Soon after six hill forts in Rajasthan were nominated for UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the architectural heritage of the State received yet another recognition as the 12th century Ahhichatragarh Fort of Nagaur was shortlisted for the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
The “rehabilitation project” of the 12th century monument was among the 20 architectural projects, spread across 16 countries, shortlisted from 800 entries for this year’s edition of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA), announced on April 30 at the Palacio das Necessidades (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Lisbon, Portugal.
The shortlist features a wide range of architectural projects — from a modern high-rise apartment block to the revival of traditional building techniques — located in Afghanistan, Austria, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand and Yemen.
The US$ 1 million award selects projects not only for their architectural excellence but also for their potential to improve “the overall quality of life.”
The award was established by Aga Khan IV, an international business magnate and the 49th Imam of Nizari Ismailism, in 1977 to “identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of communities in which Muslims have a significant presence.”
The Award recognises examples of architectural excellence in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community improvement and development, historic preservation, reuse and area conservation, as well as landscape design and improvement of the environment.
According to the AKAA website, the rehabilitation of the Ahhichatragarh fort, built by Muslim rulers in the 12th century, has adhered to the principles of minimum intervention. “Materials and construction methods of an earlier era were rediscovered, paintings and architectural features conserved, and the historic pattern of access through seven successive gates re-created,” notes the website. It particularly recognises “the finding and restoration of the intricate water system” within the fort, observing how “90 fountains are now running in the gardens and buildings, where none were functional at the project’s outset.”
From housing several government offices and a Border Security Force base, the fort has come a long way to its present restored phase.
