionality of use in their residences and commercial establishments, for various reasons. One of these reasons, which Chattopadhyay looks at closely were the demands of trade and property transactions in the city. As the demand for housing fluctuated widely in Calcutta, residences were constantly being transformed into commercial spaces and vice versa, in order to have resale value. Which means that these spaces began to be designed in such a way as to facilitate the conversion of spaces into different kinds of uses.

As opposed to the planned hybridity and fusion of the architecture that served the various objectives of empire, one finds in the urban vernacular tradition of the subcontinent an interpretation of architectural forms that defied pre- conceived categories and the rationalist objectives of formalist Figure 7: Building in Market Quarter, Saddar Town, Karachi. Source: Heritage Cell, Department of Architecture and Planning, design. It is here, in the ornament and sculptural details NED University produced by local craftsman that one sees the contingent nature of so-called fixed and rational categories of the built form. As Mumtaz (1985) writes “when the traditional Sindhi stone carver turned to European classical architecture, he fashioned forms that would have delighted even the most outlandish Italian mannerist” (Mumtaz, 1985:147). In the urban vernacular of Karachi, one finds this constant juxtaposition of forms created by local craftsmen over classical frames (Figures 7, 8). This also happened in reverse, where certain European elements, like the bust of Queen Victoria would appear on traditionally framed buildings (Figure 9). There are various ways that the intentionality behind these forms can be viewed. It can be seen as the result of the cultural encounter between European and Indian building traditions. This encounter, however, to a considerable extent, was more of a usurpation and displacement of local cultural forms than a genuine exchange where Indian architectural forms became marginalized or subordinate to the European forms. However, as the theory of transculturation suggests, it is also “how subordinate and marginal groups select and invent from materials transmitted to them from a dominant or metropolitan culture” (Pratt, 1992:6). On the other hand, these efforts at hybridity can be seen as a way for the subaltern classes to express the constant tension they felt between the assertion, whether Figure 8: Building in Serai Quarter, Saddar Town, Karachi. Source: Heritage Cell, Department of Architecture and Planning, conscious or subconscious, of their own centuries old building NED University

6 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure 9: Bust of Queen Victoria in balcony detail on building in Old Town, Karachi. Source: Heritage Cell, Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University practices against the desire to please and acknowledge the produced under Colonialism appear as tolerant while metropolitan culture. This tension has been explored at attempting to make it popular (Pratt, 1992:6). length in the historiography on South Asia, especially related to the way both resistance and accommodation marked the Continuing with Baillie, further indications of this kind of way Indians responded to Colonial rule. concession to local customs appears in his account of the development of markets in Karachi under British rule: To the British, these spontaneous attempts at hybridity were a source of discomfort because it was not the planned “Sir John Gorst, M. P., in answer to a hybridity, for example in the form of the Indo-Saracenic question put to him in the House of style that served the objectives of empire. This hybridity Commons recently stated that all bazaars implied, on the part of the ‘native’ a certain amount of in a Cantonement, other than “Regimental knowledge of European architectural elements that allowed Bazaars” of which the chief customers the native to play with it in inventive and creative ways. It are the civilian population, are called implied a loss of control on the part of the rulers over the “Cantonement Bazaars” and the chief of new forms and cultures that were emerging in the aftermath these would be called the “Sudder of the Colonial encounter. Bazaar.” The definition is not inaccurate, but it stops halfway. Sadr is an Arabic This tension between intent and its unintended effects can word which through certain be found in the development of Karachi’s markets, for transformations has come to mean chief, example. Baillie (1890:142) describes the Empress Market, supreme and thus we get the sadr diwan a landmark building in Karachi, built in 1889, as having a adalat or chief civil court of India, but “domestic gothic style.” The market was built by a British long before Cantonements were known, engineer, James Strachan, while the contracting work was there were Sadr Bazaars throughout carried out by Walli Mahomed Jiwun and Dulloo Khejoo, India” (Baillie, 1890:143). two local contractors. It is indicative of the concession made by the Colonial rulers to the retention of certain cultural Here, Baillie takes pains to explain the local origins of the aspects of the native that Baillie calls this the ‘domestic’ bazaar and its name, both of which were retained under gothic style, and also gives credit to the local contractors. Colonial rule. He also concedes the way a bazaar differs As Wright (1987) has suggested, similar French Colonial from a market: practices were meant to appease local sentiments of ambivalence to foreign rule by making the visual culture

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 7 “A bazaar is not a market, in our the sea was the Khara Darwaza (salt acceptation of the word, that is to say it water gate) and the gateway facing the is not a collection of stalls under one roof sweet water wells was the Meetha for the display of provisions and produce. Darwaza (sweet water gate). At that time A bazaar is a quarter containing a number the walls of the fortress had disappeared. of stores and shops, the property of distinct In the narrow streets between the two owners, but it is not unusual to find a gates were the houses of the early market situated in its midst” (Baillie, 1890: businessmen (the Seth) and people of the 143). chapar and sehta clans also used to live here. Around this the rest of the city lived The British did insert their own markets in the midst of the in which there were people not just from bazaars, though, and named them, which resulted in Karachi Sindh but from all of Hindustan. There having a Boultan Market, a Soldier’s Market and of course was an ancient ground by the name of the Empress Market which opened to great fanfare in 1889 Ram Bagh, about which it is said that in and which still exists and thrives in Karachi. These were the Treta Yug, while traveling to Hinglaj, the markets where the ladies of the military branch of society Ram, Lakshman and Sita rested in this would go since their requirements could not be met in the spot. During the freedom struggle, from regimental bazaars of the Cantonment. Hence, the hybrid 1920 to 1947, this is where leaders would market-bazaar became a popular urban form with elements hold rallies, the martyrs of the Salt and of both British and Indian styles of design and function. Satyagraha Movements were martyred here and there were incidents of firing. I The form of the markets and the bazaars that contained them had bought a building towards the south as well as the names given to them is an interesting example of this spot, from the balcony of which I of the way in which Colonial interventions and practices witnessed these historic events. This was became embedded in the urban fabric of the city. They also the place from where, during the continue to exist though their social forms and economic Mutiny of 1857, Sindhi fishermen revolted functions have changed, and new meanings are associated against the British and were bound to the with them, whether it is the Empress Market as a landmark mouths of the canons and blown up. It is signifying a convenient transportation hub, or the Soldier a pity that now, the name of this historic Bazaar merely existing as a navigational marker for the city. place has been changed from Ram Bagh to “Aaram Bagh” and so a symbol of These new meanings contribute just as much to the urban Sindh’s history and pride has been erased” identity of the city but often are seen as obstacles to the (Dodeja, 2007). recovery of the ‘authentic identity’ of these places which attempt to recover their original meaning and intent. For Dodeja’s description of the Old Quarter evokes the same Lefebvre (1992), space is a social product and attains meaning kind of spatial patterns that have been found in other historic through its reproduction by people. The everyday lived accounts on Karachi, in which the density of the settlement experiences of people, rooted in the now, continuously and its multi-ethnicity is highlighted. The most interesting change the meaning and associations around the built part of this account, however, is the way Ram Bagh appears environment as a living dynamic history. Seen in this way, in the account. Ram Bagh is an open public space with fixed notions and separations of what is considered ‘historic’ which significant effects, both mystical and political are and what is not, becomes problematic. associated. The name literally means the Garden of Ram, one of the mythical Hindu gods. The story of Ram and Sita Another example from the meanings associated with the and their taking respite in Ram Bagh on their way to Hinglaj, built form in Karachi arises from an interesting narrative on a sacred Hindu place is known in the folklore on the city the city written by Lokram Dodeja expressing his perceptions from long before the arrival of the British. For Dodeja, of the city during the pre-partition years: though, Ram Bagh has acquired a different significance during the Colonial years, where it has become associated “In the beginning Karachi was a fortress with the repression of local revolts during the Mutiny and with two gateways, the gateway facing further repression during the Salt and Satyagraha Movements initiated by Gandhi during the years of the independence

8 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure-10: Entrance to Aaram Bagh in Saddar Town, Karachi. Figure-11: Another view of Aaram Bagh. struggle. The story of Ram Bagh does not stop there, it library which was reserved exclusively for Europeans. A continues with the changing of its name to Araam Bagh, the significant part of Dodeja’s account deals with descriptions Garden of Comfort, which Dodeja sees as an attempt to of the various Hindu temples around the city and the activities erase its proud history. The post-partition name change of and festivals that take place in these spots. the space is significant because it was a gesture towards the changing religious sentiment in the city. When half of the Based on these accounts an argument can be made for the Hindu population of the city left after partition, the vacuum persistence of the old spatial order at the same time as the was filled by the arrival of Muslim refugees into the city Colonial spatial order, initially an external order meant to from different parts of India. Overnight, the population of produce effects of power, becomes linked in certain ways the city had been changed from almost 50% Hindu to majority with the older forms. This happened on the material level Muslim. With communal tensions as well as nationalist pride of architectural styles and spatial forms but also in the way on the rise, the city was slowly purged of reminders of its social meanings of spaces were constructed. This was not Hindu past (Figures 10, 11). necessarily an effect that the Colonial order meant to achieve, though. Even though Colonial governmentality attempted The different social meanings associated with this public a certain kind of integration with the local in order to create space at different times show the dynamism of the socio- legitimacy, an example like the significance of Ram Bagh spatial world of Karachi and the way that the local and the for Dodeja shows the way reproductions of space happened Colonial interacted to create new meanings and new outside of its conceived meanings. For Dodeja, Ram Bagh contestations around space. For Dodeja the city does not evokes the old spatial order in the story of Ram and Sita seem to be demarcated in terms of the native and non-native. and Pre-Colonial meanings associated with the space. It Even though he differentiates the ‘old city’ from the new, then takes on a meaning arising out of the effects of Colonial more modern city, in his accounting of his favourite spots rule and the contestation that results from it and yet another around the city, there are both features of the European as meaning resulting from its post-partition transformation. well as spots that evoke some of the older forms. The city appears as an integrated whole in his account, with everyday CONCLUSION experience relating to the British-built monuments and spaces as well as the non-British monuments and elements. It is to In South Asia notions of traditional and modern arose in be kept in mind that Dodeja’s account dates from the times the context of the fulfillment of Colonial objectives. These of British rule and not after independence. He experiences notions were then reproduced in the framework of Post- the Colonial buildings – the Frere Hall, the Max Denso Hall Colonial nationalist ideologies and intentions. However, an and the Mereweather Tower – as ‘magnificent.’ Although important and overlooked factor that continuously and he does note the fact, that as a native, he had to procure anonymously reproduces living environments is the constant special permission to become a member of the Frere Hall reproduction and reinterpretation of these spaces by people

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 9 themselves in everyday living. This reproduction of space and history becomes an experience that is constantly reveals itself in the architectural detailing created by unknown reproduced and reinvented. In this history, modernity itself and un-named craftsmen as well as the memories and is the process that has produced the conceptual framework meanings associated with urban spaces. Here, several histories for understandings of the past and the criteria for what is are underwritten in the production of a single space, whether traditional and what is not. Thus, an active engagement with it is the residential façades of Bombay or Karachi, or a space the multiple meanings and histories associated with the built like Ram Bagh that evokes multiple meanings. This is when environment in South Asia requires breaking away from the fixed categories of traditional and modern are destabilized duality of categories of the ‘modern’ and the ‘traditional.’

REFERENCES Aijazzuddin, F. S., 1992, Historical images of Pakistan. Ferozsons Ltd, Karachi.

Arnold, D., 2006, The tropics and the travelling gaze: India, landscape and science, 1800-1856, University of Washington Press, Seattle and London.

Baille, A. F., 1890, Kurrachee: past, present and future, Oxford University Press, Karachi. Blake, S., 1990, Shahjahanabad: The sovereign city in Mughal India, 1639-1739, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Burton, R. F., 1851, Sindh and the races that inhabit the valley of the Indus, Oxford University Press, Karachi. Chattopadhya, S., 2006, Representing Calcutta: modernity, nationalism and the Colonial uncanny, Routledge, Oxford. Chakrabarty, D., 1992, "Postcoloniality and the artifice of history: who speaks for "Indian" pasts?" Representations 37, 1-26. Dodeja, L. R. 1978 ‘Karachi ke theerath aur doosray maqamat’ in Kamal, A. (eds.). Karachi ki kahani, City Press, Karachi. Kidambi, P., 2007, The making of an Indian metropolis: Colonial governance and public culture in Bombay 1890-1920, Ashgate, London. Lefebvre, H., 1992, The production of space, Blackwell, New York.

