Heritage conservation is described. Contents taken from the internet are gratefully acknowledged.

1. Heritage Conservation
Dr K M Soni
Former Addl DG, CPWD, New Delhi

2. Heritage
• Heritage means something that is handed
down from the past as a tradition and
includes buildings, artefacts, structures, open
and excavated areas, natural features and
precincts that are of historic, aesthetic,
architectural or cultural significance

3. Heritage
• From the past
• Past means old
• Thus, Heritage means old and old is to respected.
• First challenge is to imbibe “The Concept of Respect
for the “Heritage” in the stakeholders.”
• Stakeholders mean owners, Government,
corporations, conservationists, architects, engineers,
consultants, researchers, & public related to heritage
• Heritage is interdisciplinary subject

4. Do we respect old?
Though we know that we should
Fact is that very few respect the old so also to the heritage structures
https://scroll.in/article/808281/77-indian-
parents-expect-to-live-with-sons-in-old-age
https://educationsviews.wordpress.com/201
8/07/20/rethinking-old-age-to-the-benefit-
of-all/
https://www.alamy.com/stock-
photo/rajasthani-people.html

5. Classification of Heritage
Structures
• World Heritage (36 in India)
• ASI Protected Monuments
(3650 ancient monuments)
• State Governments protected
– Grade I
– Grade II
• Grade II A
• Grade II B
– Grade III
So remember, it is not the old but old treasure to be respected most

6. World Heritage Sites,
Also ASI Protected Monuments
http://blog.iasscore.in/upsc_prelims/page/2/

7. Grade - I
• Heritage Grade-I comprises buildings and
precincts of National or historic importance,
embodying excellence in architectural style,
design, technology and material usage
and/or aesthetics; they may be associated
with a great historic event, personality,
movement or institution. They have been
and are the prime landmarks of the region.
All natural sites shall fall within Grade-I.

8. Grade - II
• Heritage Grade-II (A&B) comprises of
buildings and precincts of regional or local
importance possessing special architectural
or aesthetic merit, or cultural or historical
significance though of a lower scale than
Heritage Grade-I. They are local landmarks,
which contribute to the image and identity of
the region.

9. Grade - III
• Heritage Grade-III comprises building and
precincts of importance for townscape; that
evoke architectural, aesthetic, or sociological
interest through not as much as in Heritage
Grade-II. These contribute to determine the
character of the locality and can be
representative of lifestyle of a particular
community or region and may also be
distinguished by setting , or special character of
the façade and uniformity of height, width and
scale.

10. Heritage Conservation
• No intervention is permitted in Grade I structures either on exterior or
interior of the heritage building or natural features unless it is necessary
in the interest of strengthening and prolonging the life of the
buildings/or precincts or any part or features thereof. For this purpose,
absolutely essential and minimum changes are allowed in conformity
with the original.
• In Grade II A, internal changes and adaptive re-use may be allowed
ensuring the conservation of all special aspects for which it is included in
Grade II. In Grade II B, in addition to Grade II A, extension or additional
building in the same plot or compound could in certain circumstances, be
allowed provided that the extension/additional building is in harmony
with the existing heritage building or precincts especially in terms of
height and façade.
• In Grade III, External and internal changes and adaptive reuse is
generally allowed. Development permission for changes can be given on
the advice of the Heritage Conservation Committee so that new
buildings are taken considering the heritage character of the precincts.

12. ASI & its Protected
Monuments
• A dedicated organisation which has the responsibility to
look after them
– Positive side is that ASI gets funds, have experts
(conservationists) with them or can hire and are
answerable/accountable.
– Negative side is sometimes they face inadequacy of funds,
slackness, bureaucratic approach.
– May not have engineers and architects.
• They are open to public
– Positive side is that ASI gets revenue
– Public is able to appreciate the past
– Negative side is few damage the monuments being public
property.

