ACCU Group Training Course 2022

Case Study Reports

IndiaProblem and Needs for the Restoration, Preservation,
Management and Utilisation of Wooden Built Heritage in India
Asha Theres
Architectural conservation consultant
Architectural conservation consultant-self employed
Ministry of Cultural Affairs
This report identifies problems and needs in relation to the restoration, preservation, management andutilisation of wooden built heritage in India. The 19th ICOMOS General Assembly, New Delhi, identified
wooden built heritage as ‘all types of wooden buildings and other wooden structures that have cultural
significance or are parts of historic places, and includes temporary, movable and evolving structures.
As wood was a naturally available building material, it has been usedover the centuries for constructing residential and secular structures,
furniture, household items, and other movable structural systems. The
sheer quantity of wooden structures seen in India reflects the naturalavailability of wood in the country. Typical geographic and cultural
factors have shaped the wooden architecture seen in different regionsof India. Timber was essentially used in constructing walls,
intermediate floors, doors, windows, and roofs traditionally.
The following problems and needs identified in relation to thewooden built heritage are based on my perspective as a conservationarchitect working in Kerala, the southernmost state of India.

Figure 1. Open ceiling showing roof
joinery details of a wooden structure in
KeralaProblem 1: Environmental concerns
Geographically as part of southern India, the state of Kerala lies more than 56% on the Western Ghats, amountain range which includes mainly forest cover and runs for a stretch of almost 570 km as its coastline.
Deforestation, floods, and other natural calamities constitute the main problems faced by the wooden
heritage of the region. As traditional houses of Kerala have a high-pitched roof system, they require strong
and long timber members of good quality for rafters and for the ridge in particular. According to a Kerala
Forest Research Institute report, the growing stock of timber in Kerala has been severely depleted over theyears. Degradation of historic forest reserves leads to unavailability of authentic good quality timber, which
is ideal for conservation practices. Shifting cultivation, rotational felling of indigenous trees, improper use
of forest lands impacting the microclimate, soil water quality, and biodiversity of the region are some of theother growing environmental concerns identified.
Another important problem identified is
the recurring annual flooding that
happens due to heavy monsoon rains. In
the Aranmula Heritage Zone of Kerala,
the 2018 floods affected traditional
houses, submerging them to with waterreaching levels of 6 to 20 feet. The silt leftby the flooded river caused severe Figure 2. Traditional snake boats of Aranmula, damaged due to flooding1dampness in the wooden walls and cellars of 300-year-old Aranmula houses, and more than 40 percent of
the palliyodams (wooden snake boats), which are part of the associated age-old tradition of the Valla Sadhyacelebration and feast, were damaged. Floods also affected traditional wooden weaving equipment in
Chendamangalam, a weaving village in southern Kerala.

Problem 2: Loss of knowledge
The wooden built heritage of India is known for its craftsmanship and functionality. Traditional architecture
and techniques can be seen as mutually linked over the years. Similarly, the wooden built heritage is
integrated into the practices associated with it. However, predominantly over the past decade, the loss ofintangible heritage associated with the structures has weakened the transmission of the system of knowledge
involved in constructing and maintaining certain wooden buildings. In the case of koothambalams, ancientwooden performance theatres of Kerala, due to the diminishing interest towards koothu (the performanceassociated with the structure), the buildings are on the verge of becoming mere wooden structures, without
proper maintenance, management, and continuity, since the function has been taken out of the form. Mostof the associated practices are performed by a specific community. The shift of interest by members of thepresent generation in the community away from the tradition also adds to the loss of the relevant traditional
knowledge system.

Figure 3. Koothambalams, traditional performance theatres of Kerala, and their timber roof joinery details

Other reasons contributing to the loss of knowledge are the decreasing numbers of practitioners andcraftsman. In the case of the industry involving uru, traditional wooden ships of the Malabar coast, thenumber of master craftsman who are well versed in the unique techniques used to construct and repair theships has dwindled to merely five persons over the past twenty years. The main reason is decreased interestin the craft and other economic pressures. Most of the wooden techniques are regionally specific and few
historical data are available as documentation. For example, in the case of wooden houses ofThazhathangadi, an ancient port town in southern India known for its wooden walls and cellars (ara, nirahouses), there are no or few available authentic literary sources presently available on the traditional building
materials and carpentry tools, which would have been helpful for the conservation and maintenance of thesehouses.

Problem 3: Economic pressures
Economic pressures faced by the wooden built heritage are mainly the growing trend of importing timberfrom abroad, and the mass production of modern materials replacing locally produced items. In conserving
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wooden temples, there are cases where natural treatments and paints are found economically not feasible
because of their long setting time. In the case of the traditional ship-making industry of Beypore, a historicport, the traditional wooden nails, waterproofing oils, wooden gums, and tools, etc., are being replaced bymodern materials. The increasing cost of transporting timber logs and the heavy duties imposed and otherbureaucratic delays add to the pressures. The shift in employment of youth away from carpentry due to low
wages has made some of the skills in traditional woodworking almost non-existent today.

Problem 4: Unsympathetic interventions
Due to the lack of proper awareness among the inhabitants and to other financial constraints, there are casesof adding unsympathetic interventions to heritage structures. Since wood coexists with masonry and othermaterials, misapplication of incompatible materials like cement over wooden frameworks often destroys thewooden fabric and its integration with other materials.

The following needs relate to the measures that can be carried out to tackle problems for better protection,
management and utilisation of the wooden built heritage.

Need 1: Sustainable approaches
Protection of forest reserves
For the successful maintenance and sustainability of wooden heritage, it is important to protect the historic
forest reserves as the primary source of timber. This can be done by implementing sustainable forest
practices, curbing deforestation, promoting programs like establishing timber plantations for conservation
purposes, and protecting the existing woodland reserves.
Certain praiseworthy efforts have been taken by governmental authorities, such as establishing a TeakMuseum in Nilambur, the oldest teak plantation in India (1842), and recognising the need for resource
development. Setting up banks of materials like seasoned timber, traditional repair tools, and other products
for treatments that are essential for the conservation of wooden built heritage is another suggested solution.
Risk preparedness
Since recurring floods in riverine areas result in severe damage, including material deterioration, structural
distress to traditional wooden structures, ships, and boats, there is an immediate need for heritage-oriented
risk preparedness programs and mitigation measures as remedial interventions.
The Aranmula Heritage Trust in the southern Indian state of Kerala has proclaimed an immediate need forpost flood rehabilitation of craftsmen who know the skill of making and repairing palliyodam boats. Under
the leadership of the Trust, various revitalisation programs including seminars and exhibitions on restored
artifacts have been held, which have served as a helping hand for the artisan community.
Ensuring continuity
There is a need to ensure the continuity of wooden craftsmanship, as it is integral to the associated built
heritage. This can be attained through proper monitoring and by following informed management strategies.
Sustainability of the community and its traditions are vital for preserving the traditional knowledge system
related to the built heritage.

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Economically viable approaches like adaptive reuse can bebrought into practice through people’s participation, which canalso result in sustainable economic management. The
Alappuzha Heritage Project and Muziris Heritage Project
funded by the government of Kerala are examples of sucheconomically reliant program initiatives.

Need 2: Transmission of knowledge
Figure 4. A coir (coconut fibre) society building

For preserving and upholding the authenticity and associated restored under the Alappuzha Heritage Projectvalues of our wooden built heritage, there is a need to transmit
the existing knowledge system to future generations. It is essential to respect and tap the traditional ancestral
wisdom regarding wood conservation, which lies within communities. This can be achieved by creatingawareness through teaching basic indigenous carpentry techniques, and about wood’s interaction with othermaterials, as part of the school curriculum. Preparing every citizen to be equipped with basic restoration
techniques and tools, making the wooden heritage accessible and attractive for people, and conducting
heritage walks, workshops, and other interactive programs, are other suggestions. Programs like the KochiMuziris Biennale have showcased the stories of traditional wooden boats and communities of fishermen,
shedding light on the rich maritime heritage the country possesses. The Vasthuvidya Gurukulam, a state-run
institute at Aranmula, aims to teach traditional architecture and conservation principles which can be applied
regionally.

Need 3: Generation of proper guidelines
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958) of India and its subsequent
revisions protect the country’s ancient monuments and their precincts. There is a gap in conservation
legislation when it comes to legally assuring the protection and maintenance of vernacular houses. Special
guidelines to protect the existing wooden built heritage are essential since most of the traditional houses are
disappearing due to the pressures of modernisation. Identifying and assigning protective designation foritems of wooden craftsmanship can help secure the survival of these crafts. There is a need to formulate
specific guidelines for flood-prone wooden structures, such as traditional wooden temples, residences, ships,
snake boats, etc. There are cases (e.g., 50 examples of wooden houses in the old port town ofThazhathangadi) where heritage structures were demolished under economic pressures. As documentationand listings of various existing items of wooden built heritage are presently lacking, there is a chance thatonce these structures are demolished, it is nearly impossible to reconstruct or conserve similar ones. A
possible solution, along with generating proper guidelines, is to have a knowledge pool of historical data on
various types of wood used for construction during olden days, and traditional wood treatments and different
conservation practices that were followed back then. Since there is a prevalence of knowledge about woodconservation that is locally specific to regions, sharing that knowledge with other geographical parts of thecountry with similar problems through a common platform seems fruitful.

Conclusion
This report summarises various problems and needs related to the wooden built heritage of India, by drawing
examples from case studies of Kerala. Through awakening a sense of responsibility, by ensuring the4structural stability and physical continuity of wooden structures, by understanding their cultural significanceand by faithfully accepting traditional methods for conservation, the wooden built heritage of India can be
managed efficiently and celebrated all the more.

(This report relates to themes of Units 2 and 5. All photographs used in the report are by the author.)5Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Status of Wooden Canoes in the Coastal Regionof Papua New Guinea
Benjamin Paeyo Leme
Tutor
Anthropology and Sociology and Archaeology, School of Humanities
and Social Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea

Unit 3 and 5
Trading along the Coastal Region
In Papua New Guinea (PNG) there have been voyages tracing all the way back to prehistoric periods. Some ofthese expeditions became famous for the trade between people living along the coastal region and on coralislands, for instance, the long distance trade between the people of Hiri Motu and inhabitants of the Gulf ofPapua.
Outrigger canoes known as lakatoi became expedient for carrying close to twenty thousand clay pots each year.
“Every year men from the Motu villages around Port Moresby set out in a fleet of mighty canoes (lagatoi) for
the villages of the Gulf, where they exchanged pots for sago, logs and betel nut” (Langmore, 1974, p. 56).
This study focuses on the development of the kula trade, and on ocean-going outrigger canoes used for trading,which has involved the people of Misim in the Trobriand Islands for around 2000 years (Damon 2017, p. 146).
The discussion will briefly bring into perspective the significance of wooden canoes in relation to trading
purposes. The major part of the discussion, however, will concentrate generally on the preservation of the canoes,of related knowledge and skills, and their continuity.
The kula trade is one of the highly celebrated activities to have taken place around the coastal region of PNG
over the years. The people of Misim in the Trobriand Islands became aware of the need for exchanging arm
shells, which increased incrementally in value as they passed from one island to another. The kula trade, as
Weiner (1988) explained, is closely linked with the outrigger canoes, used for long ocean voyages undertaken
for the exchange of goods such as the shells which were highly valued.
A significant part of ocean-going expeditions aims to achieve fame throughout the islands visited during thesevoyages. It is how one would be able to successfully reach other islands, proving their skills of making successful
landings. When sailors returned home safely, it gave them recognition. So the fundamental idea about these
expeditions was to showcase the people’s skills, to test their magic in navigating through rough ocean currents,
demonstrate the strength and worth of their outrigger canoes, and give fame and prestige to the people.
Preference for Boats with Outboard Motors
Damon observed that kula trade technology has become lost. Not only technical skills but also the locations forkula exchange shifted as some villages, even entire islands, ceased to be part of the kula circuit of prehistoric
times.
One of the significant changes that colonialism brought was motor-driven boats and commercial fishing andshipping. Communication between islands was no longer dependent on sailing canoes, and often a local man
working on a government or commercial ship could visit a kula partner on his own without waiting for a kula1

