Heritage Ornamentation of Garli–Pragpur Translating Tradition into Modern Design

Abstract

Garli and Pragpur, India’s first recognized heritage villages, embody a unique decorative language where arches, jaalis, murals and woodwork tell stories of cultural exchange and craftsmanship. Their façades, alive with Gothic, Colonial and Himachali influences, form an architectural identity that is both practical and poetic. However, modernization threatens the integrity and visibility of these traditional motifs; this research seeks to bridge the gap between heritage conservation and contemporary design by exploring how these patterns can be meaningfully adapted in modern architecture. This study employs a mixed-method approach combining visual surveys, documentation, and spatial analysis of heritage buildings with interviews of local residents, artisans, and architects. The findings reveal that the ornamentation of Garli and Pragpur is not a static relic but a hybrid vocabulary where Western stylistic cues are seamlessly blended with vernacular traditions. However, this research also highlights urgent conservation challenges like many buildings lie vacant or dilapidated due to changing demographics, economic migration and complex ownership issues, raising the stakes for documenting and adapting traditional patterns before they disappear. By analyzing and translating these motifs, the research demonstrates their potential for meaningful adaptation in modern architecture. The study argues that these decorative traditions can inspire design solutions that are culturally rooted, aesthetically rich and environmentally responsive. In doing so, Garli and Pragpur are positioned not only as living museums of heritage but also as active sources of design innovation for contemporary practice.