“URBAN
FORM”
AN INTERACTION OF DIVERSE CULTURES ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH PAPER
AASHNA ARORA
MBS SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE SECTOR 9, DWARKA, NEW DELHI CANDIDATE‘S DECLARATION I hereby certify that the work which is being presented in the research paper entitled ― URBAN FORM : AN INTERACTION OF DIVERSE CULTURES ― as a prerequisite for the award of the degree of Bachelors of Architecture and submitted in the MBS School of Planning and Architecture, under GGSIP University, is an authentic record of my own work carried out during a period of August 2015 to December 2015. The matter presented in this research paper has not been submitted by me for the award of any other degree of this or any other institute.
AASHNA ARORA
This is to certify that the above statements made by candidate is correct to the best of my knowledge.
DATE: 11/01/2016
(Dr. ILA GUPTA) Supervisor
The Dissertation Viva-Voce Examination of AASHNA ARORA, has been held on……………………..
Signature of research coordinator
Signature of external examiner
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Foremost, I would like to acknowledge my profesor, Dr.Ila Gupta for being a willing
guide throughout this entire process and a credit to MBS School of
Planning And Architecture as a whole.
I would like to thank those individuals who comprise the Committee for this
Research Paper : Ar.Rajshree Mathur and Ar.Rohit Kumar. Not only have these individuals offered their review and criticism with regards to final product of this exercise, each has contributed in their own way to the main corpus of this document through their wisdom and expertise. I would also like to express my gratitude to all the wonderful faculty and staff associated with the MBS School of Planning and Architecture.
I would like to state my appreciation and admiration for those fellow classmates
who energized and supported me throughout this ordeal.
On a more personal level,I want to give special thanks to my family and friends who have instilled an enduring appreciation for the dual – but far from exclusive – realms of nature and culture, both of which have enriched my life to the utmost degree. I will make it my life‘s work to advance both. You have given me with a lot to live up to, but I plan on embracing the challenge.
Thanks
AASHNA ARORA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Candidate‘s declaration
i
Acknowledgements
ii
Table of contents
Iii-iv
Abstract
v-ix
List of figures
x
1.Introduction 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
1-2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
Aim Problems and scope of the study Objectives Key Questions Methodology Expected Outcome Limitations
2.Introduction about culture and its presence
3-6 3 3-6
2.1 Introduction about the culture 2.2 Introduction about culture of Delhi
3.Interaction
7-20 7 7-20 7 8-10
3.1 What is interaction 3.2 Interaction of people from past to present era 3.2.1 Indus Valley Civilization 3.2.2 Interaction during Greek and Roman era 3.2.2.1 Public spaces in Greek era 3.2.2.2 Public spaces in Roman era 3.2.3 Interaction of diverse cultures during Mughal period 3.2.4 Example : City planning of Jaipur 3.2.5 Interaction During British period 3.2.5.1 India Gate 3.2.5.2 Connaught Place 3.2.6 Interaction post independence : 1950s 3.2.7 Interaction post 1970s 3.2.7.1 Pragati Maidan 3.2.7.2 Mandi House 3.2.8 Present day scenario Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
11-12 13-14 15-17
17 18
19-20 iii
4. Need for Interaction
21-24
4.1 Importance of interaction
21-24
5. Public places for interaction
25- 27 25
5.1 What are good places for interaction? 5.2 Examples of good places of interaction
25-27 28-46
6.Case studies 6.1 Case study : Dwarka 6.2 Case study : Toronto
28-38 39-46
7. Conclusions and Recommendations
47-51
7.1 Conclusions 7.1.1 Flexibility in functional space 7.2 Examples of recommendations
47-49 49-51 xi
References
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 2.1 : Edward B Tylore, source : http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/ Figure 2.2 : Culture, source : http://kathrinenkeglobprof.blogspot.com/p/ Figure 2.3 : Qawali in Nizammudin , source : http://thedelhiwalla.blogspot.in/2007/09/ Figure 2.4 : Prabhat Ferri in gurudwara, source : http://www.thehindu.com/news/ Figure 2.5 : Onam celebrations at India Gate , source http://netindian.inews/pookkalam Figure 2.6 : Onam celebration at Kerala House , source : http://www.thehindu.com/ Figure 2.7 : Durga Puja at CR Park , source : www.cozyduk.com Figure 2.8 : Navratri celebrations , source : http://www.thehindu.com/news/ Figure 2.9 : Bells in temple , source : source : http://thedelhiwalla.blogspot.in/2007/09/
Figure 2.10 : Sacred Heart Cathedral,Delhi , source : http://theindianeye.net/india/ Figure 2.11 : Tibetan Monastery,ISBT , source:http://www.monasterymarketdelhi.co.in/ Figure 2.12 : Jama Masjid , source : http://www.mapsofindia.com/india/jama-masjid Figure 2.13 : Birla Mandir , source : http://www.picturesindia.com/buildings/ Figure 3.1 : The Great Bath , source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/primaryhistory/indus_valley Figure 3.2 : Granary , source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/primaryhistory/indus_valley Figure 3.3 : Ancient Agora , source : http://aytch.mnsu.edu/URBS110/Greeks/ Figure 3.4 : Theater of epidauras , source : https://www.whitman.edu/theatre/epidaurus/ Figure 3.5 : Forum Romanum , source : http://www.crystalinks.com/circusmaximus.html Figure 3.6 : Thermae of Caracalla , source : http://picterest.info/V2FQ-caracalla-baths/ Figure 3.7 : Theater for Orange , source :http://www.provence.com/romantheaterorange/ Figure 3.8 : Circus of Maximus,Rome , source : http://resources.org/AncientRome/ Figure 3.9 : Plan of Roman Forum , source : www.greatbuildings.com/gbc-drawing.cgi/ Figure 3.10 : Women dancing during Mughal Era, source : https://history.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/mughals/ Figure 3.11 : Charbagh Gardens , source : http://www.panoramio.com/photo/58230163 Figure 3.12 : Naubat Khana , source : http://fortsmonuments.info/naubat.aspx
Figure 3.13 : Diwan e Aam , source : http://www.panoramio.com/photo/58230163 Figure 3.14 : Plan of Jaipur , source : http://www.panoramio.com/photo/58230163 Figure 3.15 : Uniform shops on bazaar street ,source: http://www.zwebstudio.com/jaipur/ Figure 3.16 : Defined street faรงade at chupar ,source : http://www.panoramio.com/photo/ Figure 3.17: Johari bazaar , source : http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/jpg Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 3.18 : Badi Chaupar , source : http://www.zwebstudio.com/jaipur Figure 3.19 : Tripolia Bazaar , source : http://www.zwebstudio.com/jaipur Figure 3.20 : Section through Ramganj bazaar, source http://www.panoramio.com/ Figure 3.21 : Plan of India Gate with lawns, source : www.google.com Figure 3.22 : Boys playing cricket at IndiaGate,source www.scoopwoop.com/indiagate Figure 3.23 : Kite flying competition , source www.scoopwoop.com/indiagate Figure 3.24 : People protesting , source www.scoopwoop.com/indiagate Figure 3.25 : View of Connaught Place , source www.google.com Figure 3.26 : Underground market of Palika Bazaar, source : www.google.com Figure 3.27 : Janpath Market , source:http://new-delhi.cityseekr.com/-janpath-market/ Figure 3.28 : Musical event at central park , source : www.google.com Figure 3.29 : Small auditorium at IIC,Delhi , source Figure 3.30 : Open air theater at Triveni kala sangam Figure 3.31 : Indoor exhibition , source : www.google.com Figure 3.32 : People during trade fair at Pragati Maidan , source Figure 3.33 : High rise in Delhi , source :www.panaromic.com Figure 3.34 : View of Gurgaon , source www.google.com Figure 4.1 : DLF Cyber Hub,Gurgaon , source : www.highrisegurgaon.com Figure 4.2 : Nehru Place , source : www.scoopwhoop.com
