Hey there, Pune just got a major boost in preserving its architectural history! The Pune Architectural History Archive (PAHA) was launched today, and it’s the first digital archive dedicated to documenting Pune’s architectural heritage. With over 7,000 architectural drawings, 500 photographs, 105 documents, and more, PAHA is a treasure trove of information on the city’s modern buildings.
The launch event at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute saw a lot of excitement. Pushkar Sohoni, one of the founding members of PAHA, highlighted the importance of documenting the changes in Pune’s built environment. He stressed the need to preserve the city’s historical memory and identity through this digital archive.
The website (www.paha.site) was unveiled in the presence of key figures like Sunil Mohite from PMC’s Heritage Cell and Prof. M.A. Venkatramanan from FLAME University. Dr. Sarah Melsens, a research fellow at FLAME University, emphasized the significance of PAHA’s collection, which includes previously undisclosed historical sources. She also mentioned how the archive is enriching historical narratives through recorded interviews.
But PAHA isn’t just a static archive. It curates thematic narratives and even experiments with converting academic papers into podcasts using AI. The goal is to engage heritage enthusiasts and showcase the stories behind Pune’s iconic buildings and architects from the 20th century.
The launch event featured panel discussions on topics like the evolving nature of architectural archives and the role of archives in architectural education. The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration among archival stakeholders and using PAHA as an educational resource for architecture students.
In her closing remarks, Professor Maya Dodd from FLAME University emphasized the need to preserve Pune’s architectural identity amidst rapid urbanization. PAHA is a step in that direction, and the initiative encourages Punekars to contribute to the archive, making it a collective effort in documenting and publicizing Pune’s modern architectural heritage.
Overall, PAHA is a game-changer for preserving Pune’s architectural history, and it’s exciting to see how this digital archive will continue to evolve and grow in the future.
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