Metcalf, T., 1984, ‘Architecture and the representations of empire 1860-1910’ Representations 6(Spring), 37-65. Metcalf, T., 1989, An imperial vision: Indian architecture and Britain's Raj, University of California Press, Berkeley. Mumtaz, K. K., 1985, Architecture in Pakistan, Concept Media, Singapore. Pratt, M. L., 1992, Imperial eyes: Travel writing and transculturation , Routledge, London. Wright, G., 1987, ‘Tradition in the service of modernity: architecture and urbanism in French Colonial policy 1900-1930’, The journal of modern history 59(2), 291-316.

10 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) REVITALIZING HISTORIC AREAS; LESSONS FROM THE RENOVATION OF SAIDPUR VILLAGE, ISLAMABAD

Samra M. Khan*

ABSTRACT

Over the past decades, traditional cities and their historic districts have been deteriorating steadily. The combination of modernity, congestion, old infrastructure and financial pressures have led to migration of people from old neighborhoods and their eventual decline and decay. In league with this loss of traditional cities, in Islamabad, the Central Development Authority (CDA) decided to revitalize the historic village of Saidpur. The project undertook to restore historical architecture, encourage tourism and reverse the cycle of decay by economic and social revival of the area.

Saidpur is a small historic village, possibly 500 years old, located at the base of the Margalla Hills. The center of the Figure 1: View of villages at the foot of Margalla Hills, Islamabad. village has old heritage buildings in the form of two mandirs Source: CDA Archives (temple) and a dharamshala (sanctuary). These were neglected and undergoing rapid deterioration. The infrastructure of the area was underdeveloped, with open INTRODUCTION drains, unpaved pathways and no solid waste management system. Before the development of the capital, the area designated for Islamabad consisted of multiple small villages scattered This paper studies the process and results of this revitalization on the foothills of Margalla Hills on the out skirts of the project analysing the impact of the project on the cultural, city of Rawalpindi (Figure 1). The CDA acquired these social and economic conditions of the village. The villages including Saidpur Village, Loi Bher Village, Purian methodology of this study was based on qualitative interviews village (site of current Shaker Parian), Shah Allah Ditta etc., with the residents of the village, CDA officials and direct to build the capital. observation of the spaces (before and after renovation). The paper concludes that the local community must be the After the development of Islamabad, the villages and their engine of any sustainable revitalization of cultural heritage. historic urban centers underwent transformations in direct In the case of Saidpur Village, gentrification without consequence of political, socio-economic and developmental community participation has threatened the social and historic policies at national as well as regional level. Saidpur was cohesion of the area, leading to brutal transformation and a small historic village housing religious and cultural marginalization of local residents. buildings in its historic center.

Keywords: Saidpur, renovation, sustainable revitalization, The CDA decided to renovate Saidpur Village in 2005 The heritage, community. need to restore and conserve the historic buildings of Saidpur

* Samra M. Khan is an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Design, COMSATS, Islamabad.

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 11 Village was an important task. In the past, conservation of buildings used to be a passive act; buildings were restored and in cases rebuilt to their original character and thus left as museum pieces to be looked at. To make them environmentally sustainable in the active sense the conservation had to renovate them and find adaptive reuse for them. According to the project architect, one of the premise of the project of revitalisation of the Saidpur Village would have been its contribution to the environment and sustainability of resources and be economically sustainable in the long term.

Renovation of buildings in general, contributes to social sustainability by helping in enhancing the character and image of the community within its boundaries and to the visitors. The interrelation between tourism and historic preservation is well- established, as tourism aids preservation by building awareness and financial support. This paper analyses how the renovation and development of Saidpur Village affected the historic area and what benefits have the residents of the area received from the revitalization. It looks at the steps taken to foster community outreach and economic renewal. The analysis is based on site visits, interviews with residents and CDA officials, newspaper reports and photographic documentation of the development from October 2006 till January, 2011. Figure 2: Saidpur Village before renovation Source: www.urbanpk.com accessed 20-3-2010. HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE AND EXISTING CONDITIONS

Saidpur Village is a historical place, mentioned in the Punjab Gazetteer of 1893-94. It was inhabited by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs before 1947. The village has about 16,000 people and around 1,500 households. The village land was acquired by CDA in the late 70s.

The major historical buildings on site were a Mandir, a Sikh temple and a dharamshala (Figure 2). This temple complex was located on a raised platform surrounded by chequered marble flooring (Figure 3). There were old banyan trees here, an existing old wall and an arched entryway, with steps leading from the complex into the main street. These buildings came under the umbrella of the Auqaf Department Figure 3: Marble Flooring outside the dharamshala and the dharamshala had been converted into a girls’ school in order to protect it from demolition. The mandir and the Sikh temple were small structures (measuring 15x15 ft) and The old archway connected the temple area with the road stood on two sides of the complex opposite to each other. running through the village center (Figure 4). The original flooring of the complex had marble tiles commemorating people’s donations for the Gurdwara (Place On the surrounding hillside there was an old shrine called of worship for the Sikhs) complex over many years. This the Zinda Pir’s Bethak (the seating place of the alive saint) was an important part of the structure’s history. (Figure 5).

12 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure 4: Old Gateway leading to the temple complex Figure 5: Baithak of Zinda Pir in Saidpur village1

The village has always been famous for its pottery. According to Fauzia Minallah, ‘the distinct cultural identity of Saidpur has always been its pottery and it has always been known as the potters’ village’ (Qalandar, 2008). Over the years many families have moved away to pursue other professions and at the moment there are only two potter families surviving from the original eight.

The village lay on two sides of the central nalla ( storm water channel) and lacked sanitation and drainage system. Due to this all refuse water and sewage was directed into the central nalla. There was no solid garbage disposal system in place.

CASE STUDY: RENOVATION OF SAIDPUR VILLAGE, ISLAMABAD Figure 6: Saidpur at the start of the renovation (2006)

The CDA undertook the development of Saidpur into a The masterplan included the plan to develop a major arts ‘model tourist village’. Around 400 million Pak Rupees and crafts village nearby, with an intention to house the were spent on the project. The renovation aimed to preserve artisans, their shops and display booths. The village center Saidpur as a cultural heritage site for tourists and a tourist would planned to be developed to house a combination of spot for local residents of Islamabad. The renovation started restaurants, cafes, a museum, an art gallery and handicraft in 2006 (Figure 6) and work was carried out on the main and souvenir shops showcasing local goods (Figure 7). historic structures until 2008. A number of interventions took place to improve the physical environment and to The CDA promised the residents that the whole village restore/ renovate the historical buildings and to improve would benefit from the renovation: water supply, gas supply cultural and economic conditions of the village. Saidpur and drainage pipes would be put in the whole area. A garbage Village was developed as a model village to attract tourists removal system would be provided. According to a local on the lines of folk villages in European countries (Khan resident the restaurants and shops would employ the locals and Imdad, 2010). and contribute to the economic development of the village.

1 Reproduced by permission; Taken by Aisha Imdad

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 13 Figure 7: Initial renovation of village in 2006 Figure 8: The complex of Temple Mandir and dharamshala

The CDA also undertook many controversial steps as it acquired land by removing villagers’ homes as encroachments from key areas of the village center; it promised compensations and relocation, according to a local architect.

Mr. Kamran Lashari (Chairman CDA) in November 2008, set up a task force that conducted a survey of the village and adjoining Margalla Hills (Admin, 2009). The task force was to take appropriate steps to find about illegal construction in the area and to demolish all the houses built for commercial purpose as these activities were creating civic problems which were ruining the beauty of the village. The scope of work included the demolition of many buildings, development of a dam and other water retaining structures, concrete repairs, landscaping and horticulture design interventions, fixing of the water supply, sewage works, piling, development of bridge structures, restoration and conservation of buildings, development of road infrastructure, electric works, water proofing and other civil works. The CDA authorities are still struggling to find solutions to the issues of encroachments, acquisition of land and compensation for the villagers (The Nation, 2008). Figure 9: View of the renovated museum and marble flooring Restoration of Major Historic Buildings

The C.D.A. has devoted its maximum effort on working on the existing historic structures at the site; the old mandir dharamshala/ school into a museum/ gallery space was a and dharamshala (Figure 8). The dharamshala renovation very positive step in the renovation of the building. The was carried out in a sensitive manner by retaining its character original brick façade of the dharamshala was retained and by using near to original materials, colors and textures. The this added to the character of the buildings. However, the original marble floor of the dharamshala, dating from the internal walls of the veranda were covered with brightly early 1900s was in fairly good condition, this was cleaned painted floral patterns. The patterns and colors were more and retained. reminiscent of truck art and had no connection with the original buildings. This was contrary to the standards for The dharamshala was converted into a museum for the city historic restoration, that states that designs that are never of Islamabad (Figure 9). The re-adaptive use of the executed historically should not be constructed (Figure 10).

14 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure 10: Repainted walls of the dharamshala Figure 11: Repainted façade of the temple

The restoration fell short on these aspects and no studies or documentation of existing buildings were carried out to determine the existing decorative elements. All the buildings were white washed losing all of the original existing details of the mandir and temple. The over-painting of garish and inauthentic motifs gave the whole renovation an artificial look. The patterns of birds and the Jahangiri inspired fruit bowls were details not indigenous to the area. These details reduced the integrity of the renovation (Figure 11).

The Athens Charter for Restoration of Historic Monuments (ICOMOS, 1931) states, ‘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.’ In the case of Saidpur Village, studies on the history and architecture of the village were not carried out and experts in conservation/ restoration were not involved.

New Construction around Temple Complex

Renovation of the area of the temple complex included building new structures next to it. These structures were built in stone and had a different character to the traditional brick structures of the village.

New buildings were allocated to restaurants (Des Pardes) Figure 12: Doorway and steps leading to hotspot on hillside with outdoor seating that spills into the temple courtyard (Figures 12, 13). Two chattri (umbrella) structures were erected at the entrance. The design and size of the two structures seemed out of place within the historic complex. Aesthetically they fail to add anything to the space (Figure 14).

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 15 Figure 13: Seating area of restaurant Figure 14: Chattri structure at the entrance of temple complex

Renovation of the Village and Improvement Work

The work done by C.D.A. included the cleaning up of the entrance to Saidpur Village from the main road. This area was decorated with haystacks and new palm trees were planted all along the winding road which lead to the main entrance.

An adobe gate was erected at the entrance to the village; it was built in Pueblo Style. The design and color was unrelated to the surrounding landscape and to the character of the village (Figure 15).

A lot of effort was made in improving the approach to the village by cleaning up the old buildings along the road. The houses on both sides of the entrance were vacated and their Figure 15: New entrance gate of the village facades were rebuilt in stone to give a traditional look. The street now appears neater and cleaner but does not reflect the layout of a traditional street. These new premises were converted into expensive shops and cafes (Figures 16, 17).

Figure 16: Reconstructed facades of shops Figure 17: Reconstruction work

16 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure 18: Parking outside village Figure 19: Parking areas inside the village

The main road leading to the village opened up into a large parking area. This vast parking space can accommodate almost 500 vehicles (Figure 18).

The parking has also been bought into the central part of the village which used to be a pedestrian area (Figure 19). The new businesses have exerted pressure on the authorities and as a result cars are parked next to the restaurants. A better plan would have been to keep the center of the Village as a pedestrian area, this would have added to the historic fabric and ambience of Saidpur. Instead the area now offers a commercial look with multiple restaurants and cars.

The central nalla of the Village was envisaged to be the hub of all activities and two major restaurants and some souvenir shops were placed on both sides to increase tourism. The village nalla was also uplifted by paving its sides. The façades of the houses next to this area were also uplifted by Figure 21: Potter (Aleem Dad) at the wheel plastering them with mud and painting them in ‘indigenous colours’ (Figure 20).

Traditionally, the potters of the village had worked and displayed their work in their houses. People used to visit their homes to buy their wares (Figures 21, 22). In 2007, the potters of the village were given new shops in the center of the village to display their talents and works. This was a positive step towards showcasing the indigenous talents of the crafts persons.