Figure 4.3 : Baba Kharak Singh marg , sourcewww.google.com Figure 4.4 : Diverse Cultures , sourcewww.google.com Figure 5.1 : Benyuda Street,Jerusalam : http://www.pps.org/greatpublicspaces Figure 5.2 : Times Square,New York , source: http://www.pps.org/greatpublicspaces/ Figure 5.3 : Cooklore Market,Victoria , source :http://www.pps.org/greatpublicspaces Figure 5.4 : Park Washington,DC , source : http://www.pps.org/greatpublicspaces Figure 6.1 : Plan of Dwarka showing all zones , source : www.google.com Figure 6.2 : Plan of Dwarka with neighbourhood areas , source www.google.com Figure 6.3 : Plan of Dwarka showing road connections , source www.google.com Figure 6.4 : Shahjanabad mosque,sector 11 , source : author Figure 6.5 : Church in sector 9 , source : author Figure 6.6 : Iskon Temple , source : author Figure 6.7 : Detail plan of Dwarka , source : www.dwarkaplans.com Figure 6.8 : Sector-10 plan of Dwarka , sourcewww.dwarkaplans.com Figure 6.9 : Park behind Godrej apartments , source : author Figure 6.10 : Park near Golak Dham Temple , source : author Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 6.11 : Dwarka plan showing recreational areas, source http://dwarkaapartment.com/MapsOfDwarka/ Figure 6.12 : Green areas have been used for spending leisure time for old ladies with various ethnic backgrounds, source : author Figure 6.13 : Playground , source : author Figure 6.14 : Jogging track, source : author Figure 6.15 : Children playing on swings, source : author Figure 6.16 : Yoga session, source : author Figure 6.17 : Open gymming area, source Figure 6.18 : Sports meet at GGSIPU, source : author Figure 6.19 : Interaction of students in school, source : author Figure 6.20 : Schools in sector 10, source Figure 6.21 : Public markets in sector 10, source Figure 6.22 : Indraprastha school, source : author Figure 6.23 : Veketeshwar school , source : author Figure 6.24 : Vandana International School, source : author Figure 6.25 : Sector 10 market , source : author Figure 6.26 : Local shopping complex in sector 10, source : author Figure 6.27 : Paranomic night view of sector 10 market, source : author Figure 6.28 : Religious places in sector 10, source Figure 6.29 : Golak Dham temple, source : author
Figure 6.30 : Jain Temple , source : author Figure 6.31 : Godrej apartments, source : author Figure 6.32 : Apartments in sector 10, source : www.google.com Figure 6.33 : Meeting for residents of society, source : author Figure 6.34 : Christmas celebrations in the society, source : author Figure 6.35 : Kids play area, source : author Figure 6.36 : Interaction in corridor , source : author Figure 6.37 : Interaction in lift, source Figure 6.38 : Sports Complex , source Figure 6.39 : Dussehra at sector 10 , source : author Figure 6.40 : Musical concert at sector 10 , source : author Figure 6.41 : Circus at sector 10 , source : author Figure 6.42 : People at Raahgiri, source : author Figure 6.43 : Interaction at platform, source : author Figure 6.44 : Cloth hawker , source : author Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 6.45 : Toys kiosks, source : author Figure 6.46 : Food stalls outside parks, source : author Figure 6.47 : Vegas mall, source : www.dwarkasubcity.com Figure 6.48 : City Centre, source : www.dwarkasubcity.com Figure 6.49: Political map of world, source : http://www.outline-world-map.com Figure 6.50 : Map of North America, source : http://www.outline-world-map.com Figure 6.51 : Map of Toronto in Canada, source : http://www.outline-world-map.com Figure 6.52 : Map of Toronto, source : http://www.outline-world-map.com Figure 6.63 : Aerial view of Toronto source : http://www.pbase.com/image/116150528 Figure 6.54 : Map of Toronto ( Pre 1940s) source : http://irpp.org/ Figure 6.55 : Map of Toronto (1940-1950) source : http://irpp.org/
Figure 6.56: Map of Toronto(1950-1960) source : http://irpp.org/ Figure 6.57 : Map of Toronto(1960-1970) source : http://irpp.org/ Figure 6.58 : Map of Toronto(1970-1980) source : http://irpp.org/ Figure 6.59 : Map of Toronto(1980-1990) source : http://irpp.org/ Figure 6.60 : Map of Toronto(1995-2000) source : http://irpp.org/ Figure 6.61 : Map of Toronto(2000-2005) source : http://irpp.org/ Figure 6.62 : Nathan Phillips square source : https://ryersononyonge.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/case-1-nathan-phillips-square/ Figure 6.63: Yonge Dundas square, source : www.google.com Figure 6.64 : Activities in park, source : http://www.searchingtoronto.com/pictures/ Fugure 6.65 : People enjoying near fountain, source : http://www.searchingtoronto.com/pictures/ Figure 6.66 : Swings, source : http://www.searchingtoronto.com/pictures/ Figure 6.67 : Discussion in park, source : http://www.searchingtoronto.com/pictures/ Figure 6.68 : Lower Don river trailsource : www.google.com Figure 6.69 : Hummby valley trailsource : www.google.com Figure 6.70 : Danforth food festivalsource : www.google.com Figure 6.71 : Car free day in Torontosource : www.google.com Figure 6.72 : Keninston Festival , source : Figure 6.73 : St.Lawrence market , source : Figure 6.74 : CN Tower, source : http://www.torontokiosk.ca/toronto-tour/cn-tower.php Figure 6.75 : Toronto Eaton Tower , source : www.torontokisok.com Figure 6.76 : Old city hall , source : www.torontodiscover.com Figure 7.1 : Rem Koolhaas house , source : www.archdaily.com Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 7.2 : Rem Koolhaas house , source : http://blog.kineticarchitecture.net/2008/08/rem-koolhaas-houselife/ Figure 7.3 : Movable walls, source : www.google.com Figure 7.4 : Movable walls , source : www.google.com Figure 7.5 : Culture shed , source : www.archdaily.com Figure 7.6 : Culture shed , source : www.archdaily.com
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ABSTRACT
India is a medley of amazing diversities and startling contradictions but it represents multifaceted aspects of India as a whole. It has always attracted visitors, be it invaders or traders. Over the years, each have left behind their unique traditions which are reflected in every aspect of Indian culture, be it art, dance, drama, music, architecture, language, cuisine or religion. The birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, India has gracefully embraced Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism. The influence of each religion and race is reflected in the sculpture, architecture, monuments, art, and languages (over 100 dialects) of the sub-continent. Delhi being capital of India and metropolitan city have always attracted people from past and is still welcoming thus giving rise to diverse nature of the city.
