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Papers by Prof. Eva Prasher

Research paper thumbnail of Facades of Historic Shop-Cum-Houses in Colonial Cantonment Towns in Bengal Presidency, India

International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, Feb 28, 2023

The historic quarters are an integral part of the urban fabric of a city and grant identity and c... more The historic quarters are an integral part of the urban fabric of a city and grant identity and character to it. These are the containers of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The market places of Colonial Cantonment towns in Indian sub- continent are one such type of settlement which are the display houses of architecture, art, social interactions, community participations and life style habits of the occupants at the time of their establishment. These historic urban landscapes are hubs of trade and commercial activities and showcase their transformation over the years. One of the unique typologies of structures which evolved with Colonization were the shop-cum-houses. This paper focuses on the shop-cum-houses as built heritage within the market places of Colonial Cantonment towns in the Bengal Presidency of India. This research paper studies the architectural elements and features on the facades of these structures within the Sadar Bazaar areas and analysis the evolution of the architectural style over the decades. The analysis is done through the survey of level II and III during which physical features were documented. The study reveals the impact of global architecture on the local craftsmanship and styles along with some characteristic features that were found persistent throughout granting identity to these historic landscapes.

Research paper thumbnail of Deciphering Urban Morphology of Sadar Bazaar Areas of Colonial Cantonment Towns of Bengal Presidency in India

Colonial Cantonment towns in India are centers of cultural heritage that narrate the tale of Brit... more Colonial Cantonment towns in India are centers of cultural heritage that narrate the tale of British influences on the Indian city planning, art and architecture. The establishment of these towns was an introduction to a new form of settlement with unique requirements that included climatic, political and administrative needs. From the amalgamation of the indigenous and new techniques of city planning, emerged some specific features and elements. One such unique feature of these Colonial Cantonment towns is the Sadar Bazaar area which was the market cum residential space. These Sadar Bazaar areas are the containers of the rich tangible and intangible heritage and this study advocates the need of an efficient and case specific conservation, management and development plan for these spaces. With this aim, the paper emphasizes that the Sadar Bazaar areas should be understood as a unique typology with explicit features. To record the characteristic features and elements of these Sadar Bazaar areas, and to bring forth the issues and challenges these areas are facing in the present scenario, some cases were surveyed and studied. As Bengal Presidency held great importance in the Colonial history in India, the cases from this region were identified for the purpose of study.

Research paper thumbnail of Bungalows and their Typology in the Colonial Town: Ambala Cantonment

Creative Space, 2017

Bungalow' has been the most representative element of the built environment of colonialism. It is... more Bungalow' has been the most representative element of the built environment of colonialism. It is associated with Europeans; although it developed in India, both in terms of name and form. The evolution of this Anglo-Indian residential typology shows how this indigenous mode of shelter, that was adopted and adapted by the Europeans, fulilled the physical, social and political requirements of the mercantile and the administrative European oficers. Among the urban centers established by the British in India, Ambala Cantonment was an important station due to geographical and political reasons. This Anglicized town that settled in 1843 bears the elements of a typical cantonment and is worth scrutinizing as it possesses all three residential types; the bungalows, havelies and shophouses. The bungalows that evolved a century and a half ago were resultant of cultural and social collaboration of the ideologies of the Europeans and the indigenous. It cannot be denied that the bungalows gradually brought about change in the lifestyle habits of the indigenous and impacted their understanding of health, cleanliness and hygiene. This paper, as part of the study, focuses on the bungalows of Ambala Cantonment with respect to their planning philosophies and elements. The bungalow had developed as a typology by the time this Cantonment was established. Primarily similar, these bungalows differ in terms of layout, largely in the arrangement of their rooms and this study categorizes the bungalows on this criteria.

Research paper thumbnail of “Reviving Twentieth-century Medical Legacy – The Case of Banarasi Dass Women’s Hospital, Sadar Bazaar, Ambala Cantonment, India”

Creative Space, 2019

One of the notable advancements of late 19th-early 20th century British India was the introductio... more One of the notable advancements of late 19th-early 20th century British India was the introduction of ‘western-style’ medical care for women. Located within confines of the colonial or princely enclaves, a number of women’s hospitals, staffed with trained British female doctors, were established under the Dufferin Fund. But the benefits of medicalised childbirth did not extend to commonplace Indian women. At this point of time, history was also made by certain philanthropic and nationalist individuals who made some pioneering efforts to extend benefits of medicalised childbirth to the vast neglected body of commonplace Indian women.The 48-bedded Banarsi Dass Hospital for Women, built in 1922 within the dense urban fabric of Ambala Cantonment, is one of the earliest of such pioneering structures. The architectural value of the building as seen in its ingenious spatial organization was devised to ensure generous access to sun and air, ensured thermal comfort in all seasons, a construc...

Research paper thumbnail of Prefabrication in Ancient Period

IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 2016

The origin of any building material and its construction techniques is an interesting subject to ... more The origin of any building material and its construction techniques is an interesting subject to study and explore, because it does not have a present and a future alone but also has a golden past. This past has many facts that explain us the growth of construction industry and also a civilization. Before the latest known advancement in construction technology, all the structures were built from natural as well as handmade and/or locally available materials. This paper is focused on prefabrication techniques used in history. Prefabrication is not a new construction methodology, which is used in present era but it has flourished during the prehistoric times. It is an innovative creation of ancient people which showed path of development for future generations. The cultural background and period of construction is easily recognized from the material used, construction techniques adopted and architectural style followed. The evolution of prefabricated construction is noticeable by strict observance of the original ancient models that continued over centuries together. Therefore, this theoretical investigation on ancient treatise brings out the techniques that have been adopted since ancient times for the construction of buildings the processes involved along with the skill.

