Navrachana University in Collaboration with VMC Organized One- Day Seminar on “Ecology-Based Heritage Conservation” on September 28, 2026
A One-Day Seminar on “Ecology Based Heritage Conservation” was organized by Center of Heritage Research, Navrachana University, Vadodara in collaboration with Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) on 28th September 2026 at Navrachana University, Vadodara. This seminar builds on the ongoing collaboration between Navrachana University and the Vadodara Municipal Corporation in heritage conservation, urban planning, and capacity building. It was organised as part of the Historic Cities Series, a joint initiative of National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the DRONAH Foundation, in collaboration with ICOMOS India, Heritopolis and Altrim Publishers. Centre for Heritage Research, Navrachana University has been selected as the Nodal Organization for Vadodara City.
The Theme “Ecology-Based Heritage Conservation” addressed heritage conservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and planning through the lens of ecology. The objective of this seminar was to generate discourses and have deeper insights into this pertinent area of inquiry related to ecology and heritage. Being a multi-disciplinary area, it brought together research, practice, and policy to examine how ecological approaches can inform heritage conservation, restoration, urban planning and sustainable management.
The inaugural session will feature Shri Arun Mahesh Babu M. S., IAS, Commissioner, Vadodara Municipal Corporation as Chief Guest and Prof. Pratyush Shankar, Provost, Navrachana University. Other distinguished speakers comprised of Dr Debolina Kundu – Director, NIUA; Dr Shikha Jain – Chairperson, DRONAH Foundation; Dr Sonal Mithal – Director, People for Heritage Concern; Prof. (Dr.) Ajay Khare, HOD Conservation Department, SPA, Bhopal and Dr Varad Sabnis – Proprietor at Samvardhan Heritage Solutions.
Exhibition of projects undertaken by the Center of Heritage Research and other research work on Vadodara as part of KHOJ winter School and students thesis was on display. Prof. Pratyush Shankar – Provost Navrachana University initiated the seminar emphasizing on the interdisciplinary nature of the theme and developing a holistic perspective about our cities. Prof. Shankar further elaborated on the idea of understanding the question of ecology, heritage and cities. Prof. Shankar states that we historically dealt with the natural state which was to observe the heritage resources from the perspective of the siting, setting, proximity or larger relationship with the immediate landscape. He further explains it with the example of how temple complex always came around rivers and lakes, step wells that seem to be in a particular location with respect to what are now urban lakes. Sacred grooves or plantations (such as banyan trees) which are an integral part of urban landscapes.
Shri Arun Mahesh Babu, M.S.; IAS – Municipal Commissioner was Chief Guest for this important seminar where he shared the vision for the city of Vadodara focusing on the concerns related to ecology and heritage. He discussed about ways of bridging the gap between institutions, local authority and professionals working towards improving quality of built environment of the city. Dr Shikha Jain – Chairperson, DRONAH Foundation focused on the initiative of Historic Cities Series and role of Civic Engagement toolkits and manuals in providing guidance, advocacy for historic cities with similar contexts.
The keynote speakers Dr. Debolina Kundu- Director NIUA provided strategic perspective about cities. Dr. Kundu mentioned about cities being “Living Systems” and how peri urban areas can be planned more sensitively through various urban design and planning mechanisms. The keynote talk by Dr. Sonal Mithal – Director, People for Heritage Concern was about conceptual discourses on the acceptance of ecological presence within historical landscapes.
For this seminar of about ten Posters were received on the theme and the subtheme of the seminar. Research scholars, young practitioners and students from the field of architecture, design and conservation architecture deliberated and participated in the poster presentation. Last section of the seminar was the plenary session where Prof. (Dr.) Ajay Khare provided insight into the relationship of socio-cultural intangible and ecological aspects intertwined with the ceremonial processions in the historic temple towns of southern India. The last talk by Dr Varad Sabnis provided a unique perspective on decoding archaeological sites presenting references insights into relationship about historic background and its continuality within contemporary settlements.
Overall the seminar provided a platform to discuss future plans of Vadodara where the Municipal Commissioner shared his Vision and plans for the city, Director NIUA representing Central Government Think Tank discussing Policies, case studies – pan India views, DRONAH resonated Research based approach, Academic perspectives where shared by Dr Sonal Mital and Prof. Dr. Ajay Khare and Dr. Varad Sabnis bringing in pragmatic contributed towards discussions on Ecology, heritage and Cities. The seminar was well received by the audience comprising of presentations from VMC, professional bodies, professionals and students.
For more details – https://nuv.ac.in/
