30TS.11

 

11. Banteay Srei

11.1. For the temple

a) To ease the flow of visitors through the fourth, third and second East gopuras, each of which has three parallel gates, to close the front central doors of the second and fourth gopuras (like that of the third gopura, already closed) to get visitors to move around to the side and to fit the fourth and third gopuras with side walkways of wood, thus keeping visitors from taking the central walkway with its old paving stones of laterite now looking fragile and unfit for use by pedestrians;

b) In turn, for the same approach to the entrance, from the fourth gopura to the second, to keep the central doorways of those three successive gopuras for a quality view, both visual and photographic, of the central temple perspective, especially popular with visitors. To that end, to look into a low-lying fixture of light fencing, effective and aesthetically complementary and also, to remove the current signage that looks like highway signs, completely out of place in the monument’s heritage context;

c) Remedy the unevenness of the ancient paving stones still ‎accessible to visitors, notably between the third and second gopuras by putting back, between the old paving stones, a mixture of laterite gravel, sand and clay, which is like the previous covering now eroded with visitors treading on it for years now;

d) Of the series of modern replicas of different individual “gana” figures decorating the string walls of the central section of the temple, to put back the missing figures based on original models;

e) To get a handle back on the routine general upkeep of the temple as it now has spots where the presentation seems somewhat neglected.

11.2. For the lapidarium

a) In line with the earlier recommendations, to go for the option of building an on-site storage building that could be used as a shelter and to sort out all architectural fragments and stones from the temple;

To that end, to expedite a feasibility study and programming based on the lapidarium inventory and to determine the size, capacity, and functionality of the lapidarium for the future architectural project to build a suitable structure.

This lapidarium could be set up along with the new ticket booth, partly on the rice paddy (west) of the current intake center, simply extending its volumes. The architectural design of the façades and roof of that extension should be in a strict continuity of shapes and materials in relation to the existing building;

To keep the lapidarium secure, to make sure that the remains of the stone pediment still found in the ruins of the brick tower northeast of the fourth East gopura, as well as the various other sculpted lapidary fragments scattered all over the site, are collected;

The ancient pediments now properly reassembled and on display to the west of the temple enclosure could be kept right where they are now found.

11.3 For the visitor intake and service buildings

a) In keeping with the recommendations made at previous ICC sessions, to select the most outstanding architectural elements and sculpted decors from the current outdoor lapidarium south of the temple and to put them on display for visitors under a shelter, in the intake areas, as an introduction to the temple tour, as a museum presentation associated with the existing historical information panels;

To that end, to look into the proposal of selecting artifacts, having them set up on pedestals, protecting them with remote devices, putting in any needed lighting, and write up captions for the items on display;

b) In traffic movement and visitor intake areas where some spots on the ground are uneven and therefore dangerous for visitors, to close the passageway involved using a rope and pole system designed to match the composition, general grid, and materials used in the architecture of those spaces;

c) To promptly submit the various components of the project as mentioned under the latter points (11.3 a) and b), for the advisement of the ad hoc expert group before implementation.