Heritage of restoration

Renowned architect Anne Feenstra says that hill states like Uttarakhand need specific plans to restore their heritage properties before it becomes too late....

Anjali Nauriyal

He divides his time between India and Afghanistan as per climatic conditions. In Afghanistan, he has worked on the restoration of Visitor's Centre, Pamir National Park. Recently he was in the city to take part in a workshop organised by the Forest Department of Uttarakhand on the development of infrastructure for forestry, environment and eco-tourism. Anne Feenstra is a Dutch architect, who is currently touring in India, mainly lecturing at the Indian School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. He established Arch i as a platform to promote respect for culture and community participation in architecture. He especially spoke in the context of Uttarakhand.

Referring to present day architectural blunders, he states "While teaching, I came across this huge gap between the daily reality vis-à-vis built environment and what is actually being taught by smart professors to very good students. I found that the ground reality was very harsh. For example, if we look at the concept of shopping malls in India, I feel it is more appropriate for Disneyland rather than for society. When my parents were here, I took them to a place that was designed in the shape of a train in Faridabad and it was most uncomfortable. Had it been a cartoon land or children's world, we would have enjoyed it surely. Our architecture today has to look at the comfort level of all categories of visitors."

For Uttarakhand what Anne is proposing is research architecture. "In Uttarakhand some homework needs to be done. I have been to Almora and Kasauni and was struck by the natural beauty. The state is astoundingly beautiful but also very vulnerable. Uttarakhand should go for green eco tourism in a big way. I strongly feel that Uttarakhand should be very careful with its natural beauty and in this the Forest Department has to play a very large role. Not only has the state to preserve, but also has to deal with a huge incoming population that can enjoy its beauty without spoiling it," he says.

Having visited Asan Barrage in Doon, he is able to appreciate its natural import and value. But on the other side, he says, he was shocked to see crushing of stones not far away from the Barrage, on the Himachal side. "This is what I would call criminal behaviour. I don't think this kind of destruction will fit in any criminal law. States like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh (HP) should be really taking care of things they possess," points out Feenstra, who has a couple of suggestions for some picnic spots in Doon.

"Lacchiwala could be made a much better place," he suggests, adding, "It was not good to see the trees painted in read band along the entrance to Lacchiwala. To make the surroundings beautiful, flower beds could have been made around them. The place has a small auditorium that is not being used. I suggest that the place should be used for the kids to enjoy. It can be given more of an educational role and an interpretation centre developed."

Feenstra says that his is a non-profit organisation that aims at sensitising people to make architecture more eco and human friendly. "Instead of working with commercial players who are project hungry, we always go to places to interact with the local people and see if there is space for dialogue. Whatever plans are made, there has to be interaction with local bodies, Panchayats, etc., to make it a success," he avers. Feenstra is exploring the idea of taking up two villages for research in Uttarakhand. "There is a need for setting up interpretation centres in many places such as Nanda Devi Biosphere," he adds.