Submitted to: Ma’am Hina Nabeel

Submitted by: Azka Ihsan [2018-ARCH-32]

CONSERVATION PLAN OF SHAH BAHARO

TOMB AT LARKANO.
Conserving architectural heritage relieves economic pressures on surrounding property ownership
shareholders, as well as the community as a whole, by utilizing a fabric with lesser materials,
creating opportunities for workforce use, and rising property value for the building and its
neighborhood. It also lessens environmental constraints since conservation consumes less than half
of the energy used in new building development while decreasing construction waste. Even the
most durable constructions exposed to extreme weather may probably collapse if not properly
maintained. The basic objective of conservation is to increase the life span of anything precious
while protecting what makes it valuable. The constructed heritage enhances our lives by
connecting us to and comprehending our common heritage. Whereas ruined buildings may appear
to have almost no economic worth in and of themselves. Each building contains one-of-a-kind and
unique evidence of the past, and it should be passed down to future generations in its entirety.
Since each historic structure is unique and distinctive in its appearance, it needs an initial
evaluation of its value, condition, and a solution to the specific conservation difficulties that have
emerged. Ruin conservation needs highly technical abilities to carry out the task.
The first part of the paper discusses the history of the tomb of Shah Baharo. It further highlights
the previous conditions and the hurdles in the way of its conservation. The mausoleum of Shah
Baharo is one of the monuments that has been ignored in the past for several reasons and failed to
capture the attention of its new guardians. It was collapsing quickly, and its borders had already
been encroached upon by greedy encroachers who had so far escaped legal punishment.
Unfortunately, the monument's degradation continued, and the cultural department, along with
other stakeholders, seemed unconcerned about fading history. Under the department's nose,
encroachers were actively capturing and retaining their possession of the area surrounding the
monument. The tomb was decaying with cracks developing in the structural system, including the
platform, as a result of severe rains. Damp and groundwater had infiltrated up to 18 feet into the
building, seriously damaging roughly half of the kasha-tiled façade. The paintings on the inside
walls faded as well.
The main body of the paper discusses the intricate details of the tomb and the causes of the
deterioration of the building and its structure. Conjectural reconstruction of any component of the
building was avoided and was done when there was a strong cause and the work could be supported
by trustworthy documentation or other evidence. All of the phases of the building were considered
to control the damage. Later additions or renovations were also taken under consideration to make
it more appealing than the originally constructed fabric.
Masonry responded differently in a damaged structure than it does in a roofed, complete building.
A ruin was most likely initially protected by a roof, which served as its primary barrier against the
weather. Exposed brickwork allowed water to permeate, resulting in mortar loss in the joints
between the stones and in the wall core. The gradual deterioration of the floor leading to a ruin
resulted in a massive collapse that was blamed on a storm rather than the deterioration of the
foundations. Walls on an east/west axis constructed on clay soils were damaged by differential
movement induced by the foundation's gradual and continual rotation towards the south. This was
caused by changes in soil moisture on either side of the wall.
Soil moisture changes relatively slightly on the northern side, where there is practically continuous
shade, which is why that side suffered the least damage. Whereas on the southern side of the wall,
soil moisture changed owing to evaporation, causing shrinkage in the clay underneath. Walls that
were re-pointed or rebuilt with cement mortar gave rise to problems. Moisture was trapped within
the wall by dense cement pointing, which was nonporous and revealed the original lime mortar
beneath.
Originally, the ancient brick structure was coated with lime plaster. Lime plaster weathers and
wears away with time, and the walls may have been replastered with cement render at some
junction. the paper explains that cement plaster is hard and dense, and with frequent freezing, it
breaks, letting water into the wall. This water becomes trapped within the walls, causing masonry
erosion.
The last part of the paper sheds light on the conservation methods and techniques applied to control
the damage. The surface was first cleaned and documented, then treated with soapstone and other
surface rendering products. Because the tomb was in an advanced state of decay, the patina of the
bricks was peeling due to a microclimate contribution to the spread of microbes. The thermograph
devices were installed within the tomb as a solution to monitor relative humidity and temperature
to determine the environment of the interior of the building. Calcium caseinate was injected
between the plaster and the wall to reinforce the plaster. This substance is compatible with the
original materials and, in particular, blends effectively with the lime material that makes up the
tomb's wall and plaster.
Various pastes and combinations were employed to repair cracks and fissures, as well as to
reinforce the borders of the stucco work, to retain stucco fragments that were at risk of being
detached from the wall. The pastes and combinations were made using standard slaked lime, sand,
and filler materials for the lime compositions; however, the filler materials were checked in each
case to ensure a favorable result.
The paper has thoroughly discussed the causes of deterioration and the conservation techniques
but it lacks the structural enhancement details. The renovation process is discussed in detail but
the methods are not mentioned to deal with the climatic effects.