AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

The Shekhawati Project is an international association created by conservation experts based in Paris, France. In collaboration with an Indian NGO, its goal is the preservation of the architectural and pictorial heritage of the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan. These exceptional Haveli are covered with frescoes and murals on both interior and exterior walls, creating an extraordinary open-air art gallery - a witness to the splendor of an era. This unique heritage is threatened by over half a century of neglect.

The Project is founded in the belief that the conservation of this heritage is an important part of the rehabilitation of the entire region. The pressing issues of waste management and flooding are surprisingly linked to the protection of the frescos. For example, trash builds up and damages the foundations of these historical palaces.

The Project advocates for economic change through development of sustainable tourism, in close cooperation with local entrepreneurs, to preserve traditional skills and promote adapted reuse of the buildings for the local community. Working with regional contacts to lobby local governments to implement protective measures for the monuments. The project aims to include town infrastructure and city services, which could directly improve the condition of the buildings and their frescoes.

The Project organizes interdisciplinary conservation workshops with students and graduates in architecture and conservation, from India, Europe and Australia. Conservation treatments take place on the frescos in the center of the Shekhawati towns, allowing the local citizen to share the ongoing transformation. Integrating different professional backgrounds and approaches, our workshops combine the know-how of local craftsmen with modern conservation techniques.

Since 2017, the Project has been successfully using the workshops to showcase the best practice and act as an incentive for Haveli owners to conserve and rehabilitate their properties. Our program aims to promote international exchange for young and experienced professionals implementing protocols to adapt effective methodologies and up-to-date materials for conservation in a harsh environment with an extreme climate and high pollution.

“Surprising and unexpected” are the terms that perfectly describe this challenge!