Figure 20: Façades of houses painted in orange Figure 22: Entrance of potter house

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 17 Figure 23: Polo lounge occupies the area where the Figure 24: Paved street and reconstructed facade potter’s shops were located

With time however, the potters and their shops were pushed The C.D.A. has not completed the project to remove dirty out of the area and posh restaurants dot the front of the water and sewer waste away from the nalla. The open sewers Village (Figure 23). and their waste water in the nalla added to the smell and visual pollution of the village. The central area of the Village was also paved and the nearby main street was paved with stone and concrete. The open drains were covered and the façades were cleaned up. Many façades were redone to reflect “history” with various style arched openings and doors (Figures 24, 25).

But further away from the tourist center the streets remain broken and filthy (Figure 26). The storm water nalla was also paved and maintained near the center of the village (Figure 27) but towards the rear of the village it was full of garbage and sewage (Figures 28, 29). Due to lack of a proper garbage disposal system the nalla became a dumping place for refuse. The open sewers and drains from the houses flow into the central nalla.

Figure 26: Unpaved street

Figure 25: Stone paved street Figure 27: Nalla paved in central area

18 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure-28: Garbage littered nalla in village

Analysis of Renovation works undertaken at Saidpur Village

Analysing the overall strategies for the management of cultural heritage resources of Saidpur Village by CDA it is revealed that a sustainable development framework was not developed or followed for the project. The restoration of the historic structures was done in a superficial manner. The Figure-29: The nalla is filled with garbage between houses dharamshala building was only painted and plastered on the front but the back was left untended (Figure 30). The project did not bring in any qualified conservation experts for restoration. Neither were the motifs or design existing in old houses and structures reflected in any of the new construction. Many old buildings, which were clearly historic assets, were left in disrepair and pushed to the background of the development.

These historical buildings and the many old trees on the site defined the cultural, social and historic roots and origins of the Village. Most of the new construction camouflaged the historic fabric or completely removed it (Figures 31-33). Figure-30: The back facade of the dharamshala The development gave new construction more importance as compared to the existing structures which defined the character of the village.

A sustainable development approach would have allowed all these original aspects to be taken into account t before introduction of tourism into the fabric of the village.

Due to lack of garbage disposal and adequate waste collection facilities, the environmental improvements envisaged for the site were not realized. The quality of life for the ordinary resident of the village did not improved. Streets and stairways Figure-31: Decorative brick work on a doorway

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 19 Figure-32: Historic doorway in village Figure-33: Remnant of old decorative brick columns throughout the village remained unpaved and broken. The carriers and immediate custodians of cultural resources sewage lines were non-existent. The waste water and sewage (UNEP, 1992). flew through the streets unattended. In the case of Saidpur Village, the local community was The economy of the village did benefit initially from this marginalised in both the social and physical contexts. All project because of the employment of local people into the over the world sustainable and successful practices in building trade and use of crafts persons. The local shopkeepers restoration engage the local population and encourages also found some business catering to the increased them to be stakeholders in projects as the success of the construction activity in the village. But in the long run the restoration depends on the active participation and direct restaurants on the main street of the village started being financial involvement of the local population (Jing, 2008: owned and managed by outsiders and employees were from 69). outside the village too. Thus, the economic benefits were not transferred to the inhabitants of the village. Conclusively, the Saidpur Village has not become more With time the development of the central area of the village livable after the renovation works. The development did not gave in to consumerism and commercialization. The improve the life of the residents of the village and any restaurants and parking areas remained designated for the income that has been generated by tourists goes to the posh elite which facilitated the visitors rather than the local restaurants managed by outsiders and a forced sense of residents. history has been given to the area (Figure 34).

There were no steps taken to encourage social rehabilitation CONCLUSIONS of the residents and to introduce any social diversity, such as coexistence of the multiple functions of residential and The cultural character of the heritage renovation of Saidpur tourist areas. In spite of CDAs pledges to the community in Village is not of an authentic nature and has greatly affected order to ensure their compliance, no sustainable development the integrity, history and culture of the site. The culture of took place in line with the Rio Declaration Principles of the village has been affected by the influx of tourists - both Sustainable Development (UNEP, 1992) related to local and international, creating a visible and physical barrier community participation which states that communities are between the locals and visitors.

20 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure-34: Fancy cars outside an exclusive restaurant

The new elements and buildings added to the village do not have the same cultural basis in terms of architectural styles, and lack relevance to the area or any historical connection to the 5illage. Very few of the carved doors, windows, treatment of wood carvings and colors chosen for the finishes were reminiscent of local and indigenous styles.

Similarly the use of mud plaster over the existing houses to give them an indigenous look was visually appealing, but care should have been exercised in giving a diversed look by employing brick, mud and stone as building materials, as some buildings made entirely of stone look out of place. Figure-35: View of village street Furthermore, the painting of various houses dotted around the village with an ochre-orange tone failed to produce an overall atmosphere of harmony, as the lanes and pathways making process, no improvement in sewage and sanitation were broken and depleted and only the buildings were lines of the village, no planning for removal of garbage attended to (Figure 35). produced by tourists, lack of local people’s involvement in control over the environment, destruction of original The overall visual environment within the village also architectural integrity of the historic buildings and import changed because of removal of various houses, changing of unauthentic imagery and decoration and cultural ‘erosion’ roof heights and by painting some façades. These of the traditional values of the area. interventions led to the removing of the visual clutter produced by indigenous housing, which was an inherent character of On the other hand there have been some benefits of the the area. project which include adaptive re-use of the dharamshala, creation of a museum for the city of Islamabad, cleaning All the works done focus on the improvement of the tourist up of the village, some employment opportunities and oriented central open area and the approach to Saidpur income generation for the local craftsmen. Village. An unintended outcome of the restoration has been social exclusion with the historic buildings turned into Conclusively, historic preservation programs are proven fashionable eateries that low income people cannot afford. engines of economic growth that may help to attract The increased volume of tourists challenges the balance of investment into historic neighborhoods. These can then go the needs of tourism, culture and the normal life of the towards improving the infrastructure and quality of lives residents. of the residents as well as attract tourism revenues. Countries like Pakistan, that are rich in cultural and historical resources, Some negative impacts of the renovations include eviction should manage these resources more sustainably to make of local persons, non involvement of locals in the decision them economic assets for the locality and the city.

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 21 REFERENCES 2005, Islamabad- Saidpur village heritage site, viewed 20 March 2010, from http://www.urbanpk.com. 2012, Saidpur, Islamabad, viewed 4 April 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saidpur,_Islamabad

2009, Standards for restoration and guidelines for restoring historic buildings, viewed 12 March 2009, from http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/standguide/restore/restore_standards.html.

Admin, 2009, Islamabad: CDA to further beautify, expand Saidpur model village, viewed 22 December 2009, from http://www.opfblog.com/8683/islamabad-cda-to-further-beautify-expand-saidpur-model-village/. Icomos, 1931, The Athens Charter for the restoration of historic monuments, viewed 22 March 2009, from http://www.icomos.org/athens_charter.html Khan, S. and Imdad, A., 2010, Mapping of the architectural heritage of Islamabad, Unpublished report.

Jing, F., 2008, Best practices on social sustainability in historic districts, UN Habitat, UNESCO, Beijing. Qalandar, M., 2008, A Trip to Saidpur: Khawaja Khizar in Islamabad , viewed 22 March 2009, from http://pakistaniat.com/category/mast-qalandar/ ‘CDA ignores locals' priorities’, The Nation, June 12, 2008, viewed 4 April 2011, from http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news- newspaper-daily-english-online//Regional/12-Jun-2008/CDA-ignores-locals-priorities UNEP, 1992, Rio declaration on environment and development, viewed 22 March 2008, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Declaration_on_Environment_and_Development.

22 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) THE IMPACTS OF URBANISATION ON AVIAN COMMUNITIES OF LAHORE

Muhammad Saad Khan* Fatima Javeed** Shama Anbrine***

ABSTRACT to co-exist. This situation is intentional as human beings are at the top of the food chain and will not compromise on This paper aims to study the impact of infrastructure their comfort, safety, and security. This arrogance on the development on the indigenous avian ecology of a geographic part of man is destroying the natural ecological balance. location and focuses on critically observing the role of human interventions in influencing biodiversity within a region. Ecological balance is not only vital for quality of life but Objectively this research is to identify existing biodiversity also crucial for human survival in an urban area. One of the of bird species and impacts of urbanisation on the diversity major problems of 21st century is that urban areas are of avian communities in the study areas. For this purpose, becoming dominantly human (Karieva et.al, 2007) at the this study has examined native avian communities along cost of other living species. Consequently, there are many two Canal areas of Lahore, one being the heavily urbanized incidents where man has threatened and sometimes caused Lahore branch of the Upper Bari Doab Canal (popularly the extinction of different species. Human activities such as known as the Lahore Canal) and the other relatively less deforestation, desertification, pollution and urban sprawl populated Ichhogil Canal (popularly known as Bambawali- which severely disturb ecological systems are considered Ravi-Bedian or in short BRB Canal). The primary objectives to be the driving forces behind the extinction of species are to study the ecological biodiversity of avian (Purvis, et.al., 2000). According to World Wild Life Fund communities in the selected study areas along BRB (WWF, 2016), habitat loss poses the greatest threat to species. Canal and Lahore Canal and to highlight the effect of The world's habitats like forests, swamps, plains, lakes are urbanization on the biodiversity of avian species along the diminishing and humans are populating and developing selected study areas. these habitats to cater for their needs. Agriculture, housing, roads, pipelines and the other hallmarks of industrial Through the above objectives, the study focuses on development totally change the ecology of such habitats. establishing grounds that bird species which are more Important ecological habitats will continue to disappear if adaptable towards an urbanized environment are thriving at a strong plan is not created to protect sensitive areas. It is the cost of once indigenous and successful bird species. estimated that over the next half of a century, up to one- Further, the research also highlights the fact that an insensitive third of the world’s plant and animal species may be lost approach towards infrastructure development can destroy forever. Conservation biologists regard this as the first mass the ecology of a region and reduce the variety of avian extinction since the age of the dinosaurs (Ewing et.al, 2005). species that otherwise may thrive in natural habitat. Bird extinction’ has been ‘tied to the arrival of humans as Keywords: Birds, Lahore Canal, biodiversity, bird ‘Moa’, a native flightless bird of New Zealand became communities, urbanisation, Avian communities. extinct within a century of the arrival of human settlers in the region (Numer, 2014). Similarly, the documentation of INTRODUCTION another bird specie Dodo’s extinction suggests overhunting by humans as the main cause of its disappearance (Freedman, It is a matter of common observation especially in the case 1995). Correspondingly there are many disaster zones which of highly urbanized city centres that along with human have been evacuated by humans, and have become accidental beings only a certain type of animals and birds are allowed natural reserves. For instance in Chernobyl, European grey

* Muhammad Saad Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, UET, Lahore. ** Fatima Javeed, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, UET, Lahore. *** Dr. Shama Anbrine, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, UET, Lahore.

