Subject: Concern regarding proposed demolition and redesign of Dormitory buildings of the Old Campus of IIM-A: A landmark group of buildings of national and global significance.

Dear Mr. Birla,

I am writing on behalf of ICOMOS India, and its nationwide membership of some 350+ heritage professionals, to register our deepest concern against the proposed demolition and redesign of the architecturally unique and culturally significant group of dormitory buildings of the Old Campus of Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A).

ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), as you would know, is an advisory body to UNESCO on matters related to World Heritage. It is an interdisciplinary association of experts dedicated to the conservation of the world’s cultural heritage. It currently brings together over10,500 global members and carries out its mandate through 107 National Committees, 271 Institutional Members and 28 International Scientific Committees. ICOMOS India functions as a duly recognized National Committee of ICOMOS in India.

Our major concern is focused on the adoption of a scientifically appropriate and sustainable ‘management plan’ of this campus of outstanding significance, allowing necessary change and upgradation without undermining its significance, authenticity and integrity.

Having carefully perused the two documents issued by IIMA, i.e.: (1) An official notice dated 04 December 2020, inviting EOIs for ‘Selection of Architect/ Design firm for the comprehensive design of student housing at Main Campus IIM Ahmedabad’ and, (2) The letter dated 23 December 2020 from IIMA’s Director, Mr. Errol D’Souza, to the alumni of the institution, we offer the following observations and recommendations:

A. OBSERVATIONS:

1. It is worth appreciating that the IIM-A has taken cognizance of the significance of Old Campus (created by Louis Kahn in close collaboration with famed Indian architects B V Doshi and Anant Raje), and has made sincere efforts to conserve these buildings. We also acknowledge IIM-A’s need to add more accommodation for a growing number of students as well as for upgrading and retrofitting the existing buildings to meet current standards of living and new building codes.
2. IIM-A seems to be grappling with a dilemma of “Conservation vs Redevelopment”, choosing between one or the other. Conservation today is understood as being an integral part of all development activity and is the major driver of future plans for highly significant areas and groups of celebrated buildings such as the IIM-A Campus.
3. While the two documents referred by us mention IIM-A’s cognizance of its highly significant value, the above consideration (at A.2) seems to have been given a complete go-by in the notice inviting EOI. Neither does the scope of work make any mention of conservation activity, nor is the selected architect expected to have any knowledge or qualification to handle works of immense architectural and cultural significance. The statement regarding achieving functional excellence “while preserving and enhancing the architectural aesthetics, language, and vocabulary of the campus” is open to numerous subjective and ad-hoc interpretations, whereas what is needed is a systematic and scientific assessment.
4. Unfortunately, the absence of a scientific understanding of conservation theory, scope and procedures is also reflected in the decision to keep the peripheral dormitories while demolishing and redesigning the rest. It is of utmost importance to stress that the entire group of buildings - the Library, Classrooms, Faculty Rooms, the Plaza and the students’ dormitories - is a single design entity, a unique campus that needs to be conserved as a whole, maintaining the original relationships between the built masses and the open spaces. Each of the component parts of the ensemble plays a significant role in this composition, and demolishing even one would compromise the integrity and the architectural and cultural value of the entire group. Similarly, the addition of new designs, with a built-up area that (as per the tender document) would be some 160-170% of the existing, would substantially alter the original massing, disturb the human scale, impact the built and nature connect and, impair the authenticity of the ensemble.
5. As regards the safety of the buildings under discussions, to state that the buildings under discussion are structurally inadequate and seismically vulnerable is a misplaced argument. There is adequate documentation to counter such perceptions of threat to life and property. The architectural configuration of the dormitories, showing buttressed masonry walls and a good plan density of structural walls, speaks of an earthquake resistant design. The minimal damage suffered by the said buildings during the earthquake of 2000 is a further testimony that these possess sufficient seismic capacity for collapse prevention.
6. We may also add that conservation of built heritage is now acknowledged as an important pillar of sustainability and that the Sustainable Development Goals as well as concerns for Climate Change recommend the continued use/re-use/upgrading/retrofitting of existing built resources rather than demolition and reconstruction.
7. The situation at IIM-A is not much different from that faced by other remarkable campuses around the world. There are numerous examples of exemplary conservation management of landmark 20^th century buildings, including those with experimental, low-cost constructions, which continue to be used for contemporary purposes without losing their cultural significance. Demolition and redesign is definitely not the preferred, or, the only choice.

B. RECOMMENDATIONS:

In the interest of upholding the outstanding architectural and cultural significance of the Old Campus of IIM-A in general, and the original dormitories in particular, ICOMOS India thus recommends that:

1. The proposal for demolition and redesign of the dormitories be discarded altogether or, at the very least, put on hold till all conservation-related aspects, including the perceived seismic threat, have been examined by a peer group of national and international experts;
2. An exercise to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan be undertaken in a scientific manner, by an inter-disciplinary team of experts, to address issues of future development, upgrading infrastructure as well as conservation of IIM-A’s unique built fabric and intangible values in an integrated manner. This will pave the way for formulating an appropriate conservation strategy as well as action towards structural retrofitting, including seismic modeling by experts of brick, reinforced brick and concrete restoration.
3. Consultations with all stakeholders are further recommended for ensuring sustainable outcome of the conservation initiative.

We hope that you will appreciate that a Conservation Management-centric Approach, besides sustaining the authenticity and integrity of this site of unquestioned global, national and local significance, will definitely be more in tune with IIM-A own philosophies of best practices of resource management. Conserving the original group of buildings in an integrated manner will not only serve as an example for the other landmark structures of IIM-A Campus, but will also serve as a catalyst for other similarly renowned campuses in India.

In furtherance of the above, ICOMOS India will be pleased to offer technical guidance and advice through the conservation experts of ICOMOS India’s National Scientific Committees of Twentieth Century Heritage (NSC-20C) and Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage (NSC-ARSAH) among others.

With best regards,