expedition to be launched. Travel by motorboat for kula is much preferred since it is faster, safer, and easier, but
in the beginning there was some resistance (Damon 2017, p. 147).
I have made a number of trips since last year and just recently visited one of the villages located along the PurariRiver (on the Gulf of Papua). It was observed that people are still using wooden canoes. Both men and women,
and even children aged between 14 and 16, are familiar with using canoes along the Purari River. It was observedthat few canoes, perhaps not more than four, are usually passed when travelling up and down the river.
Thus it is also true that not all villagers have their own wooden canoe. I learned that villagers who wish to crossthe river would normally be carried by individuals who own one. There is less need to own a canoe or build one
since there are other means available compared to the past. It is not surprising to see that young men seemed tocare less about owning a wooden canoe or about building one if they do not own a canoe. One of the reasons isthey are used to travelling on boats with outboard motors, which only a few people own. It makes sense thatpeople prefer travelling by boats with outboard motors than simply owning a canoe.
A striking response received from the younger generation is about their lack of skills and knowledge regarding
the production of wooden canoes and what they were used for in the past. Even though trade with Hiri Motu
concentrated in this part of the region in the past, young people have no idea about what canoes were used for.
Most of them would relate stories of how they get on outboard motorboats and travel to the provincial town
rather than about long voyages by wooden canoe. Canoes were seen as necessary for daily use to catch fish andother activities along the river. Most of the interest that was observed focused on boats with outboard motors.
With the use of outboard motors, measured in terms of speed and efficiency, wooden canoes will become thingsof the past in the future. It is not just about the preference for using it as a form of transport, but people are notwilling to learn or pass on the skills and knowledge associated with the canoe.
As explained above, canoes became significant for transportation in areas where long distance trading was
conducted in the past. This applies also for the skills and knowledge associated with canoe construction. Seen
more closely from an emic perspective, as explained by Damon, certain designs and patterns given to the canoes
represent material objects familiar to the people. A canoe is constructed in a way as to enable reasoning, in termsof shape, the way it sits in the ocean and on shore, that gives a sort of meaning to the people. The boat makers
carefully select the right tree, making sure certain angles of the wood are carved in such a way that it does notoverlap with anything. Also important is where and when to launch it for the first time, as a necessary aspect aswell (Damon 2017, p. 298). It goes without saying that the art of canoe making and the meanings behind it are
no longer seen as in the past.

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Figure 1: Two photos along the Purari River close to a village, Poroi 2. The left photo shows two canoes, one under construction(front) and the other in use. Photo by Yawan Alo. On the right is a woman with her son in a wooden canoe. Photo by Benjamin
Leme, 18 June 2022.

Preservation and Management of Wooden Canoes
When canoes are no longer being used, care is not given for their preservation. Sometimes the wood is used asfuel for burning, and others are left to rot. Accordingly, the younger generation begins to forget the knowledgeof specific designs, and the magic involved in the carving of the canoe.
My discussion aims to trace customs of the past and present to see how the times have altered the inputs involvedin the carving of the canoe. When speaking of inputs, what I mean is the knowledge, skills, and recitations ofmagic involved in designing and carving the canoe, which have changed over time. Canoes were made by skillfulindividuals, who not only knew how to fashion the canoe but also had knowledge of where to cut the tree,
meaning local knowledge of the specific trees to cut, and of speech involving the magic words useful for thebuilder to carve it well, and other necessary skills that accompanied the process.
It is obvious that as more people depend on outboard motorboats for transportation and for meeting other needs,
the value of the wooden canoe and of its uses in the past are easily forgotten. For instance, someone may havethe skills to build a canoe and could teach another person in order to pass that knowledge forward. But what islacking is effort on the part of others to learn, and even those who have the knowledge have no reason to pass it
on to others. This is how the knowledge and skill of building wooden canoes is easily forgotten.
In the past, as explained in the context of the kula and Hiri trade, the news of passing and sailing were celebrated
with great joy and admiration. As Damon explains, every time one sailed by, those on shore could not help but
watch it—watching the movement of the canoe moved the watchers. The same may be said every time a newone was drawn ashore. Villagers waited with rollers to place under the keel and outrigger float as they touched
the slope of the shore. Then they pulled and pushed the boat up to its resting perch. These beachings—launchings
were similar—were full of excitement, laughter, and straining bodies. Then everyone became quiet as they
welcomed the crew and examined the craft (Damon 2017, p. 296).

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In the remote coastal villages, wooden canoes are merely means of transportation nowadays. But in terms ofpreference, people wish to operate and own boats with outboard motors. Also, it is difficult to find old canoes
kept in the villages. Usually, during flooding and at times of high current, wooden canoes are carried away. This
happens perhaps because not much care is being given to them. What anyone would normally see in the past
was wooden canoes that were in use and perhaps one that had been recently fashioned. As the numbers of wooden
canoes decrease, the skills needed for building them also decline. From this perspective, we find that learning tobuild a wooden canoe or passing on the relevant knowledge to the younger generation is seen as a waste of time.
This is how the prospects for easily preserving the culture of wooden canoes have started to fade away.
Canoe Festivals
Canoe festivals take place almost every year in different parts of the coastal regions of the country. Most of these
events take place on the 16th of September every year to celebrate Independence Day. Usually, each province
has its own calendar for organizing the festival. In terms of preserving and passing knowledge the effect islimited, as canoes are built only for the festival and afterward left unused.
Perhaps it has become just an aspect of entertainment and a tourist attraction, and not serving as a bridge withthe past, and so the old forms of activities associated with the ceremony remain unknown and are forgotten.
Because at the end of these events, no one talks about them or thinks to ask questions about their significance.
Gaps in Documentation and Recording
There is ample literature on wooden canoes but what is lacking is detailed documentation and recording. Short
documentary films are shown during special events; however, there is no detailed documentation of the initialplanning and construction phases of canoe making. At present, it is unlikely that we will find proper recordingof the canoes that were used for kula exchange or of lakatoi and their state of preservation; thus how many are
currently in use, who still has the skills and knowledge, and which groups are currently using it are unknown.
What is documented and recorded should be made available to the public as an effective tool for raisingawareness.
This is perhaps a huge and rewarding project if an attempt is made to document and record canoe making inregions that were known for long distance exchanges in the past. This will surely give a sense of historicalconnection for the younger generation. It is one way to preserve knowledge for future generations and will surely
close the generation gap in terms of wooden canoe technology. Without this, the canoe culture in the country
will cease to exist and even if it is practiced, it will take the lowest priority.
Conclusion
The use of wooden canoes made long distance trading between people living along the coast possible. The
continuity and preservation of this culture are now threatened by the use of modern transport like boats withoutboard motors. Though some villagers use wooden canoes even today, the need to operate and own outboard
motorboats diminishes the value of wooden canoes. Thus, prospects for passing knowledge to the younger
generation to preserve the culture of canoes are slowly fading. This is not to say that the yearly canoe festivals
that are conducted have largely contributed to entertainment and tourist attractions rather than preservation. But
to keep the memories of the past for future generations, one way to do so is to make detailed documentation andrecordings.

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Philippines

Comprehensive Architectural Documentation of Quiapo District’sAncestral Houses
Charmenne Diane V. Odan
Architect
Studio 117 Inc.

Introduction

This report identifies the problems and needs in relation to the protection, preservation, and management ofPhilippine ancestral houses still existing in the District of Quiapo, Manila. In the Philippines, heritagearchitecture is commonly associated with only a few places although this rich heritage is found all over thecountry. Various works (Zialcita and Tinio 1980; Perez 1989; Hila 1992; Javellana, Zialcita, and Reyes
1997; Villalon 2001) feature the heritage architecture of Batangas, Bulacan, Manila, Quezon, Ilocos Norte,
and Vigan. Zialcita (1997) suggests two types that constitute a national style of vernacular houses. These are
the bahay kubo, also called the farmer’s house, and the town dweller’s house, made of stone and wood andcalled bahay na bato at kahoy. The typical bahay na bato has a number of regional variations with notabledifferences in the Tagalog, Pampango, Visayan, and Ilocano regions that were built during the late 1700s to
early 1900s. In Bohol, the oldest known Spanish era house was called Casa Boholana, probably built around1820 (Luspo 2006). Some bahay na bato in Vigan were built in the last quarter of the 1700s. The bahay nabato is the pinnacle of the integration of multi-cultural influences with indigenous forms – an architecturethat responds to the environment and history.

The construction methods and architectural styles of the bahay na bato are principally similar to those foundelsewhere in the Philippines (e.g., Floral, Geometric, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Neo-Renaissance, NeoGothic). Most bahay na bato in Luzon, for example, have their ground floor made of stone (adobe, coralstone, or brick). The construction of the upper floor is of wooden materials, from its structural framing to its“skin” and to almost all of its parts. The roof was commonly made out of thatch in earlier times, andsubsequently evolved to clay tiles and then to galvanized iron. Quiapo, as the heart of Manila, has a numberof these ancestral houses still existing up to this date, but they need urgent attention.

Problem 1: Urbanization – Global Development Pressure

Although these structures obviously fall under the protection of the Republic Act 10066, or the National
Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, contemporary development in our community inflicts concerns that contradict
heritage conservation practices in the Philippines. These are evident in places where commercial
establishments encroach upon properties on which these houses stand. Demolition of these structures is also
taking place in order to give more economic value and opportunity to the locale for the benefit of thecommunity in our modern setting. A number of bahay na batos in the country, as of today, still face these
demolition threats. Some are in various stages of disrepair, and some are already in ruins. However, theirarchitectural value can be inferred even from the ruins. So much still has to be learned that can be passed on
to future generations about the bahay na bato.

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The technical documentation team cannot access the site safely because of threats from tenants.

Problem 2: Property Loss Due to Inability to Sustain Maintenance of the Property by the Owners,
Theft, and Natural Calamities

The bahay na bato were mostly owned by rich families during earlier times. While some have maintained
their good fortune, others were not fortunate enough to keep the resources they had before and are thus
unable to sustain the maintenance of the buildings. However, regardless of the ownership of the house, it ismost likely that the maintenance will not go beyond minor repairs. The more expensive repairs such as
leaking roofs, tilting posts, and rotting wood are likely to be postponed, as the residents may not be willingto shoulder the expenses alone (especially if they are not co-owners, or only have a small share in thebuilding). Non-resident co-owners are likewise unwilling to share in the expenses as they, living elsewhere,
do not benefit from the house. All these neglected repairs gradually contribute to the serious physical andaesthetic deterioration of the house. In the event of such unfortunate circumstances, stakeholders are unable
to do the repairs necessary for preserving the integrity of the property. Some may resort to selling theproperty to in order to cut their losses. The new owners may then demolish the property and sell the remains
as antique parts. The grounds of the property are usually a prime location suitable for new commercial
establishments which would give a bigger monetary return to the owner. These are some of the reasons thatthese Spanish colonial houses are decreasing in number. Another reason is the value of parts taken from thehouses that thieves sell openly on the market as antiques. Houses without caretakers are being exploited andparts are taken if nobody is around. Lastly, due to its geographical location the Philippines is prone to tropical2

cyclones, which generally produce heavy rains and flooding of large areas and also strong winds, resulting
in the destruction of properties and especially these ancestral houses.

The Boix House in poor condition with informal tenants in Bautista St.

Need 1: Comprehensive Architectural Documentation

A consortium of property owners, administrators, custodians, and heritage advocates is pushing for a House
bill (congressional bill) for the declaration of Quiapo District as a Heritage Zone in accordance with theprovisions of the Republic Act 10066, better known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. Part ofthe initiative would document all the remaining ancestral houses in the area, as some of them are already inpoor condition. Ideally, a combination of digital scanning and documentation by direct measurement isneeded as the houses also have concerns regarding the current tenants.

