Changing Social Perception of Historic Precincts within Urban Areas - An attempt for Designing Sustainable Historic precinct in Hubli

Abstract

In the age of cultural fluidity, the norms governing the social behavior of people are changing rapidly from their traditional structure to a merged global conscience. This has a direct impact on people’s perception of their private and public spaces. Since many of the Urban areas of Developing nations like India especially in Karnataka are constantly in a stage of redevelopment either initiated by local populace or authorities, their association meanings and identity are also in a state of flux. In this context, historic urban areas are usually considered as socially infallible, which are usually recommended to be preserved in their original state. This notion is adopted on Urban heritage precincts, which are secluded from such changing societal impacts. But in many historical patches of the urban fabric, which have existed from their initial stages of development to the present day, the associated meanings and identities have already transformed, with several conducive as well as inhibitive results. The paper aims to study the coexistence of such historical patch with present-day development, and the changing functions of these spaces as their original uses get obsolete.  

In this fast-changing landscape of the cities little of the old recognizable features have survived. One of such historical patch the study picks up to document, analyse and attempts to design sustainable solutions for changing societal behaviors in “Siddharoodha matha” campus at Hubli. The Actual morphological development of Siddharoodha matha has been taken roots from 18TH century in North Karnataka, Hubli.

The suggestions for future architectural interventions made herein attempt to reflect the best architectural traditions evident on campus. While many aspects of the Siddharoodh math campus make it one of the most memorable compositions of buildings and open spaces to be found in the Hubli city, it is not the purpose of this document to replicate the historic core in order to create a new architecture of empty nostalgia. The Math campus forms a collection of buildings from many different time periods and of various styles. It is hoped that the insights of this study will enable the campus community to better recognize and understand the architectural traditions of the campus, while simultaneously forming a touchstone for architects, landscape architects & planners working on future projects.