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Reinstating the Linkages between Culture and Ecological Places Divided by Urban Development, Case of Madurai
No full textHistoric towns that are rich in culture often face pressure from tourism, informal activities, and new developments that can lead to the loss of their significance. This pressure is even greater in peri-urban areas, where towns are experiencing increased development and different user demands. In addition to losing their historical significance, these towns can also lose their connection with natural features that are essential to daily life. As William H. Whyte famously said, "What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people." (Whyte, 1980)
This thesis focuses on Madurai, a Temple city in Tamil Nadu, India, which is renowned for its cultural heritage and history dating back to the 6th century BCE. However, the religious tourism industry has had a significant impact on physical development, leading to uncontrolled growth that can compromise orderly planning. This problem is particularly acute in historic sites, where it can gradually loss the cultural and physical character of the location. The study to restore socio-culturally and ecologically implicit areas that have been lost due to increasing urbanization. It will identify these areas and work to improve the public realm, integrate different user groups, and restore cultural and environmental networks, including lost third places. The thesis will also address the unobserved detrimental impact on housing settlements and day-to-day life, while retaining the cultural network with the natural ecosystem without degradation. The overall goal is to increase the social, economic, cultural, and environmental essence of the historic urban periphery and its surrounding cultural and environmental territory. The research findings can inform policies that ensure the preservation of cultural heritage and the natural environment while meeting the needs of tourists and urban development. By understanding the impact of development pressure, temporal activity, tourism, and development on the historic urban periphery, we can create a sustainable future for historic cities and their surroundings
Reviving the Sacred Charachter in Transforming Core of Nashik
No full textNashik is an ancient city in the northwest region of Maharashtra situated on the banks of river Godavari. It has a rich cultural heritage and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site, that of Kumbha Mela which is held every 12 years. It has a link with the epic poem ‘Ramayana’. Holy river Godavari, Ram Kund, Shri Kalaram Sansthan Mandir and Panchavati a temple complex contributes to the city fabric. Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jains, Christians and Sikhs coexistence is visible in the spatial structure of the city. As the city is of mythological importance and most sacred activities happen on the river edge the city s known as holy place for Hindu religious activities. Due to the significance from the past and its relationship to mythology the city is attracting an influx of population on daily basis and this is also increased when there are some festivals and lot of various rituals are also being carried out here over. Transformation should be embraced however the historicity of the place should not be compromised. The city has its own character which gives it an unique identity of Wada architecture which are now being in a dilapidated condition. The topography of the city has a unique identity and the river flowing below was the main source of the formation of settlement around there. Considering the geography and mythology and history running parallelly the city gained significance in terms of religious activities and bazars serving the other cities and trade being an important element to the development of the city. According to Matthew Carmona in the book Public Places - Urban Spaces where he would focus on the 5 key aspects of Urban design’s social dimension which would tell us the relation between people and space, the interrelated concepts of “Public realm” and “Public Life”.
This thesis intends to retain the cultural aspects and enhance the public realm and the religious tourism in the city. The city attracts a large number of tourists on various occasions such as Ram Navami, shiv Jayanti, Rangpanchami. And how these can be revived and preserved and forwarded to other generations
Reinvigorating the Geographical Voids : a Case of Rapidly Urbanizing Khajaguda Area, Hyderabad
No full textDue to rapid growth in the cities, the geographical features are getting impacted
by the newer and unplanned developments of the cities. Many urbanized cities
like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc lose their ecological
character due to unplanned developments which is also hampering the public
life.
One of the challenges is the emergence of urban voids, which refers to
underdeveloped or abandoned areas within the city that lack basic
infrastructure. These voids are often a consequence of haphazard planning and
can give rise to slums and informal settlements. Moreover, urban voids have a
detrimental impact on the social and economic fabric of a city, hindering its
overall development and functionality. These can also be sources of
environmental degradation, particularly if they are neglected or abandoned. For
example, they can become dumping grounds for waste, creating health hazards
and polluting the environment, and contributing to social isolation and a lack of
communal cohesion. It can also be viewed as unsafe and unwelcoming, which
makes residents feel disconnected and alone.
