Download - Delhi Heritage City
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Medieval and Colonial Capital Cities of <strong>Delhi</strong>COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS3.2 COMPARATIVE ANALYSISThe Comparative analysis aims to highlight the distinctiveness of <strong>Delhi</strong> as compared to the various historic cities inits geo‐cultural region, Europe and Africa by examining the city planning, morphology, architecture and variousinfluences which contributed for the development of its architecture and city planning.<strong>Delhi</strong> had always been a capital city and the centre for seat of power for many centuries. Though several empireswere formed and rulers changed, the city never stopped growing. Over several centuries, the city has defined itsuniqueness in its ever evolving morphological and architectural styles as a result of its continuous amalgamationof cultures and exigencies of ideas and ideologies. Such exigencies and syncretism has left a distinct mark on itstangible footprint with the development of new vocabulary of architecture and city planning where form,function and symbolism played an important role.In the UNESCO World <strong>Heritage</strong> list; several cities have been nominated but only 14 cities are nominated withinthe geo‐cultural region (Asia‐Pacific) of India. The two medieval and capital cities of <strong>Delhi</strong> which exhibits uniquemorphological characteristics are highly influenced by the planning principles of Central Asia and European“Garden <strong>City</strong>” concept and are paramount examples developed through exigencies of ideas.<strong>Delhi</strong> has been compared to Central Asia like Lahore, Istanbul, Tel Aviv and Isfahan along with Agra in India;Colonial cities like Canberra from Australia and Saltaire in Europe; cities with a dual character like Edinburgh,Budapest and Rabat.The architectural style and the planning principles which are the features of the above mentioned cities exhibitsrich heritage and are comparable to <strong>Delhi</strong>. However <strong>Delhi</strong> stands unique as a culmination of various styles andamalgamation of different cultures resulting in a unique town planning principle.Note:Other than the many cities already mentioned earlier, <strong>Delhi</strong> will also be compared to the Timurid cities likeSamarkand and Bukhara which defined unique town planning concepts influencing <strong>Delhi</strong> greatly. Several othercities like San Cristóbal de La Laguna‐Spain as an example of dual city and Colonial Cities like Historic Centre of theTown of Diamantina‐Brazil, Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás‐Brazil, Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos‐Cuba,Historic Fortified Town of Campeche‐ Mexico, Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)‐ Morocco, Portuguese <strong>City</strong>of Mazagan (El Jadida)‐ Morocco, Historic Town of Vigan‐Philippines, Island of Saint‐Louis‐Senegal, Historic Inner<strong>City</strong> of Paramaribo‐Suriname, Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda‐ Brazil, Historic <strong>City</strong> of Trogir‐Croatia. Thesecities shall also be compared to <strong>Delhi</strong> in terms of its Authenticity and Integrity and their State of Conservationrespectively.7/31/2012 INTACH, <strong>Delhi</strong> Chapter 1