Nineteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

The historic water architecture of Delhi has contributed significantly to the growth of the city over ages. The natural water system of Delhi system got added upon over time through multitude of cultural interactions, comprising diverse water architecture. However, the legibility of this dynamic water system is perceptible only in fragments in the present day- Delhi. This study posits that this disconnect is a strong consequence a lack of cultural reading of the water architecture of the city. The situated-ness of the water architecture lies at the intersection of sustenance, embedded knowledge and culture, which is essential to understand the whole system. This reading stems from taking into cognizance how is water seen culturally, what is the world- view towards water. It influences how we design around or even encounter water in the architectural realm. Due to this disconnect with cultural associations, the water structures are merely seen as monuments. Thus, any interventions fail to take into account their multi-layered and multi- dimensioned nature. The study emphasizes on the need of cultural study in the field of water architecture- making the water the protagonist of the study instead of architecture. The idea is to find connections and missing linkages by turning the lens towards water, focusing on its embedding meaning and knowledge, which inspires water architecture. The study analyses various sources like historic travelogues, art, history, architectural studies, and interviews on site.