TITLE:
Spatial Transformations and Urban Conservation of Religious-Historic Towns: A Case of Vrindavan, India
AUTHORS:
Sunanda Kapoor, Vandana Sehgal, Mayank Mathur
KEYWORDS:
Urbanization, Spatial Transformations, Religious-Historic Town, Environmental Ambience
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.10 No.8,
August
31,
2022
ABSTRACT: The spatial transformations can be observed at different
religious-historic towns of India due to urbanization. Research is based
upon fact that there is substantial change in
the built environment because of spatial transformations at the religious-historic
towns. The process of modernization in the functions and spatial layout is unavoidable
at any historic town. The study attempts to focus on various urban historic conservation
components, including the look of historic buildings,
their earlier uses, and its immediate surroundings to improve the built environment
of historic towns. A theoretical framework for the urban conservation of ancient
towns is the main objective of study. How to modernize the historic conservation
function while preserving the space’s texture and integrity. The research started with the investigation of the
morphological growth of Mathura district, India
through satellite images and in-depth study of the evolution process of street
network in Vrindavan town, which is one of the main temple towns of Mathura district.
There is a significant difference in the layout
& architectural character of old part and the newly developed Vrindavan.
Due to increased accessibility and movement, the spatial structure of traditional
religious precincts, which were once local integration centres, has significantly
changed. Increasing & changing mode of transportation
and further increase in the religious tourism might be the cause or a big reason
for the spatial transformations and correspondingly there is a challenge
to conserve & preserve the religious precincts of historic towns. The study
tries to analyze spatial transformations with the help of Historical GIS at different
scales of urban form. Suggestive measures to conserve the environmental ambience
of religious-historic towns are the outcome
of the research.