The current study aims to look at the urban voids and re-imagine those open
spaces through the lens of ecology, culture, and community. Hyderabad, one
of the fastest-growing cities in Telangana, is chosen for the study. Khajaguda
is one such locality in Hyderabad, which has experienced a drastic change in
the past 20 years. Until the mid-nineties, this area was just covered with ageold
unique heritage rock formations, forests, and small village settlements. As
the IT sector came in the late 19th century, newer development typologies –
high-rise and enclaves - started to grow along the lakes and hillocks. Due to
these newer typologies, density has increased in certain areas which led to the
formation of inactive edges and voids. The voids in this context are formed due
to planning regulations and geographical features which is hampering the public
life. The process of the thesis starts with categorizing these voids and stitch
these voids to enlarge the experience of the public visually and physically. The
thesis intends to reinvigorate these voids and enhance the visual experience
as selected context is highly contoured which has a unique scenic potential.
The thesis also intends to integrate these voids into existing development by
creating public spaces and regulating built form through form-based codes.
Thus, the study ensures that future developments in khajaguda area are
ecologically, socially, and culturally sensitive
Reintegrating the Canal Precinct to the Social Structure of the City- a Case of Alleppey
No full textAlleppey in Kerala has a distinctive image of tourism and acts as the face of tourism in Kerala. The golden period of Alleppey as a trade town was greatly sustained by the canal and ecosystem that supported transportation networks. The emergence of Kochi as an industrial town led to the decline of Alleppey as a trade town. Alleppey gradually started shifting to the tourism sector connected to canals and backwaters. This process left behind a lot of tangible and intangible values in terms of water heritage, built heritage, industrial heritage, and community heritage in the city core. The unique landscape and geographical specifications which contributed to the local economy and development of the community once are in a declining phase. These urban identities are not only valuable assets but opportunities for the revitalization of local economic development and cultural identity. With the interdependent structure of the network of canals and development around, it becomes clear that the current way we interpret the heritage landscape needs to be questioned to develop efficient networks that can capitalize on the higher potential for sustainable growth. The thesis intends to decode and revive the indigenous urban identities that are threatened, which will fit into the whole narrative of Alleppey. The thesis tries to explore the possibilities of an urban up-gradation the city requires. The main objective is to enhance the public realm through revival strategies which would strengthen the coherency and spatial structure of otherwise fragmentary elements. The inquiry tries to address the relationship between the spatial form of the city and the livelihood associated with it and will attempt to interpret the heritage landscape for the 21st centur
Rethinking Publicness and Creating Equity in Development from the Lens of Spatial Justice: a Case of Contested Lakefront, Mill Lands and Public Engagement Spaces in the Heart of Nagpur
No full text“Asian cities long have labored under the shadow of developmentalism , expected to conform to the norms of North Atlantic urbanization. Yet these same cities are characterized by urban morphologies and livelihoods that continue to contest such norms.”(Relational Poverty Network)
The city of Nagpur is currently under great transformation, which has triggered a financialization of urban real estate, pressure to privatize the land and ‘upgrade’ squatter and informal settlements – the increasing intra-urban inequality, the adoption of neoliberal subjectivities in all social strata. Focusing on the frontier where large-scale urban redevelopment projects rub against these settlements, where urban majority have carved out commons of distinctive segregation of public and privatized spaces, built environments and livelihoods.
The city grew from the old core of Mahal which had shukrawari lake as the central lake for all the engagement activities of the public. From evening walks to ganesh visarjan this very own lake was man made lake with a sense of belonging to it. Nagpur being the city of the Bhonsle’s kingdom flourished during the industrial revolution and with the strategic location of being in the centre attracted and the king invited many industrialists to set up the textile factory and one such case is the empress mills of Nagpur. The land was given opposite to the lake and the industry flourished which attracted many communities along it. The industrialists lured workers through the provision of amenities and lakefront activities to work in the mill which offered live, work, play concept through major urban form determinants such as shukrawari lake, cotton market, railways etc.
The cessation of operations at Empress Mill led to its demolition and subsequent conversion into a gated community, now owned by the Taj Group, which markets the hotel with a lakefront view. This transition has affected communities reliant on the mill and lake for livelihoods, resulting in migration and informal occupations. Consequently, the once vibrant lakefront has deteriorated, with the lake itself drying up, leaving a vacant area in the city center. Developers eyeing privatization pose a threat, necessitating intervention to preserve the waterbody's significance beyond mere revenue generation. The loss of mills and lakes as urban activators has diminished the sense of belongingness, leaving the area defunct and catering primarily to private investors. The reliance of communities on the mill and lake has diminished, affecting their access to living, working, and recreational opportunities. The evolving urban form of the city favors privatized gated communities that offer amenities based on affordability, shifting the city towards a privatized entity rather than a public one. As the city undergoes transformation, the once vibrant lake, a hub for socio-cultural activities, has lost its identity due to changes in land use, density, transit developments, and the evolving definition of the public realm.
