Advancing conservation through heritage skills training hub

LAHORE  –  Heritage sites offer a peek into the past, with their architecture and embellishments symbolic of rich creative traditions of historical periods, places, and communities in which they emerged. Mughal monuments exhibit a distinctive architectural style reflected in the use of particular materials and artistic techniques ranging from distinctive brickwork and elaborate frescoes to elegant marblework. The functionality of these elements goes beyond visual splendour: they serve practical purposes, such as making buildings adaptive to the climate. For instance, perforated screens (Jaalis) allowed outside air to enter at high speed and pressure, functioning like a natural air-conditioning system. Meanwhile, overhanging roofs (Chajjas) helped block sunlight and rain. Many of these traditional techniques also contribute to sustainable building practices. The application of breathable lime plaster used originally in many structures of the past is one such example; its ability to absorb carbon dioxide makes it a potentially climate-friendly building material. Such techniques are employed frequently in the conservation of historic sites, in the process of preserving the integrity and authenticity of the original fabric but less commonly in modern construction. Within a creative landscape where a new generation of creatives is increasingly turning towards more contemporary methods of design and architecture, capacity building related to traditional crafts serves to preserve them, creating a continuum of skills transfer across generations. To build local capacity in heritage conservation techniques informed by international best practices in a streamlined manner, a group of local and international organisations working in heritage conservation have joined hands. These include CROMLahore, the Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF), Aga Khan Cultural Service – Pakistan (AKCS-P) and the Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority (PWCA), previously known as the Walled City of Lahore Authority. CHF brings together individuals and organisations connected to heritage conservation in the Commonwealth to foster valuable knowledge sharing, while CROMLahore is a community of scholars examining Lahore’s built fabric, studying its architecture and aesthetic traditions especially linked to the Mughal empire. In partnership with AKCS-P and PWCA, they successfully conducted a series of lectures and practical training sessions last year, featuring live demonstrations of conservation techniques, namely the application of lime plaster, glazed tile mosaic (Kashi Kari) and fresco paintings (Naqqashi). This week, AKCS-P, CROM Lahore and the Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct additional heritage conservation training sessions. The sessions, including lectures and on-site practical training, will be held at selected historic monuments across Lahore as part of an initiative titled the Heritage Skills Training Hub. The objective is to broaden an understanding of international best practices among young professionals and students, to contribute to the continued preservation of Lahore’s historical sites through evidence-based interventions. President CROMLahore, Usman Saeed, highlighted how the initiative will help address the deficit of conservation expertise in the country. “In the tragic absence of a degree-awarding institute focused on heritage conservation in Pakistan, our organisation is successfully bridging this gap by employing international and national experts to conduct small courses on architectural ornamentation, to begin with, for young professionals based in Lahore.” Previously held sessions took place in the Royal Kitchens of the Lahore Fort, the Shahi Hammam (Royal Baths) and the Wazir Khan Mosque — sites that embody these techniques. At the Shahi Hammam, a Mughal-era bathhouse built during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, decorative features are visible on the interior walls, arches, and vaulted ceilings.

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The iconic Wazir Khan Mosque on the other hand, is known for its vibrant fresco work and lime mortar, while lime plaster has been used in the conservation of the Royal Kitchens.  Training participants witnessed a practical demonstration of conservation techniques, as different types of materials were tested and applied on weathered surfaces.

The team of trainers included professors from the country’s leading art colleges, such as NCA, overseas experts who were flown in to deliver lectures, as well as grassroots practitioners from across the country, including the remote areas of Sindh. Participants included recent graduates in fine art, design and architecture, engineers, traditional ustads, tour guides, and members of communities neighbouring the heritage sites, including selected participants from underprivileged sections of society.

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Upcoming sessions under the new agreement will delve deeper into the restoration and preservation of surface decoration, and its study and documentation through specialised trainers. Part 1 of the new cycle of trainings will build upon the expertise of participants in glazed tile mosaic, fresco work and lime work, while in part 2, advanced conservation processes related to fresco painting will be introduced. Furthermore, the practice of pietra dura (Parcheen Kari) – meticulously cutting and inserting coloured stones into marble to create floral and geometric patterns – will be added to the training research along with the documentation of the two techniques. Through this program, ongoing conservation projects will serve as training laboratories, transferring scientific, technical, and craft skills while conservation work is underway.

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Sharing his reflections on the MoU, AKCS-P CEO Tausif Khawaja underlined that heritage conservation projects also involve preserving and sustaining the highly specialised artistic techniques rooted in the region. “The training workshops undertaken as part of the Heritage Skills Training Hub are aligned with our strategic focus on building the capacity of young creatives in these traditional skills,” he said. “In doing so, they not only connect with their cultural heritage, but also help carry these indigenous techniques forward, keeping them alive for future generations.”

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