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 23 wolf species have thrived as humans abandoned this area agricultural lands to urban sprawl affects local climate and due to radiation hazards (Wendle, 2015). The survival of air quality. This alteration in climate changes the energy Chernobyl European grey wolf proves that human presence dynamics which leads to decreased native biodiversity or urbanization is more risky and fatal to many species than (Vitousek et al., 1997; Grimm et al., 2000; Alberti et al, other hazards and disasters. 2003; Dudgeon et al, 2006). Running waters integrate the effects of land-use change and are very sensitive to Urbanization and urban sprawl are primarily aimed at urbanization. As soft land is replaced with a large amount providing modern human centric comforts. However, these of impervious surface such as asphalt, concrete, and rooftops, modern comforts are accompanied by the destabilization of the hydrology and geomorphology of streams receiving the ecological cycle. This is a general condition worldwide runoff water are fundamentally altered which can possibly in all urban areas and Lahore, the case study, is no exception. cause severe results. (Wolman, 1967; Walsh, 2000; Paul and Being the capital of Punjab as well as the second largest Meyer, 2001). Therefore, when streams and water channels metropolitan area in the country, Lahore has undergone become infected with hazardous pollutants the urban river expansion at an exponential rate during the last two decades. transforms from a functioning ecosystem to a filthy sewer. In Lahore, one major drawback is that because of this expansion the agricultural land at the periphery of the city Many types of researches undertaken by various scholars is being used as satellite residential towns. This agricultural have duly established and emphasised the role of green land used to be the food provider for the entire city and the spaces in an urban setting. Significant research in the 1980s surrounding areas and was a habitat for many natural bird and 1990s brought strong support to the statement that and animal species. Subsequently, these satellite towns have ‘condition of natural has significant positive influences on reduced the open green areas and fields of the city in a vain health outcomes of all species within an ecosystem’. (Ulrich pursuit to provide better housing and subsequently more 1981, 1984, 1992; Hartig et.al, 1991). These positive residential areas to shelter the swelling human population. influences are both physical and psychological as demonstrated by Francis et. al, 1990. This study analysed Historically Lahore has been rendered and celebrated as a peoples’ preference of spaces during the time of distress and ‘City of Gardens’. The Mughal Royal gardens and peripheral pain and concluded that the majority chose to go outdoors landscapes have been a quasi-essential part of the city, to to a natural or designed setting (Francis and Cooper, 1991, the extent that these served as a source of inspiration for the 1992). Hence, green spaces are a crucial part of any social western colonizers. Thus, tradition was kept alive in the environment as these have a strong role to play in the welfare British era and new gardens and parks were added to the of a society. urban morphology of Lahore. After independence, some gardens were also planned but unfortunately the rate of Similarly, when parks were first designed in the 19th century, extinction of older gardens was higher than the addition of city officials had a strong belief in the possible health new ones. Hence the environmental degradation became a advantages that would offer (Maller et al., 2005). It was prominent characteristic of the city with increased level of hoped that parks would reduce disease, crime, and social pollutants and diminished open green areas. unrest as well as provide ‘green lungs’ for the city, and areas for recreation (Maller et al., 2005). These assumptions were Thus, it is intended through this research to understand how used as justification for providing parks and other natural to mitigate the negative impacts of current urban sprawl areas in cities, and preserving wilderness areas outside of trends in Lahore. The new residential societies are changing cities for public use (Maller et al., 2005). the current ecological balance of the city and eventually may lead to the point from where it is impossible to return. Hence green spaces which incorporate eco-balance strategies Thus the need for this research was felt to identify ecologically are not only beneficial for the humans but also aid biodiversity biodiverse avain communities and the impact of urbanization within an urban area. These spaces are also considered lungs on them. of any city which purify the rest of the city. Once the City of Gardens - Lahore, still had some green pockets but the LITERATURE REVIEW urban growth in Lahore has severely affected its natural ecology. There have been some studies that document the The ecological impacts of growth in human population and facts that Lahore’s ecology has changed over the years. its re-distribution towards urban hubs are substantial. The Following section looks at the researches carried out on loss of green areas including wild lands, forests and birds of Lahore in its different green pockets and areas.

24 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) PREVIOUS ECOLOGICAL STUDIES IN LAHORE is usually traffic that has harmful effects on the environment. Big cities, increased wealth, and population growth are Development in the city took its toll when modern directly related to increased use of vehicles. These vehicles infrastructure replaced many indigenous trees which resulted use fuel which is a serious cause of concern as lead and in the destruction of the habitat of birds such as the Yellow- nitrogen peroxide are released into the environment (Suk et Footed Green pigeon, Grey Hornbill, Alexandrine Parakeet, al., 2003). These pollutants are hazardous for birds and for etc. Only a few small pockets were left in the city of Lahore the overall ecosystem. Moreover, there is a direct link of that housed indigenous trees. Ultimately, this resulted in urban congestion with overall pollution in the city. More confinement of bird populations to these disjointed patches congested spots in Lahore show higher level of pollution within the city (Masood, 2014). (Aziz and Bajwa, 2004). Congestion also causes higher level of noise pollution as well according to a study carried out The impact of urbanisation on bird’s population and diversity in 2011 congested areas had higher noise levels (Younes was evident in another similar study. This research was and Ghaffar, 2012). Different pollution types are harmful carried out in monsoon and winter seasons and the researcher to humans and similarly, congested areas have fewer bird prepared feeding station points to observe and count the bird species that survive urban growth (Joshua and Ali, 2011). species in different areas of the city of Lahore. The number and variety of birds were documented from dawn to dusk Lahore’s environment has already deteriorated because of to note the bird’s urbanization in the area. The result showed unplanned urban growth. There have been many surveys to that the avian population was season dependent. One document the air quality in major cities of Pakistan but these interesting conclusion was that mainly sparrow and pigeon surveys only give a general idea about pollution statistics. population were observed in densely populated areas. On A true picture can only be drawn after obtaining data from the other hand, areas that had more vegetation showed long-term monitoring programs (Aziz, 2006). In 2000, a diversity in bird species. In this study 49 species of birds survey was conducted which showed a high concentration were observed in Lahore, Nishtar Town had the highest of pollutants in the country. Survey was carried out in a joint number of bird species whereas, 41 species were observed effort with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and in Wagah Town. Shalimar Town and Ravi Town were most Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. World Health congested and home for only two to three species (Joshua Organizations (WHO) database for the year 2008-2013 and Ali, 2011). shows that generally pollution has doubled and Pakistan falls in the region where pollution is 5-10 times higher than One study documented the Ravi River near Lahore and five WHO’s limit (WHO, 2015a). In general, over the years, sites were studied from mid-March to mid-September in Lahore’s pollution has been increasing and it is ranked as 2008. There were 22 species of birds and bird diversity was the tenth most polluted city in the world, and Pakistan takes dependent on the environment quality (Iqbal et al., 2011). the position of the third most polluted country according to Even though River Ravi, once reflected the green Lahore, WHO’s recent database of outdoor air pollution in cities now it has become so polluted that the bird diversity is (WHO, 2015a). All these recent reports on the environment declining. of Lahore unmistakably point to the fact that the city has become hazardous for birds and other life forms. However, Passerine bird species in Lahore is higher in old green sites pollution is considered as one of the main factors but bird with native trees than in new parks of Lahore. Human species are also threatened by agriculture, recreation, and disturbance and non-availability of breeding sites in new many other human impacts (Mckinney, 2006). parks are the main reason behind the loss of Passerine Avian diversity. New parks have more decorative or ornamental Different researches document the fact that bird diversity is plants that don’t provide enough shelter to the birds. Similarly, dependent on environmental quality, native trees for necessary Wildlife Park outside Lahore is more close to nature, with activities and more open areas. This paper aims to go one less human intervention, and it houses more diverse bird step further and compare two sites which are similar but population than any other new park (Fazal et al., 2014). mainly affected by human disturbance because of higher population and presence of infrastructure. Both canals add Many types of research, as discussed above, have already to green pockets of Lahore but human intervention level is been conducted to document the fact that high pollution in different as their surroundings are urbanized at different densely populated areas adversely affects the environment levels. and hence the bird species. With city growth, a major concern

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 25 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DATA carried out to silently observe and document the visible bird COLLECTION species. The survey team was advised to wear earthen colors which would blend in with the surroundings. The observations For the two canals of Lahore selected for comparison, data from these surveys were documented as photographs for was collected by visiting the sites repeatedly (Figure 1) and the identification of bird species living in the area. This using observation as the key data collection technique. The resulted in the generation of quantitative data about the observations are quantified in tabular form in the results to natural ecology of the research sites. conclude the study. Here, it is important to mention that although methods of The study area has been limited to a distance of approximately area searches and point count are standard for monitoring 2 kilometers along the banks of both the canals. In the case birds but the extent of this paper is just to compare the of the Lahore Canal, the study area stretches from the difference between two sites and not to extend the scope of junction of Ferozpur Road and Canal Road to the junction research in studying or analyzing behavioral patterns of of Jail Road and Canal Road (Figure 2). On the other hand, birds in any form. BRB Canal study area stretches from Barki Road junction to Bedian Road junction (Figure 3). RESEARCH SITES

This data was collected by using reconnaissance surveys. Lahore, one of the major cities of Punjab, is diverse in These surveys were conducted in the months of December climatic conditions. It offers all four seasons to different and January 2013 between 12pm to 3pm local time. The species. The two selected canals offer different types of methodology adopted for the surveys was based upon point environment to the bird species. Lahore Canal is heavily count and area searches. There were point count stations urbanized whereas BRB offers a rural setting for different and casual walks in between the stops. A total of eight stops species. of approximately ten minutes each on both study areas were

Figure 1: Study area around the Lahore Canal

26 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure 2: Map of Lahore showing the Lahore Canal and BRB Canal

Figure 3: Study area around BRB Canal

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 27 Lahore Canal has been the principal Canal in the Lahore division since Mughal times. During the British times, it was expanded in 1861 and it ran down the central spine of the district traversing through Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Lahore districts. According to the Gazetteer of Lahore district 1883-4 ‘The main line of this Canal enters the Lahore district near Badhana and runs down to Wan Khara, in the Chunian tehsil, whence a permanent escape had been dug to the river Ravi at Alpa. The Lahore branch of the same Canal enters at Wahgah passes between Lahore and Meean Meer (presently Lahore Cantonment) and joins the river Ravi at Niaz Beg, a large village eight miles south-west of Lahore. Its length is 59.5 miles’ (Walker, 1989:62) (Figure 4). Figure 4: Lahore Canal in 1915 Source: Walker, 1989 Today it is flanked on both sides by the Canal Bank Road, a six-lane two-way road being one of the largest and the RESULTS busiest roads of Lahore (Figure 5). This road is a prime connection to numerous high profile residential, commercial The tables show various bird species which were observed and educational areas on both sides of the Canal as well as in the selected locations on both the canals. A simple assigned the shortest route to the outer periphery of the city by the numeric value system was adopted to assess the relativity virtue of offering signal-free lanes. Hence the surroundings of biodiversity amongst the selected locations. Following of Lahore Canal have been affected severely by intensive assigned value system has been used: human interventions, both in the form of building construction and the pollution resulting from heavy vehicular traffic. 0 = NIL (for birds that are completely not found in the specific area during study time*) BRB Canal is 45 miles long Canal running on the eastern boundary of Lahore. It was a public venture built by the 1 = MIN (for birds that have been seen less than 5 times in residents of Lahore in 1948 as a strong defensive measure the specific area during study time*) to ensure the safety of Lahore (Singh, 2000) at the request of the (then) Chief Minister of West Punjab, Nawab Iftikhar 2 = MAX (for birds that have been seen more than 5 times Hussain Khan Mamdot. It is located in a very low populated in the specific area during study time*) area and flanked by vast green fields on the periphery (Figure 6). * Study time: 11 am to 3 pm The study area has been limited to a distance of A total of twenty five different bird species were identified approximately 2 kilometres along the banks of both the Canals.

Figure 5: Lahore Canal Figure 6: BRB Canal Lahore

28 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) at the two sites as indicated in Table-1. This data clearly Further, the research clearly shows that avian population at shows that there is a huge differential in the overall ecological the study area of BRB Canal is much higher than the avian biodiversity of birds of the two study areas. All twenty-five population at the Lahore Canal. For example, the numbers bird species were observed at the BRB Canal site while of dove sighting at the BRB Canal were much higher than sixteen different bird species were identified at the Lahore the Lahore Canal sightings. The study proves that BRB Canal site. This shows that nine more bird species are living Canal has better avian biodiversity and population numbers. on the BRB Canal. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The table also evidently shows that BRB Canal has a bio- diverse avian population which is thriving due to minimum The aim of this study was to understand that how the natural human intervention with respect to infrastructure development ecology of two very similar features can differ because of and availability of natural habitat for the birds, while the their immediate context. Lahore Canal is highly urbanized Lahore Canal loses out with a lesser bio-diverse avian with modern infrastructure development, on the other hand, population due to loss of natural habitat, pollution, and noise the BRB Canal as a whole still remains secluded and lacks levels. modern infrastructure.

