Practice of Repair
At present, far too much premium is paid to innovation over repair and maintenance. Repair treats every artifact as a politically neutral armature of resources, and as an artifact that possesses embodied energy. In many ways, this makes the ideas of repair and maintenance more robust categories than conservation or, the even narrower rubric of historic preservation. This new formulation can, in fact, extend the conventional practice of heritage conservation to evolve a design paradigm of practices to make its ambition “reparation” within the built environment. And also simultaneously, to engage in the crucial partnership with a range of trans-disciplinary streams where the practice of repair encompasses and engages with expanded contexts of socioeconomics, geopolitics, and ecological systems.
Ajmal Maiwandi is an architect and the Director of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Afghanistan. Having studied at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles and the Bartlett School of Architecture in London, he worked in the United States, Japan, and Germany before returning to Afghanistan in 2003. He contributes regularly to publications on architecture and urbanism and participates in forums on safeguarding cultural heritage in Afghanistan and internationally.
Jharna Joshi is an architect specialized in historic conservation and cultural landscapes having recently obtained PhD in Management (tourism) from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Jharna has more than twenty years of experience in architecture, conservation, cultural landscapes, tourism and teaching. She has designed and supervised restoration and adaptive reuse projects in various parts of Nepal. Currently, Jharna is also involved with Kathmandu Institute, a non-government organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal for research, learning, debate on contemporary cities leading to design and planning of future urban landscapes in the region.
Dorji Yangki is one of the first female architects in Bhutan. She has over 28 years of experience in architecture, conservation, research, and planning. Dorji served as Chief Architect and Head of the Office for Conservation of Heritage sites for the Government of Bhutan for over 16 years, where she played a pivotal role in heritage conservation efforts in the country. She was instrumental in establishing the first office for the conservation of heritage sites in Bhutan, drafted the first Bhutan Guidelines for heritage conservation, initiated the first inventory of heritage sites, and conducted local training workshops for district offices. Currently, she leads a private firm in Bhutan.
Taimoor Khan Mumtaz is a senior architect at Kamil Khan Mumtaz Architects. He is also the founding director of Hast-o-Neest Institute of Traditional Studies & Arts in Lahore. Hast-o-Neest promotes the research and study of traditional art and culture. It aims to provide an introduction to and a greater understanding of traditional thought, including Sufi doctrine and method, traditional philosophy, metaphysics and cosmology, and the arts such as calligraphy, miniature painting, classical music & Islamic architecture.
Dr. Benny Kuriakose started his career in 1984 and received basic lessons in architecture under the tutelage of the renowned Laurie Baker. Taking its roots in vernacular architecture, he has developed expertise in architectural conservation and design of new buildings. He focuses on the design of structures built from natural materials and now runs an architect and consulting company in Chennai, India. He has worked on all sorts of projects, from small mud cottages to tsunami reconstruction housing. He has also worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNESCO, different state governments, and non-governmental other organisations.
Khadija Jamal Shaban is a consulting Architect and Projects Manager and has consulted for the Aga Khan Development Network on their construction projects in the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia. Her experience ranges from design projects to research on social aspects in architecture in Pakistan. She has previously consulted for the World Bank, Swiss Development Cooperation and Homeless International for Low Income Housing in Pakistan. She has served on the Board of many organisations which include Aga Khan Planning and Building Services and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. She has been the Chairperson for FOCUS humanitarian Assistance Pakistan.
Dr. Rohit Ranjitkar, an architect and preservation consultant, serves as the Nepal Program Director of the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT). His research includes the documentation and study of conservation practices in Nepal. KVPT is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding Nepal's architectural heritage. Dr. Ranjitkar is involved with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and the German Technical Cooperation as a conservation consultant. He is author of The Heritage Homeowner's Manual for the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites, which provides information on how to maintain and repair old homes.
Working as Director, People in Centre Consulting, Vivek Rawal has been involved in many post-disaster reconstruction and recovery programs for past 30 years in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Afghanistan. In India, he has also been involved in preparation of National Guidelines on Temporary Shelters and Training Manual on Hazard Resistant Construction with mandate from National Disaster Management Authority. He is also founder member of Owner Driven Reconstruction Collaborative (ODRC) - an Indian network of individuals and NGOs working to support various nation-states in implementing post disaster owner driven housing reconstruction programs.
