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Item HERITAGE LED REGENERATION OF RAM PYARI ROAD, GUJRAT(UMT, Lahore, 2019) SHOAIB SHABBIRThe Heritage buildings of a city have a significant role in the regeneration and revitalization of its urban fabric. These buildings not only strengthen the sense of urban identity and belonging of a place, but also add vibrancy and life into the surrounding areas. Preservation of these architectural marvels is crucial in order to sustain its traditional and cultural relationship to its surroundings. The history of preservation of the traditional heritage and regeneration of the urban fabric goes back a long way. It is molded by the concern of rejuvenating the urban environment and preserving and rehabilitating its traditional heritage. Movements in the past have mostly emphasized on the conservation of individual heritage structures, but in present days efforts are being made for the revitalization of historic buildings as well as development of integrated initiatives to improve the urban environment of the surrounding areas. This approach is called heritage led regenerations which not only preserves the building itself but also improves the public places around the building and develops the area into becoming a source of continuous social, cultural, traditional and economic activities. Heritage led regeneration is presently the most recognized approach being practices all over the world for the preservation of deteriorating heritage structures and revitalization of the surrounding areas, consequently providing us with policies and solutions that are culturally and historically sensitive. In the context of Pakistan which is still a developing country, many cities have remarkable traditional heritage embodied in its urban environment. However, these cities are presently facing urban deterioration and loss of urban character due to modernization, urbanization and rapid population growth. Gujrat is one such city which has a remarkable connection to history, culture and traditions but is quickly losing its identity sense of belonging due to dilapidated historic structures and deteriorating urban environment. The research in this dissertation is based on a comprehensive study and understanding of the factors that make a heritage led regeneration project successful and to devise strategies and policies to revitalize the dying architectural, traditional and cultural essence of the historic buildings on Ram Pyari Road, Gujrat. It is crucial to preserve the historic core of the city to provide a sense of identity to the coming generations. This research reveals the lost grandeur of the city’s core and emphasizes on its potential to become a vibrant and lively place once again which would consequently aid the local community, authorities, developers and stakeholders to move towards a more sustainable revitalizing strategy and support in preserving and sustaining the city’s heritage architecture as a symbolic sense of pride.Item Issues of Conservation & Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Built Heritage: A Case study of Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore(UMT, Lahore, 2019) Fariha Shahidn 1947, with the advent of independent nations in the Indian subcontinent, substantial cultural properties fell into oblivion and eventual obliteration, ergo memory politics and conflicts of new identities. In Pakistan this infelicitous heritage with Hindus and Sikhs associations was undermined, violated and left to rot. Today these abandoned monuments survive lurking under the shadows of illegal land grabbers and delinquents. Occasionally visited by urban explorers and object of frequent elegy by liberal elites, their rehabilitation and activation holds opportunities for wider socio-economic and civic development. Through the case study of Bradlaugh Hall in Lahore, this research attempts to investigate the issues of conservation and prospects of rehabilitation of such forgotten cultural assets. A former public auditorium and a symbol of anti-colonial education movement, Bradlaugh Hall building has been currently locked down by the existing owners, ie., Evacuee Trust Properties Board of Pakistan (ETPB), to prevent vandalism and encroachments, despite being continuously exposed to natural dilapidation. Previously research asserts that the property needs to be sold to new owners or tenants, as the current ownership does not have the capacity and funding to implement any further rehabilitation scheme. (Malik, 2019) Through this research it was found that the best initial strategy is to lease the property to a public sector university in the neighborhood that would reuse it for academic as well as community outreach facilities for the neighborhood. It was found through interviews that the ‘sensitive heritage’ of Bradlaugh Hall should be reinterpreted through re- use for public education and awareness, especially targeting youth to promote innovation. As a faculty of a neighborhood arts institution along with a community outreach center for surrounding communities, the place would promote public education through its capacity building workshops, interactive digital library and innovative indoor and outdoor cultural events. The proposed use would ensure Bradlaugh Hall’s tangible as well as intangible heritage values, restore its historic sense of place while responding to the community needs. The research proposes a three-pronged approach that ensures sustainability through socio-economic, physical and infrastructure redevelopment in three phases. It would initially involve resolution of ownership and management issues, removal of encroachments from historic structures, and conservation of the main building. Secondly, flexible interior interventions and eco-friendly retrofitting for reuse along with restoration of other historic structure on site to house for allied facilities would be required. Later, the site needs to be restored to its original character to provide a public park and a gathering space. Through its action plan, this research proposes a holistic and sustainable model for rehabilitation of similar abandoned heritage buildings in Lahore.