Table-1: Ecological Biodiversity Assessment Table for Bird Species

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 29 In context of the city of Lahore, the research shows that two material generated by an urban environment. Most of these very similar features hardly ten kilometres apart from each birds find shelter in man-made infrastructure and are not other can have exponentially different avian communities. shy of human beings. Excessive and insensitive human intervention in terms of population, infrastructure and pollution are the primary Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded factors that differentiate the two sites. Here it is important that avian ecology and biodiversity are diminishing rapidly to note that Lahore Canal makes the spine of city and roads at the Lahore Canal primarily due to its surrounding urban on both sides of the Lahore Canal are heavily used throughout context. WWF (2016) has also documented this fact and the day, while BRB Canal is located on the outskirts of has found that indigenous trees were cut down in the name Lahore away from the population. The chart in (Figure 7) of development and need of new bridges, underpasses and evidently shows that BRB Canal has much more bio-diverse widening of the roads. This ultimately destroyed the habitat avian population. Bird species are thriving near BRB Canal of birds such as Yellow-Footed Green Pigeon, Grey Hornbill, due to minimum human intervention with respect to Alexandrine Parakeet. The large indigenous trees were infrastructure development and availability of natural habitat restricted and confined to only a few small pockets which for the birds, while the Lahore Canal loses out with a lesser gave shelter to bird population and resulted in fragmented bio-diverse avian population due to loss of natural habitat, habitats for birds. The new and exotic varieties of trees pollution and noise levels. planted to replace indigenous trees changed the horticulture pattern of flora in Lahore and took away the nesting shelters Another interesting phenomenon, which can be observed of birds. from Figure 7, is that certain species of birds are thriving along the Lahore Canal which includes Red Turtle Dove, Though this research indicates a flourishing bird ecology at Wood Pigeon, Crow, Sparrow, Eagle, Mayna, Wood Pecker the BRB Canal, the worrying part of this study is that the and Nightingale. On the other hand, BRB Canal, though natural ecology and biodiversity which to date remains more bio-diverse and having good population numbers, has healthy, is threatened by development work being carried a lesser population of Red Turtle Dove, Wood Pigeon, Eagle, out by Defence Housing Authority (DHA) along the canal and Sparrow. This proves that these bird species are more side. The point of concern is the new residential societies adaptable to an urban environment and have evolved as being developed along Barki Road that cross BRB Canal. opportunists. Their nutrition is mostly dependent on waste The direction of growth is alarming as DHA Lahore has

Figure 7: Chart showing comparison of birds diversity in BRB Canal and Lahore Canal

30 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) already reached BRB Canal and its flora and fauna will be growth also increases air and noise pollution because of affected once residents start occupying the land near BRB. heavy traffic and modern living style. This leads to further deterioration of green spaces and can lead to extinction of Initially, urbanization may appear harmless as humans and certain bird species. birds can live in harmony but analysis of current bird pattern near human population and in areas away from human There is a dire need to create an understanding about the population shows different results. By creating new towns, rapid rate at which the landscapes and critical ecosystems the construction industry is turning the ecological system that support a vast range of wildlife are being lost. This is of the city of Lahore upside down. While the developers ultimately a great loss for the entire human race. Hence claim that their proposed construction has a minimum there is a desperate need to strive towards the maintenance intervention on the natural and ecological reserves as they of ecological balance by implanting natural reserve areas provide public parks, green spaces, and farmhouses within within the urban limits of all major cities. Disturbances in the town limits, but in reality these interventions result in ecological balance threaten plants, birds, animals and serious ecological imbalances within the area. This is because consequently humans towards extinction. Hence the naturally sustained and organically developed green spaces ecological depletion of non-human species is alarming and have a different impact on ecology as compared to reserved again requires immediate thought and action. grasslands that become part of an urban sprawl. Urban

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32 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) SPIRIT OF THE PLACE: EVOLUTIONAND TRANSFORMATION OF ISTANBUL CHOWK, LAHORE

Faisal Sajjad* Neelum Naz** Ghulam Abbas Anjum***

ABSTRACT Very few scholars have written about Lahore’s urban history The main focus of this research is the study of Istanbul and theory. William Glover (2008) is one who has discussed Chowk, Lahore from the perspective of its historical evolution Colonial spatial imagination and planning of Lahore in his during the British Colonial period and post partition book “Making Lahore Modern”. The other author who has transformation. This area was known as ‘Exhibition Road’ theorised the aspect of people’s association with public during the British times and Patras Bukhari Chowk after places, with Lahore as a case study is Suvorova (2011) in partition, named after the famous writer and the former her book “Lahore: Topophilia of Space and Place”. principal of Government College of Lahore. The name ‘Istanbul Chowk’ was given later, named after the city of The physical planning of the space around Istanbul Chowk, Istanbul in Turkey. This is the first chowk or public space its description and analysis, pertaining to the quantifiable on the west end of the Mall Road, institutional in character aspect of urban space including layout, geometry and and an example of 19th century colonial planning. The Mall proximity is researched with the help of archival cartographic Road is named after the central street of London, which references. leads from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square. Ceremonial royal processions pass down the Mall. This road The qualitative aspect including sense of space, sense of was planned in 1851 by Col. Napier to connect the city with enclosure, architectural character and environment has been the new cantonment that was 7 miles to the east. The constructed through the study and analysis of the archival theoretical aspect of ‘Colonial spatial imagination’ is discussed photographs. in connection with the design of this unified urban space in its form and character. The intangible aspects of urban culture The intangible aspect mentioned as the ‘spirit of place’ is contributing towards the construction of ‘spirit of place’ discussed with the help of literary references about this place over a period of time extending into the post partition era in which a connection can be established between the physical have also been explored. This research paper also studies space and life in the area, transforming it into an identifiable the post partition gradual transformation of this place and place with a distinct culture. These references are also identifies the spatial changes and loss of urban heritage available from the literature available from post partition which played an important role in forming the identity and and are helpful in establishing the transformation in the spirit of this place. culture of this place.

Keywords: Place making, colonial spatial imagination, genius A comparison is drawn between the formative period and loci, palimpsest, Lahore the current condition of Istanbul Chowk to identify and study the spatial transformation and its impact on the spatial RESEARCH METHODOLOGY integrity and urban culture.

The research methodology encompasses a number of INTRODUCTION methods. The historical context of the area in general and Istanbul Chowk in particular is established with the help of Planned public spaces are commonly found in the heart of a review of archival documents and references are drawn most historical cities. In Pakistan, the term "square" is from various relevant sources. synonymous with ‘chowk’. Public spaces house political,

* Faisal Sajjad, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, NCA, Lahore ** Dr. Neelum Naz, Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore *** Dr. Ghulam Abbas Anjum, Prof. and Dean, Department of Architecture, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 33 economic and cultural life. They indicate a city designed ISTANBUL CHOWK: EVOLUTION AND LAYOUT for humans as these spaces are mostly pedestrian. These spaces because of their historicity, become iconic centers The British initially developed the Old Mall Road along the and form the identity of a city. It is the transformation from north-south axis with the old cantonment establishment in a public space to a public place that defines the collective the present day Anarkali area (area of Lahore outside the memory of a city. This is the phenomenon of place making walled city that served as the first British army Cantonment, which revolves around the notion of an abstract space being later on it developed as a bazaar). In 1851 the cantonment connected into a recognizable place in the city. was shifted to the Mian Mir area (named after the Mughal Period Saint Hazrat Mian Mir), seven miles to the east of Lahore is one of the most important cities of the sub-continent the current location and the present Mall Road was planned from both strategic and cultural perspectives. It was always to connect the city with the new Cantonment. Along this at the crossroads of civilizations. Many foreign invaders road new spatial typologies in the form of public spaces (Aryans, Greeks, Arabs, Afghans and Central Asian) passed were introduced. One of these was the Exhibition Road area through this area and left their impressions on the city. It (Istanbul Chowk), which was a public space with a defined was the capital of the Mughal Empire during the reign of character. This is the oldest planned area on the Mall. Its Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor (1556-1605). The city development took place between 1860 and 1905 and it was ruled by the Sikhs and later by the British. This cultural formed the west end of the Mall, ending at the Nasir Bagh. layering has rendered Lahore like a palimpsest. This garden was the terminating axis of the Mall on the west end. It was initially known as Bandstand Garden, then as Lahore has a rich public life that has evolved around the Municipal Garden after the construction of Victoria Jubilee public spaces like the Friday Book Bazaar in Chowk Masjid Hall, it was also known as Gol Bagh because of its roughly Wazir Khan, the cultural environment of Chowk Neela round shape and Chowk. After partition it was renamed Gumbad, the educational environment of Chowk Istanbul Nasir Bagh after Jamal Abdul Nasir of Egypt. The Istanbul and the political character of Charing Cross, named after a chowk has been renamed several times too. It was initially square in London and renamed Faisal Square after King called Exhibition Road area, after 1876 its name was changed Faisal of Saudi Arabia in 1973 at the time of Islamic Summit to Upper Mall, post partition it was renamed as Patras Conference. The city of Lahore has seen the evolution and Bukhari Chowk after the famous writer and Principal of transformation of its public spaces, both spatially and Government College Lahore, and finally it was named culturally. ‘Istanbul Chowk’ to commemorate Pak-Turk friendship (Figure 1). In this reference, the Colonial period is of specific importance since it was the beginning of modern planning in Lahore. Punjab went under the Company Rule (The British East India Company) in 1849 and was finally annexed to the Crown (The British Empire) in 1858. Under the Company’s rule, architecture and planning was limited to retrofitting and improvement of services. It was under the Crown that the new ideas and theories of urban design were implemented outside the walled city of Lahore.

In the case of Istanbul Chowk it was strategic incremental addition of institutional buildings that defined the urban space. The nature and use of these buildings was of prime importance because without any confusion the British planners conceived this place as cultural, educational and institutional in nature. Even the sculptures and monuments added to this character. This gave the area a distinctive sense Figure 1: Istanbul Chowk of place and character. Source: www.googleimages.com accessed 23-6-14

34 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Goulding and Thornton (1924: 52) mentions the stretch of time took in the planning and their concern for the Mall between Anarkali and Gol Bagh as the Exhibition Road environment of the area: area. He writes that this was built to commemorate the inauguration of the Punjab Exhibition Building in 1864. “later still the whole length of the Mall was remodelled on This building was constructed to house the exhibition of the its present lines under the personal supervision of the late crafts of Punjab. It was later converted into a market and Mr DuCane Smythe, Chief Engineer, who in turn, was renamed as Tollinton Market. supervised by the then Lieutenant – Governor, Sir Charles Rivaz. It was nothing unusual to meet, on a winter’s morning, In the 1920s map (Figure 2) the Exhibition Road is annotated these two high officials in earnest consultation by the as Upper Mall and is of varying width throughout. The roadside. On one occasion the writer saw the Chief Engineer Anarkali Road crossing the Mall Road divides the institutional kneeling on the ground with a measuring tape in his hands, zone and the commercial zone. The Mall is wider in front while on another the Lieutenant-Governor, who never allowed of the Tollinton Market with a rectangular green space across the felling of a tree if it could possibly be avoided, was and is narrower in front of the Museum, but the presence of personally superintending the marking of certain roadside the fenceless semi-circular green spaces with carriageways trees which had to come down when the Mall was being in front of the Museum and the Punjab University Senate realigned and widened opposite the Mayo School of Art.” Hall opposite the Museum has given a spatial definition to (Goulding and Thornton 1924: 47-48) this area. Between the Museum and the Tollinton Market the winding Library Road joins the Mall. An irregular ellipse Powell et.al (1917: 30) writes in one of his reports about in plan, Nasir Bagh is the terminating axis of the Mall and urban improvements in Lahore. He mentions that the area of this area. of Anarkali connecting McLagan Road and the Museum complex is in urgent need of repair and up gradation and a There is an incident mentioned by Goulding and Thornton cost effective proposal is needed. Thus, the locality was (1924) that describes the road widening and up gradation always considered a prime urban space that needed to be project in the area and the keen interest the officers of that developed with a certain vision.

Figure 2: Map of Istanbul Chowk, 1927 Source: Rehman (2013)

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 35 MAIN BUILDINGS AROUND THE ISTANBUL CHOWK

The addition of buildings to the Istanbul Chowk was incremental. The south side of the road was developed first because this entire stretch comprised of exhibition, museum and crafts school buildings and north facing orientation was more suited to these functions (Figure 2). The entire stretch on north side of the road is the Punjab University campus.

Tollington Market

The first building to come up was the Punjab Exhibition Figure 3: Punjab Exhibition Building 1864 Building in 1864. Though it does not form a part of Istanbul Source: Aijazuddin (2003) Chowk, still it serves like an introduction to the area and sets the tone. The second building was the Mayo School of Arts that was completed in 1882. This was a planned building because erecting a crafts school along with an exhibition building was a typical Victorian concept. The new Museum was built in 1893. This completed the complex of the crafts school and the museum. The Town Hall was built in 1890. The last building to come up was the Punjab University Senate Hall, which was built in 1905. The architectural character of these buildings is peculiar to Lahore. With the exception of Punjab Exhibition Building (Figure 3) the rest of the buildings are in red brick giving a uniform architectural character to the area that is well complemented by the leafy trees. The Punjab Exhibition Building was renamed Tollington Market after the construction of the Lahore Museum.