Every cultural group have different content ,forms and time schedule to celebrate their cultural events and festivals in different event centres, convention centres, parks or other public spaces. Due to this, cultural groups have limited communication. Single event is weak to call every cultural group but a well organized official space can help to call all the cultural groups at one place. There is a need to infuse culturally diverse communities and make them interact in a better way and give respect to each other, exchange ideas, knowledge and creativity. There is a need for interaction to avoid unpredictability, insecurity and ambiguity among various cultural groups. Interaction helps to develop a sense of community increasing enjoyment, safety,
security, livability and understanding among people. The research paper examines the need for interaction, characteristics of good public space for people to interact and how architecture expresses interaction of different cultural groups present in Delhi. Case studies have been done on Toronto and Dwarka( Delhi) to study the negative and positive points of places present in Delhi which allow or hamper interaction. Further design proposals will be provided that can be used as design guidelines for public places which encourages interaction among diversities.
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
India is seventh largest country by area ,second most populous country with 1.2 billion people and most populous democracy in the world. With a civilization that is over 5000 years old, India's cultural heritage is diverse, rich and unique. What is unusual is that it has absorbed, adopted, adapted, and yet maintained its unique identity. India is a medley of amazing diversities and startling contradictions but it represents multifaceted aspects of India as a whole. India has always attracted visitors, be it invaders or traders. Over the years, each have left behind their unique traditions which are reflected in every aspect of Indian culture, be it art, dance, drama, music, architecture, language, cuisine or religion. The West coast was visited by the Persians and the Europeans, who came to trade in spices and textiles. In the North, rulers from Central
Asia plundered India for her wealth and stayed back to savour her many pleasures and beauty. The Mughals came as invaders, later the British came as traders. Both stayed on to rule for many years and left a lasting impact on Indian culture and traditions. The many influences reflect in the mix of races and religions found in the country. The birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, India has gracefully embraced Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism. The influence of each religion and race is reflected in the sculpture, architecture, monuments, art, and languages (over 100 dialects) of the sub-continent. Delhi being capital of India and metropolitan city have always attracted people from
past and is still welcoming thus giving rise to diverse nature of the city.
1.1 AIM The aim of this dissertation is to research and examine how architecture expresses interaction of different cultural groups present in India
1.2 PROBLEM AND SCOPE OF STUDY In this modern India, where quality of life is the top most priority of citizens,lacks hospitable open public spaces for everyone to interact.As India is a developing country where 65% of population is youth and population will increase with time and so their lifestyle. So India lacks good hospitable, interactive public place which eventually lead Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Introduction
to productuive and healthy environments.
Every cultural group have different content ,forms and time schedule to celebrate their cultural events and festivals in different event centres,convention centres, parks or other public spaces. Due to this,cultural groups have limited communication. Single event is weak to call every cultural group but a well organized official space can help to call all the cultural groups at one place. The research aims to look at ways in which public buildings can infuse culturally diverse communities and how these communities can interact in a better way and give respect to each other, exchange ideas, knowledge and creativity. The research will be done by studying different interactive spaces from past and interactive spaces present in today‘s towns.
1.3 OBJECTIVES The objective of the dissertation will be to study diverse cultures present in Delhi, need for interaction among people and how architecture can promote interaction among diversities in Delhi.
1.4 KEY QUESTIONS 1.What is culture of Delhi?Why it is referred as diverse? 2.Why interaction between diverse cultures important? 3.How has diverse cultures interacted up till now?(From history to present ,street shows,chowks,markets etc.)
4.How can architecture create spaces for interaction among different cultural groups?
1.5 METHODOLOGY 1.Study culture of Delhi 2.Interactive public spaces from past to present 3.Case Studies 4.Surveys
1.6 EXPECTED OUTCOME Methods to vibrant public spaces which accomodates all the diverse cultures present in Delhi.Comfortable interactive public spaces.Simple solutions public spaces so that it can be applied to existing public.
1.7 LIMITATIONS Presence of diversity has been onsidered only for capital region of Delhi.Case Studies have been done at city/town level. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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1
CHAPTER 2 2 INTRODUCTION ABOUT CULTURE AND ITS PRESENCE 2.1 INTRODUCTION ABOUT CULTURE English Anthropologist Edward B. Tylor in his book, Primitive Culture, published in 1871. Tylor said that culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society." Of course, it is not limited to men.Culture is a powerful human tool for survival, but it is a fragile phenomenon. It is constantly changing and easily lost because it exists only in our minds. Our written languages, governments, buildings, and other man-made things are merely the products of culture. They are not culture in themselves. For this reason, archaeologists cannot dig up culture directly in their excavations. The broken pots and other artefacts of ancient people that they uncover are only material remains that reflect cultural patterns--they are things that were made and used through cultural knowledge and skills.
Figure 2.1 : E.D. Tylor
Figure 2.2 : Culture
2.2 INTRODUCTION ABOUT CULTURE OF DELHI Located on banks of river Yamuna,Delhi is tha capital of India and is among the few historic capital cities.It is considered the political and cultural centre of the country.Delhi has beautifully preserved its heritage and is full of ancient and medieval Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Chapter 2
Introduction about culture and its presence
monuments,archaeological sites and more than 1000 heritage buildings.