Need 2: Toolkit for Training and Production of References

There have been a few attempts at making a proper toolkit for architectural documentation but it is still far
from being comprehensive. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) continues to support
the Philippine Heritage Architecture and Cultural Sites documentation effort, but only few areas in the
country have been documented with the help of national grants or from the initiative of local government

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units. An example of these publications are the Heritage Homeowner’s Preservation Manual of Vigan,
developed within the framework of the UNESCO program on “Integrated Community Development andCultural Heritage Site Preservation in Asia and the Pacific” (LEAP Program). It is hoped that this manual
will encourage active participation in heritage conservation and management among homeowners in the
Historic City of Vigan as an inscribed World Heritage Site. This manual would also be an inspiration that
the Quiapo Heritage District could one day have for local utilization.

Conclusion

It is sad to think that future generations may not see existing examples of architecture that gracefully coexist with the Habagat (southwest monsoon) and Amihan (northeast monsoon); with the humidity andintense sunlight; with the torrential rains, typhoons, and earthquakes. This is Filipino architecture that, in allhonesty, integrates ornamentation with structure. The bahay na bato articulates what is Filipino.

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Philippines

Developing a Preventive Maintenance Guide for Wooden
Structures and Components
Jeffrey D. CobillaArchitect/ Head of Project Development and Management for
Heritage Conservation
Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc.
(Themes: Repair & Restoration; Management and Utilization)
Introduction
Wood is one of the most common materials used in almost all types of heritage structure in the Philippines,
primarily due to its abundance and wide variety in different regions of the country. The use of wood in
prehistoric and colonial era architecture in the Philippines attests to the availability and reliability of thematerial as a major building material. Many of the structures that feature wood as the main material arerecognized by the government as valuable cultural properties, and as such should be preserved to maintaintheir significance. However, the task of protecting cultural assets that showcase the extensive role of woodin the development of the country’s architecture and built heritage has been confronted with challenges,
especially in a developing country that may have other priorities, particularly with regard to allocating
resources for its heritage assets. Although the state recognizes its responsibility for protecting its culturalproperties, it is the position of this paper that citizens, as stakeholders, share the responsibility forsafeguarding this heritage and have the potential to actively fulfill this role that could reduce any risk aproperty may be facing. But to do so, owners, custodians, users, and even communities need to have theappropriate capacity and guidance. The lack of capacity of and guidance given to key stakeholders shall be
the focus of this study, which aims to fill a gap in preserving wooden heritage in the Philippines.
Problem Statement
Although some heritage structures that feature wood as themain material can be conserved through the initiative of thestate and some capable owners, the actions taken are commonly
as reactions to the already grave condition of the structure orsometimes to disasters. In the capital city of Manila alone,countless wooden structures have been demolished due to theirdilapidated state, being considered hazardous to thecommunity. Many others are in a poor state of conservation andlikely to suffer the same fate as others that have been taken
down or dismantled for the materials to be used for some otherpurpose. Some property owners choose to sell their property,
again, with the structures being simply taken down. A common
sentiment among owners of heritage structures is the lack ofresources and capacity to maintain for example an old house,
which becomes a reason for its neglect or sale. Even when aproperty is recognized by the state as a cultural asset,
government resources are not guaranteed to be allocated for thecare of all heritage structures. Left without the capacity to take

Figure 1. A wooden post in the Old Convent of
Manaoag Church showing damage and loss ofmaterial. (Photo courtesy of Escuela Taller deFilipinas Foundation, Inc.)1care of the structure, owners tend to let go of their valued properties. A gap therefore lies in the capacity ofowners and custodians to take care of their properties. Without the appropriate knowledge for preserving
wooden building components, the building fabric will continue to deteriorate into a state that would require
more resources to properly preserve the structure, discouraging the owners and managers from taking thenecessary steps towards conservation of their heritage asset and leaving the property vulnerable to hazards
and potential risks.

Objectives of the Study
With the established need to build the capacity of owners and custodians regarding the preservation ofwooden heritage structures, this study aims to develop a practical guide that could enable owners andcustodians to develop and implement a preventive maintenance program specific to wooden materials andbuilding components. This practical guide aims for the owners and custodians to understand thecharacteristics of wood and how it is used as a building material, so they will be able to monitor the wooden
structure or component, plan for the needed repair and restoration, and manage the implementation of thisplan. Since it can be assumed that owners and custodians of heritage properties do not have the technicalknowledge and skills in conservation and do not have access to professionals and technicians specializing inwood care, it is logical to build their capacities in taking care of their properties in a practical and active way.

By equipping owners and custodians with knowledge in the proper and active care of wooden components
and materials through preventive maintenance, the vulnerabilities of the heritage structure can be minimized
and risks are reduced.

Theoretical Framework
This study intends to utilize the various concepts inpreventive maintenance in developing a guide forwood preservation, but with an emphasis on riskbased maintenance that prioritizes resources forelements that have the highest risk. The choice ofrisk-based maintenance over other forms or methods(such as event-based, time-based, condition-based,etc.) is primarily motivated by its nature of being
economical. By having a risk-based approach inpreserving wooden structures and components,
maintenance resources (funds, technicians, materials, Figure 2. Diagram showing the approach in preventive
maintenance. Highlighted items shall be the focus of thisetc.) are efficiently utilized based on the greatest risk study—risk-based preventive maintenance focusing on
if the structure or component were to fail. Although wooden structures and components.
this study shall focus on wooden structures andcomponents, it should be noted that it should be a part of other similar guides addressing other types ofstructures or building materials.

Case Study

2

The structure that will be the subject of this study is the Old Convent of Manaoag Church. Typical of
convents built during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, the building is composed of a masonrywall at the ground level and a second level made of wood. The building, which has been reused as a school,
has been recently evacuated due to its deteriorating state, which presents health and safety risks to the users.
The old convent was chosen for this case study of developing a preventive maintenance guide due to thepresence of components that can also be found in other heritage structures in the Philippines that extensively
use wood as a building material.

Figure 3. A rectified photo of the front side of the old convent of Manaoag Church. (Photo Courtesy of Escuela
Taller de Filipinas Foundation, Inc.)

Conclusion
Being in a region where natural events with devastating effects such as typhoons and earthquakes often
occur, heritage structures need to be in their best form to avoid sustaining damage during these destructive
events. The proposed study presents a gap in the care of heritage structures making them vulnerable to such
events, and the gap may be filled by equipping owners and custodians with a practical tool that can enable
them to fulfill their common role in preserving the wooden heritage of the country. With the availability ofsuch a guide, owners and custodians can be considered as “frontliners” in actively responding to the needsof the built heritage under their care and consistently minimizing the risks to which these important
properties are exposed.

3NepalDisaster Risk and Mitigation Measures of Built Heritage in Nepal
Govinda Adhikari
Conservation Engineer
Department of Archaeology
Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation

This case study report attempts to highlight the disasters and risks to the wooden built heritage, as well as
the mitigation of these hazards and the prevention of loss of heritage due to disasters, in the context of Nepal.
There are seven World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley, which are Kathmandu Durbar square, Patan
Durbar square, Bhaktapur Durbar square, Swayambhu, Bauddhanath, Pashupati, and Changu Narayan, plus
one World Heritage site outside Kathmandu, Lumbini. Another 15 sites are on the country’s Tentative Listfor nomination as World Heritage. Most of these national and World Heritage sites consist of monuments
built using mainly wood, brick, stone, and mud. All of the heritage structures built using traditional materials,
techniques, and processes are highly at risk due to natural calamities, and environmental and developmental
causes. The following observations are from my personal perspective on disasters and the risk to built
heritage in Nepal, and data presented herein are collected from the Department of Archaeology, Nepal.
1.0 Disaster types and their impact in terms of heritage loss
Disasters which cause significant loss of built heritage in Nepal are mainly natural disasters. Human-induced
disasters can also cause damage, although lesser in intensity.
1.1 Natural disasters and their impact in terms of heritage loss
All of the major loss of heritage in the history of Nepal has been caused by natural disasters. As the timing
and intensity of a disaster and its potential for damage cannot be known before the actual event, protectionof the built heritage from natural disasters is always challenging for Nepal. Below are some of the forms ofpotential natural disasters and their damage in terms of impact to the built heritage.
1.1.1 Earthquakes
In the context of Nepal, earthquakes are the major form of natural disaster which historically have caused
significant losses of heritage. Over an average 100-year time period, there is a reoccurrence of a major
earthquake which causes large-scale destruction of the built heritage. The recent 2015 earthquake in Nepal
with a magnitude of 7.6 caused extensive loss of heritage structures all over Nepal. Earthquakes have had
the largest impact in terms of heritage loss throughout the history of Nepal. As an earthquake event canspread over a large area impacting heritage sites, it has the capacity to destroy large numbers of heritage
properties in a very short period of time. So in the context of Nepal, earthquakes have had the largest negative
impact on heritage in terms of the amount of heritage destruction in a given time period.
As earthquakes damage large numbers of heritage properties in very short periods of time, recovery of theloss is very difficult. Recovery needs large amounts of resources in terms of finance, time, and people. Afterevery large earthquake there is a significant complete loss of heritage which is never restored. The recovery
process for the heritage lost during the 2015 earthquake is still incomplete.
1.1.2 FireAs many heritage structures of Nepal consist of wooden elements on a large scale, these structures are always
at risk due to fire. In the event of fire, the loss of heritage is inevitable as most of the monument sites in

1

Nepal are in places where fire extinguishing teams cannot reach in time with the necessary equipment. The
Pratappur Shikhara temple of the Swayambhu World Heritage site of Nepal was completely damaged by afire in 2011, and later restored at its original location. As many built heritage sites are in close proximity toprivate residential settlements, there is always a high risk of the spread of fire and the loss of heritage due tofire will be catastrophic. Once an event of fire happens at any site, especially for built heritage which consistsof wooden elements, the loss to the value of the heritage is irrecoverable. Many struts, doors, and windowsof tiered temples of Nepal which have unique artistic and architectural value cannot be recovered andrestored to their original status. So the loss of heritage due to fire has a larger impact than any other disasterevent.
1.1.3 Lightning
Heritage structures in Nepal are always at risk due to lightning. During the months of April and May thecentral and eastern parts of Nepal receive the majority of lightning strikes. In Nepal, major heritage sites
which are listed as World Heritage properties are in the central region which is always at high risk oflightning damage. As human life and private properties are thus always at risk due to lightning, there arealso many events where major damage to the built heritage has been caused by lightning in Nepal. The
Pratappur Shikhara temple of the Swayambhu World Heritage site of Nepal was damaged by lightning in
2008.
1.1.4 Floods and landslides
As more than 80% of the land area of Nepal is occupied by mountains and hills, there is always risk of floods
and landslides. Landslides have the largest impact in terms of loss of heritage as they can completely wipe
built heritage away from its original location and recovery of the heritage with its value is impossible after
the loss.
During the monsoon season there are major events of flooding in the river basins and plains regions of Nepal.
Although there is no well documented event of floods or landslides which have caused a loss of heritage in
Nepal, there is always a risk.
1.2 Human-induced disasters and their impact on heritage loss
There is no recorded loss of built heritage due to human-induced disaster or armed conflict, but the threat to
cultural heritage properties due to theft, and the removal of archaeological objects from the original locationsof built heritage to other places of interest, are always important issues for the protection of built heritageand its value.
2.0 Mitigation measures for disaster risk
To prevent the loss of heritage due to natural calamities and human-induced disasters, mitigation measures
should be adopted and followed as per the unique needs of the built heritage. With the proper adoption of
mitigation measures, the severity of heritage loss can be reduced significantly.
2.1 Mitigation measures for earthquakes and heritage loss
As we know, earthquakes cannot be avoided but their damage to the built heritage can be reduced
significantly. In every event of a major earthquake, the focus is directed towards saving human life. In
preparation for such critical periods of time there should also be proper mitigation measures to save heritage
properties and their value. We can conserve or restore built heritage at its original location, protecting its
outstanding universal value, only if we have proper plans and documentation beforehand to save the heritage
which is at risk of loss due to earthquakes. Also, periodic assessments of built heritage for possible