In the archival photograph (Figure 3) of the inauguration of Figure 4: Tollinton Market after restoration Punjab Industrial Crafts Exhibition in 1864 one can see the newly finished building with almost nothing around it. It is a structure with Gothic detailing.

Kipling and Thornton (1860: 73) write about this building Jubilee Museum (Lahore Museum) and Mayo School of mentioning it as the Central Museum, not to be confused Industrial Arts (National College of Arts) with the Lahore Museum which was constructed much later. They have written that this structure was not planned as a There is also a mention of the Museum Complex in Walker permanent one; it was rather a building put up for the (1989:247), according to which the complex housed a exhibition on urgent basis and to be dismantled later. museum and an art college and was planned with the provincial budget on the occasion of golden jubilee of the A recent success is the stopping of near demolition of rule of Queen Victoria in 1887. It was completed in 1893. Tollinton Market through advocacy a group of professional The Museum is an eclectic domed structure in brick with architects. It was restored and reconstructed close to the entrance pavilion in marble (Figure 5). 1864 form (Figure 4); however with the present alignment of the Mall, it was impossible to reconstruct the original Latif (1892: 273) mentions that the Museum Complex was colonnade and extended porticos of the Tollinton as it would designed by the then Principal of the School, John Lockwood have covered one lane of the present road. The building is Kipling and Bhai Ram Singh, and the project was supervised presently being used as the Lahore City Heritage Museum. by the Executive Engineer Ganga Ram.

36 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure 6: Victoria Jubilee Hall and Zamzama 1890 Source: NCA Archives

Figure 5: Museum and Mayo School of Arts

Vandal and Vandal (2006: 184) describe the Museum Complex as an iconic building of the city with impressive design and architectural character. In addition to that they have also mentioned the sculptural drinking fountain in the front lawn which is now on the inner edge of the footpath due to the widening of the road.

Victoria Jubilee Hall

The Victoria Jubilee Hall building was constructed in the 1890’s, and was made possible by the funds collected by the local people. Latif (1892: 273) writes that the inauguration was done by Prince Albert Victor on 3rd February in 1890. Figure 7: Senate Hall This structure is also eclectic in style (Figure 6). Source: NCA Archives

Senate Hall of the Punjab University also known as Kim’s Gun (Reference to Rudyard Kipling’s The main building of the Senate Hall was constructed in ‘Kim’). It is now mounted on a marble clad pedestal in front 1905. With the completion of this building and its adjoining of the National College of Arts. The gun was restored by open space, the area became a well-defined public space 603 combined workshop E.M.E Lahore in October 1976. with a sense of enclosure and architectural character. There is a mention of this gun in a number of accounts Vandal and Vandal (2006: 212) describe the layout and written about this area. Kipling and Thornton (1860: 73) architecture of Senate Hall to be of landmark quality due to have mentioned the Zamzama Gun as Bhangian-wali Toap the tall clock tower and symmetrical Victorian plan. The (canon attributed to a local tribe). It was the largest gun front lawn is given a focal point with a centralized fountain made in the region in 1761 by Shah Wali Khan, wazir which was a common feature in the colonial buildings (Figure (minister) of Shah Ahmad Durrani for the battle of Panipat 7). (Figure 6).

MAIN FEATURES ON ISTANBUL CHOWK This gun is also mentioned in the Walker (1989:181). It was initially mounted in front of Delhi Gate (one of the gates Zamzama Gun of the walled city of Lahore facing east towards Delhi), from where it was removed to be mounted in front of the The Zamzama Gun forms the focal point of Istanbul Chowk; Lahore Museum in 1860. However, Aijazuddin (2003: 107)

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 37 mentions a different year of the relocation of this gun. He writes that it was moved in front of the Tollinton Market in 1870 on the visit of Alfred Duke of Edinburgh (the second son of Queen Victoria). He mentions that the gun was further moved in front of the National College of Arts during the early 20th century.

Drinking Fountain (Museum)

This is a highly ornamental drinking fountain with elaborate architectural details and elements in eclectic style. It is made in red sandstone. It is of considerable scale and is placed along the road in front of the Museum, thus it is very noticeable and forms another focal point of this space. It was built along with the Museum.

Statue of Alfred Woolner, Punjab University, Old Campus

This memorial statue was designed and made by Gilbert Ledward R.A, a sculptor in Pembroke Walk Studios, Kensington London and dates from 27th May 1937, as mentioned on the archival drawings of the memorial available in Town Hall Archives. It is mounted in front of the Punjab University Senate Hall on a pedestal. In 1951 there was an attempt to remove this statue but luckily it survived (Figure 8).

ISTANBUL CHOWK: SPATIAL IMAGINATION

In the archival photograph of the Exhibition Road (Figure 9), probably taken from the University’s roof top, one can see the Museum building and the Mayo School of Arts. The Figure 8: Woolner’s Statue Museum’s drinking fountain and the statue of Alfred Woolner Source: NCA Archives form the focal point of the open space. The entire area is full of trees and there is a strong sense of place because of designed open space between the two facing rows of buildings along the road and well-defined eclectic Colonial architectural character of the buildings surrounding it. The other visually uniting factor in this space is the consistent use of materials, as all the buildings around the Istanbul Chowk are in red brick with fine masonry details. This sense of space is enhanced because of carefully placed fine statue, drinking fountain and the Zamzama Gun. There is a sense of vastness and spatial integrity especially because of absence of any fence between the green space and the road, that is visually and physically uniting the space. The buildings of roughly similar height appear to be providing a rich backdrop to this unified space. The semi-circular gardens, reminiscent of the Victorian planning along with carriageway around them add Figure 9: Archival photograph of the area to the spaciousness. The offset of the buildings from the Source: Aijazuddin (2003)

38 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) edge of the road is considerable. The silhouette of the buildings forms a harmonious skyline. The trees are of mix natured with evergreen Cyprus trees along with other leafy varieties, mainly Peepal. A wide footpath for the pedestrians is also visible in the image.

The Mall again widens in front of the Mayo School of Arts with a semi-circular green space in front of the University laboratory. There is an elliptical and a circular space present in the centre of the road. The Zamzama Gun forms the focal point here. The thick and high foliage of Gol Bagh visually encloses the space, containing and defining it (Figure 10). Previously, there was a strong sense of urban axis as the Mall terminated at the Gol Bagh in those days. Figure 10: Zamzama with Gol Bagh Source: Dr. Iqbal Archives ISTANBUL CHOWK: SPIRIT OF THE PLACE

From the analysis of historical accounts of the British officers, accomplished historians and some memoirs and recollections of residents of the city, it can be constructed that the area of period and referenced by Glover (2008:194) describes the Mall Road around the Istanbul Chowk became the educational educational environment of this section of the Mall Road: and cultural centre of the city. “Later they stroll beyond the park along Mall Road to Gol “One seldom, if ever, hears of Donald Town now, but Anarkali Bagh, that rendezvous of students just beyond the Mayo and Naulakha, the two original subdivisions, are still well- School of Art, where the small groups of youths hover like defined areas. The social life of old Lahore centred round fairies in celestial regions”. the now deserted Lower Mall in days not too far distant, when the Police Band played regularly twice a week in the Thus, this area has evolved over time in character and has Gol Bagh, then known as the Bandstand Gardens, and the influenced the intellectual environment of the city. It has beauty and fashion of the station gathered there to exchange served as the centre of Lahore’s educational, cultural and gossip and listen to the music. The bandstand and the literary life. Historically, renowned scholars from the masonry promenade are all that now remain as indications Government College, National College of Arts and Punjab of departed glories” Goulding and Thornton (1924: 48). University along with artists, writers and poets from the city used to frequent the nearby Pak Tea House and Coffee After the initial estrangement and sense of spatial wonder House, engaging in never ending scholarly discussions. and awe, the users of the area start relating with it. Stories Major artistic and literary movements of the city have and legends evolve around the area and the sense of alienation evolved and flourished here, such has been the influence turns into topophilia. This love of place becomes deeply of this inspirational area. rooted in the lives of its residents and generations of people have stories to tell that revolve around these public places. Intizar Hussain, the celebrated short story writer from Because of the Government College, National College of Lahore, describes Mall Road in his literature as Thandi Arts and Punjab University where a majority of the city’s Sarak (Cool Road), and the reference is used by Suvorova youth studied, people feel a very strong connection with this (2011: 210): area that they express with great fondness as if they are still living the times. This has rendered the area more like a “A ladies’ cycle had a charm of its own and in the early palimpsest in which the Colonial and the local is almost hours the Mall appeared to be flooded with girls cycling to indecipherably overwritten. Government College and the Punjab University.”

Glover (2008:196) has described this area as modern and This is unusual in a way because the public places of Lahore multicultural with a sense of cohesiveness and tolerance for are generally male dominated and women especially young diversity. A novel written by Dina Nath during the Colonial girls do not feel very comfortable using the public space

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 39 because of social norms. The sense of freedom for women in road alignments have been made at points for widening expressed in the account is an indication of a tolerant culture and to make way for through traffic. The major change that based upon gender equality that prevailed in this area and impacted upon the spatial integrity of the area took place added to the sense of place of the chowk. when the Gol Bagh was intersected and the Mall Road was extended to connect to the Post Master’s General’s Office. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION This changed the picturesque urban axis of the Mall once terminating at the Gol Bagh (Figure 11). Spatial Transformation of Istanbul Chowk A number of walls and fences are put up around the Chowk Since the early 20th century there have been spatial changes because of terror threats. The accessibility and physical and loss of urban heritage in the area. The widening of the permeability of the open spaces is affected because of road from single lane to three lanes to accommodate the installed iron fences but the visual permeability and spatial vehicular traffic load is the most obvious one. Design changes integrity of the space was still somewhat intact. But recently

Figure 11: Ground map of Istanbul Chowk area Source: Imtiaz (2009)

40 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) metal sheets were installed along the fence in front of There have also been some additions of urban objects to National College of Arts and the Punjab University with the Istanbul Chowk. One is the installation of M. M. Alam’s razor wires on top, after the attack on Army Public School Saber Jet (he was a PAF pilot who hunted down seven in December 2014. In the third stage a solid concrete wall Indian figher planes in the 1965 War) (Figure 15). The other has been erected on the side facing the Punjab University addition is a public sculpture project based upon the idea in May 2016. This has visually divided the once unified of pigeonholes to accommodate pigeons present in the urban space completely. The accessibility and permeability Chowk. However the pigeons of Istanbul Chowk have of the institutional spaces is totally compromised. Alfred refused to use this new accommodation. This competition Woolner’s statue today stands outside the University project was initiated by Lahore Biennale Foundation. compound because of this new wall (Figures 12 to 14).

Figure 12 to 14: Three pictures showing the transformation, figure -12 with low fence, figure-13 with high fence and metal sheet, figure-14 with the high wall and fence.

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 41 LOSS OF URBAN HERITAGE ON ISTANBUL CHOWK

There has also been loss of urban heritage, two British period statues from this area are now missing. One was the statue of Lala Lajpat Rai (1865-1928) (Figure 16) in Istanbul Chowk. For instance, Lala Lajpat while leading a demonstration along with Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya against the Simon Commission got badly injured during a brutal lathi (baton) charge and succumbed to injuries on November 17, 1928. This statue was somewhere near the Zamzama Gun. It was taken to Shimla in 1948 where it still stands because Lala Lajpat Rai was of Kashmiri descent. Nevile (1993:13), who was a resident of Lahore and a Ravian Figure 15: Istanbul Chowk today. (Student of Government College, Lahore), mentions this statue with pride in his book on memoirs of Lahore.

The other missing statue from this area is of Sir Ganga Ram, the famous civil engineer and philanthropist of Lahore. Nevile (1993: 13) has also written about this statue with the same sense of pride and he has recognised the contributions of Ganga Ram to the city. The fate of this statue has been narrated by Saadat Hassan Manto (a famous Pakistani writer) in one of his short stories on the frenzy of communal riots of 1947. He describes the way the statue was disgraced with hatred. This statue was removed sometime after partition and was taken to Delhi, India.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The British planners and architects introduced new spatial typologies in the public realm of the sub-continent during the Colonial Period that were inspired from European models. These typologies resulted in an entirely different spatial imagination and left a lasting impact on the urban culture. From narrow streets of the Walled City of Lahore to the fleeting vistas of the Mall Road and vastness of public spaces planned along the main arteries created a completely contrasting experience from the old town. This was a conscious effort by the British planners in order to establish new space syntax to achieve Colonial urban semantics based upon the concepts of Colonial identity, modernity and progress.