Research paper thumbnail of Facades of Historic Shop-Cum-Houses in Colonial Cantonment Towns in Bengal Presidency, India

International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, Feb 28, 2023

The historic quarters are an integral part of the urban fabric of a city and grant identity and c... more The historic quarters are an integral part of the urban fabric of a city and grant identity and character to it. These are the containers of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The market places of Colonial Cantonment towns in Indian sub- continent are one such type of settlement which are the display houses of architecture, art, social interactions, community participations and life style habits of the occupants at the time of their establishment. These historic urban landscapes are hubs of trade and commercial activities and showcase their transformation over the years. One of the unique typologies of structures which evolved with Colonization were the shop-cum-houses. This paper focuses on the shop-cum-houses as built heritage within the market places of Colonial Cantonment towns in the Bengal Presidency of India. This research paper studies the architectural elements and features on the facades of these structures within the Sadar Bazaar areas and analysis the evolution of the architectural style over the decades. The analysis is done through the survey of level II and III during which physical features were documented. The study reveals the impact of global architecture on the local craftsmanship and styles along with some characteristic features that were found persistent throughout granting identity to these historic landscapes.

Research paper thumbnail of Deciphering Urban Morphology of Sadar Bazaar Areas of Colonial Cantonment Towns of Bengal Presidency in India

Colonial Cantonment towns in India are centers of cultural heritage that narrate the tale of Brit... more Colonial Cantonment towns in India are centers of cultural heritage that narrate the tale of British influences on the Indian city planning, art and architecture. The establishment of these towns was an introduction to a new form of settlement with unique requirements that included climatic, political and administrative needs. From the amalgamation of the indigenous and new techniques of city planning, emerged some specific features and elements. One such unique feature of these Colonial Cantonment towns is the Sadar Bazaar area which was the market cum residential space. These Sadar Bazaar areas are the containers of the rich tangible and intangible heritage and this study advocates the need of an efficient and case specific conservation, management and development plan for these spaces. With this aim, the paper emphasizes that the Sadar Bazaar areas should be understood as a unique typology with explicit features. To record the characteristic features and elements of these Sadar Bazaar areas, and to bring forth the issues and challenges these areas are facing in the present scenario, some cases were surveyed and studied. As Bengal Presidency held great importance in the Colonial history in India, the cases from this region were identified for the purpose of study.

Research paper thumbnail of Bungalows and their Typology in the Colonial Town: Ambala Cantonment

Creative Space, 2017

Bungalow' has been the most representative element of the built environment of colonialism. It is... more Bungalow' has been the most representative element of the built environment of colonialism. It is associated with Europeans; although it developed in India, both in terms of name and form. The evolution of this Anglo-Indian residential typology shows how this indigenous mode of shelter, that was adopted and adapted by the Europeans, fulilled the physical, social and political requirements of the mercantile and the administrative European oficers. Among the urban centers established by the British in India, Ambala Cantonment was an important station due to geographical and political reasons. This Anglicized town that settled in 1843 bears the elements of a typical cantonment and is worth scrutinizing as it possesses all three residential types; the bungalows, havelies and shophouses. The bungalows that evolved a century and a half ago were resultant of cultural and social collaboration of the ideologies of the Europeans and the indigenous. It cannot be denied that the bungalows gradually brought about change in the lifestyle habits of the indigenous and impacted their understanding of health, cleanliness and hygiene. This paper, as part of the study, focuses on the bungalows of Ambala Cantonment with respect to their planning philosophies and elements. The bungalow had developed as a typology by the time this Cantonment was established. Primarily similar, these bungalows differ in terms of layout, largely in the arrangement of their rooms and this study categorizes the bungalows on this criteria.

Research paper thumbnail of “Reviving Twentieth-century Medical Legacy – The Case of Banarasi Dass Women’s Hospital, Sadar Bazaar, Ambala Cantonment, India”

Creative Space, 2019

One of the notable advancements of late 19th-early 20th century British India was the introductio... more One of the notable advancements of late 19th-early 20th century British India was the introduction of ‘western-style’ medical care for women. Located within confines of the colonial or princely enclaves, a number of women’s hospitals, staffed with trained British female doctors, were established under the Dufferin Fund. But the benefits of medicalised childbirth did not extend to commonplace Indian women. At this point of time, history was also made by certain philanthropic and nationalist individuals who made some pioneering efforts to extend benefits of medicalised childbirth to the vast neglected body of commonplace Indian women.The 48-bedded Banarsi Dass Hospital for Women, built in 1922 within the dense urban fabric of Ambala Cantonment, is one of the earliest of such pioneering structures. The architectural value of the building as seen in its ingenious spatial organization was devised to ensure generous access to sun and air, ensured thermal comfort in all seasons, a construc...

Research paper thumbnail of Prefabrication in Ancient Period

IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 2016

The origin of any building material and its construction techniques is an interesting subject to ... more The origin of any building material and its construction techniques is an interesting subject to study and explore, because it does not have a present and a future alone but also has a golden past. This past has many facts that explain us the growth of construction industry and also a civilization. Before the latest known advancement in construction technology, all the structures were built from natural as well as handmade and/or locally available materials. This paper is focused on prefabrication techniques used in history. Prefabrication is not a new construction methodology, which is used in present era but it has flourished during the prehistoric times. It is an innovative creation of ancient people which showed path of development for future generations. The cultural background and period of construction is easily recognized from the material used, construction techniques adopted and architectural style followed. The evolution of prefabricated construction is noticeable by strict observance of the original ancient models that continued over centuries together. Therefore, this theoretical investigation on ancient treatise brings out the techniques that have been adopted since ancient times for the construction of buildings the processes involved along with the skill.