January 2009 – LHC Architect gives fascinating insight into the restoration of ancient Afghan earth buildings.
LHC Associate, Grant Elliott was recently the guest speaker at the annual conference of the Devon Earth Building Association, where he presented the work he has carried out in Kabul. During the summers of 2007 and 2008 Grant spent time as a volunteer in the city, working on the conservation of historic Afghan earth buildings in the ancient quarter of Murad Khane. The project is part of a regeneration programme being run by ‘Turquoise Mountain Foundation', a charity established by HE Prince Charles and Afghan President Hamid Kharzai with the aim to preserve the Afghan traditional arts and crafts.
The restored buildings will be used by the recently created Higher Education Institute for Afghan Arts & Architecture which will teach calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, woodwork, jewellery and architecture to a new generation of Afghan students. Grant's involvement was initially to help record and document the existing historic building fabric and then to prepare detailed proposals for the conservation, repair and restoration of the buildings.
Grant told the conference "I had a wonderful time in Afghanistan. Although security was a concern, I was welcomed with open arms by all the Afghans that I met and worked alongside and felt a great sense of fulfilment in playing a part in supporting a project that aims to provide a better future for the people of Afghanistan."
The photos show the House of Screens, which will be restored to provide accommodation for the teachers and Sayeed Hashim Serai, which will be used as classrooms for the students.