Departing from the classical concept of public squares based upon regular geometry, the British planners experimented with informal geometry maintaining a strong axial layout at the same time. They gave these public spaces focal points in the form of sculptures, drinking fountains and memorial Figure 16: Statue of Lala Lajpat Rai now in Shimla status. This was to create recognizable landmarks along with a strong sense of place and identity. They were fully aware

42 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) of the power of space in creating sense of belonging in the interface between the public and the academic institutions. shape of topophilia. They also maintained a flexible sense However, this sense of enclosure was ruined when a through of zoning that helped in developing a distinctive character road was made in 1961 to connect the Istanbul Chowk and of public spaces. the Post Master General’s Office. Moreover the erection of walls and fences between the institutional green spaces and Istanbul Chowk is an example of British period spatial the footpath squeezed the public space and changed the imagination having a strong cultural and institutional character urban character. With the help of comparative analysis based that evolved over half a century through incremental addition upon cartographic and visual references it can be established of buildings of the Museum Complex, the Punjab University that the spirit of the place is still somewhat present but there and the Town Hall. As a result of the development, a new are numerous spatial changes, additions/alterations and urban culture emerged in this area that played an important missing objects that have resulted in a weaker sense of role in forming the modern character and identity of Lahore. place. The pedestrian character and sense of openness is It was a completely new spatial typology introduced in being overshadowed with the road widening and increasing Lahore which did not follow the pattern of any of the then of traffic load. existing examples like the nearby forecourt of Wazir Khan mosque in the walled city Lahore or the Hazuri Bagh public The changes in the urban character of this section of the open space between Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort and Mall Road are somewhat reversible because the form is the Badshahi Mosque where Ranjit Singh used to hold his more or less unaltered except the road through the Nasir court. These spaces were based on a formal square layout. Bagh. With little effort it is possible to bring back some of In the case of Istanbul chowk the space opens up rather the previous urban character of the place by removing the gradually to form an elliptical public space enclosed between walls and restoring the public space as a unified area. the Museum and the Mayo School, the Punjab University and the Gol Bagh, with the Zamzama Gun forming the focal There is a need to develop a comprehensive scholarship on centre of this space. history, theory and design of public spaces and its impact on the urban culture in shaping the public places of Lahore Istanbul Chowk evolved as the first designed British period to serve as a theoretical framework for Post-Colonial/ post public space of Lahore. It had a definite sense of enclosure, partition spatial imagination and design, especially in the architectural character and cultural/ educational environment projects related to urban upgradating and regeneration of with open green spaces without fences. It served as the historic urban centres.

REFERENCES Aijazuddin, F. S., 2003, Lahore recollected: An album, Sang-e-Meel Publishers, Lahore. Glover, W. J., 2008, Making Lahore modern: Constructing and imagining a colonial city, Oxford University Press, Karachi.

Goulding, H. R. and Thornton, T. H., 1924, Old Lahore: Reminiscences of a resident , 2nd edn., Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore. Imtiaz, H., 2009, ‘Upgradation Project of the Mall Road, Lahore’, NCA, Lahore. Kipling, J. L. and Thornton, T. H., 1860, Lahore as it was: travelogue , 2nd edn., National College of Arts , Lahore. Latif, S. M. , 1892, Lahore: Its history, architectural remains and antiquities, 2nd edn., Oriental Publishers and Booksellers, Lahore. Nevile, P., 1993, Lahore: A sentimental journey, Allied Publishers, New Delhi.

Rehman, A., 2013, Mapping Lahore: Tracing historical geography of a city through maps, Al-Meezan Publishers, Lahore. Suvorova, A. A., 2011, Lahore: Topophilia of space and place , Oxford University Press, Karachi. Vandal, P. and Vandal, S., 2006, The raj, Lahore, and Bhai Ram Singh, NCA Publication, Lahore.

Walker, G. C., 1989, Gazetteer of the Lahore District: 1883-4, Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore.

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 43 INCREASING TREND TOWARDS PASSIVE RECREATION IN THE METROPOLITAN

Muhammad Asim* Rumana Khan Shirwani** Saima Gulzar***

ABSTRACT technology creates easiness for society, it also brings stress in life as people are moving away from nature and the only Man is the basic entity of this universe, from the origin till way out is more engagement with active recreational activities now struggling for betterment in life with well organized (Sutton, 2008). mechanism pursing all the deeds for comfort and easiness. Man has made a lot of progress and advancement for pursuing Few researches point out that too much artificial setting and daily routine work with the advancement of science and time spent in purely human environments (commuting, technology. Along with these advancements a number of enclosed space and indoor recreation etc) may cause fatigue subjects have evolved for serving human beings, which and a loss of energy and health (Katcher and Beck, 1987) specifically work for the comfort of their social living and while other researchers conclude that natural settings e.g. to aid physically and mentally, within an environment; like landscape, birds and animals seem to engage attention and sociology, psychology environment and above all town help in relaxing people (Kuo and Sullivan, 2001). planning. This study is conducted to highlight the changing trends of recreation from active to passive. The priorities of Recreation is an important activity for human beings. No people engaging in different types of recreation have changed. one can deny its importance as it helps relax and keep human People today prefer to go shopping, picnicking, watching beings mentally and physically fit. On the basis of nature movies and indoor sports instead of engaging in physical of activities, recreation has been divided into two types; activities and sports like cricket, football, basketball, active recreation and passive recreation. Active recreation badminton, volleyball. The fact for this shift in trends are involves both cognitive and physical development, while technological advancements in the field of communication, passive recreation involves no physical development. It has poor planning concepts, security threats and changed concepts been seen that active recreation is declining with the passage of parenting focused on bounding children at home. Such of time, while there is a shift towards passive recreation due shifts are physically deteriorating our younger generation to a number of reasons (Friedmann, 2007). leading them to slackness and laziness. Thus, planning objective of healthy society cannot be achieved and at present The setting of urban spaces provide opportunities for active there is a need to conduct research on this issue and highlight recreation and promote healthy life for citizens (Williams, the factors that are responsible for this change. This research 2000; Maller et al, 2002). Planning is not the only component visualizes the crucial aspects and puts forward policy responsible for the increase in passive recreation but there recommendation for planners by using quantitative research are other social issues also. Like, security is a big issue in approach based on qualitative survey. a developing country like Pakistan. According to the interviews conducted for this research people are afraid of Keywords: Active recreation, passive recreation, technological kidnapping and snatching. Media around the globe is showing advancement the scariest picture of the world, which fears people. Nobody wants to send their children to a playground, where the child INTRODUCTION might get hurt, killed or kidnapped due to poor security. Further, it is also the view of people that during active games Technological advancement is changing the trend and they can’t get access to quick medication in case of injury behavior of people around the globe. Technology is creating due to lack of medical facilities as there are no sports clubs easement for people day by day, which leads to slackness existing at the neighborhood scale. and laziness in human nature (Hui-fen et al, 2012).Where

* Dr. Muhammad Asim, Assistant Professor, Department of City and Regional Planning, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore ** Rumana Khan Shirwani, Assistant Professor, School ofArchitecture and Planning, University of Management and Technology, Lahore *** Dr. Saima Gulzar, Associate Professor, School ofArchitecture and Planning, University of Management and Technology, Lahore

44 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) It is one of the requirements of designing urban spaces to Table 1: Summary of Sampling make better places for people and these spaces should be Income Classes Selected Locality Sample Net Household designed for all potential users alike without gender, class in Lahore Size Income or age biases (Douglas, 2009). If places are not utilized due Low Income Wireless colony, 30 Below 2$ to lack of security then that is also lack of adequate planning GT Road policy implementation (Carmona, et.al., 2010). Middle Income Shah Bagh 30 Above 2$ and below 10$ One of the major causes for passive recreation is the use of High Income Model Town 30 Above 10$ internet and access to social media. Time is getting short for active recreation in this modern era. Priorities of people have changed around the globe (Saelens et al, 2003; Dong and Chick, 2012). Technological advancement has shifted of whole case study area was decided upon. For this purpose, the priorities, computers and mobiles especially social three areas were selected on the basis of income division. networks; like facebook, twitter, sms, call packages and The available facilities for active recreation for different community forums have completely trapped the human income groups and its trends were documented. Parameters mind. People prefer to enjoy such type of passive recreation were defined for the selection of income classes. These rather than having active recreation like sports, cricket, parameters were: household net income with an average badminton, basketball etc. Moreover, work and academic household size of six. The income for high income class stress push people towards passive recreation (McLean and was considered above 10$ per day, for middle income class Hurd, 2011). This leaves them with no time for any active was between above 2$ and below 10$ per day, and that for recreation because they are exhausted due to academic work. low income class was below 2$ (PIDE, 2011). Table-1 shows Further, increase in competition in society engages people the summary of sample size and selected areas in Metropolitan in long working hours at offices and they are left with no area of Lahore. time for active recreation. Tired people with no time can engage in only passive recreation. Passive recreation does The purpose behind the selection of different economic not need specific times e.g. a person can watch a movie at classes was to probate the trend in different income classes night but cannot go for sports at night time. within the city. This selection helped in asserting the recreational development corresponding to different income In this paper the reasons for increase in trends of passive level towards active or passive recreation, and to explore recreation are studied. It is proved through research that the factors behind peoples attitude towards recreational increasing trends in passive recreation are deteriorating activities and the impact of technology. public health and comfort (Haughey, 2005; Frumkin et al, 2004). DISCUSSION ON FINDINGS

MATERIALS AND METHODS The city planning should include provisions/ considerations for the physical and cognitive fitness facilities which is only This research falls under comparative, explanatory and achievable when people are provided with equal opportunity descriptive type (Howe, 2007; Brymann, 2008; Zhang, of both active and passive recreation (Frank et al, 2003; 2010). Therefore, it is necessary to have such techniques Saelens et.al, 2003a). It has been found that people are more which give a detailed comparison both in numeric and focused towards cognitive/ passive recreation in the present descriptive form. For this purpose primary data collection technological era instead of active recreational activities. techniques have been utilized for a thorough and detailed One of the main observed factors is the absence of active research. To arrive at rational results it was necessary to recreational planning standards in the public sector collect each bit of information regarding the research work, development agencies. but it was not possible to cover whole case study area due to limited resources. Therefore, the sample size of thirty Playground in Vicinity was taken as a thumb rule as qualitative research of different income groups was conducted (total sample size was 90). Provision of playground in each locality is the basic right of inhabitants, but unfortunately most of our built up areas The sample size was decided carefully to arrive at rational lack this provision which results in change of interest of the results. A sample size which presented the characteristics people from active to passive recreation (Table-2). Most of

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 45 Table 2: Playground status in vicinity students in high and middle income groups visit parks and Income Groups Yes No Total playgrounds more than students in low income groups (Figure 1) as playgrounds are within their easy access. While Low Income 36.7% 63.3% 100% having a glance on all the professions it seems people Middle Income 20% 80% 100% belonging to high income groups frequent the play grounds High Income 46.70% 53.30% 100% more than people of middle and low income groups by about 25%. People employed in offices use the parks more than the respondents did not have playground in the vicinity. people employed in other areas of work by about 23%. This Only 20% of middle and 30% of low income groups have is an interesting finding and the reason behind this is the playgrounds. The survey results show insufficient provision awareness of pursuing a healthy life. of playgrounds in the middle and low income areas. This is a push factor towards passive recreation, as people are unable Impact of Technology to develop their interests towards active recreation and are ultimately forced towards watching television and browsing The main stream of this research is to cover the impact of the internet. Further, low and middle income areas have not technology and the choice of recreation. No doubt one of developed according to the recent planning standards. This the most affecting reasons behind increased trend towards is also one of the reasons for absence of playground in the passive recreation is the impact of technology. In order to vicinity. High income areas have developed some planning assess the impact of technology on people, it is necessary standards and play grounds exist at convenient distances, to review factors like available recreational facilities, free but still people believe that they are not planned within time available and the attitude towards recreation. walking distance. Availability of T.V/ Cable and Internet Facility Occupation Base Analysis When reviewing the impact of technology the affects of Recreation has a great impact on the efficiency and output cable television and internet usage are assessed first. The rate of any job, as it plays an important role to relax the advancement in communication has left almost no house worker mentally and physically. In real terms the actual without these facilities in any low, middle and high income purpose behind conducting this research was the health and groups (Figure 2). There are very few houses in low income convenience, which can only be achieved if people have areas that have no access to such facilities. It is 20% and balance in their daily routine activities. It has been seen that 67% of the low income class that has no T.V/cable and

Figure 1: Occupation base analyses

46 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) Figure 2: People having T.V/ cable and internet facility

Table 3: Free Time on Working Day Less than 1 hour or less 2 hour or less More than N/A Total 1 hour than 2 hour than 3 hour 3 hours Low Income 13.30% 36.70% 23.30% 10% 16.70% 100% Middle Income 63.30% 23.30% 6.70% 6.70% 0% 100% High Income 10% 20.00% 36.67% 33.33% 0% 100% internet facility respectively which is because of low activities. High income people spent their maximum time affordability. Use of internet has become an emerging trend watching television and net surfing. Middle income in high and middle income houses over the past ten years. households spend less time on such activities. Mostly low This is the root cause of passive recreation in Pakistani income households don’t have internet facility that is why society. 20% don’t fall under this category. Middle income households have been found more responsive towards spending less Free Time on Working Days time watching television and net surfing (Table-4).

