USING VALUE ASSESSMENT AS A TOOL FOR SAFEGUARDING BUILT HERITAGE “THE CASE STUDY OF EMPRESS MARKET IN KARACHI”

Abstract

Understanding and documenting the value of a heritage property is of utmost importance. The value of built heritage is basically referred to as an intangible aspect that characterizes its importance, worth, usefulness or the benefits in various dimensions. Heritage is valued not as an intellectual enterprise but it also plays instrumental, symbolic, and other functions in society (Tidwell, 2002). This research paper focuses on analyzing the historical and architectural value of Empress Market building in Karachi which in 1995 was declared protected heritage of Pakistan having an enlistment number 1995-047 under the Antiquities Act, 1975 and the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act 1994 by the Government of Pakistan. To understand the worth of the building and authenticity of that worth, a value based analysis is carried out with the help of applying Nara Grid to its various aspects. Nara grid is an evaluation scheme that helps measure authenticity of a building. A historical timeline of the building phases has been developed to understand the complexity of the structure. Also to gain a better understanding of the building, the architectural value assessment is carried out on the basis of research, architectural works, construction techniques and the structural systems. It also includes an inventory of the significant architectural attributes. Keywords: Value Assessment, Built Heritage, Empress Market, Karachi