Bhopal2011: Requiem & Revitalisation:::International Workshop

BHOPAL2011 Requiem & Revitalization International Students' Workshop and Symposium, Bhopal, India January 23 - February 04, 2011 In January 2011, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi, modern Asian Architecture Network (mAAN), India and The International Committee for Conservation of Industrial Heritage (TICCIH) India will host an international workshop and symposium in Bhopal. Bhopal is known the world over as the city that witnessed the Union Carbide Gas Tragedy in 1984 and continues to struggle with the fallout of this disaster. The significance of the disaster however, extends beyond Bhopal. The factory site of the disaster, now an urban void in a dense neighbourhood of Bhopal lies abandoned and the stories that it contains, lie untold. Over the course of two weeks in January-February 2011 students and experts from multiple disciplines and backgrounds will converge in Bhopal and work together with local citizens in an attempt to understand the tragedy and its site in its conflicting interpretations. Through exploring the possible transformation of the site into a place of remembrance and a resource for empowering the local community the participants will also address the broader issue of how heritage sites with a troubled and troubling legacy can contribute to a better understanding of our times. The conflict that 'Bhopal' embodies presents an opportunity to generate templates and approaches with which the various conflicts and challenges of the site can be negotiated. This can contribute to our greater understanding of issues relating to sites with marginalised and conflicting historic narratives. Bhopal's tragedy has bequeathed it a legacy that is of enormous significance to the global discourse on balancing development with equity and ecology. The world over, but especially in Western Europe and North America regeneration through conservation has become a means of revitalizing local economies and maintaining the social fabric of communities hard hit by globalisation. Bhopal2011 looks at the possible protection, decontamination and rehabilitation of Union Carbide Factory as potential to revitalize the precinct and the community around the site and explores the possible approaches and mechanisms to do so. In exploring key issues linked to the emergence of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Site as a cultural heritage site, Bhopal2011 sets the ground for an collaborative and creative dialogue between disciplines of cultural heritage, architecture, urban design and applied arts. Within a collaborative framework the conference and the workshop will explore three main themes: 1.Challenges in Recognizing Contemporary Sites with a Conflicting Past as Heritage 2.Challenges in Interpreting and Rehabilitating Sites with Contemporary and Conflicting Heritage 3.Challenges in Harnessing Sites with Contemporary and Conflicting Heritage for Society Building During the Workshop (23 Jan-01 Feb 2011) 50 international students will be organized different units, each unit led by noted professionals & academics in the field of architecture, urban design, conservation, heritage management and urban studies. Students will primarily be from architecture, urban design, applied arts, conservation, archeology, history and heritage management backgrounds. The workshop will have guest lectures by experts and a mid-term review. At the end of the workshop units are to present their proposals in medium of their choice. Infrastructure in terms of studio space, fixed amount of basic stationery, internet and printing facilities will be provided for the students. This format has been very successful in the previous mAAN Workshops in Asia; Shanghai (2004) Medan (2005) Padang (2009) Singapore (2010). Further information is available atwww.bhopal2011.in. Last date for registration is December 1, 2010. The Call for Papers & Posters for the Symposium (02-04 Feb 2011) at Bhopal2011 is now open. The symposium will examine the Bhopal Gas Tragedy as a metaphor, a representative of the problems facing our cities today. It will discuss issues arising out of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy that concern cities across the world. Papers are invited for the following (but not limited to) themes and proposals for organizing sessions are welcome. 1. Commemoration & the Politics of Construction of Public Memory 2. Public Participation in Revitalization of Sites of Memory 3. Challenges in Rehabilitating Landscapes of Disaster 4. Protection, Preservation and Interpretation of Sites of Conscience 5. Heritage, environment and economy – Conflicts and Resolutions 6. Gaps in the World Heritage list. Industrial & Modern Heritage of Asia, Africa and Latin America The last date of submission of abstracts is November 15, 2010. Post conference tours (4 Days and 3 Nights) to Agra-Jaipur-Delhi and Mumbai are available for a limited number of participants. The tours will focus on sites of history and issues of development facing these remarkable cities. Questions may be directed at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you in Bhopal next year! Symposium related questions : [email protected] Workshop related questions : [email protected] Post conference tours related questions : [email protected] www.bhopal2011.in