One cannot enjoy any type of recreational activity unless Analysis and Discussion he/she has spare time for it. It has been found that most households have less than three hours as free time daily Overall, on the basis of collected data and its analysis, it is (Table-3). Most of the low and high income households seen that in the Metropolitan city of Lahore, people in surveyed had more than three hours free time for recreation different income groups have divergent attitudes towards and family. While, middle income classes were found to be passive recreation. It is proven that this shift towards passive the busiest among the three income groups with less than recreation is the result of lack of playgrounds both in societies two hours as free time. and schools and high impact of technology, as people are more attracted towards passive recreation and because of Time Spent on Watching TV and Net Surfing academic pressures and security issues (Frumkin et al, 2004). More specifically, different reasons are found for increasing Once free time available to people had been calculated, the trend towards passive recreation in different income societies next step was to find the time spend on different recreational (McInode et al, 2005). In low income societies the most

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 47 Table 4: Time Spent on Watching TV and Internet Surfing Less than 1 hour or less 2 hour or less More than Total 1 hour than 2 hour than 3 hour 3 hours Low Income 3.30% 20% 33.30% 43.30% 100% Middle Income 6.70% 40% 26.70% 26.70% 100% High Income 0% 10% 46.70% 43.30% 100%

apparent cause towards the increasing trend of passive relatively low, particularly in age groups of upto 25 years. recreation is the lack of playgrounds in their vicinity, as the 90% of females do not use parks as it is not culturally people do not find any playgrounds or proper place to accepted. There is very low percentage of people engaged perform active recreation therefore these people have less in active recreation and the reason behind this is the intentions towards active recreation. The other reason that unavailability of proper arrangements for active recreation. low income groups do not engage in active recreation is Consequently, a large number of people who are keen to their long working hours as they are unable to find enough engage in active recreation use the streets or personal time to perform active recreation after a whole day of hectic property for this purpose. work. In such a scenario people are attracted towards passive recreation by spending time with their family members and It has been found that in middle and low income societies, watching T.V, computer or video games in their house, street children studying in private or government schools have no or shops. This impact of technology however, is relatively playgrounds thus their engagement in active recreation is less on low income societies than on middle and high income minimal as they do not also have adequate areas in their areas. localities for active recreation.

In middle income societies, there is a lack of playgrounds Planning authorities have failed to provide adequate and or sports complexes, hence they are unable to perform active enough play areas or sports complexes within recreation frequently. These people also cite security as a neighbourhoods so that people can engage in active reason, since they have to go to faraway places for recreation recreation. Furthermore, management of local playgrounds thus road accidents are also citied as reason for lack of is not providing any special facilities or clubs that promote engagement in active recreation. On the other hand they are active recreation in an effective manner. Almost 100% of more attracted towards use of technology like internet surfing, the respondents desired to have grounds or play areas where online games, smart phones sharing chatting and outdoor they could perform active recreation. Recently it has been shopping, hoteling, etc. These types of recreation activities witnessed that the local government has started to provide have a great impact on their lives as all these activities fall active recreational facilities in parks, but it will take time under the category of passive recreation. and promotional measures to implement this successfully and to keep a balance between active and passive recreational In high income societies people have access to playgrounds activities. but not at large, and although planning authorities have started providing sports complexes but due to security reasons CONCLUSIONS and high impact of technology people are more attracted towards passive recreation. These people have more interest It is concluded that in Lahore people are more focused towards hoteling, nature exposure, picnic, gaming and net towards passive recreation as compared to active recreation. surfing. The reason for such a scenario is the lack of play area facilities for people and the easy accessibility to passive In response to the question asked about the number of recreation like availability of technology. Further, where families visiting the park or playground it was found that open spaces are available people are not using them due to about 40% in all income societies, answered in the affirmative, security reasons. Some people who are keen on engaging but the ratio of females in response to this question was in active recreational activities, perform them on personal

48 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) property or on the streets. Moreover, most of the schools compulsory provision of playgrounds in new housing have no playgrounds for children, which is an alarming schemes and schools. The situation is worse in old developed situation. Therefore, it is recommended that planning areas where availability of empty plots is an issue because authorities should provide play areas in each locality, make of high density.

REFERENCES Bryman, A., 2008, Social research methods, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Carmona, M., Heath, T., et al., 2010, Public places: Urban spaces, Routledge, Oxford. Dong, E. and Chick, G., 2012, ‘Leisure constraints in six Chinese cities’, Leisure Science: An Inter Disciplinary Journal, 34(5), 417-435. Douglas, F., 2009, Sustainable urbanism: Urban design with nature, Wiley, New York. Frank, L.D., Engelke, P. et al., 2003, Health and community design. The impact of the built environment on physical activity, Island Press, Washington. Friedmann, J., 2007, ‘Reflections on Place and Place: making in the Cities of China’, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 31(2), 257-279. Frumkin, H., Frank, L. and Jackson, R., 2004, Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning, and Building for Healthy Communities, Island Press, Washington. Haughey, R. M., 2005, Higher-density development: Myth and fact, The Urban Land Institute, Washington.

Howe, A.D., 2007, Research methods for leisure, recreation and tourism, San Francisco state University, San Francisco. Hui-fen, Z., Zhen-shan, L. et al., 2012, ‘Time use patterns between maintenance, subsistence and leisure activities: A case study in China’, Social Indicators Research, 105(1), 121-136. Katcher, A. and Beck, A., 1987, ‘Health and caring for living things’, Anthrozoos, (1), 175–183. Kuo, F. and Sullivan, W., 2001, ‘Aggression and violence in the inner city: Effects of environment via mental fatigue’, Environment and Behavior, 33(4), 543–571. Maller, C., Townsend, M. et al., 2002, Healthy parks healthy people. The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context, Deakin University, Melbourne. McIndoe, G. Chapman, R. et al., 2005, The value of urban design. The economic, environmental and social benefits of urban design, Ministry for the Environment, Wellington. McLean, D. and Hurd, A., 2011, Recreation and leisure in modern society, Jones and Bartlett, Burlington. PIDE, 2011, Estimating the middle class in Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Working Paper, Islamabad. Saelens, B., Sallis, J. et al., 2003, ‘Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: Findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures’, Annals of Behavior Medicine, 25, 80–91. Saelens, B., Sallis, J. et al., 2003a, ‘Neighborhood based differences in physical activity: An environment scale evaluation’, American Journal of Public Health, 93, 1552–1558. Sutton, L., 2008, ‘The state of play: Disadvantage, play and children's well-being’, Social Policy and Society, 7(4), 537- 549. Williams, S., 2000, Outdoor recreation and the urban environment, Routledge, London. Zhang, L., 2010, In Search of paradise: Middle class living in a Chinese metropolis, Cornell University Press, Ithaca.

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 49 BOOK REVIEW

SHIKARPOOR: HISTORIC CITY, SINDH, PAKISTAN INVENTORY AND MAPPING OF HERITAGE PROPERTIES, VOLUMES 1 AND 2 Anila Naeem* Published by Endowment Fund Trust for Preservation of the Heritage of Sindh ISBN: 978-969-9860-00-3

A Review by

Mukhtar Hussain, Architect in Private Practice, Karachi.

Dr. Anila Naeem, the author of this exhaustive two-volume study, prefers to call it a monograph rather than a book. Volume 1 was launched somewhat hurriedly by the EFT in Karachi in February 2013, whereas Volume 2 became available a few months later.

Naeem is an architect who also has a Master’s degree in Conservation and Historic Preservation from the Middle East Technical University, Turkey, and a Doctorate from the Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has been a consultant to various conservation and research projects undertaken by the Heritage Cell at the Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University, Karachi.

Her interest in Shikarpoor was awakened in 1999 while she was touring around Sindh with a group of students, and paid a visit to this remarkably unusual city which left a lasting impact on her. She took it up as her research study for her Doctorate in 2006. Since then it has been a long and passionate involvement, resulting in these two volumes after nearly a decade of intensive study, involving several visits, starting with no maps available.

Shikarpoor was established in 1617AD by the Daoodpotras. At the height of its prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, the city developed as an important hub of trade, commerce, banking, as well as political clout. It became one of the two cities of Sindh (the other being Karachi) having a Hindu Shikarpoor brought a drastic decline in the state of the city. majority in an otherwise Muslim dominated region. Although Although remnants of its unique historic past are still evident the city never enjoyed the distinction of being a capital or today, these are rapidly disappearing due to market forces seat of administrative power, it had an influential control on and lack of administrative control, leading to a change in the economics and politics of the region. Following architectural vocabulary and lack of aesthetic value in the Independence in 1947, exodus of the Hindu population from new constructions throughout.

* Dr. Anila Naeem, Professor and Co-Chairperson, Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University.

50 Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) The author realized during her field work that, in spite of · Capture and record the fast disappearing historic the socio-economic degeneration and demographic changes, environment. a sizable percentage of the resident community (the educated elite as well as the common man on the street) still holds · Make a comprehensive database on cultural properties appreciation for the historic fabric and feels a sense of loss in the form of a handy manual for city managers, at the continuing pillage of the city’s antiquarian assets for planners and decision makers supporting the cause of the benefit of a privileged few. heritage conservation.

The two-volume monograph is basically a compilation of · Provide a resource for researchers, scholars and students inventories of 1203 properties notified as protected heritage interested in the history and traditional built environment of Shikarpoor Historic City. These include 1163 buildings/ of the region and, above all, raise public awareness historic structures, 27 urban elements and 13 open spaces. towards the historic significance of the city and build Volume 1 comprises properties in Union Councils 1, 2 and a sense of pride among its residents and other 3. Volume 2 continues with properties in UCs 4, 5, 6, 7 and stakeholders. 8. This pair of smartly printed and bound volumes, impressive Being a true academic, Naeem explains her methodology and commendable at the same time, albeit a tad heavy, leave and the structure of the monograph in an Author’s Note at no doubt about their usefulness in the academic environment the beginning of Volume 1. She describes Shikarpoor in its or out in the field. They may well serve as a precursor to historic perspective, goes on to explain her documentation similar studies of other historic towns and cities in Pakistan. process, her criteria for the listing of properties and, lastly, her format and connotations for the inventory forms. Each one of the 1203 properties has a separate standard inventory form that gives comprehensive information related to that particular entry, including pictures and a location map with analytical information enabling the understanding of the significance and value of that specific entry.

Each Union Council starts as a separate section with a key map, followed by the single page inventory of all properties that lie within that UC. The whole study has been compiled into two volumes following the same format, mainly for easy handling, as these are meant to be used as field catalogs and tools for the management and monitoring of the listed properties. Whereas Volume 1 contains an introductory section (described earlier), Volume 2 ends with a set of carefully compiled appendices, which would assist any scholar, researcher or field worker to locate a specific property.

Appendix A lists buildings already demolished. Appendix B is a list of properties sorted by unique ID. Appendix C is a list of properties sorted by degree of value while Appendix D, the last, is a list of properties sorted by threat level. It must be acknowledged that, for a scholarly work such as this, the contents have been made easy to search and locate. For Naeem, the effort in compiling the Appendices is itself a significant achievement.

Naeem’s contribution is thus a first step to achieve the following objectives:

Journal of Research in Architecture and Planning: Vol. 18, 2015 (First Issue) 51