Archaeological findings have revealed continuous cultural layers from 3rd-4thC BC to the Mughal Period, and pottery fragments that date from approximately 1000-500 BC, Lal Kot, the 1st city of Delhi was founded by the Tamar dynasty in 1060 AD. Delhi grew to be the capital of an empire in the time of the Delhi Sultanate, with the establishment of Siri, the 2nd city of Delhi. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (r. 1320-24), the first of the Tughlaq kings who followed the Khaljis built Tughlaqabad the 3rd city of Delhi. Delhi was then intermittently the capital of the Mughal Empire (with a hiatus from the mid-16th to mid-17th centuries), Emperor Humayun, in AD 1533, built Dinpanah, the 6th city of Delhi. In AD 1639, Shahjahan shifted the Mughal Empire back to Delhi and
the walled city of Shahjahanabad, the 7th city of Delhi was built. The British defeated the Marathas in AD 1803 and took over Delhi. In AD 1911, they moved their capital from Calcutta to Delhi and New Delhi was built to the south-west of the walled city, Shahjahanabad. Delhi-- the capital of India, reflects the cultural diversity and religious unity of India. It is difficult to define the culture and religion of India. As there is a continuous inflow of people from all parts of India, the cultural diversity is very prominent. Being an ancient city Delhi has the shadows of its past. Delhi might be changing with time it has always done so but it has never shelved the past. There are discos for youngsters to swing their body through out the night, but still the Quwallies at the Nizamuddin Shrine floats in the air, the silence of the night is broken by the Prabhat ferries and the singing of Gurbani (the verses from the Granth Sahaib), the bells in the temples still tells about God being every where, the Sunday masses in Churches still attract the otherwise busy residents of India. People take a break from the hurried life during the ancient fairs and festivals like 'Phoolwalo-Ki-Sair which are still oraganised in traditional way.
Figure 2.3 : Qawali in Nizammudin
Figure 2.4 : Prabhat Ferri n Gurudwara
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Figure 2.5 : Onam celebration at India
Figure 2.6 : Onam celebration at
Gate
Kerala House
Figure 2.7 : Durga Puja at CR Park
Figure 2.8 : Navratri Celebrations
Delhi shares its borders with Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, which influence the life-styles and language of the people. Migrations from various parts of India has led to pockets of has diverse culture coming together in various parts of Delhi. For example, R.K. Puram has a concentration of South Indians, while C.R. Park has a concentration of Bengalies. Delhi celebrates Durga Puja is celebrated with same enthusiasm as Id is celebrated. The Guru Purab and Christmas carry the same colour as Diwali or Buddha Purnima. The amalgamation of various cultures,
traditions, religions has painted Delhi in colour which are brought from all over India. The Jama Mazjid of the walled city is an excellent example of Indo-Persian art, whereas the Birla Temple and the Chattarpur Temple complex are considered as a blend of the North and South Indian architectural styles. Gurdwara Raquab Ganj, Sheesh Ganj and Bangla Sahib stand tall for Sikhism, whereas St. Thomas and St. Columbus toll their bells for Christians. The Bahai Lotus temple has introduced the Bahai way of worship in Delhi. The monastery near the Interstate bus terminus is hub of Tibetan culture in India. Not only for the Monastery but the place has acquired Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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fame as shopping mall. Though 'Parsies' reside mainly in western India, Delhi opens its
arms for one and all.
Figure 2.9 : Bells in
Figure 2.10 : Sacred Heart
temple
Cathedral, New Delhi
Figure 2.11 : Tibetan Monastery near
Figure 2.12 : Jama Masjid
ISBT
Figure 2.13 : Birla Mandir
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CHAPTER 3 3 INTERACTION 3.1 WHAT IS INTERACTION Any form of meeting which stimulates or reciprocates action, among two people or a group is known as interaction. Since ages people have been gathering and interacting at wells, under trees, temples, streets, squares. Therefore one can say that knowingly or unknowingly these gatherings have an important role in people‘s lives. Healthy interaction leads to the development of a mature human being, who is an asset to
the society.Interaction is a kind of actin that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another, communication of any sort, interaction is the process of mutual communication between two or more.
3.2 INTERACTION OF PEOPLE FROM PAST TO PRESENT 3.2.1 INTERACTION OF PEOPLE DURING INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION Amusements and Recreation: The Indus Valley people liked more of indoor games than outdoor amusements. They were fond of gambling and playing dice. Dancing and singing were considered great arts. Boys played with toys made of terracotta, while girls played with dolls. Great Bath: The presence of such a great bath indicates that there was some ceremonial occasion when people in large number used to go there and take bath. One of the largest buildings was the Great Bath measuring 180 feet by 108 feet. The bathing pool, 39 feet long, 28 feet wide and 8 feet deep was in the center of the quadrangle, surrounded with verandahs, rooms and galleries. A flight of steps led to the pool. The pool could be filled and emptied by means of a vaulted culvert, 6 feet and 6 inches high. The walls of the pool were made of burnt bricks laid on edge, which made the pool watertight. The pool was filled with water from a large well, situated in the same complex. Great Granary: It was made about 45 meters long and 15 meters wide. It was meant to store food grains. It had lines of circular brick platforms for pounding grain. There were barrack like quarters for workmen. The granary also had smaller halls and corridors. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 3.1 : The Great Bath
Figure 3.2 : Granary
ANALYSIS There is little sign of social stratification in the plan or buildings.There was less social interaction as people preferred to stay indoors. Great bath was a place of interaction but a very small level. Next to the large bath was a huge open space—a granary known as GREAT GRANARY where food was stored from possible floods.
3.2.2 INTERACTION OF PEOPLE DURING GREEK AND ROMAN ERA 3.2.2.1 PUBLIC SPACES IN GREEK ERA 1. AGORA : The ancient greek agora was a central part of life in ancient Greece 30 acres in size. It contained all the essential ingredients for the people of that time to conduct their lives. Shops, meeting places, law courts, libraries, baths, halls for public functions with collonades (stoas), meeting place for those holding public office - these and many other buildings and areas served the needs of the local people.
Central open area
Stoa Population of Greek era during that time was 3,15,000 and agora could Figure 3.3 : Ancient Agora
easily accommodate it.
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2.OPEN AIR THEATERS : Greek open theaters are first of its kind in the world. It consists of semicircular shape tiered seating(theatron) consisting of 55 semicircular
rows
providing
capacity
of
approximately
12,000-14,000,
central
performing area (orchestra) 66 feet in diameter, low skene building behind orchestra to serve storage and dressing. On either side of the stage building were long ramps, called eisodoi or parodoi, that led into or away from the orchestra. There was also a special block of seats reserved for members of the boulĂŞ, the 500-member Executive Council of the Assembly.
Figure 3.4 : Theater of Epidauras
3.2.2.2 PUBLIC SPACES IN ROMAN ERA The principal buildings in Roman empire were not only the temples, but also many public buildings.These were the material expression of Roman imperial power.The structures include- Basilicas, Forums, Public baths, Theaters, Circuses, Triumphal arches, Victory columns, Mausoleums, City walls,entire city constructions.
FORUM : It was the central open space for meetings, markets and for political demonstrations. It served as market place and as gathering place of social significance and often was the scene of diverse activities including political discussions, debates meetings etc.T hey were decoratd with statues and pillars of victory and conquests. Porticos, collonades, temples and basilicas encircled them.