13. Ownership of Heritage
• Ownership;
– May be under ASI, GoI
– May be under Central Govt./State
government/Corporations
– May be owned by private persons
• Heritage structures may include precincts, open
areas etc. and mostly they are with government
• Owner is responsible for Conservation, repair
and maintenance of heritage structures

14. Conservation
• “Conservation” means all the processes of
looking after a place so as to retain its cultural
significance.
• It includes all the processes of looking after a
place so as to retain its historical
and/scientific/social/spiritual/cultural/architect
ural and/aesthetic and includes maintenance,
preservation, restoration, reconstruction and
adoption or a combination of more than one of
these.

15. Aim of conservation
• The aim of conservation is
to retain the cultural
significance of a place i.e.
Historic character is to be
retained and preserved
• Cultural significance
means aesthetic, historic,
scientific, social or
spiritual value, for present
and future generations.

16. Preservation
• “Preservation” means maintaining a place in its
existing state and retarding deterioration.
• It means, Preservation includes continuous protective
care of a place. Examples of protective care include:
• Maintenance — regular inspection and cleaning of a
place, e.g. mowing and pruning in a garden;
• Repair involving restoration — returning dislodged
or relocated fabric to its original location e.g. loose
roof gutters on a building or displaced rocks etc;
• Repair involving reconstruction — replacing
decayed fabric with new fabric

17. Restoration
• Restoration means returning a place to a known
earlier state by removing accretions or by
reassembling existing elements without the
introduction of new materials.
• It is also important for existing heritage
structures and addition/alterations for
adaptation.
• Adaptation means changing a place to suit the
existing use or a proposed use.

18. Documentation for Restoration
• Physical record of the time, place, use and
materials
• Interventions if any
• Deteriorated historic features repaired earlier

19. Materials for Restoration
• It is recognised that all places and their
elements change over time at varying rates.
Hence materials are required and originally used
materials used in heritage structures may not be
available hence new materials may be required
to be used.
• New material may include recycled material
salvaged from other places. This should not be
to the detriment of any place of cultural
significance.

20. Original Vs New & Innovative
Materials
• “When repairs are carried out, no effort should
be spared to save as many parts of the original
as possible, since it is to the authenticity of the
old parts that practically all the interest
attaching to the new will owe itself. Broken or
half decayed original work is of infinitely more
value than the smartest and the most perfect
new work” [Marshall, 1923].

21. Reconstruction
• “Reconstruction” means and includes returning a
place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state
and distinguished by the introduction of materials
(new or old) into the fabric. This shall not include
either recreation or conjectural reconstruction.
• Reconstruction means returning a place to a known
earlier state and is distinguished from restoration by
the introduction of new material.
• Fabric means all the physical material of the place
including elements, fixtures, contents and objects.

23. Maintenance & Repair
• Maintenance means the continuous protective
care of a place, and its setting. Place means a
geographically defined area and may include
elements, objects, spaces and views. Place may
have tangible and intangible dimensions.
• Setting means the immediate and extended
environment of a place that is part of or
contributes to its cultural significance and
distinctive character.
• Maintenance is to be distinguished from repair
which involves restoration or reconstruction.

26. Use
• Conservation is based on a respect for the existing fabric,
use, associations and meanings. It requires a cautious
approach of changing as much as necessary but as little as
possible. The aim of conservation is to retain the cultural
significance of a place.
• Places of cultural significance should be safeguarded and
not put at risk or left in a vulnerable state.
• Use means the functions of a place, including the
activities and traditional and customary practices that
may occur at the place or are dependent on the place.
• Associations mean the connections that exist between
people and a place and Meanings denote what a place
signifies, indicates, evokes or expresses to people.

