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“... Partial reconstruction in 1978 included strengthening of the central dome and two smaller domes in the front portion as well as the flat roof on the front and the middle portion of the mosque. The remaining parts of the roof and the minarets were reconstructed completely in 1999.
However, the appearance of the mosque was changed beyond recognition as a result of these reconstructions. A picture found in a book by Kazimi and Kumar9 provides a glimpse of the original mosque (Fig. 3). The restored building of the Sher Shahi mosque (Fig. 4) reveals several deviations from the original one. The most striking of these deviations are: (1) The monumental appearance has been altered and subdued by changing the surface finish by using glazed ceramic tiles instead of plaster and the reduction of height of the front facade, particularly the central bay, so that the entire building now has a uniform height and (2) The architectural character - the Afghan style that led to the development of Indo-saracenic...”
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“...part of restoration is concerned with architecture, specialized architectural knowledge is therefore essential. In fact, Giiler et al27 maintain that for development of an effective methodology for restoration and strengthening of important historical buildings, an integration of knowledge in the areas of seismology, geotectonics, structural engineering, material science, architecture, art as well as social, cultural and economic aspects is essential.
Indirli et al28 report the involvement of a multi-disciplinary expertise (mainly skills on natural/human-made hazards assessment, geology, geomatics/ICT, structural engineering, architecture, urban planning, energy management and sociology) towards providing solutions for a better overall resilience in the post-earthquake reconstruction. Their work also exemplifies “an effective development of a multidisciplinary approach” when seismic protection of entire city centers instead of singular heritage monument was undertaken combining “hazard assessment...”
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“...The local population also associated immense cultural and emotional value with this Tower. At the same time the tower had a military function.
Considering the immense significance of the Dharhara Tower in the history of Nepal, it is recommended that the severely damaged Dharhara tower may be reconstructed in its original form with appropriate structurally strengthened to prevent further damage. This will help regain its position as an important tourist spot. To ensure recovery of costs in reconstruction, a token fee may be collected from those visiting this monument.
Conclusion
This paper, through case studies of six historical buildings in Patna, has explored architectural considerations necessary for restoration of buildings damaged by earthquake. The highlight of this paper is that every building has a soul which must not be muzzled. In the case of damage, restoration must ensure preservation of the soul of the building to protect its architectural and heritage value. A significant outcome...”
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