THERMAE(BATHS) : In ancient Rome,the Thermae were palatial public bathing facilities.They were centres for socializing meant for news,gossip like a modern club.They were also used for lectures of athletic sports and gymnastic.People spent their time in activities such as running,weight lifting wrestling and swimming for bath. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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THEATERS : Roman theaters were of different kinds that maybe be classified as:
-Theaters for plays and other scenic entertainments-The earliest theatrical activity of Rome was the dances with musical accompaniment introduced by Etruscans in 364 B.C.E. -Amphitheatres for gladiatorial combats and wild beast shows -Stadias for athletic competitions -Circuses for chariot races
Figure 3.5 : Forum Romanum
Figure 3.6 : Thermae Of Caracalla
Figure 3.7 : Theater for Orange
Figure 3.8 : Circus of Maximus, Rome
Figure 3.9 : Plan of Roman Forum
ANALYSIS From Greek and Roman era, it is analysed that during that time public spaces were built at large scale so that total population could be accomodated easily.For example capacity of Roman theaters were 50,000 and population was around 2 lacs. Greeks and Romans created examples for all over world of successful public spaces where anyone and everyone can interact. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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3.2.3 INTERACTION OF DIVERSE CULTURES DURING MUGHAL PERIOD Mughal architecture and planning was amalgamated form of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. A distinctive style of symmetry and decorative elements was developed in 16th and 17th century. The Mughal period was period of beautiful gardens, palaces, forts, mosques and cities. These urban complexes were reached at high point of development during rule of Akbar and Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan period was comparatively long and peaceful remarkable for town planning, architecture and urban design; like integration of courts, gardens and pavilions were most magnificent historic spaces during Mughal period.
The basic plan of cities was pure geometric pattern. The position of cities was decided as per strategic and economic interest of the state. The cities were walled and fortified for security reasons.
The urban spatial structure comprises of Naubat Khana,
Diwane-e-aam and Diwane Khass. Naubat khana was a drum house during ceremonies and also used as place for social gathering. Diwan – e – Aam were red stone building near Naubat Khana, it consist of big courtyard enclosed with arcaded cloisters brightly decorated with flowers. It was place where emperor meet the general public and here their grievances.
Figure 3.10 : Women dancing
Figure 3.11 : Charbagh Gardens
during Mughal Era Another important public place which was important component of Planning was Mughal garden. The founder of Mughal Empire, Babur described these gardens as Charbagh ―dividing the garden in four equal parts‖. Shah Jahan was famous for construction of Tajmahal and Red fort Mehtab Bagh. These tended to be riverfront gardens rather than the fortress gardens that his predecessors built.. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Significant uses of rectilinear layouts are made in walled enclosures. Main features of
gardens were including pools, fountains and canals inside the gardens. Most important feature of Mughal garden is Char Bagh planning. Mughals were obsessed with symbol and incorporated it into their gardens in many ways. Include trees of various sorts, some to provide shade merely, and others to produce fruits; flowers, colorful and sweet-smelling; grass, usually growing wild under the trees; birds to fill the garden with song; the whole cooled by a pleasant breeze. The garden might include a raised hillock at the center, reminiscent of the mountain at the center of the universe in cosmological descriptions, and often surmounted by a pavilion or palace.
Figure 3.12 : Naubat Khana
Figure 3.13 : Diwan E Aam
ANALYSIS Major space for interaction included Diwan e aam, Naubat Khana where king interacted with public and people also interacted among themselves about various issues relating to their common problems or any other issues.Mughal Garden served as recreational purposes.Also there were separate places for women interaction .Street markets also served as interactive place but there was no major place where diverse cultures could interact.Mughals were not aware of hindu culture ( with exception of emperor Akbar).Hindu culture was already
present in Delhi and mughals left muslim culture when they left Delhi.
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3.2.4 EXAMPLE - CITY PLANNING OF JAIPUR FOR INTERACTION FOR DIVERSE CULTURE It is live model of first planned city in India. Planning of Jaipur city was based on Hindu system of town planning and followed the principles prescribed in the Shilpa-Shastra.
According to this Shastra the site should be divided into grids or mandalas ranging from 2x 2 to 10 x 10. Jaipur city was planned according to the Prastara type of layout, which gives prominence to the cardinal directions. Thus plan of Jaipur is a grid of 3x3 with gridlines being the city‘s main streets. A nine square subdivision of space helps to utilize the central space.
The central axis of the town was laid from East to West between the gates of the Sun (Suraj pol) and the moon (Chandpol) . This was crossed by two roads at right angles dividing the town into nine almost square, almost equally sized blocks, which were further sub divided by lanes and alleys all at right angles. Figure 3.14 : Plan of Jaipur By building the western boundary of the city right up to the hill‘s southern apex, it provided a continuous line of defense. The mandala could not be complete in the NW due to the presence of the hills. On the other hand in the SE an extra square has been
added that plugged the gap between the city and the eastern hills. Public spaces in Jaipur city are Chaupars, Bazaars, Mohallas, Streets and Temples. Chaupars : These are square intersection of roads from north south and east west with size of 100 m X 100m. Chaupars are public gathering places for festive occasions. The distance between two Chopars is about 700 meters which is ideal for pedestrian movement. Bazaars (Markets): Bazaars in city are Kishanpole, Gangauri, Johari and Sireh Deorhi along the major axis from north –south and east-west intersecting at Chaupars. These bazaars are defined with strong horizontal lines, with uniform architectural elements like brackets, modular system of arches filled with delicate latticed screens to cut direct sun and glare of reflected sun in the street.
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Figure 3.15 : Uniform shops on bazaar street
Figure 3.16 : Defined street faรงade at chaupar with sunshades
Figure 3.17 : Johari Bazaar
and latticed
collonades at upper floors and shops at ground floor
Figure 3.18 : Badi Chaupar
Figure 3.19 : Tripolia Bazaar
Figure 3.20 :Section through Ramganj Bazaar Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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3.2.5 INTERACTION OF DIVERSE CULTURE DURING BRITISH PERIOD In British Time, A Square or Plaza is both an area framed by buildings and an area designed to exhibits its buildings to the greatest advantage. City squares were established at the cross roads of important trade routes, Major places of worship were placed on squares, also used as markets, Served as an opportunity to exercise the power of rulers with military processions and parades. • Function of Squares • Creates a gathering place for the people • Providing them with a shelter against the traffic
• Freeing them from the tension of rushing through the web of street • Represents as a psychological parking place within the civic landscape • Reasons for development of Squares • Climatic conditions • Societal structure and psychological attitude of people • led to a form of public life – and life in public • Made street and square the natural locale for community activities and representation.
3.2.5.1 INDIA GATE This 42 m high, towering archwayis the centerpiece of Delhi. A war memorial commemorating the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British
Army during World War I, it is surrounded by pristine lawns that are a favorite picnic spot for locals during winter days and summer evenings. Hawkers peddle ice creams and Delhi‘s famous street food. A great time to visit is at night, when the 91-year-old arch glows under the floodlights. Also on site is the Amar Jawan Jyoti, an eternal flame commemorating the soldiers who died during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.
