Creating the Enabling Environment in. The Walled City of Lahore

Transcription

1 Creating the Enabling Environment in the Walled City of Lahore Supporting Historic Cities, Cultural Heritage, and Sustainable Tourism Urban Forum 2012 Shahnaz Arshad The Walled City of Lahore Traditional urban fabric with concentration of monuments, landmark buildings, & sites of historic significance Vibrant intangible heritage & living culture Cultural influences of at least three major eras: the Mughul Empire, British colonial presence, & the modern nation state of Pakistan Two Bank funded projects of the nineties supported conservation of monuments & area upgrading in the WCL 07/03/2012 Sustainable development of the Walled City of Lahore 1

2 Context Population: approximately 150,000 & declining 2.56 sq. km area with population density ranging gfrom 300 to persons per ha. one of the most densely populated areas of Lahore Increasingly marginalized as city continues to expand southwards with low density suburbs Living conditions severely compromised resulting in poor health Municipal i negligence & insensitivity, iti it leading to slum like conditions with major socio cultural & economic impact on residents Objectives To reduce poverty & trigger economic activity in the Walled City of Lahore (WCL) 07/03/2012 Sustainable development of the Walled City of Lahore 4 2

3 Expected Outcomes Improved quality of life for the residents Improved experience of the urban space Cultural heritage assets restored, conserved, & put to adaptive reuse Tourism related economic activities (restaurants, hotel, tourist guides, tourist transport, handicrafts etc.) nurtured Community involved in development process 07/03/2012 Sustainable development of the Walled City of Lahore 5 Project Components Rationalize Institutions Update Regulatory framework Implement pilot project to demonstrate methods & processes creation of a Heritage Trail (the Royal Route) leading visitors from Delhi Gate to the Lahore Fort, linking key heritage assets Ti Tripartite partnership between bt the Punjab Government, Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), & the World Bank. 07/03/2012 Sustainable development of the Walled City of Lahore 6 3

4 Akbari Gate Masjid Wazir Khan Delhi Gate, Shahi Hammam Preparatory Activities Completed Topographic survey of the entire WCL to serve as the GIS spatial base & for design of infrastructure Socio Economic Household Survey across WCL 1,757 households sample representing 8% of the estimated population Documentation of individual land parcels Strategic Plan for entire WCL Capacity building of government officials, professionals & paraprofessionals working in conservation & urban rehabilitation Detailed documentation of all buildings in the Project area Detailed design & implementation of two Neighborhood Demonstration Projects to test methods & processes 4

5 Lahore Walled City GIS Portal Pilot Neighborhood Demonstration Project designed & implementedby AKTC Pilot Neighbourhood Demonstration Project implemented by Punjab Govt. With WB funds 5

6 The Neighborhood Demonstration Project Challenges Change stakeholder perceptions regarding heritage assets Sustain community participation i in a meaningful manner Scope Replacement of municipal service networks (electricity, communication, WSS, & drainage) Layout rationalization of overhead services attached to structures Removal of encroachments in the public space Removal of interventions negatively impacting historic structures Demonstrating benefits of conservation & upgrading the historic building stock The Neighborhood Demonstration Project Process Established community platforms at small neighborhood level of intervention, with male & female community members Trained & mentored community youth through a Skills Enhancement Program linked to income generating opportunities o Spatial Mapping (Topographic Surveying & Building Documentation) o Building Trades Skills (Plumbing, Masonry, Electrification & Carpentry Partnership with TAVTA for training programs for local residents 6

7 The Neighborhood Demonstration Project Improved municipal services Restored building facades & improved urban streetscape Historic dwellings conserved & upgraded with modern facilities Increased owner equity participation in successive years (5% in 2010; 15% in 2011) Community representatives involved in the maintenance & upkeep of the street Youth engaged in all aspects of voluntary work Youth willing to pursue/continue higher education Increased sense of civic responsibility (eg. no informal connections for power supply for illumination during festivals) 7

8 Lessons Learnt Paradigm Shift is required in perception of cultural heritage assets Heritage conservation needs to focus on both tangible & intangible heritage assets Insights into socio economic aspects critical for success Heritage related initiatives need patience Good social mobilization pays huge dividends Important interdependencies between historic core & surrounding metropolitan area Public sector officials feel challenged by new ideas & need canvassing & cajoling SUBSTREET LEVEL INFRASTRCTURE REPLACEMENT NECESSITATE DTEMPORARY DIVERSIONS OF SERVICES 8

9 OVERHEAD INFRASTRCTURE REPLACEMENT NECESSITATED FAÇADE STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT BEFORE AND AFTER 9

10 THE COMPLETED STREET THE COMPLETED STREET 10

11 A NEW LEASE FOR HERITAGE AND LIFE 11