2

earthquake damage should be carried out, which leads to periodic maintenance of the built heritage andreduces the loss of heritage in the event of a future earthquake.
2.2 Mitigation measures for fire
There have been many events of fire and loss of heritage in the past in Nepal. Fire can be caused by various
reasons, among which many can be avoided. From the example of the Pratappur Shikhara temple of the
Swayambhu World Heritage site, it came to be known that proper study of fire risk at that site and prevention
measures could have avoided such a fire event.
2.3 Mitigation measures for landslides and flooding
As we can assess the built heritage which is already in danger due to future landslides and floods, necessary
protection works can be carried out to mitigate damage to the heritage at the time of an actual disaster.
Conclusion
This report has attempted to point out the types of natural and human-induced disasters and their risk to thebuilt heritage, as well as some mitigation measures which can be followed to avoid the loss of heritage inthe context of Nepal.
*Report relates to the themes of Unit 5

3

Fiji

Challenges in the Management of Wooden Built heritage in Fiji
Ratu Leone Matanitobua
Tradesman Builder(Technical)
Facilities, Technical Administration & Facilities,
Fiji Museum

Challenges in the Management of Wooden Built Heritage in Fiji
The Fiji Museum is a statutory body that is governed by the Fiji Museum Act 1 and the Preservation of Object ofArchaeological and Paleontological Interest Act. 2 The Fiji Museum utilizes the latter in all its operations, withthe aim of identifying, recording, protecting, and preserving archaeological and cultural heritage sites for thecurrent and future generations.
This report will discuss and identify preservation works that have been conducted by the Fiji Museum with
cultural stakeholders in the preservation of the wooden heritage materials from Makogai Island and how we havemanaged to use adaptive measures for wooden heritage materials not only in the museum building but also atother sites.
Early in 2016, a post disaster assessment on Makogai Island was carried out by the Fiji Museum Archaeology
and Gazetting Section. The highlights from the report recommended potential inclusion of the island as a national
heritage site and how the building debris could be reused to repair buildings that were devastated in the Historic
Levuka Port Town World Heritage Site.
Site AThe first building took the team one week, from the 19th – 24th September, 2016, to dismantle. The team started
off with nine members and was divided into two. The first team dismantled the building while the second teamextracted nails and bracings from the timbers neatly piled according to sizes. Once the structure was cleared, theteam then recorded the timbers and sorted them for transportation to Levuka.
Table 1. Oregon timber recovered from the salvage exercise
Site

A

1
2

Size

Number of Timbers

6x1

171

3x1

13

2x2

24

5x1

11

2x1

62

4x2

38

Fiji Museum Act, Chapter 263, Laws of Fiji
Preservation of Objects of Archaeological and Paleontological Interest Act, Chapter 264, Laws of Fiji

1

3x2

25

4x3

31

4x4

46

Below are photos from Site A

Dismantling the building structures. Images credit: Fiji Museum

Team lifting the timbers from the site to the beach front; team stacking the timbers according to their sizes and extracting nails.
Images credit: Fiji Museum

Site BThe team then dismantled the second building (60% intact) in the second week, from the 26th – 30th September,2016. Divided into two groups again, the team continued with the process from the first week as the team wasjoined by two other members. Once the structure was cleared, the team then recorded the timbers and sorted
them according to their sizes for transportation to Levuka.
Table 2. Oregon timber recovered from the salvage exercise
Site

B

Size

Number of Timbers

6x1

250

3x1

26

9x1

12

4x2

100

4x4

70

6x2

32

2

Site B – Nasau

Site B building structure. Images credit: Fiji Museum

Measuring, extracting nails, piling the timbers according to their sizes. Images credit: Fiji Museum

The salvaged materials ready for loading. Images credit: Fiji Museum3

Loading from Nasau, Makogai
The team was assisted by the MV Vunilagi captain and crew with the Public Works Department workers.

Off-loading at the Levuka wharf
The team was assisted by the MV Vunilagi captain and crew with the Public Works Department workers.

Images credit: Fiji Museum

PLANNED USE FOR THE SALVAGED TIMBERAs per the Phase 1 report, the Department of Heritage and Arts has identified buildings that will utilize thetimbers that were recovered from the salvaging exercise. Work has been started for the following buildings:
1.

The Ovalau Club

2.

Katudrau Building

3.

The Community Center

4.
Other proposed buildings are those belonging to Josephine Williams, Bobby Williams, and Nemani
Marawai. These buildings will be repaired depending on the amount of available timber and pending assessment
by a certified engineer on whether the building is safe for repairs or requires total overhaul.

RECOMMENDATIONS
1.

The salvaging exercise is now finally completed.

4a.

Makogai Island to be nominated as a World Heritage Site.

b.
According to information gathered from the Fisheries Department, Makogai Island receives tourist
cruise ships twice every month. There are also yachters who frequent the shores of the island and there are few
resources of information about the history of the island.
c.
The Department of Heritage and Arts and its agencies should look into the development of the island
which can benefit from visitors, both tourist and locals alike. The Dalice site has potential for eco-tourism
development.
d.
Demarcation of the burial site by the Fiji Museum with assistance from the institutions mentioned
below.

2.

Proposed institutional collaboration and suggested roles

Institution

Roles

Department of Heritage and Arts/FijiMuseum/National Trust of Fiji
Fisheries Department
Forestry Department

Supervise, technical expertise, funding,human resources
Human resources
Equipment—Chain saws and portable saw

Fiji Corrections Services
Fiji Military Forces—Engineering Division
Lomaiviti Provincial Office
University of the South Pacific/Fiji National
University Tourism Department
Lomaiviti/Ovalau youth groups

Mill
Human resources
Human resources
Protocols
Human resources and documentation
Human resources

CONCLUSION
After this training course, I will be able to contribute to the management of wooden heritage material not only
for the Fiji Museum, but for any heritage wooden buildings. Lessons learned from this will enable me to havemore collaboration and networking with stakeholders on the preservation and management of heritage buildings.
This will also build my knowledge and experience in the adaptive reuse of the wooden built heritage, looking at
the heritage materials together with the currently available materials so that we do not take anything away fromthe significance of the materials.

REFERENCES
1.

Austin C. J, 1944, Central Leper Hospital, Makogai, Fiji, Suva Printers, Suva, Fiji

2.
Steller M, 1978, Makogai: Image of Hope—A brief History of the Care of Leprosy Patients in Fiji,
Lepers Trust Board, New Zealand5

3.

Accessed on 15th August, 2022, http://www.powertochoosehq.com/home-construction-part-3-framing

4.
Accessed on 15th August, 2022, http://ladybugcruise.blogspot.com/2013/08/history-of-leper-colony-onmakogai.html

5.
Accessed on 15th August, 2022, http://maunieofardwall.blogspot.com/2014/09/visiting-leper-colony-inmakogai.html

6

Kiribati

Approaches and Issues in the Conservation of Wooden Heritagein Kiribati
Meere Kenana
Museum Curator Officer
Museum Unit, Culture and Museum Division,
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Wooden heritage in Kiribati is one of the most important and honored types of heritage that has to bepreserved through the generations. In line with the aim of the Museum in Kiribati to preserve and protect
this heritage, two points will be covered as part of this report in relation to approaches and issues in theconservation of wooden heritage in Kiribati. It will first outline the approaches, and then convey some issues
in the conservation of wooden heritage that Kiribati is currently practicing and experiencing.
First, the preservation of wooden heritage is a high priority task for preserving the old state of things, tohonor the knowledge of our ancestors who were involved in making it. As a curator it is my responsibility
to maintain the extant wooden heritage inside and outside the Museum that is documented as part of theMuseum collections. For example, inside the Museum, wooden heritage items are preserved throughregistration, weighing, labeling, daily cleaning, proper storage, recording, and categorization.
Registration is the recording of all the important information about an object—the name of the person who
invented/made the object, the year that it was made and when obtained by the Museum, and its composition,or from what it is made. Weighing is to weigh and record the weight of a wooden object every year to checkif there is any decrease in weight, which can show the strength or weakness of the object. Labeling is tomake a label for each object to show all the information in its registration for exhibit to the public. Daily
cleaning includes wearing an apron and using a soft brush to clean the dust off a wooden object every day.
Proper storage means to store small wooden structural objects in proper places in the Museum, such as an
eel trap (te uu), a fish trap (te bwanga n aine), or traditional house (bwiia), etc., being placed in display cases
for exhibition. Recording involves entering the objects with complete details into a database forcategorization. Categorization means separating the objects according to category, such as according to thetype of plant material or wood used, etc.
Second, protection is also a part of this program of conservation for defending our heritage against humanmodifications. To this end, the Culture Center and Museum developed a legislative bill called Te
Umwanibong Bill, meaning the Museum Bill, to protect all of its collections, but it is still waiting to bepassed in a Parliament Session in the near future and then be turned into law. As museum staff and cultural
officers, there was also a lack of capacity needed for drawing up this Bill, but we worked together with the
Office of the Attorney-General to develop this Bill to protect of our heritage. This is not yet completed andis still in the hands of members of the Cabinet, to be passed subsequently in the Parliament. A security system
is also part of the protection of the wooden architectural heritage, whereby a security officer is responsible
for looking after the public who visit the Museum to ensure that all collections in the Museum are safe andused in an appropriate manner. He is also responsible for locking the building after working hours.
Fire extinguishers are also part of the protection; to help limit damage in case there is a fire, all rooms havefire extinguishers installed and all staff members are trained in how to use them. Recording and digitalization
are the most important part of our approach as we record all information and details of all objects in a
database. The ordering of replicas is also done, to obtain exact duplicates of the wooden architectural items
displayed in our Museum, for the purpose of other exhibitions held outside the Museum or in other important1

festivals that may require the participation of the Museum, such as the Festival of Arts, National Trade Fair,
National Cultural Day, etc.
We all know that deterioration is inevitable as a result of human handling and natural phenomena likesunlight, moist air, wind, etc., and there is a need for conservation skills for this heritage. Therefore, if thereis damage to a wooden object, it needs to be repaired as soon as possible. However, there is a lack of capacity
for repairing an object that is not my own invention or creation, so there is a need for a someone who has
the skills for repairing it. For this reason, I hire a local stakeholder who has the necessary capacity in theconservation of such a deteriorated wooden object, to restore its former state. Accordingly all of the aspectsof conservation together can be costly, so there is a big budget for paying local people who have the proper
skills in the conservation of wooden heritage. There is also a lack of advanced technology/tools andequipment to enhance the production of wooden architectural heritage, and also a lack of funds to support ahigh volume production of wooden architectural heritage, and thus only a few items are produced. Lack ofspace for them to be exhibited is also one of the issues faced by this Museum in accommodating bigger itemsof wooden architectural heritage.
In conclusion, preservation and protection are now becoming part of the conservation of wooden heritage in
Kiribati. Preservation is done through registration, weighing, labeling, daily cleaning, proper storage,
recording, and categorization. Protection is done through the establishment of Te Umwanibong or Museum
Bill 2022, a security system, installing fire extinguishers, and providing replicas for additional exhibition
purposes. Beyond this, issues relating to the conservation of wooden architectural heritage include a lack ofspace, lack of advanced technologies/tools and equipment, lack of human capacity, and lack of funds.

2

Bangladesh

Issues and requirements for timber heritage conservation
restoration management, or use in the context of Bangladesh
Md. Mukhlesur Rahman Bhuyan
Custodien/Field Officer
Robindra Kuthibari Museum, Department of Archaeology,
Ministry of Cultural Affairs

The conservation, restoration, management, and use of various types of heritage is a very important issue forrecovering the history of a nation. Therefore, through the restoration of a nation's past behavior and culture,
it can be seen how the human culture of the present era has been transformed and modernized. Moreover,
heritage conservation plays an important role in helping people of the present age to understand theutilization and craftsmanship of wood used in the past.

Background: Numerous wooden historical buildings and monuments located in different parts of
Bangladesh include Rabindra Kuthibari in Kushtia district, an ancient sailing schooner uncovered at Kuakata
beach in Patuakhali district, and the religious building Shapna Momin Mosque in Pirojpur district withwooden carvings.

