KANJI: THE CONSERVATION MANUAL

Resumen

This paper introduces the results of the first phase of a preparatory field research carried out over the past two years, aiming to produce a manual for the conservation of a small Himalayan village, Kanji, in the Indian Ladakh Region. Kanji has an earthen architectural heritage that is now involved in a slow process of architectural transformation due to a new road reaching the village, the recent construction of tourism facilities (camping) and a new public school. Some changes are also affecting the environmental as well as the socio-economic structure of the village. In order to ameliorate any damaging effects of these changes upon the traditional local architecture, it was considered important to produce a conservation manual to promote the maintenance of the existing vernacular architecture. Since summer 2008 a team from Udine University - School of Architecture, with Giulia Bravo and Désirée De Antoni under the scientific direction of Mauro Bertagnin, and with the participation of John Harrison - has been carrying out research and field work aimed at producing a conservation manual for the community of the Kanji village. This research work continues the conservation approach promoted by Achi Association, which for more than a decade has been actively involved in the conservation of Kanji’s Buddhist temples. The operational scheme of the research work has as its main goals: a basic classification of the Kanji urban fabric; the understanding of local building culture; the surveying of architectural typologies and related building construction details; knowledge of the technology of earthen vernacular architecture. The research is also considering, in the first phase of the conservation manual, the decay processes affecting the vernacular architecture as well as the transformations of the existing urban fabric due to the impact of modernity on the village. In the second phase, the conservation manual will include the results of the research on more appropriate best practices and on suitable modifications related to the maintenance and conservation works concerning the small village to be protected, a fine Himalayan earthen architectural heritage.