VIRTUAL London.
Abstract
This research delves into the role of industrial heritage, specifically focusing on jute mills, in influencing the livability of urban environments through contribution to visual aesthetics. The jute industry found a conducive environment in the deltaic plains of the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, evolving into a historically significant industrial landscape. The aim of this study is to conduct a visibility analysis of the objects of heritage significance within a jute mill that creates industrial heritage landmarks and contributes to the urban image of an industrial neighborhood. Taking case study of a significant heritage jute mill (Hastings Jute Mill) in West Bengal, India, the objects of visibility, including heritage buildings, mill gates, boundary walls, jetty, waterfront area, chimney, etc., were identified. Additionally, all view points inside the mill and in the industrial neighborhood were marked. Data collection involved visual surveys and historical documentation from. Based on the principles of visual sensitivity and viewshed analysis and using Geographic Information System (GIS), as a tool, the buffers and view lines were generated connecting each viewpoint with the objects of view. The findings provide guidelines for industrial heritage-sensitive development, including view corridors and building heights in the industrial neighborhood. This research provides a framework for enhancing the synergy between industrial heritage preservation and the aesthetics of urban landscapes within the discourse of livable cities. By recognizing and leveraging the visual significance of heritage assets, policymakers, planners, and stakeholders can forge a path towards more livable, culturally rich, and aesthetically pleasing urban environments.
Abantika Mukherjee is a Research Scholar at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. She is an architect with a Post Graduate degree (M. Arch) in Architectural Conservation. She is an International Correspondent representing India at the Asian Network of Industrial Heritage. She has more than 2 years of experience in Government and private funded architecture and heritage management projects. Her PhD research focusses on analyzing industrial landscapes of jute mills using stakeholders’ consultation and evidence-based valorization approaches.
Dr. Haimanti Banerji, a Professor in the Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur has more than 18 years of working experience with the vulnerable groups in urban Indian context. She is one of the authors of Universal Design India Principles © NID, 2011. Dr. Banerji is also actively involved in the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC), an initiative by Government of India to provide ‘Housing for All’ in various capacities. Her recent international academic collaborations include Indiana University of Pennsylvania and MIT, USA.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Thursday 27th June, 2024