Reconstruction of Khiva
A comprehensive study of the monuments
of Khivan architecture began in 1950 utilizing the
plans of B.N. Zasipkin and R.A. Miroshnichenko. Since
1952 under the leadership of I. Motkin and with the
participation of architects Kh. Mamishev, R. Fakhritdinov
and S.D. Shtange and archaeologists ?.?. Eulanov,
S.I, Urenevich scientific measurements were made of
the gates of the Palvan-darvaza and the bath houses
of the Anush-khan Kukhn-Ark, the mausoleums of Said
Allautdin and Uch Avliy, the madrasa of Sher-gazi-khan,
the Alla-kul-khan, Kutloog-Moorud inak, the Djuma
mosque and the Ak-mosque and other monuments. Thereafter
came the restoration of the above-mentioned monuments
and the new town plan of the area. The primary focus
was directed at studying the monuments in the course
of the restoration work and in exposing the construction
of the outer layers of the buildings.
The research work of 1951-1966 was the basis for making
a detailed description of twenty-four monuments of
architecture and the classification of the madrasas
and mosques of the Ichan-kala, which revealed the
peculiarities of the construction of the town and
its types of buildings. With the development of tourism,
a general procedure for town planning, excursion routes
for viewing the monuments, and preliminary work on
the implementation of the protected area of the Ichan-kala
were worked out.
In 1967, on the decision of the Government of the
Republic, the Ichan-kala was established as a state-protected
area of Khivan architecture; and, in 1969, on the
basis of the Khorezm regional Historical-Revolutionary
Museum and the State museum, the Ichan-kala Reserve
was established, functioning as a scientific-research
and scientific-educational institution. The state
depository of historical, architectural literary,
and artistic monuments was also formed.
After the establishment of the reserve, large-scale
works started on the complex study of the monuments
of architecture and the study of the dwellings of
the Ichan-kala and Dishan-kala. At that time many
architectural monuments of the Ichan-kala needed constructional
anchoring, especially after downpours in 1969. In
conjunction with this, anchoring work on the basis
of engineering study and the recommendations of engineer
A.M. Qendel was done on the Palvan Makhmud mausoleum,
the Ab-dulla-khan madrasa, the Kutloog Moorud-inak,
the Mukhammad Rakhim-khan and the minaret of the Said
Shalikar-bay mosque.
At the beginning of the 1970s scientific-research
and design and restoration work in the western area
of Kukhna-Ark was increasing. The fortification gate
of «Ata-darvaza» with its trading stalls,
which were pulled down in the 1930s, was restored.
The following buildings were all converted into a
tourist complex: the Mukhammad Amin-khan madrasa,
which became a 230 room hotel; the Matniaz Divan-begi
madrasa, which became a restaurant and the central
part of the area; and, in particular the Kukhna-Ark,
which was equipped with modern amenities including
the establishment of a cinema-concert hall in its
area. A summer chaikhona was opened on the site of
the ruined madrasah of Rakhim Berdi-biy. In 1983 on
the occasion of celebration of 1 200th year anniversary
of the scientist-encyclopaedist, Mukhammad ibn Musa
al-horezmi, major work on reconstruction and the equipping
of these areas with modern amenities was carried out.
Additionally, the restoration of the architectural
monuments located along the main tourist route was
completed, as well as outfitting of some of them with
a number of up-to-date features.
From 1981 to 1996, large reconstruction work has been
carried out, including modernization of amenities,
the laying of arterial networks (water-pipes, a sewage
system, electrical and communication supply lines),
and the drainage of precipitation from the overall
area. Restoration has also been carried out on other
monuments on the territory of the Ichan-kala reserve
such as: the Djuma mosque, the Tash-hauli palace complex,
the Shergazi-khan madrasa, the Matniaz Divan-begi
madrasa, the Uch-Avley complex, the Palvan Makhmud
mausoleum with its necropolis, the fortification walls
and gates of the Palvan-darvaza and the Tash-darvaza,
and the Kutloog Moorud-inak madrasa. A number of monuments
were furnished so as to serve functional, but yet
original purposes: for example, the bath houses of
Anush-khan became a modern bath house, the madrasa
of Mukhammad Amin-inak became a house for marriage
ceremonies, the Tim and the caravanserai of Alla-kul-khan
became a trade center, the complex of Shakh Kalandar
bobo became a tourist agency, and the madrasa of Atadjan
bay became mechanical shops.
Great attention was paid to the restoration and preservation
of traditional dwellings. More than fifteen traditional
dwelling houses were restored, including the ulli
and ters divans with carved columns, doors, and other
elements primarily for the Ichan-kala. New dwellings
with all types of engineering features, utilizing
traditional planning and architectural aspects, rose
on the site of ramshackle constructions and buildings.
Design work on the reconstruction of the Khiva town-center
was completed in 1983. In accordance with the general
plan of the city, the historical areas of the Ichan-kala
and the Dishan-kala, the area of the modern center
and other tracts of land free from construction located
to the west of the walls of the Dishan-kala all became
incorporated into the town's center. The geometric
displacement of the town-center to the south-east,
including the historical area, provided by the project,
determined the polycentric structure of the city in
general and the multistage character of the configuration
of the town's center, in particular.
Today, the principle features of the town center have
been constructed and the main arterial networks have
been laid. However, plans for the maximum preservation
of the historical part of the town's center, which
recognize its uniqueness and the crucial role it plays
in being a principle force for the development of
the town's environment, have not yet been drawn up.
The additional step of incorporating the historical
part of the town actively into the center, as in the
example of utilizing the neighbourhoods of the Kosh
darvaza and the Said Mukhammad-khan madrasa architectural
monuments to function as administrative-public complexes,
is not viable.
The solution of town-planning problems and many other
issues which arise in historical cities and towns
requires not only formal study of the sources of the
town's origination and a number of other problems,
but also the practical realization of ideals (i.e.,
the implementation of all aspects of general planning)
without any deviation or distortion of the town's
layout or of the environment. The significant event
in the life of the Ichan-kala Reserve was in 1990,
when the Ichan-kala was placed on the World Heritage
list.
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