Rabindro Kuthi Bari

Ancient boat

Momin Mosque

These are maintained by the Directorate of Archaeology. I will now discuss the historic building Shilaidah
Rabindra Kuthibari, the memorial to the universal poet Rabindranath Tagore. I am working as a supervisorof some other nearby sites of dreams along with that dream. The historic Kuthi Bari is a beautiful two-anda-half-storey pyramid-shaped house with seventeen rooms, in which the use of wood is noticeable in suchfeatures as the following: In addition to the use of kardi barga with numerous wooden doors and windows,
there are wooden cupboards, chairs, tables, shelves, sofas, etc., used by Kabiguru (“the poet”). The current
training will play a helpful role in the maintenance of all these artefacts, which are intertwined with thehistory of the nation and the memory of Rabindra, as well as taking appropriate steps to increase theirlifespan.

Problems: As the building is heavily wooded inside and out, the exterior is exposed to strong sun and rain,
and after a certain period of time, the wood becomes deformed and cracks, and the wood takes on a faded
color. Moreover, the wood is getting attacked by different species of insects. As a result, the stability of thestructure is decreasing day by day. It should be noted that due to the fact that the structure is a two-storiedbuilding, many tourists and visitors are constantly walking on the second floor, so the roof placed on the1

wooden beams is subjected to stress day by day. The existing wooden artefacts inside the structure areexposed in the open which is constantly being affected by a variety of dust. It should be noted that due tothe use of lime, mortar, and brick in the building, the wooden door and window frames used inside andoutside are being destroyed by various types of insects. Due to the use of the building as a museum, thewooden frames and the photographs are getting damaged very quickly due to the damp effect of material
from the old walls falling on the photo frames displayed on the walls. On the east and west sides of thestructure, the wooden verandas are discolored due to the effects of rain and sun, and there is dampness on
the walls of the structure. It should also be noted that the structure is on the banks of a river in the southwest
region, so the effect of salinity is noticeable on the walls, including the wood used in the construction.

Actions taken by the Department of Archeology: In order to protect the structure, the Department ofArcheology is periodically painting the exterior and interior doors and windows with synthetic enamel paint,
and also varnishing the wooden artefacts displayed inside. Moreover, insecticides are being sprayedperiodically to eliminate termites and wood insects.

Beforeconservation

After
conservation

Beforeexcavation

Afterexcavation

Beforeconservation

After
conservation

Requirements to overcome various problems: In order to preserve this historical structure, rich inhistorical and architectural features as the Rabindra Smriti (memorial) and to increase its longevity,
recruitment of skilled and trained manpower by the government is required, along with high-quality trainingof persons related to this structure in the country and abroad, and close supervision and overall managementby trained personnel. It is necessary to identify problems and take appropriate measures to take care of them.
In a word, in enriching the history of a nation, a proper role should be played in the preservation, restoration,and recovery of its wooden heritage. Professional development training courses for heritage specialists are
an important means for them to continue training throughout their professional careers based on their skills.
Keeping up with the latest advances in technology is just one example. New information technologies
provide archaeologists with access to tools that can efficiently record information with improved accuracy
and provide better management tools for communicating and sharing results.

Troubleshooting obstacles:Lack of training abroad.



Lack of action and logistics in natural disaster management.



Inadequate budget allocation.



Lack of skilled manpower.

Lack of hands-on training.

2Impact of unplanned urbanization.



Lack of site management or conservation plans.

Conclusion: As the Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for
UNESCO (ACCU) organizes better training and ensures the participation of more trainees, it becomes
possible for those trainees to make better contributions to the conservation and restoration management ofwooden heritage. Moreover, the World Heritage Committee has given priority to Bangladesh over othercountries, which can play an important role in identifying problems with the restoration and conservation of
the wooden heritage and protect the wooden heritage located in Bangladesh with funding from the World
Heritage Fund.

3

Singapore

Singapore’s building and fire regulations and conflict with thepreservation of historic timber buildings
Panyaporn Trikasemmart
Consultant for Architectural Conservation
Studio Lapis Conservation Pte Ltd

Relevant topics: Unit 1 & Unit 5This report aims to identify the general difficulties in achieving building and safety compliance for historicbuildings with timber elements, while ensuring the authenticity in restoration work in the context of Singapore’s
regulatory frameworks. Through the case study of the restoration project for a former residential bungalow, thereport will also present different strategies employed to address building regulations and evaluate theireffectiveness and shortfalls as measured against the yardstick of heritage preservation.
Building conservation framework in Singapore and historic residential buildings
This section will focus on the residential typology and the current conservation state as context for the challenges
in conserving and restoring timber elements in the case study, an 1890s half-timber bungalow.
The main historic residential types that exist in Singapore’s landscape today originate from various traditionalbuilding practices and primarily consist of the shophouse/terrace house, bungalow, and vernacular dwellinggenres. The shophouse has its origins in the terrace house of southern China, but has over time developed torespond to the climatic and social conditions of tropical Singapore. The typical shophouse is constructed of brickmasonry party walls, while most of its interior elements, such as floor, doors, staircase, wall panelling and roof,
are constructed of timber. The vernacular dwelling genre draws directly from various traditional Malay building
practices established before colonialism. These are typically all-timber structures with generous roof eaves,balconies, and raised floors for the living and sleeping areas. The colonial bungalow drew upon various sourcesof building traditions. The earliest, built in the 19th century from local Malay and Indian building vernaculars,
are often half-timber structures with features such as raised floors and balconies. Influences from global
architectural discourse such as arts and craft, neoclassical, and art deco exerted considerable sway on 20th century
bungalows, making them eclectic stylistically though the brick and timber construction remain widespread.
Select historic buildings and sites in Singapore are under legal protection by two main provisions. The first isfor National Monuments under the Preservations of Monuments Act (2009), and the other is for Conserved Sites
and Buildings under the Planning Act (1998). The former, enforced by the National Heritage Board,
encompasses architecturally and historically significant monuments such as religious institutions and former
governmental buildings. Buildings under this Act are subject to stringent preservation guidelines, where
demolition, modification, and renovations are not allowed without written permission from the Board. The latteris enforced by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the scale of protection ranges from individual buildings
to compounds and whole city blocks. Sites under this provision are allowed higher degrees of modification
including at times complete renewal of the interiors. A majority of colonial bungalows and shophouses areprotected under the Planning Act as conserved buildings. However, it should be noted that there remain
numerous bungalows and vernacular timber structures which lack any legal protection status whatsoever.

1The case study pertains to a bungalow defined as a Conserved Building, a type which often undergoes change
of use, and therefore such projects are often viewed under the lens of a renovation project in addition to a historicconservation project. They are additionally subject to other stringent current-day regulations that are sometimes
at odds with the interests of heritage preservation and authenticity.
Major conflicts between regulation compliance and heritage concerns for conserved structures
Compliance with fire safety and building regulations are some of the major factors that disproportionately affectthe restoration of timber building elements in Singapore. Issues arise as old structures undergoing addition andalteration work are expected to comply with the same standards as newly built structures by default, andexceptions are only made on a case-by-case basis. Buildings accessible and used by the public are especiallysubject to stricter requirements. This section attempts to give an overview of some of the major provisions whichconflict with the restoration of conserved timber structures and elements.
A major consideration that often arises in the early project stage is the calculation of the appropriate structuralloading of floor or roof structures given the building will be reused, especially for those that will be adapted forhigher occupancy loading or for commercial or hotel usage. The standard imposed loading requirement
calculation adopted in Singapore is equivalent to the use categories and loading forces defined in Eurocode
EN1991-1-1. In the context of a historic timber structure in a residential setting, the original structure is first of
all not designed to take more than the imposed load of residential usage, and second, the original design forimposed load would not have followed current standards, or even any standards to begin with. To a lesser extent,roof structures are sometimes subjected to the same structural calculations and design specifications as they
support new mechanical and electrical equipment. Often this translates into strengthening the design, varying
from minimal additions to invasive procedures and, in some cases, a replacement of the structure with new
construction such as reinforced concrete floors, or new steel structures for the roofs.
While standards and provisions for new timber building elements and structures exist (namely the Code ofPractice for the use of timber in buildings), there are none that address the requirement for rehabilitating existing
timber structures. The Code is also modelled after the relevant Eurocode 5 and Malaysian Standards provisions,which apply strict specifications on member sizes, loading, treatments, and combustibility requirements, withwhich old structures struggle or completely fail to comply.
For fire safety compliance, the only provision addressing conserved buildings is Clause 9.9.1 of the Fire Safety
and Shelter Department (FSSD)’s Fire Code, which specifically covers structures built before 1969. However,the definitions of this provision primarily address the shophouse/terrace house category, with several
assumptions made based on their typical layout and building elements. This means that the same Code isenforced for other historic timber buildings even if they may not be applicable. For instance, there is no provision
to address the protection of first-storey timber floors that are raised, a common element of vernacular houses andbungalows. These ambiguities require the project team to interpret and implement decisions based on similarclauses that may not be the most applicable. Furthermore, such implementation is assessed and approved caseby-case by the FSSD, which adds to the uncertainty of what would and would not be conserved.
Although the elements are protected by the Planning Act, the responsibility to ensure that restored buildings areappropriate for reuse means elements such as structures and staircases are not exempt from such requirements
and standards. As these buildings were built decades or centuries before the code requirements came into force,
many facets of the building are understandably non-compliant. This has sometimes necessitated major

2modifications or complete replication/replacement of elements to fulfil such requirements. The lack ofcomprehensive official standards for building rehabilitation that can be consulted also allows decisions to carryout invasive works. This directly goes against any conservation principles of minimum intervention to historic
structures.
Case study of an adaptive reused bungalow and the strategies adopted
The present case study aims to illustrate how through a consultative approach, a project team must negotiate
between retaining the authenticity of a historic building, along with its building elements which are rare and ingood condition, while at the same time attempting to satisfy current-day building and fire safety standards.
The building is a two-storey timber and masonry bungalow with a turret tower overviewing a central part ofSingapore, built in 1892. The conserved building is now a part of a condominium development, adapted as aclubhouse for the residents. The main elements which utilise timber in this building are the roof structure, secondstorey floor structure and flooring, exterior veranda posts and beams, the main interior staircase, and all doors
and windows.
Based on this new use, the building is no longer considered residential as multiple users and guests are anticipated.
Thus consultants were required to determine the appropriate imposed loading, especially on the upper timberfloors. In the initial phase, the category of use (per Eurocode) referenced for structural assessment for meetingrooms was based on ‘C4 - areas susceptible to large crowds’, translating to an imposed loading of 5 kN/m2. Inother rooms, the imposed load ranged between 3.5 and 4 kN/m2, and similar details were proposed for selectjoists. As such, the initial strengthening design involved sandwiching historic timber joists with L-angles on bothsides, bolted through, for about 20 joists. This was deemed extremely invasive for floor joists in good condition,and consultants considered redefining the formula for imposed loads differently, that is, calculating maximum
load in terms of maximum human occupancy per square meter as allowed by fire safety standards rather thancategories of use. This is appropriate as the floor area of the second storey is less than 300 m2. As a result, theimposed load for meeting rooms was calculated to be 4 kN/m2 while for other rooms it dropped to 2.5 kN/m2.
As a result, strengthening was reduced to 6 joists, and where excessive deflection was an issue, secondary sisterjoists were introduced to select areas.
Furthermore, as combustible materials, timber flooring and staircases which will be used in the event ofemergency are required to be fireproof for up to 1 hour. Per the Fire Code and relevant standards, accepted
methods of fire-proofing timber elements includes the introduction of fire-rated boards, fire retardant treatment
via vacuum chamber impregnation, and application of intumescent paint. The team deemed these considerablychallenging for the proper conservation of a historic timber floor structure and staircase. Chemical impregnation
was ruled out entirely as the whole of the historic floor and staircase would require dismantling and be subjected
to vacuum chamber treatment, which would likely affect the integrity of old timber especially finer members
such as staircase balustrades. Though less invasive, introducing intumescent paint and fire-rated boards would
obscure the original material and transparent finish of the timber elements. As a result, a performance-based
proposal was considered: The team proposed a transparent fire-retardant treatment complying with the 1-hour
standard for protection against the spread of flame, and also with the required BS476-7 Class 2 standard. Throughseveral consultations with the FSSD, this was finally deemed an acceptable solution. The adopted proposal aims
to both preserve the appearance of the original architecture as well as fulfil the fire-proof performancerequirement for newly inhabited buildings.

