Preserving the Tangible and Intangible Values of the Baltit Fort in Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan, through Adaptive Reuse

Abstract

Tangible and Intangible values are the distinctive qualities that, through the connection of humans with a building and its surrounding community, enable the creation of a particular link called “genius loci” that links the past to the present. In the present time, ancient buildings and sites of historical importance are the carriers of collective memories, which, together with the local characters, create this special spirit of space. Over time, these associations have become an integral part of the local community, telling a unique story. The paper explores how tangible and intangible heritage values can be translated into a new use for a building, connecting its history to the present via a case study in Pakistan: The Baltit Fort (14th century AD). The 700-year-old fort was used as a residence until the 20th century but fell into disrepair over the years. After a restoration project that was part of the ‘Aga Khan Trust for Culture’ initiative in the northern areas of Pakistan, the building is now open to visitors as a museum. The paper will critically examine the approaches of the adaptive reuse implied for the project to explore how the tangible and the intangible essence of the past have played a role in proposing the new functions. The study’s outcome will be to see how the symbolic values of the past play an important role in giving a building a new function, preserving the spirit of the place, and preserving significant cultural assets.