Figure 3.22 :Boys playing cricket at India Figure 3.21 : Plan of India gate with lawns
Gate
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Figure 3.23 : Kite flying competition
Figure 3.24 : People protesting against government
3.2.5.2 CONNAUGHT PLACE New Delhi‘s colonial heart is Connaught Place, named after George V‘s paternal uncle. Its whitewashed, grey-tinged streets radiate out from the central circle of Rajiv Chowk, lined with shops and restaurants. Connaught Place is one of the largest commercial and business centres in Delhi. Construction work began in 1929 and was completed in 1933. It has National Museum of Natural History, Jantar Mantar, which consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, Palika Bazaar and Janpath market for economical buyers and high branded shops are also present. Connaught Place is also home to many designer wear stores, book stores, speciality shops and lounges, bars,restaurants.
Figure 3.25 : View of Connaught Place
Figure 3.27 : Janpath Market
Figure 3.26 : Palika Bazar
Figure 3.28 : Muscial event at central park
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ANALYSIS In India Gate, one family will not interact with another family without any purpose.People at India Gate will only interact if they are present together for a common purpose like celebration of any festival, sports activities,art/kite competition. Similarly at Connaught place,there is interaction among employees belonging to diverse cultures only. No buyer will interact with another buyer without any purpose. People will come ,buy their respective goods and leave the place. There is no architecture to bring diverse cultures together.
3.2.6 INTERACTION AFTER INDEPENDENCE – 1950 s • In 1947, after independence and partition of india, delhi witnessed one of the largest immigration of people in its history. Millions sought shelter in delhi and its population was doubled in just months. •There were some muslim families as well who had left delhi and gone to settle in the new state of pakistan. The evacuee properties were given to the new immigrants. The influx of immigrants created newer area of interest, the immigrants brought with them winds of change which demanded which introduced newer concepts of urban entertainment, which included opening of cinema halls, restaurants, art galleries,
music and dance performing centres so that diverse cultures of Delhi interact on common grounds. Nebraska-born Joseph Allen Stein's stone-clad India International Centre on Max Mueller Road, whose pebble-studded facades evoke the monuments of adjacent Lodi Gardens and whose social spaces feel a lot like sitting outside. Triveni Kala Sangam on Tansen Marg creates multiple spaces for multiple purposes—a cafe, an outdoor theatre, galleries housed in clean lines punctuated by jali work (stone lattices) that filters Delhi's harsh sun. The kind of textures he used—stone, pebble, plaster—these became part of the Modernist vocabulary of Delhi.
Figure 3.30 :Open air theater and Figure 3.29 :Small auditorium at IIC,Delhi
café at Triveni Kala Sangam
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3.2.7 INTERACTION POST THE 1970S The focus shifted to private building, as Delhi's post-1947 refugee population became wealthier and began to construct grandiose personal homes. Many of these looked abroad for inspiration, giving rise to a crop of colonnaded 'villas,' 'chateaus,' and 'haciendas' across south Delhi. A fine example of this style is what appears to be an Italian mausoleum rising on the left as driving on Ring Road from New Friends Colony to South Extension. Post 1970s brought building of interactive spaces for diverse cultures at larger level, taking an example of Pragati Maidan, India Habitat Centre, Mandi House area.
3.2.7.1 PRAGATI MAIDAN The Pragati Maidan complex was built in 1982 and spreads over an area of 150 acres dotted with green lawns and trees. The Pragati Maidan complex houses 18 Exhibition Halls; 22 Permanent Pavilions; Buildings of various shapes and sizes; Eating Outlets & Restaurants; Open Theatre and Auditorium for Performing Arts, Rock Concerts and Cultural events; Shakuntalam Movie Theatre.Architectural exhibitions, trade fairs, music and dance festivals keep taking place at Pragati maidan making it a large interactive space for diverse communities.
Figure 3.31 :Indoor exhibition
Figure 3.32 :People at pragati maidan during trade fair
3.2.7.2 MANDI HOUSE Mandi House is an area near India Gate. Mandi House Circle is popular because it's a hub of many cultural places which are Kamani Auditorium, Rabindra Bhawan, Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, National School of Drama, The Little Theatre Group, Russian Centre of Science & Culture, Triveni Kala Sangam, FICCI and many more.It is a hub for people who have interest in art and entertainment. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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3.2.8 PRESENT DAY SCENARIO Today, the architecture most emblematic of booming post-liberalisation Delhi is taking place south of the city. When crossing into Gurgaon, DLF city dominates it. If the city's
newest architecture bears the stamp on any one man, it is Mumbai-based Contractor, whose visions in glass—like the ship building, also known as the DLF Gateway Tower, just into Gurgaon—are the hallmark of 9-percent-growth India. They appear like islands, for around each shiny condo or mall, swathes of land spread and they are often home to slums that house the construction workers who build the condos. In part, that is why Contractor seems to be reviled by many fellow architects who say a building must 'sit' within its geographical context, not least because it must respond to climatic challenges, which are severe in Delhi. The place, at once iconic and welcoming, is thronged every evening. It seems odd our former imperial rulers were the only ones to create a space where all Delhi—rich or poor, male and female, families and young couples—feel comfortable to gather. The public spaces of Lutyens Delhi— rather than its bungalows—may explain the emotional hold of the area. "A city is 80 percent open spaces. We are not talking architecture. We are talking cities," says ecological architect Sanjay Prakash, who, far from a fan of Lutyens Delhi for what he sees as its profligate use of land, noted that it successfully incorporated the spaces outside the buildings into its vision. "It generates a very positive feeling about open space of the kind we have lost."
Most architects in Delhi have abandoned the public space—a failure Shah pins on planning—and that is a good part of the reason why the overriding impression of the city as a whole is one of neglect and ugliness. Post-Independence planners modelled Delhi on what they knew—bungalows set far back from and therefore divorced from the city's street. "But the architecture of a city is the architecture of streets," says Shah. "The interface between public space and private space—that's where architecture really comes into its own. We don't get a chance to appreciate the way the building meets the street." In Delhi, what you have, in essence, are 'suburbs' at the heart of the city, married with
urban blight. For now, Delhi's architects have confined their attention to creating singular, private spaces, ringed by boundary walls and guards—the home, the office tower, the mall. In doing so, they have erased themselves from the city, from a place Menon calls the cognitive identity of Delhi. "It has to all come together as a public Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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space, a public experience. You have to see an ensemble," he says. "A one-off doesn't
work in many cases, except monumental cases, like the Taj Mahal. Cities are a group of buildings, and they have to respect each other." Think of an orchestra in which different musicians are required to play the same composition to make soaring, overarching music. Delhi, instead, is a cacophony. In some cases, the cacophony actually works for Delhi's needs now, at least to the dispassionate observer not wedded to one or another older imagining of Delhi. The
ubiquitous
"Punjabi
Baroque"Shanghai-based
architect
Bittor
Sanchez-
Monasterio, a professor of PennDesign's post-professional program, who visited Delhi in September with a group of students, highlights Pitampura as an example of one of
many hyper-dense, dynamic 'hybrid terminals'—meeting points of old and new, traditional and modern—growing along Delhi's new transport links. "It looks like a conglomeration of mid-rise volumes, semi-industrial, semi-residential," he says. "The buildings are totally different. There are semi-indoor-outdoor promenades. It was not Occidental, not Western, but a type of new Indian." After globalisation and immigration of people after independence, there was need for more housing facilities in smaller areas, so concept of high rise creeped in. High rise have been accused of causing many unpleasant outcomes such as fear, dissatisfaction, stress, behaviour problems, suicide, poor social relations, reduced helpfulness and hindered child development. Working parents attend office full day, meet their children at night and on weekends everyone prefers to stay at home for rest. So there is no social interaction among people on any grounds.