3

The historic grand staircase is designated as an emergency passage. This means an increase in imposed andlateral loading (on the railings) had to be taken into account, in addition to railing height, spacing, and widths oftreads, as well as fire-proof performance. As a result, a secondary concealed structure was introduced to support
new railings and strengthen the staircase structure to reduce invasive work and minimise visual bulk.
Conclusion
Despite some positive compromises achieved in the project, there are still numerous challenges regarding proper
conservation of timber elements within the bungalow of this case study arising from the need to comply withcurrent-day regulations. For instance, while timber doors and windows have been restored and preserved, 90%of these are decorative as secondary glass doors and fixed glass windows are introduced to fulfil emergency
passage and barrier to fall standards. Especially with regards to retaining the original uses and finishes of historictimber structures in the adaptive reuse of buildings, multiple challenges remain.

4

Bhutan

Importance of survey and documentation of heritage sites
Pema
Executive Engineer
Division for Conservation of Heritage Sites
Department of Culture
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

1. Introduction
According to the Cultural Heritage Bill of Bhutan, the heritage sites of Bhutan are classified into three broad
categories: heritage buildings, cultural sites, and archeological sites. We have over two thousand Buddhist
temples and ten thousand pagodas nationwide. The building blocks (main load-bearing walls) of our heritage
sites are rammed earth or stone masonry with mud mortar, and heavily integrated with timber components(Figure 1). Further, timber forms both the structural and non-structural components in a vernacular construction.
We afford the highest regard and recognition to our heritage sites, as living testimony to our forefathers'
extraordinary vision and knowledge. The diversity of forms, designs, elements, techniques, etc., provides
valuable information about the art, architecture, knowledge, and wisdom of a particular region or locality.
Therefore, the Department of Culture (DoC) under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs is vigorously
pursuing detailed surveys, mapping, and documentation of heritage sites. We intend to build a comprehensive
inventory system to protect our heritage sites and adapt to the changing needs of society. We adopt the valuebased protection principle in carrying out the registration and designation of heritage sites. With theadministrative framework in place, monitoring is essential for ensuring that our heritage sites are protected andpreserved for posterity.
In addition, our heritage sites are also living heritage used daily by the local custodians and as places of worshipby local people. The constant use of the heritage sites keeps our heritage sites intact and relevant to the changing
times. However, they are susceptible to deterioration, decay, aging (an inherent phenomenon), and damage due
to poor utilization and understanding of the structure (human-induced loss). Moreover, Bhutan has high exposureand risk to earthquakes and other natural disasters that may cause irreplaceable damage to our heritage sites.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 1: (a) Chari Monastery (Buddhist temple), (b) Memorial Chorten (Buddhist Pagoda), and (c) Pangrizampa
Lhakhang, under renovation.

1

1.

Approach to better protection of our heritage sites

The traditional knowledge system of Bhutan is mainly intact, passed down through generations via
apprenticeship and oral communication. This means of transmitting skills and knowledge has induced social
inclusion and communication, but has also impeded the keeping of written records. Thus it is rather difficult tofind any written records of alteration and intervention maintained for most of the heritage sites. If found, theinformation is embedded in religious texts such as autobiographies of Bhutan's significant religious and spiritual
figures. Moreover, emphasis is placed on the sacred relics and invaluable artifacts rather than the heritage
structures. Therefore, in the last few decades, the DoC has approached the preservation and promotion of heritage
sites more holistically and systematically by incorporating scientific know-how and a technical approach. The
activities include, amongst others, the following: (i) creating awareness and sensitization about preserving andmaintaining the fabric of heritage structures, (ii) building the technical capacity of private technicalprofessionals, (iii) detailed documentation of heritage sites, (iv) digitalization of inventory, and (v) public-private
partnership in the revitalization of traditional houses.
2.

Contextual-based practice of recording and documentation

As explained above, timber is an integral construction material of heritage sites, from simple vernacularbuildings to massive fortresses (Dzongs). More often than not, there is a need to replace the timber members,
especially those embedded in the load-bearing walls. While there are understandable reasons to replace
individual timbers, the custodians prefer to replace the entirety of the timber components. The common reasonsare structural aspects and embellishment. On the other hand, for the main load-bearing walls, that is, the rammed
earth and stone masonry structures, the DoC is conducting extensive scientific research on our traditional
structures' seismic capacity and performance. Therefore, we have a certain understanding of these structuralelements; consequently, this helps us make informed decisions. In contrast, there are limited studies on timber
structures and their engineering aspects. Therefore, we are proceeding further with the documentation of timber
members as they are an invaluable component of our heritage sites.
From my professional experience, I have worked on the documentation of heritage buildings and other traditionaltimber bridges (local name: bazam), on damage assessment, and the preparation of structural consolidation plansand programs. We try to ensure that these reports are consistent, relevant, and readily available. Still, such works
are limited to heritage sites where the Department has direct or indirect involvement. Aside from these
documents, there are hardly any monitoring documents available for making informed decisions for better
protection. For better protection and promotion of our heritage sites, we need to clarify and ensure a proper
system of recording and documentation of all heritage sites of Bhutan. Such work is ambitious but necessary.
Therefore, with the realization of the importance of this task, we are developing a standard monitoring andrecording system that can accommodate even the least heritage buildings. Moreover, we are focusing on an
approach to better record keeping that can be easily used by both heritage owners as well as technicalprofessionals. Such recording work will help better protect and reduce the disaster risk, in addition to ensuringthat the cultural heritage values are intact. We have begun to implement such recording practices for heritage
sites that are of national importance and have management and disaster risk reduction plans in place.
3.

The way forward

We understand that Japan's heritage buildings and many other cultural properties are composed of timber withan exemplary protection system in terms of the administrative framework and technical know-how. I look2

forward to learning from the highly experienced professionals from Japan and other international experts whowill guide us through a series of interconnected lectures. In particular, I look forward to the sessions under Unit
3—Recording and Documentation, and will try to understand the survey and recording methods at individualand group levels. I plan to take away the best practices and, if possible, integrate them and improve our recording
and documentation work.

∗ Remarks: The report relates to course Unit 3—Recording and Documentation.

3

IndiaChallenges of Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Historic Towns
and Cities of India
Saumya Tripathi
Principal Conservation Architect
Architecture & Conservation,
Vernarch Design Studio

The concept and definition of heritage has evolved from the monument-centric approach to the present-day
inclusion of natural heritage, historic towns and cities, cultural landscapes, industrial architecture, andgardens, etc. While the concept is well understood internationally, its application in the context of historic
towns and cities is still a challenge, as heritage is often understood as buildings and sites of significance. The
cultural heritage of Indian cities represents the rich cultural past of geographic regions and traditional
knowledge systems that evolved under concepts of sustainability. With this case study report, I am presenting
a brief introduction to the cultural heritage of the historic cities of India based on research, site surveys,
cultural mapping, significance and risk assessments, and consultations with government departments andstakeholders.
Issue: Promotion of specific sites/monuments
It is often observed that one of the significant cultural attributes of a city may be promoted while
undervaluing other important historical and cultural features of the same city. The best example for this is
Agra—which is known for the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, monuments of national importanceand World Heritage Sites with high tourist traffic—as a result of most of the urban interventions focusing
on developing the area around the Taj Mahal to facilitate the tourism experience. To lessen the impacts ofhigh tourist traffic on the attributes of value of the Taj Mahal, there is need for preparing a visitor
management plan along with the conservation management plan of the site. There is an unexplored Agra
beyond the Taj Mahal which requires the attention of different areas of expertise for archaeologicalexcavation, areal development, revival of traditional water systems, addressing the issues of the river
Yamuna, and conservation of the significant buildings and historic gardens along the river Yamuna, etc., toattract more tourist interest to other parts of the city.

1

Image 1. View of Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh on the banks of River Yamuna

Image 2. Entrance gateway and tomb of Itmad-ud-daula—one of 44 historic gardens on the banks of river Yamuna restored
under partnership of the Archaeological Survey of India and the World Monuments Fund, New York

Issue: Buffer zones in and around protected structures
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the apex organization focussing
on the maintenance of ancient monuments, archaeological sites, and remains of national importance.
Similarly there are sites which are protected and maintained by the state governments guided by individualstate laws. The third category is the urban local bodies (ULBs) within states which can protect the buildings
at the local level/city level under the regulation of municipal laws, town planning acts, as well as the 74th
Amendment of the Constitution which gives power to the ULBs to develop processes that suit their local
context. The ASI-protected monuments have buffer zones prohibiting construction within 100 m, andregulating activities within 300 m. The state-protected sites also have provisions of buffers which vary as

2per state legislations. These buffer areas are encroached upon or come under ownership and management ofdifferent department/line agencies.
Issue: Urban development pressure and the role of ULBs/municipalities
This is the most challenging issue that conservation professionals address, as it frequently involves thedemolition of historic buildings causing irreparable loss, replacing older structures with contemporary ones
to provide and develop better infrastructure facilities. These urban interventions for infrastructural facilities
are developed in isolation without any interdepartmental consultations or contextual analysis, such as asignificance assessment of the heritage or an impact assessment of the project, due to the absence of statutory
guidelines for the protection of heritage and to a lack of awareness. The ULBs perceive heritage with thetourism lens due to a lack of awareness, knowledge, and technical and professional expertise. By contrast,
the local communities in small towns and settlements are much more aware of the places of their origin andare more informed about the context and setting of their communities.
Issue: Loss of identity and morphological character of the historic cities
Srinagar, one of the 246 cities of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, located in a valley surrounded by
the Zabarwan mountain range and reserve forests, was historically known as a city of 15 bridges (of timber)and was also compared with Venice for its waterways, canals, and lakes that formed the local transport
network. But with urban expansion and infrastructure development the city turned its back on the river
Jhelum and its waterways, impacting the connections of the people with the ghats, religious buildings, andneighbourhoods. There are only two timber bridges surviving (one historic and one contemporary), while
the others have been replaced with new concrete bridges. The vernacular houses of the historicneighbourhoods showcase the traditional construction system known as taq-daab and dhajji-dewari, wheretimber is used extensively as reinforcement with brick masonry; however the new developments do notfollow the traditional sustainable systems that are less susceptible to earthquakes.

Image 3. Srinagar Jhelum waterfront with Shah Hamdan (an ASI-protected site) and vernacular houses with Hariparbat Fortin the background

Issue: Protecting the spirit of the place, its character and living traditions based on traditional
management systems

3

Every historic city is unique and different, therefore it is necessary to develop city-specific conservation andurban design guidelines to protect each city’s significance and the attributes of its values. Puri is a sacredcultural landscape and pilgrimage town of India, where people worship Lord Jagannatha and their daily
activities are centred on the main shrine. It is a city with living traditions and practices. The idols of the main
shrine are made of timber and are renewed every 10–12 years, based on astronomical calculations andfollowing a highly sacred process, from selecting the trees for the sacred logs of wood, bringing them backto the temple, followed by the making of the idols. Simultaneously, outside the temple, on Grand Road three
chariots are constructed from timber by local artisans offering their service to Lord Jagannatha, for the annual
procession from the main shrine, carrying the deities to Gundicha temple at the end of the road.

Image 4. Workshop of the artisans on Grand Road, Puri, during the Nabakalebara festival, 2015

Image 5. Construction of three chariots on Grand Road of Puri, during the Nabakalebara festival, 2015

Issue: Loss of the traditional knowledge system and the decline of artist guilds
The availability of crafts and skilled artisans is a prime requisite for carrying out conservation and restoration
for any site. It is observed that people, especially the younger generation from artisans’ families, are notinterested in taking tradition forward due to the lack of economic benefit, poor recognition for their crafts,
and occupational health hazards. Also, the traditional methods and techniques require a lot of patience toachieve excellence in the various crafts, whereas artisans can earn more by catering to the market demand
for simplistic products. There is also a disconnect/gap between the education system and the traditional ways

4

of learning these crafts. A similar shift has also happened in the traditional material used for wood carving,from hardwood to softwood which is easier to carve to make artefacts.
Issue: Project time frames
Government or municipal projects, either for building conservation/restoration or for interventions andpolicy formulation on an urban scale, have fixed time frames for their completion varying from four months
to one year. This presents a challenging goal to achieve, considering the time required for exhaustive
research, field surveys for documentation, cultural mapping, conservation planning, contextual analysis, andsite implementation, along with stakeholder and community consultations.
Ways forward:
For the management of cultural heritage in historic cities:•
all.