The thesis primarily explores the various dynamics of the cotton market, Shukrawari Lake, and mill lands, examining the injustices, levels of publicness, and informality within these spaces. It delves into how the waterbody and precinct can serve as vibrant and inclusive public engagement spaces, fostering equity, economic opportunities, and livelihoods. The study emphasizes the challenges posed by neoliberalism and spatial justice, with a focus on advocating for the right to the city and achieving greater publicness in urban environments.
The urban design thesis, focusing on cohesive and sensitive spatial creation, will aid in establishing the precinct as a central hub for public engagement in the Indian city. By carefully considering the layers of the city's precious waterbody, interventions can enhance its ecological health, inclusivity, vibrancy, and community participation, while managing surrounding growth. Sensitively addressing mill lands and other key areas can promote equitable opportunities for all income groups, fostering thoughtful interventions that enhance the urban landscape cohesively. This project serves as a practical model for reshaping urban environments amidst rapid transformation and privatization trends, demonstrating how the lake can serve as a focal point for diverse activities. By revitalizing the waterbody, a sense of community belonging and civic engagement can be rekindled, transforming the precinct into a dynamic space that embraces ecological, informal, and opportunity-driven perspectives. This approach not only boosts land value and economic prospects but also fosters a more inclusive and public cityscape accessible to all residents
Fostering the Cultural Identity of the Tibetan Diaspora in Dharamshala: a case of Cultural Preservation through Tourism
No full textDharamshala is a city in Himachal Pradesh, which falls in the Kangra district. The city is home to the refugees from Tibet who initially arrived in India seeking protection from Chinese rule. In 1959, during the Lhasa Uprising, the 14th His Holiness Dalai Lama fled to India with around 30,000 Tibetans. Since they arrived in India, the Tibetans have been trying to find a home away from home. This Tibetan diaspora currently resides in many parts of India in around 40 formal settlements and many more informal settlements controlled and monitored by the Central Tibetan Administration. The headquarters of this Tibetan diaspora is in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, also known as ‘Little Lhasa’, where their spiritual leader currently resides. The Urban Form here has been constantly shaped by the arrival of Tibetans over three waves of migration. This thesis delves into the evolution of Dharamshala's urban fabric, under the influence of the Tibetan diaspora.
The thesis inquiry is to understand the Cultural Anthropology of a diaspora with no land security and prescribe Urban Design measures to preserve their Cultural Identity in their home away from home. Dharamshala, one of the biggest and most important Tibetan settlements, has been taken as the city to demonstrate this Cultural Preservation. This thesis aims to provide Urban Design Guidelines for developing the public realm, considering the cultural variance between the host community and the diasporic community. The primary focus is to preserve the cultural identity of the diaspora through tourism while fostering cultural exchange. This thesis primarily focuses on cultural exchanges through tourists since they can help increase the diaspora's cultural reach. This thesis proposes an integrated Tourist Circuit for Upper Dharamshala connecting to all the city's major attractions. The area of focus is McLeodganj where the city’s tourism can be promoted by leveraging Foreign tourist footfall due to Tibetan culture. The objective is also to give Urban Design Strategies for Temple Road in McLeod Ganj. The thesis also suggests the Form-Based Codes for the existing Tibetan neighborhood
Reimagining Publicness: Navigating the Evolving Dynamics of Public Space Network in Transforming Urban Form, a Case of Kharadi, Pune
No full textAs urbanization contributes to reshaping the landscape of the city, the peripheral regions witness a complex interplay between urban and rural elements. The urban peripheries which were once considered fringes of urbanity, now are at the forefront of transformation. The unplanned growth, driven by population influx, technological advancements, and shifting economic landscapes has led to an accelerated pace of change that often outstrips the capacity of traditional planning mechanisms. The rapid expansion of new CBDs and private developments in the peri-urban areas of Pune city has led to a transformation in the urban fabric, resulting in the privatization of public spaces, and social and spatial fragmentation. This phenomenon has significantly reduced the publicness in the emerging urban fabric.
Pune has been a centre for IT park development in peri-urban areas like Baner, Balewadi, and Kharadi. This plug-in of peri-urban development has attracted a lot of influx of population migrating in and out of the city. To cater to this influx of people, the city started to develop unsteadily without responding to its context. This has led to fragmentation and inequity of spaces in peri-urban areas. Now, the city has many satellite peri-urban areas that are looking for a steady transformation. With upcoming development typologies of private gated townships, the city is developing more towards privatized spaces.
