Landscape Study of Forts in Maharashtra
LANDSCAPE AND IDENTITY
Landscape Study of Forts in Maharashtra
Joint Studio- 6th March to 12th March, 2010 at BNCA, Pune
Department of Landscape Architecture ,DR.B. N. COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE,PUNE and Department of Landscape Architecture ,SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, NEW DELHI
INTRODUCTION
Learn, Interact, Study, Together - 'LIST'
The Joint Studio aimed at giving an opportunity to students to learn, to interact, to study together and to exchange their approaches towards the selected topic of study.
Forts, in history acted as important political centers with their main function as defense. With the passage of time and change in the context, these forts have lost their connection with the past and have become totally redundant.
One of the important manmade components of this evolution which still stands intact is the 'Forts' in Maharashtra which have a long story to tell in terms of their social, cultural, physical, visual and ecological aspects. Many number of 'forts' is a major contributor in defining the identity of landscape of Maharashtra.
The joint studio between students of Landscape Architecture of BNCA and SPA gave an opportunity to students to understand the landscape structure at regional level and its relationship with the component of 'forts' in Maharashtra, as a thoughtful manmade overlay. The exercise introduced to the participants, the values, issues and the contemporary responses by the authorities, experts, local users associated with the 'fort' areas.
The natural landscape of Sahyadri as a whole is a setting for the manmade components sited in a peculiar manner throughout ages, influenced and dominated by politics and culture.
Forts are a pride of Maharashtra. They were governing seats of various dynasties and display unique architecture. Because of their architectural and historical value these forts are also famous destinations for tourists and those seeking adventure. In some places the entire economy sustains on this fact of a fort being there and tourists frequenting it in large numbers. But are these towns and cities well-equipped as good tourist destinations with good infrastructure and real fun for the adventure seekers? Are the developments close to the forts in tune with the environment and the ecology of the place? Or are our forts crumbling apart over a passage of time ?
The concern of the joint studio was to explore a possibility of reestablishing their relevant connection to the present and future context.
A well explored area by the historians, trekkers, tourists still remains unexplored by the landscape architects in its comprehensive understanding.
Understanding these concerns, a week long Joint Studio was conducted from 6th March to 12th March 2010 under which the students of Masters course of Department of Landscape Architecture of Dr B N College of Architecture ,Pune and School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi visited 3 types of forts - Land/Mixed/(Mishra Durga) fort - Daulatabad , Hill fort (Giri Durga)- Raigad and Sea fort (Samudra durga) - Janjira , and carried out the mapping and inventorization of landscape components, to know the landscape status of the forts and its surrounds. The typology of the forts, comprising of 'Sea Fort', 'Hill fort' and 'Land Fort', shows a unique understanding of the landscape setting, exploring the same was the main focus of this joint studio.
The exercise looked into the aspect of Landscape giving identity to the region from past till present, by studying the various typological settings of the selected representative forts in Maharashtra.
Prior to the visit, ground work and initial studies were done by Students of BNCA followed by a two days-lecture series for all the students by renowned Historians Prof Ghanekar and Mr. Mahesh Tendulkar of Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal (BISM), Archaeologist Mr Sachin Joshi, Ar Chandorkar , Geology expert Dr.Anand Datar, Botanist Dr Mandar
Students worked for 2 days in the studio following which the work was reviewed by Senior Architect and well known academician Narendra Dengle and Landscape Architects Jayant Dharap and Dr Abhijeet Natu. The synergy put together led to a holistic landscape study of the forts and their typological characteristics, with a synthesis identifying the landscape concerns related to the forts and its surrounds with future directions.
The Joint Studio was initiated by Dr Surinder Suneja , Head - Dept of Landscape Architecture of School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi and Prof Shubhada Kamalapurkar, Head - Dept of Landscape Architecture of Dr B N College of Architecture ,Pune. The students worked under the guidance of the group of faculty including Ar. Asmita Divekar , Ar. Swati Sahasrabudhe, Conservation Architect Chetan Sahasrabudhe and Conservation Architect and INTACH , Pune,Co-convenor Sharveya Dhongde along with Prof Shubhada Kamalapurkar and Prof Ajit Madkaiker.
The Joint studio was hosted and partially sponsored by Dr. B N College of Architecture, Pune and was a significant event comprising of expert lectures, site visits and interactions.