Compilation and development of a centralised GIS-based national database which is accessible to•Protection of natural features, rivers, indigenous water systems, landscapes, and forests, etc.

•
Integration of the natural and culture heritage resources in the planning process and development
plans of cities, guiding future development.
•
Policy and guidelines for the conservation, restoration, and management of the cultural and natural
heritage.
•
Bringing conservation into the mainstream of development processes and bridging the gap between
multiple disciplines.
•
Heritage impact assessment (HIA)—At present carrying out an HIA is mandatory for infrastructuredevelopment projects proposed near sites of national importance, but there is a need to adopt this for stateprotected sites as well as sites of local importance.
•

Creating awareness that conservation is not anti-development.

•

Disaster preparedness
For artisans/craftsmen/professionals:•

Need for a database of skilled craftsman and artisans.

•Enhanced income and livelihood opportunities to encourage and promote local artisans andcraftsmen.
•
Revival of traditional programmes within mainstream education for learning the local
craftsmanship.
•
Education and outreach programmes to engage youth, focussing on the study of local vernaculararchitecture practices, traditional knowledge systems, and intangible practices.
•
Multi-disciplinary capacity building programmes for professionals and government officials who
are the direct or indirect custodians of the heritage.
At the site level:•

Conservation and management plans of the sites.

•

Protection of the buffer zones of ASI- and state-protected monuments.

5•Site guidance and signs through use of digital technologies for site interpretation.

•

Creating immersive experience for interpreting site narratives and oral histories.

*All the images used in the report are taken by the Author

6Uzbekistan

Conservation of wooden structures at examples in Uzbekistan
Tatyana Trudolyubova
Culture Programme Assistance
Culture Unit,
UNESCO Tashkent OfficeThis report covers the problem of conservation of wooden structures using the examples of two mosques in
Itchan Kala, a World Heritage property of Uzbekistan. Itchan Kala was inscribed on the World Heritage list in
1990. It is the inner town located in the city of Khiva, Uzbekistan.
One site for this study is Bogbonli Mosque, which was built at the beginning of the 19th century. The mosque isrectangular in plan, and has a wooden aiwan 1, with two wooden columns, a wooden door, and aiwan ceiling thathas preserved some paintings. In 2020–2022, the UNESCO Tashkent Office carried out conservation/adaptation
works at this mosque. As there was a lack of budget and skills of local specialists who could restore the painting
on the ceiling of the aiwan it was decided to clean the ceiling and put on a protective layer but not repaint it. As
for the wooden doors and columns, these were cleaned and covered with drying oil.
The second mosque is Djuma, which is one of the oldest mosques in Itchan Kala (built over the 10th–18th
centuries). It is a unique mosque with 212 wooden columns, and each column is different from the others. Dueto the discovery of termites, the local authority plans to carry out the restoration of the roof of this mosque andreplace some of the columns.

Problem 1. Protection system for wooden heritage
It seems there is no officially approved document on methods or guidelines for how to deal with wooden
structures. There is a set of recommendations produced by the local specialists; however, it does not havemandatory status and the document itself has not been finalized.
There is no officially approved conservation and management plan for this World Heritage property. Work for
the Project of Detailed Planning (PDP) and management plan have been carried out by the state party for someyears, but there were many recommendations from ICOMOS and the final version of the PDP has not been
completed.
There is a lack of communication among stakeholders. For example, the local government decided what to do at
Itchan Kala and its surroundings, however, according to the law all development projects should be approved by
the National Scientific Council under the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage and by the World Heritage
center. But this link is sometimes lost, and with the approval of the local government hotels have been
constructed in place of demolished houses. As a result, more and more hotels and B&Bs are appearing, andhouses disappear.

1
Aiwan is used in architecture to refer to an open-air pavilion, usually walled on three sides and open on the fourth side with a beamed ceiling oncolumns or pillars.

1Another problem is termites. The Khorezm Mamun Academy in Khiva has been researching this agent ofdeterioration for many years. The termites were found in the roof and in some columns of Djuma Mosque. Dueto termites, some neighborhoods (mahallas) were demolished near Itchan Kala and now are empty spaces. These
empty spaces caused concerns during the Reactive Assessment mission of ICOMOS and had been pointed out
in the World Heritage Committee decision. In addition, there are no strict regulations on what to do with thehouses/buildings injured by termites; usually these structures are demolished.

Problem 2. Recording and documentation
During the Soviet era, the practice for documentation of historical buildings and elements was the creation of
sketches or drawings. The elements or the whole building were accurately measured and drawn. The same
situation applied for the wooden elements. They were measured and drawn to the necessary scale. Also, somedescription was provided. All of these sketches, drawings, and documentation are collected in the archives of
the Agency of Cultural Heritage (in the Soviet era it was under of the Ministry of Culture). However, not all
historical buildings were recorded like this, as it took a lot of time to make detailed drawings for each site andelement. Uzbekistan has more than 7000 historical sites, and in the Soviet era there were many more sites.
For example, the drawings for Bogbonli Mosque were not found and there was a lack of information about thismosque. So, the first thing before doing any intervention, a condition assessment of the building and drawings
in AutoCad were created. Also, an international expert team utilized photogrammetry for a detailed recording of
the mosque. In particular, the current conditions of the ceiling, columns, and doors were recorded by use of thephotogrammetric method.

Problem 3. Repair and restoration
There are no guidelines for which types of mortar or building materials should be used for the protection ofwooden structures.
In conducting conservation work for the wooden structure of Bogbonli Mosque, the UNESCO Tashkent Office
involved local specialists who have knowledge and skills about how to deal with wooden elements. However,as there was no extensive knowledge about how to paint the ceiling, it was decided to preserve the painting by
just cleaning and covering it with a protective layer. Specifically, the following methods and materials were used
for the painted ceiling of the aiwan of Bogbonli Mosque:•
The condition of the beams of the aiwan was checked and no termites were found, but all wooden
structures were treated with a protective substance against insects.
•
There were some places with lost painted panels that were replaced by larch panels without painting
and carvings, so the intervention can be clearly seen.
•

The entire surface of the painted ceiling was cleaned with air pressure and then washed with alcohol.

•
Next, the protective layer was applied as a cover. A special solution was prepared by the cold boiling
method, using a mixture of bioprotection plus priming.
•

The last layer was a matt acrylic lacquer. There was no painting done.

2The wooden elements such as the doors, door frames, columns, and aiwan cornices were treated by the following
method:•First the necessary details were fixed, and then all the details were cleaned with a special solution. The
solution was applied by spraying, or roller and brush, then washed off with water pressure, and finalized with atoothbrush and a special tool.
•
Then, a layer of the oil was applied. The first layer of drying oil was heated to 80–85 °C and appliedwith a brush, and the second and third layers were applied cold by spraying under pressure.
For the Djuma mosque, the specialists explained that the cause of termite damage was because the previous
repair was made in an inappropriate way. There was also not enough slope to the roof and so the water did not
drain properly. As a result, rainwater collected in the wooden structure of the roof and increased the humidity,
causing decay of the wood on the ceiling in some parts of the mosque. Also, on top of the roof there was a soil
layer, which was considered to be a main reason for termites spreading, as the soil facilitates moisture infiltration.
All these factors of moisture, light, and an insufficient ventilation system created favorable conditions for the
spread of termites.
It was proposed to remove the soil layer and put profiled sheeting on top. However, it was recommended toconsider other options with the use of more traditional techniques.

Need 1. Lack of methodological documents or guidelines
Guidelines or methodological documents for how to deal with wooden construction should be created andapproved at least at the local level. For example, detailed guidelines on how to record wooden elements and how
to carry out conservation work for each type of wooden element are needed.
There is a need at minimum for a conservation plan for all elements of the structure and the building itself.

Need 2. Capacity building activities for local specialists
During the implementation of conservation/adaptation work for Bogbonli Mosque it was found out that there
was no institution that could produce the documentation for a condition assessment and conservation plan. There
was one training program that was carried out in 2020 together with the International Institute for Central AsianStudies (IICAS) and University College London (UCL) through the Central Asian Archaeological Landscapes(CAAL) project. However, it will be good to gather all specialists who are qualified for developing project
documentation for historical sites to conduct training in how to record and document wooden elements inparticular, and how to carry out a condition assessment and develop a conservation plan.
Also will be good to conduct practical training with specialist restorers from each region in how to implement
conservation work for wooden elements.

Need 3. Development of protections/mechanisms for wooden built heritage
There are no strict regulations or policy to protect wooden structures. There are some rules about punishment incase of vandalism or harming, but these do not address the wooden elements. In addition, there are no3

laws/regulations about what to do if the wooden elements have been damaged or harmed. For instance, wooden
columns can be easily replaced in historical monuments and houses. Also, the technique of having metal tubes
framed by wooden carving elements is used often for the reconstruction/replacement of the old columns.

Conclusion
This report provided a brief introduction to the main conservation issues for one of the World Heritage properties
in Uzbekistan.
It is clear that the legislative base is not strong enough to protect and manage the site. There is a lack of guidelines
on how to deal with wooden elements and what to do if termites are found.
Also, there is a lack of skills for how to make recordings of the sites/elements according to international norms,
as well as how to implement conservation work.

*Report relates to the themes of Unit 2, 3, and 4.

4

Lao PDRCONSERVATION OF THE MEGALITHIC JARS SITES INXIENGKHUANG—PLAIN OF JARS —LAO PDR
Thongsavanh Khammanichanh
Deputy Director
Plain of Jars World Heritage Office;Heritage Department;
Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism

Introduction
The Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang Province, with the common name of the Plain of Jars, was the thirdsite of World Heritage in Lao PDR to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. More than
2,100 tubular-shaped megalithic stone jars used for funerary practices in the Iron Age give the Plain of Jars its
name. This serial property of 15 components contains 1,325 of these large carved stone jars, stone discs (possibly
lids for the jars), secondary burials, grave markers, quarries, manufacturing sites, grave goods, and other features.
Located on hill slopes and spurs surrounding the central plateau, the jars are large, well-crafted, and required
technological skill to produce and move from the quarry locations to the funerary sites. The jars and associatedelements are the most prominent evidence of the Iron Age civilization that made and used them, about whichlittle is known. The sites are dated from between 500 BCE and 500 CE (and possibly up to as late as 800 CE).
The jars and associated archaeological features provide evidence of these ancient cultural practices, including
associated social hierarchies.
Criterion (iii): The Plain of Jars exhibits an exceptional testimony to the civilization that made and used thejars for their funerary practices over a period from approximately 500 BCE to sometime after 500 CE. The sizeof the megalithic jars, and their large number and wide distribution within the Province of Xiengkhuang isremarkable, and the serial property of 15 components contains a range of sites that can attest to the quarrying,
manufacturing, transportation and use of the funerary jars over this lengthy period of Southeast Asian cultural
histories.
Management and Protection Requirements
The serial property is protected under the Law on National Heritage 2013, supported by the Decree of the
President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the Preservation of Cultural, Historical and Natural
Heritage 1997, and the Provincial Governor’s Decree concerning the Management and Conservation of the Plainof Jars World Heritage Sites No. 996. In addition, Decree No. 29 concerning Establishment and Operation of
Plain of Jars Heritage Office was issued and put into function, as well as other relevant legal documents.
Implementation of the mechanisms of protection occurs at the national, provincial, district, and village levels.
Coordination is provided by the National Committee for World Heritage and the Xiengkhuang Heritage Steering
Committee. A five-year action plan of specific projects has been developed, including an archaeological researchplan, as well as resources for fencing, basic visitor facilities, road improvements, implementation of the national
heritage law, and production of interpretive materials. The day-to-day management of most components isprovided by nearby villages based on contracts established with the Provincial Government, and a formula forsharing the income from ticket sales with local communities is in place.
The main factors affecting this property are processes of natural deterioration and future development pressures,
while the UXO (unexploded ordinance) is also a challenging barrier to access, research, and safety for the buffer1zones.
The management system requires further development, including the establishment of a management plan and aconservation plan to ensure coordination and consistent conservation approaches, and to pursue needed longerterm strategic improvements. A number of aspects of the management system are yet to be fully implemented,
such as the arrangements for a Heritage Impact Assessment. Interpretation and provision of information about
the sites to visitors are modest and should be enhanced in the longer term, particularly in light of continuing
archaeological research and sustainable tourism initiatives for the Province.
With the above requirements for the management and protection of the Plain of Jars, some management themes
and issues are illustrated below.
Management Issues and Objectives
Management ThemeManagement Issues

1.Property protection•••

2. GIS, inventory,
and database

•
•
•
•
•

Illegal excavation
Infrastructure and other development,
including in the wider setting (Zone 4)
Pressure due to urban expansion anddevelopment, including in the wider
setting (Zone 4)
Intrusion of cattle
Encroachment for residences
Incomplete GIS recording of theproperty
Incomplete inventory of jars and otherattributes
Incomplete database of the property
Understanding and interest of visitors
Inappropriate actions by visitors
including recreational use
Future tourism pressures
Local communities in need of
improved livelihoods

3. Tourism andpropertydevelopment••

4. Awareness-raising•

Limited understanding leading tointentional/unintentional impact on jars
and other attributes•

Encroachment of agricultural areas•

Limited capacity in conservation of theproperty
Limited capacity in conducting a

5. Capacity-building•••

Management Objectives
Protect the property from impacts
which endanger the long-term
safeguarding of its heritage
values and attributes, including in
the wider setting (Zone 4).

