Meeras Mahal Museum Refurbishment Project
INTACH, Kashmir Chapter, initially funded by the Aliph Foundation Switzerland, undertook the preventive conservation of the artifacts through its manuscript conservation center. With the help of this grant, INTACH also developed the Meeras Mahal Museum website to showcase the best representatives of the collections. The website is still evolving but it is hoped that it will help spread awareness about Kashmir’s ethnic culture to the local community, the global audience and the diaspora.
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The Meeras Mahal Trust, aided by INTACH's steadfast support, attracted the interest of the Delhi-based SPAN Foundation. This foundation, established in memory of the distinguished structural engineer and philanthropist Shri Baldev Singh Dhiman, generously backed the refurbishment and renovation initiative for the museum. The INTACH Kashmir Chapter played a crucial role in providing expertise, as well as overseeing the design and execution of the museum's remodelling. The plan covered refurbishing and reorganizing the current infrastructure in line with the established principles of best practice community Museums.
The Refurbishment Programme
The project was divided in two phases based on available funding of which phase I is complete. Phase I of the refurbishment programme necessitated improving the structural strength of the building to make it more earthquake resilient. This included inserting structural steel at critical areas of the building. There was also need to retrofit the building according to its modified layout and to accommodate spacious exhibitions spaces. Some of the walls had to be dismantled and replaced with steel girders for increasing hall sizes.
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Ramps and fire escapes were also introduced to make accesses easier in all possible situations and for all visitors. The main elevation is inspired by Kashmir’s taq-based architecture which meant a full front wall had to be erected which further needed to be properly tied with the existing building masonry and RCC members. The foyer space was enlarged and the whole entry experience was enhanced. Electrification had to be fully reinstalled to meet the needs of the refurbished exhibition spaces and about 40 new windows were installed as well as the roof modified.
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To successfully conclude the restoration efforts at the museum, additional funding is essential to complete the interiors for the exhibition galleries, seminar halls and audio-visual room, including both fixed and movable furniture, display units, as well as electrical and lighting fixtures. This phase also encompasses finishes, storage solutions, and the establishment of a conservation lab.
Before Refurbishment
After Refurbishment (2023)
Before Refurbishment
After Refurbishment (2023)
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