Do you feel drawn to your city’s or country’s Heritage? This course in Heritage Design & Conservation could be your calling

 

Heritage in its simplest sense is the inheritance of the past. 

When people talk about heritage, we frequently visualise a magnificent, old, stunning and non-functioning structure—buildings that offer a glimpse into a bygone era that may seem quite different from the neighbourhood’s current architecture. However, heritage is more than just old structures and worn-out walls; it serves as a reminder of the world’s struggle and progress. The responsibility to preserve the living heritage of our local communities is as important as our obligation to preserve the significant built heritage, values or traditions from the earlier generation. 

India itself is a country rich in cultural heritage and has a vast number of examples of heritage conservation efforts. Here are a few notable examples:

Monumental heritage: The Taj Mahal, one of the most iconic monument known world over or the 

The City Palace, Udaipur, there are thousands of significant and small heritage monuments in the country. 

Ranging from a few 100 years to 1000’s of years of ancestry, these monuments give us a glimpse of our own rich pasts and architectural capabilities of our ancestors. Hampi in Karnataka, Khajuraho Group of Monuments located in Madhya Pradesh, The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, The 

The world’s architectural heritage is in danger due to a lack of care, expertise and appreciation. Unfortunately, some have already been lost. Therefore, the younger generation needs to be able to manage, understand, interpret and define this living heritage to preserve our past.

To ensure the preservation of architectural and urban heritage, new concepts and methods must be developed. These concepts and methods should generally be an overarching philosophy rather than a method or curriculum. At the same time, Srishti Manipal Institute recognises the value of the world’s outstanding cultural heritage. It brings together the most eclectic kind of faculty, incorporating research, studio-based learning, workshops, theoretical reflections and fieldwork to enable students to advance new objectives and develop fresh methods for heritage design and conservation.

Conservation is a sense of identity and continuity and includes all efforts taken to ensure the long-term preservation of cultural heritage, such as inspection, documentation, management and preventative care, supported by education and research. However, there are several risks and challenges involved.

This heritage design programme teaches students how to deal with all those risks; gain awareness about heritage conservation, reconstruction, preservation, deterioration perversion, rehabilitation and restoration; and understand heritage buildings, natural heritage, cultural heritage, inherited traditions, monuments, objects, culture, landscapes, rivers, forests, natural falls, caves, and even animals. Graduates with a Master of Design in Heritage Design could work in designing to preserve, reuse, reconstruct and carry out conservation projects.

Why is it essential to conserve our heritage?

Heritage, be it natural or cultural, practices- be they agricultural or social, Information- be it tacit, historic or social- all of this forms the substance of so many rich and varied Master of Arts programs at Srishti - Creative Documentary, Earth Education, Heritage Management, Public Space Design, Stories, Futures, Careers that engage with our planet and its wellness.

● Economic Sustainability

It promotes the improvement of existing neighbourhoods and infrastructure and discourages decay, urban sprawl and increased infrastructure costs. Heritage conservation uses less energy and produces less waste than new construction. It also leads to opportunities for local employment compared to new construction work.

● Economic Benefits

Businesses benefit from being located in historic buildings and areas, and the restoration industry is creating more jobs in the construction trade, professional fields and product manufacturing. Restored buildings and areas also increase the municipal tax base. It increases tourist attraction and is frequently less expensive than new construction.

● Environment friendly

According to a report published in 2020, the construction industry in India accounted for 16% of all landfill waste,and a large portion of that was due to demolition. Knocking down an ordinary brick house generates 60–100 tons of waste on average. The tipping fee at landfills has increased significantly in most urban centres due to a large amount of waste.

● Labour

Due to their greater labour requirements compared to new construction, restoration projects are also advantageous for the labour force. In a conservation project, labour costs would account for 60–75% of the total project cost. 

Several preservationist organisations claim that rehabilitation is one of the most labour- intensive industries. Studies show that the labour component of renovation is 1.7–2.0 times that of new construction projects.

● Resource-Saving Benefits

Conserving resources in historic buildings has been proven effective. A new building will require about as much material to construct as required to keep it standing for 40 years. The energy and resources required to demolish an average-sized house built in 1925 and replace it with a new house built in 1965 is remarkably huge.

How is Srishti Manipal’s MDes in Heritage Design program different ?

The goal of this programme is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the theory and application of heritage design and the fundamentals of successful heritage management, including operational models, strategic planning and delivery. This will increase your knowledge and understanding of the major forces influencing change and areas for innovation in the cultural heritage sector, particularly those that support enhancing heritage access.

Our unique approach promotes inquiry into preservation, creating value and significance through constructing inventories, maps, surveys, documents and archives regarding local communities, regional activities and historic sites.

Towards the completion of the course, you will finish a project that could be included in your professional portfolio as you begin your exciting career in heritage design.

Learning Process

In this 2 Year Postgraduate Professional Program in Design (M.Des), there will be opportunities to interact with heritage architects, consultants, advisors, builders, planners, managers and owners, which would provide you with priceless insights. At the same time, you can develop your communication abilities through interactive seminars, presentations and engaging group conversations with peers.

You will be able to actively participate in the learning process through readings, assignments, research and completing projects.

As part of our investment in both your academic and personal development, you will be assigned an academic advisor who will support you during your time at Srishti Manipal Institute. 

To learn more about the 2 Year Postgraduate Professional Program in Design (MDes), at Srishti Manipal, watch this video:

If you wish to be a part of a system that promotes an extensive learning system, then the Postgraduate Professional Program in Design (MDes) in Heritage Design at Srishti Manipal is the right choice for you. Srishti Manipal has just commenced the admission process for the 2023-23 intake for its courses. The entry to our course is through the SMEAT Exam.

What is SMEAT?

Admissions to courses at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology are through the SMEAT 2023 exams. Understanding the SMEAT exam pattern will help the candidates to tackle the exam easily.

To know the Admission process at Srishti Manipal at a glance visit its admission portal on its website. Admissions are open for the academic year 2023-24. To know more, click here.