IT MATTERS

The poets' scrolls will outlive the monuments of stone. 

Genius survives; all else is claimed by death.

- Edmund Spenser 

( English poet, sixteenth century)

 Monuments are either sculptures or structures that commemorate a notable person or an event in history. Most of these are a spectacle to visit. They preserve pride & glory of a region. These heritage monuments keep the past alive in flesh through inorganic materials. They give an identity to the region they belong to and demonstrate its culture. They were built with a vision to last generations and remain till the end of time. Some of these monuments have been facing serious environmental threats. Since a very long time, everybody is aware that these environmental threats are a by product of industrial revolution.

 It can be dated back to the 19th century when English scientist Robert Angus Smith wrote about environmental effects on plants and buildings because of rapid industrialisation. The fossil fuel emissions contain sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. They combine with moisture in the air to form acidic precipitation. It was claimed that acid rains can have only indirect effects on human beings. The rains primarily react with volatile organic compounds to form ground level ozone (smog). This causes remarkable damage to soil fertility, aquatic ecosystem and durable natural building materials such as stone and metals. When acid rains drop on historical monuments of sandstone, marble or any inorganic material; a chemical reaction takes place. This chemical reaction causes corrosion to the structure and dissolves the material, leading to permanent damages.

 

Hadrian's Arch at the Acropolis: marble blackened

Leshan Buddha:sandstone blackened

Longmen Grottoes: collapse of niches

Taj Mahal : degradation of façade 

The news of damages to the monuments have been doing the rounds in media for the past several years. Majority of the monuments which are severely hit by the acids rains are in Asia. In the four images above, three monuments are Asian. There is a reason behind such fatalities to the historical buildings in developing countries. Increased industrialisation with no stringent pollution controls have led to the changes in the environment. Though this is not restricted to only Asian countries. The clouds of acid rains per se know no boundaries. The Acropolis or more famously known as the Parthenon has been bearing the brunt of acid rains and pollution. The stone is blackening and corroding by the day. Similarly, Dampier Rock Art Complex in Australia is facing environmental challenges.

Government and agencies are doing very little to preserve the pieces of history. Indian government has restricted the use of cars run on fossil fuels within a dedicated radius of Taj Mahal. Tourists have to take an electric bus to visit the Taj. Acropolis Restoration Services are using high-tech lasers to clean the marbles of the Parthenon. Though these steps are in the right direction, they are not going to resolve the bigger issue of pollution which causes climate change. Governments across all countries are striving for a better climatic conditions for future generations.  

Climate change is beyond the control of an individual. Though one can try to reduce carbon foot print for the sake of history and in turn hope that the historical monuments live through time. Hope as we go forward we do not let down the future generations and make them devoid of our history.

This post was to highlight how we are stepping into the future while punishing our history. Being an architect, I feel socially and ethically responsible towards the society, history of buildings, history of architecture. And that is why  IT MATTERS. 

References:

Text

Mink, J. (2009, January 9). 5 Sites at High Risk from the Hazards Associated with Acid Rain and Similar Industrial Pollutants. Retrieved from www.cyark.org: http://www.cyark.org/news/top-5-endangered-heritage-sites-acid-rain

REPORTER, D. M. (2008, October 17). Laser treatment used to protect Acropolis from pollution. Retrieved from www.dailymail.co.uk: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1078502/Laser-treatment-used-protect-Acropolis-pollution.html

Rao, A. (2015, April 20). It’s not just the Taj Mahal—pollution is ruining many other iconic monuments in India. Retrieved from qz.com: http://qz.com/386759/its-not-just-the-taj-mahal-pollution-is-ruining-many-other-iconic-monuments-in-india/

Edmund Spencer Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/monuments.html 

Images

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g297683-d317329-i91889414-Taj_Mahal-Agra_Uttar_Pradesh.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leshan_Giant_Buddha#/media/File:Leshan_Buddha_Statue_View.JPG

http://www.webofentertainment.com/2014/12/longmen-grottoes-china.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hadrian_Arch_and_Acropolis_Athens_17-03-05_01.jpg