Improve documentation of theproperty and its attributes toprovide a baseline formanagement and monitoring by
heritage authorities and otheragencies.
Communicate the property’s
importance to local, national andinternational audiences throughimproved interpretation andpresentation, in line with thelatest research findings.
Ensure tourism develops in asustainable manner in line withthe property’s carrying capacity.
Provide benefits to local
communities throughcommunity-based tourism andother development activities.
Improve understanding of theproperty’s significance andmanagement requirements as abasis for better cooperation insafeguarding the property.
Improve capacity among
management staff and local
teams to undertake conservation,

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Management Issues and Objectives
Management ThemeManagement Issues
Heritage Impact Assessment

6. UXO clearance•

Remaining UXO contamination

7. Disaster Risk
Management•

Threatening hazards—wildfire, soil
erosion, vegetation, etc.
Inadequate data and information on
hazards, vulnerability of and risks to thejar sites.
Limited understanding of risk andrelated capacity to manage disaster risks
to communities and the World Heritage
property.

••

Management Objectives
research, management, andmonitoring in cooperation withinternational and local partners.
Improve capacity to prevent or
mitigate adverse developments
through carrying out Heritage
Impact Assessments.
Complete the clearance of UXO
within the property, to ensure thesafety of residents and visitors,
and to enable research and rural
livelihood activities.
Strengthen disaster risk
management capacities ofconcerned government agencies
and communities to effectively
manage disaster risks to thecommunities and the World
Heritage property.

Achievements
The Plain of Jars was newly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019, even though the attempt toenlist it was made from 2000, thus there have not yet been many achievements clearly visible regarding its
management and protection. The main achievements after the enlistment of this property include following:
The Plain of Jars Management Office was established in 2020 to provide day-to-day management of theproperty and coordination with all stakeholders from the local to the international level.
The master management plan and tourism management plan were developed and endorsed by theprovincial governor to serve as the main documents for management and protection of the property.
The Plain of Jars properties are mostly located in rural villages, so the villagers and communities havea major role in looking after the properties in terms of cleanliness, monitoring of the jars, reporting any issues tothe district authorities and the Plain of Jars World Heritage Office. In this regard, the office assists the local
communities through the provision of some funds from the tourist ticket sales for their work on cleanliness andmonitoring of the sites. Regular awareness raising initiatives aimed toward the villagers and communities arecarried out by the World Heritage Office.

Challenges
Even though the Office has the master management plan endorsed with the key issues identified, theimplementation of the plan to address the issues is still challenging. This is due to the Management Office being

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still young. The office has a lack of experience in management of the World Heritage because most of the staff
is not directly from a World Heritage background. The support from the government in terms of funding islimited. While seeking funding from external sources, it has not been easy to find supporters working on heritage
in the area. Thus, to achieve the goals of the master management plan, there are still challenges in near future.

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Indonesia

Problems and Needs Identified in the Revitalization of Saribu
Rumah Gadang, West Sumatra
Trisha Karina
Research Staff
Architectural research,
Pusat Dokumentasi Arsitektur (PDA) Indonesia*Report related to the themes of unit 3: documentation; 4: construction; and 5: management

In 2018, the Ministry of Public Works initiated the Saribu Rumah Gadang (Saruga) Area Revitalization
Project because there was a need to adapt the existing unused rumah gadang for the purpose of tourism as
designated for the area. Rumah gadang is the vernacular house of the Minangkabau people in the West
Sumatra region, known for its bagonjong (horned-shaped) roof and raised platform floor. Saruga is a
traditional Minangkabau settlement, located in the Solok Selatan Regency in West Sumatra. As of 2022,
Saruga has the largest number of original rumah gadang houses and the least amount of disaster risk
settlement area in West Sumatra. It is also a settlement with the most diverse families living together,whereas one or two families occupy most traditional villages; thus, it has almost every type of rumah gadang,albeit smaller than the ones in their original locations.

Picture 1. (left) Area map of the location of Saruga on West Sumatra Island, Indonesia, and the distribution of 32 rumah gadang selected in
the revitalization program in 2018, from 104 buildings. Base map source: Google Map, 2018; combined by PDA, 2018
Picture 2. (right) Front façade of a rumah gadang. Source: PDA, 2018

It was a large-scale project by the national ministry and the regency. The latter will manage the tourism
utilization for the local community of Saruga. I was with the Pusat Dokumentasi Arsitektur (PDA) team,
involved in the early stage of documentation and conservation management planning in 2018–2019. The
finished documents will be used as the base plan and guidance for adaptive reuse by the conservator architect.
While the documentation was completed in early 2019, the physical revitalization planning and construction
work took two years, from 2019 to late 2021, due to the pandemic restrictions in Indonesia.
One year after completion of the construction work, the revitalized buildings are unused, while the owner
prefers to live in a brick house nearby. They expected to utilize their rumah gadang for tourism purposes,
so none of them use it for daily living. The pandemic situation in Solok Selatan Regency has halted all the
tourism programs, and the regent focused on stabilizing more pressing internal matters such as vaccination,
food availability, etc. Another disparity is that the bagonjong roof became segmented and not as smooth as
it is supposed to be.

1After analyzing the impacted situation and the revitalization project process, there are three issues identified,based on the severity level:
Problem 1: The Utilization Management
As mentioned above, since 2020, the regency has halted many of Saruga’s events and festival plans. This
was all the more necessary because cultural events need and will attract visitors in masses, which wasprohibited during the 2020–2021 pandemic situation. In 2021–2022, the regency shifted their priority todeveloping small and micro businesses. Saruga is hard to access as a tourist destination; it is around 130 km
from Kota Padang, the province's capital city, and can only be accessed by 4–5 hour car trips. The attractionof Saruga is limited to its rumah gadang, cultural ceremonies, and surrounding natural heritage. But since
the locals have adopted a semi-modern lifestyle, the current cultural events are dwindling.

Picture 3 (left). Examples of a traditional ceremony procession in Saruga. Source: PDA, 2018.
Picture 4 (right). Documentary filming activity in Saruga. Source: Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Culture & Education, 2021

It is apparent that locals are still dependent on the regency regarding tourism management. With the lack of
tourism income, the locals have begun to feel restless and dissatisfied, but no action has been taken up until
this report is being made. Currently, most of the tourism programs for the newly revitalized Saruga comefrom private tourism agencies and private connections of local homestay owners, which is at least once every
month. Due to their rare occurrence, the tour packages are not diverse enough to attract a steady flow ofvisitors, thus making Saruga a single-visit tourism destination. There are a couple of forward-minded youth
who realized their precarious situation and tried to unite the locals into organizing community tourism
management. But even if they have the will to conduct tourism management, they need sufficient
professional training and guidance to create sustainable and community-based cultural tourism.

Problem 2: The Construction Process
There were some decisions that the ministry took based on the conservation management plan and theprofessionals’ suggestions. One of them was to employ local craftsmen or tukang tuo in the Minangkabau
language and local laborers for the entire construction process. At the time, only one elderly tukang tuo wasresiding in Saruga, so he was open to the suggestion of recruiting tukang tuo from other areas in West
Sumatra. The problem stemmed from local laborers who demanded to work only with Solok Selatan
Region’s tukang tuo and laborers. They strongly rejected anyone from other regions. This ended with thecontractor finally complying with the laborers because no middle ground was achieved and they were under
the pressure of the construction deadline. The noticeable outcome was the segmented bagonjong roof, which
was detrimental because it was one of the most significant valued elements of rumah gadang. This happened2because the laborers lacked the necessary skills to create the traditional rumah gadang, and the tukang tuos
could not keep up the pace needed to teach every worker the correct craftsmanship.

Picture 5. Bagonjong roof that is supposed to be smoothly curving. Source: PDA, 2018
Picture 6. The segmented bagonjong of the same rumah gadang as above. The photo does not noticeably show the segmentation due to thebad angle and reflective light. Source: Directorate General of Human Settlement, Ministry of Public Works, 2020

The other architectural decisions that the ministry made, in complying with the adaptation management plan,
were to replace the thatch roof material with metal for easier maintenance by each owner, and a new wooden
ceiling that was installed to lessen the heat from the new aluminum roof. These decisions werecommunicated to and accepted by the locals before being included in the plan. Despite its negative effect on
the overall architectural value, the conservation and adaptation team still accepted the change because thatch
is not a suitable material in present-day Saruga. Furthermore, roofing material and ceilings are replaceablein future situations.

Problem 3: The Rumah Gadang Documentation
The third concern was whether the documentation was too complicated to understand for its readers, whileat the same time, whether it met the standards for tangible cultural heritage documentation. Three types ofdata were documented: the measurements of the existing building and its site, the identification of damage
to every element, and an inventory of significant elements. Reflecting on the rumah gadang documentation,
the readers (government, architect, and contractor teams) did not ask for guidance in reading, nor did they
provide feedback on whether our documentation was sufficient for cultural heritage architecture. There is apossibility that the documentation was complicated and might be a problem in the overall process of the
project.

Pictures 7–9 (from left to right). The measurement drawing, element identification, and damage inventory documentation. Source: Directorate
General of Human Settlement, Ministry of Public Works, 2018

Based on the above problems, I conclude that there are two identifiable needs, as follows.
Need 1: Utilization Management Plan and Strategy to Encourage Community Participation
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The government and the locals can use a utilization management plan with proper socialization. It would beeven better if the local youth could participate in the making of the plan, to create a balance between cultural
heritage conservation and the community's needs. Their participation would also ensure community
compliance to the strategy and monitoring, especially in cases like the laborers’ disagreement. It would beeven better if a community-based management body could be created as part of the plan. There are somelocal youths with the drive to develop Saruga's tourism, but they currently lack sufficient support to emerge.
At the very least, assistance from the regency is needed to help them gain initial support from the locals.

Need 2: Documentation Guidelines
The ideal cultural heritage documentation we had in mind is comprehensive and understandable by all its
intended readers, from the local community to the experts. At the same time, we know that such
documentation would probably not be detailed enough to be used as a reference for the future developmentof the intended cultural heritage. Should documentation differentiate into two separate versions according totheir readers? Is there any documentation method and output that can balance the needs of all its readers?

References
Directorate of Human Settlements Ministry of the Public Works and Housing of the Republic of Indonesia.
2018. “Documentation and Conservation Plan of Saribu Rumah Gadang.”
Directorate of Human Settlements Ministry of the Public Works and Housing of the Republic of Indonesia.
2021. “Construction Documentation of Rumah Gadang in Saribu Rumah Gadang”.

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