27. Conservation Management
• Conservation should make use of all the knowledge, skills and disciplines
which can contribute to the study and care of the place.
• Understand cultural significance and participation of people involved in
associations. For some places, conflicting cultural values may affect
policy development and management decisions. The cultural values refer
to those beliefs which are important to a cultural group, including but
not limited to political, religious, spiritual and moral beliefs. This is
broader than values associated with cultural significance.
• Interpretation of the cultural significance
• Development of policy which may require exploration
• Management of place as per the policy which include decisions and
actions based on old data, information, documents and new
information, perspective and changes in circumstances
• Implementation
• Documentation

28. Settings
• Conservation requires the retention of an
appropriate setting. This includes retention of
the visual and sensory setting, as well as the
retention of spiritual and other cultural
relationships that contribute to the cultural
significance of the place. Setting means the
immediate and extended environment of a place
• New construction, demolition, intrusions or
other changes which would adversely affect the
setting or relationships are not appropriate.

29. Location
• The physical location of a place is part of its cultural significance.
• A building, work or other element of a place should remain in its
historical location. Relocation is generally unacceptable unless this
is the sole practical means of ensuring its survival.
• Some buildings, works or other elements of places were designed
to be readily removable or already have a history of relocation.
Provided such buildings, works or other elements do not have
significant links with their present location, removal may be
appropriate.
• If any building, work or other element is moved, it should be
moved to an appropriate location and given an appropriate use.
Such action should not be to the detriment of any place of cultural
significance.

30. Contents
• Contents, fixtures and objects which contribute
to the cultural significance of a place should be
retained at that place. Their removal is
unacceptable unless it is: the sole means of
ensuring their security and preservation; on a
temporary basis for treatment or exhibition; for
cultural reasons; for health and safety; or to
protect the place. Such contents, fixtures and
objects should be returned where circumstances
permit and it is culturally appropriate.

31. Related Places
• The contribution which related places and
related objects make to the cultural
significance of the place should be retained.

34. Policy for “Use”
• Where the use of a place is of cultural significance, it
should be retained.
• A place should have a compatible use.
• Hence the policy should identify a use or
combination of uses or constraints on uses that retain
the cultural significance of the place.
• New use of a place should involve minimal change to
significant fabric and use; should respect associations
and meanings; and where appropriate should provide
for continuation of activities and practices which
contribute to the cultural significance of the place.

37. Policy Development
• Policy development also includes
consideration of other factors affecting the
future of a place such as the owner’s needs,
resources, external constraints and its
physical conditions

38. Selection of Materials and
Methods
• Materials should be as far as possible same or
similar to the used ones in heritage structures
• Materials should be compatible to the methods
being used for conservation
• Materials should be durable as heritage
structures are to be protected for long period
• Methods should be such that the aim of
conservation is fulfilled
• Remember that conservation is slow and costly
affair

39. Conservation concept
Heritage Structures are sign of Prosperity.
Prosperity would not willingly let die
If the owner is not prosperous?

40. Prosperity
• Prosperity
– Government/PSU
• ASI
• Others capable of understanding
heritage
– Private
• Old prosperity and still (Royal
attitude)
• Old prosperity but not now
• New Prosperity with Royal attitude
• New prosperity but not
understanding heritage
Heritage structures require positive attitude towards them

41. Maintenance of Heritage
Buildings
• To be maintained by the owners as per the
government criterion but why should they?
• Is there any incentive from the government?
• Is there any advantage of up-keeping them like value
increasing?
• Thus, there has to be generation of revenue from
heritage structures for their preservations

42. Maintenance & Repair
• Maintenance & Repair is not considered a highly
technical subject, be the architects, civil, or E&M
engineers or horticulture officers and even by
academicians
• Left on very junior level engineers, supervisors and
workers
• Heritage structures require highly skilled repair
and maintenance and thus cannot be left like
general concept of maintenance.

43. Maintenance, Repair & Restoration
• Regular inspections
• Survey
• Conservation management
– Engineering repair & Maintenance
– Architectural/aesthetic consideration
– Landscaping design
– Horticulture operations
– Structural design
– Selection of materials and methods
– Execution, Quality, Monitoring, Audit and Review
– Documentation

45. Principles of Restoration
• Guarantee of structural safety;
• Respect for the cultural value of the building;
• Minimum intervention;
• Reversibility of the intervention;
• Integration on the whole building;
• Compatibility of the materials;
• Minimum cost.