Figure 3.33 : High rise in Delhi
Figure 3.34 :View of Gurgaon
CONCLUSION As the time passed, interactive spaces were built at neighbourhood level and city level as well. But there has to be a common ground for diverse cultures to interact like entertainment, leisure, business etc. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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CHAPTER 4 NEED FOR INTERACTION 4.1 IMPORTANCE OF INTERACTION Every cultural group have different content, forms and time schedule to celebrate their cultural events and festivals in different event centres, convention centres ,parks or other public spaces. Due to this, cultural groups have limited communication. Single event is weak to call every cultural group but a well organized official space can help to call all the cultural groups at one place. The research aims to look at ways in which public spaces can infuse culturally diverse communities and how these communities can interact in a better way and give respect to each other, exchange
ideas, knowledge and creativity.
Figure 4.1 : DLF Cyber Hub,Gurgaon The ability to flow through the city also stems from the cultural knowledge needed to
avoid unpredictability; to avoid unsettling, insecure, ambiguity; to avoid collisions. People who appear out of place‟ or 'spatially untethered', violate the shared norms that produce predictable behaviour'.To be spatially untethered‟ is also to be untethered from the cultural practices and knowledge that create that space. The out of place ―other‟, block the flow of the city in both their spatial and symbolic transgressions. They do not conform to a sense of order demarcated in the correct use of space and the understanding of boundaries between public/private, moral/immoral, clean/dirty, in a city seeking „modern‟, global, status.The resulting anxiety creates what Sibley has referred to as the attempt to ―purify‟ space by Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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establishing clear boundaries and internal order based on dominant cultural values
and practices. These territorial lines are made legible through, collectively held ideas of the spaces where they occur‟. In crowded public spaces od Delhi, in its streets and shopping precints or on its public transport, the body must be flexible. It must bend twist, and absorb the inevitable physical and sensory collisions or it can remove itself entirely if the discomfort generated in possessing different cultural frames of reference that guide reflexive and conscious movement and opinion is too great. • They
can
help
to
develop
a
sense
of
community
pride
and
ownership. Especially if they‘ve worked together to build or improve spaces where
people can come together, the people who use them can start to see them as centers of their community, and as belonging to them. • They can help build a true sense of community among people of diverse origins, backgrounds, and points of view. By getting to know one another, people with different histories and assumptions can establish relationships and begin to value their differences as well as their similarities. • They can expand children’s horizons through interactions with people who have different assumptions and expectations. Through contact with friends with different world views, children can broaden their own, and realize there are different ways of looking at and experiencing life, and different paths that people can take. This interaction may also increase the number of positive adult role models in children‘s lives. • They can make the community a more pleasant place to live because more people have contact with one another. If you‘ve ever lived in a neighborhood or small town where most people know one another, and where you‘re constantly greeted as you walk down the street, you know how pleasant that can be. It creates a sense of community, and makes you feel that this is your place and these are
your people. • They can increase the general enjoyment of life in the community. The sharing of food, traditions, games, festivals, and family celebrations – whether with people from various cultures or with neighbors from similar backgrounds – simply makes life more fun. The opportunity for relaxed conversation with old friends or new acquaintances, a place to sit in the winter sun, a neighborhood festival – all of these enrich our lives. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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• They can increase safety and security. When people in the neighborhood know one another from meeting regularly, they are more likely to look out for one another as well.
That means eyes on the street, a feeling of ownership of the
neighborhood, and less tolerance of both crime and unsafe situations (speeding traffic in residential areas, cracked sidewalks where elders might trip, open manholes, etc.) • They can improve the livability of neighborhoods. Good places for interaction are also good places to be. They‘re generally pleasant, close to or linked to services and shopping, and filled with friends or potential friends. That in itself improves neighborhood livability, but such spaces may also nurture the kind of neighborhood solidarity and good feeling that leads to neighborhood clean-ups, taking back the streets from drug dealers and gangs, and advocating for increases in services. • They can promote individuals’ understanding of one another’s culture and humanity. As people get to know one another, they understand better that we‘re all human, with essentially the same hopes and fears, although these may be expressed in different ways, and our attempts to address them may be different.
The differences in culture, in most cases, become interesting, rather than threatening, as people become more comfortable and friendly with one another. The sharing of food, traditions, and celebrations help to break down the barriers to the appreciation of diversity. • They can provide a forum for the exchange of ideas. The more people interact, and particularly the more they engage in enjoyable or substantive activities together – helping to build a playground in a neighborhood park, participating in a community celebration – the more they find out about one another, and the more they begin to understand that their goals are similar, even though their ideas about how to achieve them may be different. That understanding leads to mutual respect and a broadening of views – although not necessarily to agreement – and strengthens the community as a whole • They can increase equity. By encouraging people of different economic levels to mix and develop relationships, the interactive spaces in a community can provide low-income people with some of the social networking opportunities that people higher up the economic ladder take for granted. The ultimate result, in some cases, may be a neighborhood or community presenting a united front in a fight for greater Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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equity. It can also lead to employment opportunities and other possibilities that allow lower-income people to change their lives. • They can increase social capital, particularly bridging social capital. Social capital is the sum total of the benefit that people build up from their web of relationships. According to Robert Putnam, in Bowling Alone (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000), there are two kinds. Bonding social capital is the advantage people develop from relationships with those who are essentially similar to themselves. Bridging social capital is that gained from relationships with people who are quite different, whether in culture, race or ethnicity, economic status, political philosophy, or all of these and more besides.
Figure 4.2 : Nehru Place
Figure 4.3 : Baba Kharak singh marg
Figure 4.4 : Diverse Cultures
CONCLUSION Since all cultural groups have varying time, content and form to celebrate their cultural events and festivals, they have limited communication. Therefore, there is a need for interaction to avoid unpredictability, insecurity and ambiguity among various cultural groups. Interaction helps to develop a sense of community increasing enjoyment, safety, security, livability and understanding among people.
