While conversations on protecting and archiving India&rsquos cultural heritage have been afoot for decades, the emphasis on understanding its built heritage is an equally important aspect. From the Mughal empire to the Rajput kingdoms and colonisation, every age in Indian history has left behind an influence that can be assessed in the structures that dot our cities. Today, there is a sense of urgency to understand our history and take stock of our cultural prowess while looking toward the future with hope. A trip down memory lane is a given, and these digital archives take you on a splendid journey through houses, palaces, and dilapidated corners of your city that house memories of the past.
The influence of Art Deco might have been the most significantly palpable in Mumbai, but Delhi is not far behind. From bungalows to cinemas, the Art Deco style inspired creativity in the architectural techniques in the capital as well. Deco in Delhi, an initiative by Geetanjali Sayal in collaboration with Prashansa Sachdeva, strives to research and document Delhi&rsquos Art Deco heritage and its impact on the city&rsquos cultural identity. It is supported by the India Foundation for the Arts Research Grant.
The Mumbai we see today is as multicultural in its architecture as it is in its people. Structures with Gothic, Victorian, Art Deco, Indo-Saracenic and Contemporary architectural styles can be spotted around the city. In fact, Mumbai has the second largest number of Art Deco buildings in the world. Beyond Heritage, a digital archive run by conservation architect Mallika Keer takes you on a visual journey across Mumbai and the various heritage structures that give it colour. From the pastel-coloured, crumbling villas lining narrow lanes of Harishchandra Goregaonkar Marg to tottering heritage structures with altered façades, there is much to explore and embrace with Beyond Heritage.
There is much more to Goa than its beaches. And to highlight the state&rsquos varied architectural history, a sibling duo started a page that takes you on a journey through dazzling locations, beguiling traditions and riveting families, often ignored by travellers but perceptible to people that truly call the state their own. From Portuguese ports to elaborate living rooms that tell tales of the bygone time, the archive allows you to immerse yourself in Goa&rsquos cultural heritage from a local&rsquos perspective.
This Instagram page seeks to archive the architectural, cultural and environmental ecosystems around old Dehradun houses and other relevant buildings. You can catch a glimpse of old multifoil arches and wooden grid doors that offer you a glimpse of the past and find houses whose architecture shows influences ranging from British to Rajputana and Mughal.
