THE IMPACT OF INFRASTRUCTURAL SERVICES ON TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN FABRIC OF THE WALLED CITY OF LAHORE

Abstract

Present Walled City of Lahore is essentially a traditional town transformed largely into a colonial city during 20th century in context of its built environment in general, and infrastructural services in particular. Ninety nine years of the British occupancy of the city has tremendously changed its physical character, layout plan, infrastructural services, road networks, construction techniques, building materials, and connection with outer settlements etc. The pace of these topographical changes within the Walled City of Lahore (WCL) remained slow, throughout the centuries. The housing units of the WCL have been demolished and reconstructed repeatedly. This process has re-shaped its urban fabric, changed its topography, internal layout, and the dynamics of streets. Before the introduction of infrastructural services1 the urban fabric of the WCL exhibited identifiable architectural characteristics. The unplanned and ad-hoc provision of infrastructural services has substantially damaged the heritage buildings2 of the WCL, in particular during the last sixty years3. Today clean drinking water is not available to the inhabitants/residents of the WCL. Sewer and storm water drainage system is working inefficiently. The web of electricity and telecommunication cable has brought visual and aesthetic impairment to the facades and streetscape of the WCL. This paper documents the extant situation of these infrastructural services, exploring their impact on traditional architecture and urban fabric of the WCL, concluding with recommendations for strategic planning to protect the historical building remains and urban heritage belonging to different historical eras. Key Words: Walled City of Lahore (WCL), Heritage, Urban Fabric, Infrastructural Services, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Restoration, Urban Conservation, Colonial City, Sustainable Development of Walled City, Traditional City.