Living Heritage: Investigating the Case of Sarkhej Roza Precicnt as Living Heritage Precicnt

Abstract

There is an abundant appreciation of culture and heritage which holds rich array of meaning and significance. The places where we live are marked by distinctive characteristics. These are tangible, as in the physical patterns and components of our surroundings and intangibles as in the symbolic meanings and values attached to a place. Ahmedabad has been given the title of UNESCO-World heritage city in the year 2017 for its vibrant culture and its living heritage. The legacy of beholding the heritage has been constant in the city throughout the times since it came into existence. The credit to continue this legacy entirely goes to the communities who have been actively taking care of the rich heritage and culture which makes it a living heritage. Living heritage is not something that belongs to past but something which makes the present living and relevant than it was in the past. It becomes necessary to study the aspects that give the heritage the quality of living. The research investigates the values and characteristics of a living heritage and understand the criteria which makes a precinct or a site a living heritage and have an understanding of the concept holistically. The understanding is developed based on the idea and concept of a living heritage trough literature review and also reviewing the relevant examples of existing living heritage and the parameters that make them one. The study then aims to investigate the Sarkhej Roza precinct as living heritage or not, by deriving framework of investigation based on the literature .