Architectural preservation: NCA students, teachers step up to save Sujan Singh Haveli

Pro-bono work begins after renovations efforts ran short of funds

RAWALPINDI:

Architecture students and faculty at the National College of Arts (NCA) Rawalpindi campus have taken up the task of renovating the Sujan Singh Haveli, a two-story residence named after a famous political figure of his time.

The renovation has been ongoing through an open invitation on social media, limited not just to NCA students, but all students in the twin cities, who are being encouraged to take part in the conservation of the 124-year-old building



Located in Babhra Bazar, the haveli is adorned with beautiful Kashmiri woodwork representing the Hindu and Sikh faith through motifs drawn on its wooden doors and windows.

NCA Director Dr Nadeem Omar Tarar said the Sujan Singh Haveli was previously handed over to Fatimah Jinnah Women University, to be set up as its campus by ex-minister Sheikh Rasheed almost eight years back.

“However, the haveli’s condition and FJWU’s institutional inability to do anything meaningful has left the building abandoned yet again,” Tarar told The Express Tribune.

NCA developed an interest in working on the haveli after the architecture department established a partnership with Boston Architectural College, USA, in architectural conservation, he said.

“Since conservation is a hands-on learning experience, and cannot be taught in theory alone, the haveli was picked as the ideal historical site where students could be sensitised on how to work with old building material,” Tarar explained.

After a Rs2.2 million structural damage assessment of the haveli left the project short on funds, Abdul Wahid Bangash and Noor Jehan, both assistant professors at department of architecture, took it upon themselves to lead the activity on a volunteer basis.

According to Bangash, volunteer work began almost two weeks ago, beginning with sorting out clutter and removing paint which was not originally at the haveli.

Talking about long term plan and the main agenda behind the initiative, Tarar hoped that through NCA’s volunteering, he hoped to set an example for others to follow, given the many other dilapidated buildings in the city.

“Sujan Singh Haveli is more of a pilot project. The idea is to develop an architecture conservation school,” said Tarar added.

According to Tarar, the government has also been involved in the project, as recently District Coordination Officer Sajid Zafar Dal committed to providing monetary assistance in developing a dedicated city museum within the building.

According to Bangash, the open call was well received as more than 25 students from NCA and various other universities volunteered to work on the site.



Speaking about her experience, Maha Zafar, first-year architecture student said the work has been especially rewarding for her. “The original features and colour of the haveli begin showing up after removing heavy layers of paint”, she said.

“Having seen the haveli just briefly before, the building did look beautiful as it is – but now that I am involved in this refurbishment, I realise how much attention this  building requires, which is a piece of art in itself,” said Sana Aizaz, an architecture student.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2015.