46. Methodology for Restoration
• Acquisition of documented data about the
building;
• Detailed survey of the existing condition of the
building;
• Elaboration of the diagnosis (eventually, with
carrying out tests);
• Assessment of the structural safety;
• Design of the solutions for the intervention;
• Execution of the intervention.
• Documentation

47. Decisions
• The decisions about the solutions to be adopted on
the intervention should still be submitted to a cost-
benefit analysis considering cultural significance, in
which all the relevant aspects will be considered,
namely, the compatibility of the structural safety with
respect to the cultural value of the building, and the
cost to be as low as possible, and review of proposal
by the stakeholders and experts.
• Approvals of competent authority to be obtained
• Decisions cannot be delayed else heritage structure
will get deteriorated fast

48. Regular Inspections
• Need of maintenance, repair and restoration
• Need of experts
• Need of materials and methods
• Need of mode of execution
• Need of quality management
• For preserving the structures by taking timely
action

49. Survey
• Survey of the building
• Survey of the defects in the building
– Rapid appraisal
– Detailed appraisal
• Survey of the precincts
• Survey of the sources affecting/damaging
heritage structures
• Survey of the drainage conditions, geotechnical
aspects, material availability, workers
availability, seismic data, flood/wind data etc

50. Survey by field visits,
observations,
Manual
Photography,
videography,
Aerial photography,
and
satellite photographs
Are very helpful
Survey

51. Detailed Assessment
• When the available information is not sufficient
to elaborate the diagnosis of the situation in the
building, the preliminary assessment will be
complemented by a detailed assessment of the
building.
• The detailed assessment will include a detailed
inspection, which can comprise in-situ tests,
laboratory tests, field tests, assessment of the
foundations and also field measurements.
• There must be no damage as far as possible
during testing therefore NDT is preferred

52. Structural Analysis
• Structural assessment
• Safety level of the structures
• Modelling of the structure/building
• Compatibility of materials
• Seismic vulnerability
• Vulnerability from fire, floods, wind and
other natural disasters
• Documentation

54. Strengths of the Materials
• Mechanical properties of the materials
• Confidence factors for uncertainties of
properties of the materials
• Mock up tests, accelerated testing

55. Modelling
• When the information is not sufficient, it has to be
complemented by a detailed inspection, and,
eventually, by the modelling of the building.
• On this modelling, usually, simplified models are
used, but, in some circumstances, sophisticated
models may be needed. Techniques like BIM may be
used.
• The properties of the building materials and the
values of the actions to be adopted on this modelling
will be the nominal ones, obtained directly from the
tests or from the field measurements, without using
any safety coefficients.

56. Mantra of Restoration of Heritage
Structures
• Forget the present
• Think of the period in which
the structure was built
• Think as the then owner of
the structure
• Think of the usage of the
structure
• Obey the design, materials
and methods adopted in the
heritage structure
• Act considering past and
present

57. Deterioration of Structures
• Negligence
• Poor maintenance including leakage/seepage
• Termite and rodent infestation
• Public abuse, vandalism, theft and defacing
• Change of building use, overloading, change of loading pattern and unstable
foundation
• Additions and alterations, unwanted interventions
• Change of drainage path(s)
• Aging of structures, climatic conditions, geological changes and disasters
• Trees, vegetation, fungal growth and weed
• Inappropriate installation of Lighting and E&M equipments
• Installation of Signage
• Encroachment
• Work carried out by untrained manpower,
supervisors and consultants