This study aims to address the challenges of the fragmented interface between Pune city and its peri-urban areas by proposing strategies to enhance visual and social coherence and mitigate the privatisation of spaces due to development by promoting more equitable spaces. The study recognizes the importance of re-centring the urban periphery as a means to establish a harmonious relationship between the expanding cityscape and the surrounding rural context. The focus is on guiding emerging build forms and creating a balance between the urban and rural dynamics, fostering a sense of place and promoting inclusivity in peri-urban areas. This research aims to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban fabric that accommodates both the city and its peri-urban areas
Envisaging the Dysfunctional River Edge as a Public Space and Reintegrating them into the Socio-Economic Structure of the City: a Case of Hoogly River
No full textSince ancient time many great cities evolved around rivers, people congregate around river edge to give a character, in terms of business, trade or in terms of society. As the city grows and spreads to the intermediary and peripheral zones that are supports our modern day needs. The activities in the older areas where the city started evolving, which was once a base of social and business structure, now turned into Dysfunctional areas or Abandoned spaces, which often has a negative impact on a city’s urban environment. The thesis main focus is to understand the decline of the industrial areas along the river edge in Howrah and how it has affected the urban environment and the communities living within the vicinity. The research will primarily focus on the need of public space for a neighborhood, understanding people’s perspective and how the dysfunctional areas are affecting the urban environment and how we can repurpose these dysfunctional areas and include them into socio-economic structure of the city
Eco-Urbanism: Integrating Urban Ecological Commons in Urban Design for Resilient and Sustainable Cities, a Case of River Saraswati, Indore
No full textUrbanization poses significant challenges to the sustainability and resilience of cities worldwide. As urban populations grow, the need for innovative approaches to urban design becomes increasingly urgent. This thesis investigates the concept of eco-urbanism, focusing on integrating urban ecological commons as a fundamental component of resilient and sustainable cities. At its core, eco-urbanism seeks to harmonize the built environment with the natural world, recognizing the importance of ecological principles in urban design.
Through a comprehensive review of literature, case studies, and stakeholder interviews, this thesis explores the multifaceted benefits of integrating ecological commons into urban landscapes. Ecological commons encompass a range of green spaces, parks, wetlands, community gardens, and green corridors that contribute to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being within cities.
The Thesis identifies key design principles, community engagement strategies, and policy recommendations for realizing the vision of eco-urbanism. Design principles emphasize the importance of green infrastructure, sustainable transportation, and compact urban form in creating resilient and livable cities. Community engagement strategies highlight the need for inclusive decision-making processes that empower residents and foster a sense of ownership over ecological commons.
Furthermore, this thesis underscores the social and economic benefits of ecological urban commons, including improved public health, increased property values, and enhanced quality of life for residents. By integrating ecological principles into urban design, cities can create more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable communities for present and future generations.
In conclusion, this thesis advocates for a paradigm shift towards eco-urbanism, emphasizing the importance of integrating urban ecological commons as a cornerstone of resilient and sustainable cities. By prioritizing ecological considerations in urban development, cities can address pressing environmental challenges while enhancing the well-being of their inhabitants
Climate Responsive Urban Design for Built Environment: a case of Gwalior, India
No full textClimate change is a big problem for cities around the world, and it's getting worse. Even though we're trying to stop it, some changes are already happening and will continue. Cities are especially at risk from things like more rain, bigger storms, floods, and very hot temperatures, which can make city life difficult.
Urban environments are facing greater challenges due to climate change, including thermal discomfort, which has an impact on the well-being and social interactions of its residents.Through the use of a comprehensive methodology that incorporates climate factors with the dynamics of population, density, neighbourhood, and landscape, this study seeks to provide a model of urban designing that promotes social interaction and public space while also reducing the negative effects of climate change.
To grasp the complex connections between the built environment and its climatic context, the research uses a multidisciplinary methodology that includes participatory design processes, urban morphology studies, and climatic data analysis. The study identifies key strategies for climate-responsive design through a thorough case study of Gwalior. These strategies include optimising urban form and layout, incorporating green infrastructure, and creating public spaces that foster community engagement and adjust to local climate conditions.
The thesis emphasises how cities can become more liveable, sustainable, and inclusive of all people by implementing climate-responsive urban design. The study adds to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable urbanism by reimagining urban spaces in light of climate imperatives. It also provides useful insights for communities, policymakers, and urban designers who seek to strengthen their resilience against climate change. It emphasises how synergistic approaches to urban design are crucial, with climate responsiveness catalysing the development of thriving, cohesive urban communities