Identification and Selection of Parameters for the Value Assessment of Architectural Heritage: A Case of Odishan Temple Architecture, India

In rapid urbanization, the value assessment of architectural heritage (AH) is a new research trend. In this regard, international organizations, charters, governmental agencies, and individual research scholars continue to understand and update the parameters of AH concerning their context, historical background, architectural characteristics, economic feasibility, and socio-cultural aspects. The selection of parameters for measuring these broad dimensions directly or indirectly requires careful assessment. Some of the parameters are quantitative and assessed directly by the researchers, while others are qualitative and require expert opinions or stakeholders. Furthermore, historical data can also enhance the evaluation process. Hence, this evaluation process, which includes data collected from multiple sources and valued by multiple users and experts, is complicated. This research identifies and selects the parameters contributing to Odishan Temple Architecture (OTA) in India. Odishan temples are primarily living temples that have allowed performances and rituals for centuries; however, from the literature, the reuse, adaptive reuse, and alternative reuse of non-living temples can be suggested by maintaining the originality and authenticity of OTA. Hence, identifying a way forward and protecting the values of OTAs in the age of rapid urbanization are the primary focus of this research.