58. Negligence
• Due to owner
– Due to lack of financial resources
– Deliberate negligence to get the structure removed
from the heritage list or demolish it
• Due to engineers, architects, consultants and
supervisors not having the knowledge of
maintenance of heritage structures
• Due to occupants making changes as per their
sweet will and damaging structures
• Due to visitors unawareness of the importance
• Due to Public other than the visitors

64. Poor Maintenance and Repair
• Due to poor quality of materials, workers or
contractors
• Due to lack of financial resources
• Maintenance not given adequate attention and
not being considered even a technical subject
• Poor knowledge of maintenance and repair
• Leakage/seepage
• Poor drainage
• Damaging the structure for services
Delayed maintenance/repair damages the structure at a faster rate

65. Civil Maintenance ?
Horticulture Maintenance ?

74. Vandalism, Theft and Defacing
• Un - intentional
• Intentional

76. Change of Building Use, Loading
Pattern and Overloading
• Additional facilities like toilets, wash rooms,
kitchens, stores, offices, extra lightings, air-
conditioning, CCTVs, ducting, chimneys, fire
safety provisions etc. Unfortunately these
services are given priority over heritage
• Additional loading due to change of building
use

77. Change of
Loading
Pattern –
due to natural
decay or
deliberate

80. Additions/Alterations/Interventions
• Due to owner’s requirements like addition of stores, offices,
toilets, rooms, and similar services
• Local body requirements, like construction of ramps and
railings, and toilets for differently abled persons, installation
of lifts etc.
• Security requirements like access during emergency,
installation of bullet proof barriers, security check posts,
CCTVs etc
• Structural requirements like replacement of lintels,
strengthening of structural members and additional columns
and beams.
• Due to changed requirements of the occupants. Change of use
of building may require extra lighting, conduits, extra
staircases, partitions, water tanks, chajjas, canopies etc.
User’s requirements may be by way of air-conditioners, ducts,
lights etc.

89. Change of drainage path
• By way of blockade
• By way of reduced area of drainage
path/pipes
• By way of paved areas
• By way of additional source of water
• By way of construction of additional
structures

95. Aging of structures, Climatic conditions,
Geological Changes and Disasters
• Aging of Structures: in
maintaining/preserving heritage structures,
working required is against natural process
• Climatic Conditions: protection and
resistance required
• Disasters: rehabilitation as soon as possible
Preventive measures, and Preservation is also
essential with Repair and Restoration

96. Trees, Vegetation and Weed
• Trees, vegetation and weed hold the water
• Their roots get embedded in the structure
• If planted near structure, they damage
foundation
• Their roots change drainage path
• In certain soil conditions (Black cotton soil), they
lead to cracks due to expansion and shrinking
characteristics of soil
• They spoil the aesthetics of heritage structure if
not properly planned

103. ACs, lighting and lighting fixtures
• Lighting and lighting fixtures can damage
structure during installation
• Lighting intensity and colours are to be
selected suitably
• Dynamic facade lighting to be selected
carefully not to affect heritage structure and
not to diminish its aesthetics
• Exhaust of DG sets should not damage the
heritage structures

109. Lighting
• Should be aesthetically pleasing
• Should not overshadow the cultural heritage
character of the heritage structure
• Effect of lights on the structure or exhibits
should be examined for any adverse effect
due to heat generation etc
• Installation should not lead to damage to the
structure

110. Signage and Banners
• Proper signage compatible to the heritage
structure
• Material, Location, size and installation
process to be compatible/suiting to heritage
structure

113. Encroachment
• A major problem particularly in Precincts,
approaches and even in heritage structures
• Sometimes encroachment removal is
extremely difficult due to “NO RESPECT TO
HERITAGE” and personal gains.
• Sometimes even encroachers have weightage
over government agencies
• Leads to poor maintenance

114. Precincts
• Major concern as this is the major difference between
heritage structures in our country and developed countries.
Such unplanned development also leads to poor
maintenance.
• Structures (Shops, kiosks, Security cabins, Toilets, Bus stops,
underpass etc)
• Roads and Paths
• Lighting poles, CCTV poles, Communication/lighting fixtures
• Signage
• Dustbins, malba, storage cabins
• No cleanliness
• And so on

