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Aligned with the large entrance plaza of Humayun’s tomb, Sunder Nursery features a spectacular pedestrian Central Axis conceived in three parts, as a progression of formally arranged gardens around the heritage structures and merging at its end with the proposed arboretum and water gardens.
AKTC
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Interior, restored plasterwork in the Batashewala Complex, Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India. The project is undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which for over a decade, has been engaged in undertaking a unique urban renewal initiative in the Humayun’s Tomb – Nizamuddin area of Delhi.
AKDN / Christian Richters
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Established in the early 20th century to propagate plants for the city of New Delhi, the Central Public Works Department owned Sunder Nursery stands on 67 acres of land. It abuts Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site and the 12 acre Batashewala complex – both in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India. Since 2007, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has partnered with CPWD and ASI to create a unique city park spread across 90 acres.
AKTC
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The restored ornamental domed ceiling of Sunder Burj. Carried out with the support of the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, this required over a year's work by master craftsmen working with traditional tools and building crafts. Lakkarwala Burj, the Mughal Tomb and Mirza Muzaffar Hussain's tomb have similar profusely ornamented interiors.
AKTC
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Aerial view over the newly constructed main spine of the Sunder Nursery public garden.
AKTC
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Mirza Muzaffar Hussain’s Tomb Interiors before and after restoration: Geometric patterns in incised plaster-work were restored where missing or damaged by master craftsmen using traditional tools, materials and techniques that would have been used by the Mughal era builders.
AKTC
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Left: Sunder Burj and Lotus Pond in 2008 - Right: Sunder Burj and Lotus Pond now - After restoration of lotus pond, a plaza has been built around it, which is based around three mature trees, making it a quaint area within the nursery.
AKTC
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Left: Mughal Pavillon in 2008 - Right: Mughal Garden Pavillon after restoration.
AKTC
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Left: Area around Sunder Burj in 2008 - Right: Sunder Nursery Central Axis after restoration. The design of this 560 m vista is inspired by the Persian carpet design and includes a central portion that in future years will form the heart of Sunder Nursery for visitors.
AKTC
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Sunderwala Mahal - before and after conservation. Following major structural repairs, the brick-surkhi cement plaster applied here in 2003-06 was removed and replaced with traditional lime plaster layers.
AKTC
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Sunder Nursery - Landscape Masterplan
AKTC
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Craftsmen hand-carving the stone chaddar/cascade which is landscape element in the Sunder Nursery Lake.
AKTC
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Restoration work - Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India.
AKTC
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20,000 saplings of 280 tree species have been planted – making Sunder Nursery Delhi’s first arboretum; over 80 bird species have already been recorded since the overgrown and decrepit nursery was replaced with green cover; six of the 15 monuments on the site have been designated as World Heritage Monuments following conservation and landscape restoration.
AKTC
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Central axis inspired by Persian garden design, Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India.
AKDN / Christian Richters
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Restored 16th century Sunderwala Burj within the garden, Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India.
AKDN / Christian Richters
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Sunder Nursery Central Axis - The design of this 560 m vista is inspired by the Persian carpet design and includes a central portion that in future years will form the heart of Sunder Nursery for visitors.
AKTC
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To enhance the ecological significance of the region, a 30-acre microhabitat zone has been created within Sunder Nursery to simulate Delhi’s once rich and now quickly disappearing biodiversity, including Kohi (hilly), Khadar (riverine), Bangar (alluvial) and Dabar (marshy) zones featuring over 100 regional tree species unique to the region.
AKTC
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Lakkarwala Burj interiors after restoration.
AKDN / Ram Rahman
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Restoration work - Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India.
AKTC
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Sunder Nursery is the 7th park of urban scale developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Other parks that have been developed by AKTC include those in Afghanistan, Canada, Egypt, Mali, Tajikistan and Zanzibar.
AKTC
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Sunder Burj restoration, Delhi, India.
AKTC
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Lakkarwala Burj and its Garden - Creating a pleasant garden and enhance the historical setting of the Lakkarwala Burj, a 16th century Mughal monument.
AKTC
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View of Sunder Nursery from Sunder Burj - An amphitheatre on 1/3rd acre would serve as a venue for school groups and cultural performances in a garden setting.
AKTC
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Restoration work - Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India.
AKTC
A lost garden emerges: Sunder Nursery, Delhi, India
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The location of Sunder Nursery, adjacent to Humayun’s Tomb Complex and Nizamuddin Basti, largely follows the Mughal Grand Trunk Road connecting significant monuments. The landscape design aims to enhance the historic character of the nursery, attract visitors and provide a seamless pedestrian connection with Humayun’s Tomb Complex. The project will create a major landscape space of truly urban scale, deriving inspiration from the traditional Indian concept of congruency between nature, garden and utility, coupled with environmental conservation.
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