CHERIKA
sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and man, and areas including archaeological sites, which are of outstanding value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological point of view. -HERITAGE, BY UNESCO
Warangal is a heritage city and has been listed as one of the World Heritage places by UNESCO. Its architecture is influenced by many different dynasties over the years of history and majorly by the Kakatiyan Dynasty around the 12th Century. It is about 145 km away from the state capital Hyderabad in Telangana. It is the second largest growing city in the state of Telangana. The city's name is derived from the Telugu word Orugallu – 'Oru' which means one and the word 'gallu' meaning stone referring to a huge granite boulder present in the Warangal fort, right in the centre of the city.
In India, where multiple and diverse cultures have evolved over generations of living in specific communities, geographies and dynasties. Regional identities, cultural heritage and traditional wisdom are losing their relevance in an increasingly uniform global culture. Ideas of progress, perpetuity and permanence have found general manifestation through incongruous concrete boxes found across the country without any contextual relevance.
This project presented me with an opportunity to create a model for development that is as much about cultural sustainability, contextual identity, heritage appreciation and the focus then is not merely inclusivity or recognition, but rather a celebration of the timeless indigenous techniques that look forward to a better understanding of tomorrow. To bridge the ideas of a heritage city and a smart city taking the Warangal city as an example.
What does Warangal need? An Urban Insert for visitors to witness Kakatiya dynasty's rich Heritage through Galleries of experience and make it a public plaza for the city to showcase it's culture.
BACKGROUND & SITE
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How did the Kakatiya approach their design? Their city planning was based on 3 Ts:
TOWN | TANK | TEMPLE
TOWN a living fort: They built and protected their town with forts and made it the focal point of development. Along the concentric fort walls, one can say the city emerges. -thick solid mud and stone walls.
TANK: over 75,000 water sources created. They built and dug water bodies, wells and many lakes to facilitate agriculture and drinking water- stone lined water tanks.
TEMPLE: "the temple down of Warangal", home to thousands of temples of the Kakatiya.
PRADAKSHINA PATH | GOPURAM | KONERU | MANDAPAS | GARBAGRIHA
CONCEPTUALIZING BUILT MASS
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CULTURAL PLAZA: Such an urban plaza for the city's residents to break free from the busy and monotonous into a space that is culturally active and celebrates the context- the KAKATIYAs of WARANGAL.
' They've always seen it as a Cultural connect- a place that binds gracefully various cultures through dynasties together even till today. Specially- the Kakatiya's Warangal. NIHARA KANTEY, STATION DIRECTOR, ALL INDIA RADIO
PLANNING & DESIGN (views)
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The design aims to create a cultural centre that is based on broken down forms of orthodox temple planning concept. By exploring the design with functional interpretation, spaces have been guided by the need for vistas, volumes and versatility.
' From Autowalas to Academicians, from Street vendors to street rowdies, intipanollu to intellectuals, everyone lives and works here itself. there is no band of zoned areas. There's diversity in this history and so much scope to uphold the heritage together. MLA VINAY BHASKAR