Urban regeneration of heritage precinct: Mehrauli New Delhi

Abstract

Every city is affected by trends of transformations or the process of change. The term decline in the context of urban development is used to describe undesirable changes. Local policies and strategies designed to deal with urban decline, decay or transformation are required to keep our cultural identity intact. Each city has pockets of underused and underutilized land or distressed and decaying urban areas, these pockets of underused land weaken the city's image, liveability, and productivity. They are usually the result of changes in the urban growth and productivity patterns. The aims is to meet human needs while preserving the environment and cultural heritage for generations to come. Main concerns are improvement of physical and social environment, demographic and economic revitalisation of cities and settlements, strengthening of cultural and spatial identity and achievement of better living standards of inhabitants of the city. The protection status of monuments in our country is only protected monuments (about 10,000 in no.) are conserved although cities have significant urban heritage (approx. 15,000 structures in more than 60 plus cities) which is neither listed nor protected and is getting lost with increasing demolitions/changes as they are not integrated in the city fabric. Heritage is about the way a settlement evolves in relationship to its natural surroundings. Regeneration have become multi-faceted and more complex to deal with. It requires sustainable integration. different dimensions of urban regeneration. The research interest is focused on urban regeneration of historic precinct. The Mehrauli area has seen habitation for many centuries and thus is historically an eminent part of the city. This area inhabits monument of different eras and time periods, many of which are still alive in the urban morphology while numerous have been lost in the history. Rich history has left a lasting legacy in Mehrauli. This includes not only a density of heritage structures, but a living, vibrant, spiritual and cultural tradition, which is unique to Mehrauli and has been in existence for more than two centuries. There are many of the beautiful structures have been left out in the process and these are being encroached in the very fast pace and soon they will be lost in the process of urbanization. Thus, lack of realization and will of the authorities are leading to the loss of history for the future generation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to address these issues and sensitize the locals about the importance of heritage in the overall process of urban development. Mehrauli regeneration development goal is to revitalize its identity of place and thus protect the local culture of its people into a lively living community. The design idea “ Sustaining the Glimpse of the past” meant to bring back historical essence in mehrauli by reconciling spaces for people activities. Provision of spaces for people to participate and contribute in restoring and prolonging identity of the place. This concept symbolizes that most convivial and lively activities generated via culture-social and economic activities. Collectively, the design rationales are used as guidance tool to elaborate conceptual theme and support with strategies to improve the accessibility , Visual connections , & reviving old and dead route & , buildings through new modifications.