132. Material, Methods and
Workmanship
• Materials must be compatible, durable and aesthetic
related to heritage structure not as per present day
considerations
• For example in place of steel reinforcement tungsten
can be used.
• In place of cement, suitable materials should be used.
• For broken stones, stones should be used else similar
materials should be used
• There is no standard solution for heritage structures
and has to be site specific
• Skilled manpower is extremely essential

136. Masonry
• The repair of masonry elements is, in general, obtained through re-pointing the
cracks with mortar, or the injection of appropriate grout .
• Sometimes, the appropriate solution will include the replacement of the
deteriorated masonry units.
• The composition of the mortar or the grout to be used (lime, surkhi, cement,
resin, etc.) will depend on the characteristics of the masonry, itself. Particular
attention should be given to the compatibility of the repair materials and the
existing masonry. For example, in the repair of masonry built with mortar that
contains gypsum, mortar or grout of cement should not be used, because of the
reaction between the gypsum and the cement. For the superficial repair of a
masonry element, chemical emulsions (silicates, etc.) can be used. The
appropriate solution should be analysed in each case, depending on the specific
conditions.
• For the elimination of bio-deterioration in masonry elements, several solutions
also exist, nowadays, (biocides, laser, etc.). The appropriate solution should also
be analyzed in each specific case.
• The elimination of infiltration of water and the rise by capillarity of moisture in
the masonry, coming from the foundations is, in general, difficult to achieve. The
injection of hydro-active grouts, based on polyurethane resins is, sometimes,
adequate. When possible, the best solution will be, always, the elimination of
the source of contamination, through the adequate drainage and desalinization
of the soil.

137. Timber
• Concerning the action of termites, and insects, preservative materials
with insecticide properties exist nowadays, and are adequate for timber
protection.
• Concerning the effect of moisture on the outside of elements of
coverings and of the floors embedded in walls, an adequate solution will
be their protection against the infiltration from rain water.
• When those elements have deteriorated significantly they should be
substituted by new ones. For the problem of the existence of
longitudinal cracking in timber elements, some solutions also exist, such
as the use of lateral fastenings or ties, or the injection with special
products (synthetic resins, etc.). When steel elements are used in this
strengthening, they should be adequately protected against corrosion.
When consolidating materials are used in timber, their compatibility
should also be verified.
• Fire protection measures to be adopted

138. Steel
• The main problem with steel or iron elements is
corrosion. Their repair requires, firstly, the
elimination of the rust, for which several
techniques exist (sand blast, etc.), then covering
of the surfaces with appropriate products,
usually, paint.
• When there is a significant reduction of their
sections, structural elements should be
substituted by new ones.
• Precautions to prevent ingress of moisture in the
steel members should be taken

147. Requirement of Positive
Attitude
• We maintain buildings from inside but exterior is not
given due importance
• “I am the boss” hence need facilities as per my choice
(toilet, AC, partition, flooring, false ceiling, and so on)
whatever be the status of the building. “Heritage structure
is to be considered as Boss”
• Please do not “Over-rule the Rules”
• Cleanliness is the responsibility of the government.
“Throw garbage outside the building” is against the spirit
for proper maintenance of Precincts.
• Do not try to encroach government land considering
encroachment as a power symbol
• Provide Essential facilities near heritage structures
Change the attitude; New is better than old.

151. Conclusions
• Heritage to be given due importance and recognition
by way of Education, Engineering and Enforcement.
(By all stakeholders including public).
• Heritage to be made source of income
• Repair and maintenance to be given technical
recognition
• Precincts should also be declared heritage. There
should be rules/SOPs for the same.
• Facilities and safety should be designed near heritage
structures to avoid encroachments and insecurity.
• Heritage is to be respected

152. THANKS A LOT