Heritage hotel: continuum of legacy through adaptive reuse of the haveli and compatible modern construction in Mandawa Rajasthan

Abstract

Today, the rate of urbanisation is at its peak, leading to the construction of new buildings and roads to cater to today’s needs of the people. However, in the race of urbanization many old buildings that were once at their prime are now left abandoned, in a ramshackle condition and also considered as a liability to some sectors. The particular examples in India of such places include the grand, opulent Havelis in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and other states in North India. Heritage Architecture has always been known to charm people and is considered to be timeless. It tells people about the history of the space, their occupants and a glimpse of what the building’s stature was during its prime. This promotes sustainability and also gives the people associated with the building a sense of pride. Old buildings, with years of use, overuse, neglect and/or low maintenance tend to start losing their structural strength and aesthetic lustre deeming the built form unsafe and unfit for continued use. Doing an adaptive reuse of the built form will allow environmental, economic and social sustainability which also happen to be some of the major challenges in the path of creating a future for the past. In addition to the adaptive reuse, a new compatible construction is often done within the same compound adjoining the heritage building or standing independently. The aim of the new construction is for the addition of services and spaces that may be difficult to retrofit within the existing built structure.