An ornate building in Lahore, the Mughal city, has almost fully been returned to its pristine glory of fabled days.
Thanks to UNESCO, the Shahi Hamman, a public bath house of the walled city of Lahore, is now ready for visitors to have a look into the era of glamorous and artistic architecture.
“Visitors can now gain a vivid understanding of the Hammam’s historic function through the display of excavated underground structures, partial reinstatement of bathhouse features, and an educational exhibition,” the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said while listing it among the structures winning Heritage Award of Merit.
The project to restore the beauty of the building was undertaken with a high degree of technical proficiency. The work has now “safeguarded a unique example of the monumental 17th-century Mughal public bathhouse,” the UNESCO said.
According to the organization, a team of international and local experts and artisans adeptly addressed the issues of significant structural damage and loss of fabric resulting from inappropriate alterations, poor conservation work and encroachment.
The restoration work involved a careful investigation and analysis that informed the conservation effort, including architectural consolidation and the preservation of frescos and other decorative elements.
“The project has returned the ornate Shahi Hammam to its former prominence within the Walled City of Lahore while giving encouragement to future private conservation initiatives.”