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CHAPTER 5 PUBLIC PLACES FOR INTERACTION In order to create community, whether in a rural area, a small town, or a large city, it‘s often necessary to bring people together so that they can get to know one another, learn about one another’s cultures, and develop common interests, concerns, and goals. Yet, especially in large cities, people often live either in isolation, or surrounded only by others who are similar to themselves in language, culture, and assumptions. How do we build communities that are trusting and supportive, and that
can reflect and embrace the diversity of backgrounds, ethnicity, race, and culture that make up much of today‘s society?
5.1 WHAT ARE GOOD PLACES FOR INTERACTION ? Good places for interaction are places where people – often from many parts of the community and/or diverse backgrounds – meet naturally and interact comfortably and often pleasurably because of the nature or attraction of the space and/or the activities associated with it. Four basic characteristics of good places for interaction are : • There has to be a reason for people to go there
• There has to be a reason for people to want to stay once they‘ve arrived • People in the space have to feel safe and comfortable • The space has to be welcoming and accessible to everyone
5.2 EXAMPLES OF GOOD PLACES FOR INTERACTION
Squares and plazas : Squares and plazas are the equivalent of the Agora in ancient Athens or the Forum in Rome, where citizens came to do business, engage in politics,
and socialize. In many areas of the world, the central square serves as a gathering place for the population, families take their evening walk around the square or along the seafront, exchanging greetings with others, stopping to talk or snack on ice cream or other street food.
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Figure 5.1 : Benyuda Street,Jerusalem
Figure 5.2 : Times Square,New York
Public buildings and their surroundings : The steps and surroundings of many state buildings – and often the buildings themselves – serve as the sites for rallies, speeches, and ceremonies. Pedestrian streets : The pedestrian passages often lined with stores whose business is enhanced by the flow of pedestrians past their doors allow people to rub shoulders with others from the community, to stop for conversation without the noise and other distractions of traffic. They often harbor street performers, outdoor cafes, festivals, and other features that encourage interaction.
Streets and boulevards : Streets with wide sidewalks, canopies of trees that screen those sidewalks from traffic, dramatic views, many places to shop and eat, and interesting streetscapes become outdoor living rooms, destinations in themselves, where it‘s fun just to linger or walk, window-shop, and mix with the crowds. Bridges : It is their function that can make bridges into good places for interaction. Many of them command spectacular views.When these bridges are provided with opportunities for interaction, they can become even more than the natural gathering places they often are. Markets. Real markets – a square, a street, or a whole neighborhood of pushcarts,
temporary booths, and occasional storefronts, displaying a variety of fresh food items, clothing, and other goods – still exist in many communities around the world. The market – a human gathering spot for thousands of years, probably since before cities existed – may be the original good place for interaction. Although open-air markets and market districts are more common in the developing world, creates the atmosphere and opportunities for interaction among buyers and between buyers and sellers. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 5.3 : Cooklore Farmer
Figure 5.4 :Park in Washington,DC
Market,Victoria Places for leisure : Theaters, sports facilities, libraries, museums, and other places where people gather for entertainment and leisure activities. The activities that take
place in these spaces attract diverse groups of people and invite them to share and discuss their experiences. Public transportation : Good public transportation can encourage interaction in many ways. It is used by riders of every description, and seating patterns often result in conversations among strangers, especially when there‘s a delay. Both vehicles and waiting areas can offer inducements to making contact with others – short videos or movies, thought-provoking billboards, interactive games, etc. Parks : In addition to providing a quiet green spot amid the concrete and traffic, a city park can serve as a neighborhood focus, with playgrounds, picnic tables and grills, sports fields, and other facilities bringing together adults and children from all corners of the area. Walking and biking trails : These trails are used by a wide variety of people, and are a great place for community interaction. Schools : These can be places where children and youth of different cultures clash and create lifelong relationships. It‘s never too early to encourage children to make friends across racial, ethnic, class, and cultural lines, or to emphasize the common humanity that all share.
College and university campuses : These are generally open to the public, and are often enhanced by works of art, massive old trees, and buildings of architectural interest. They may be the sites of concerts, classic films, lectures, and other cultural events as well, and are often just pleasant places to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
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CHAPTER 6 CASE STUDIES 6.1 CASE STUDY 1 - DWARKA,NEW DELHI
Figure 6.1 : Plan of Dwarka
Figure 6.2 : Plan of Dwarka with
showing all zones.Dwarka falls in
marked neighbourhood areas
K-II zone 1.60m wide road – Najafgarh road leading to Uttam nagar,Janakpuri 2.New dwarka road – 45m wide partly covering Palam drain leading to Pankha road 3.Uer – 2 connecting nh8 leading to Gurgaon 60m wide 4.Najafgarh Kapashehra road connecting old Gurgaon road and Najafgarh road
POPULATION AND AREA Population - 1,100,000 Figure 6.3 : Plan of Dwarka showing roads connections
Total area - 8648 ha. Area (Phase - I) - 1964 ha. Area (Phase - II) - 1996 ha. Existing built up - 4688 ha. Dwarka project is planned with 29 sectors
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Hierarchy of road system adopted in
The land distribution of dwarka follows a
Dwarka sub-city is as under
distinct hierarchical pattern from sub-
Express way – 100m Primary Roads - 60m Primary Collector – 45m Secondary Collector – 30m Local Streets – 20m Cycle Track – 12m
city levels to sector level.The land use distribution is as under Gross residential Commercial Governement Public/semi public Recreational Transport Utilities
48.54% 7.05% 0.94% 6.20% 19.94% 14.33% 3.00%
PRESENCE OF DIVERSITY IN DWARKA Diverse communities has been living in harmony with each other for more than a decade now. It has been seen by the authorities that the interest of each community is looked after and that Dwarka belongs to each one of us equally. Whether it‘s the gathering of the faithful, bowing in prayer in the courtyard of a mosque, or the gathering of lamps that light up houses at Diwali, the good cheer of Christmas or
the brotherhood of Baisakhi and Onam, the grandeur of Durga puja or simplicity of Ganesh Chathurthi, these celebrations are a symbol of the shared emotions that bring people of Dwarka together. People from different religions and cultures of India, unite in a common chord of brotherhood and amity in fascinating land of Dwarka. The St. George Orthodox Church situated in sector-9 and the Dwarka Christian Fellowship Church in sector 19 are few of the well established churches in DWARKA. They have been successful in preaching and practicing their faith and spreading the love of GOD. DWARKA also witnesses the beautiful MOSQUE in sector 11 which is the result of the initiative taken by and the cooperation of the Dwarka Masjid Committee and the Shahjahanbad Trust. This is one of the mosques in Delhi which is completely air-conditioned. The mosque also has provision for ladies to offer their prayers. Dwarka Kalibari is a leading socio-religious, cultural and charitable organization. A place of serene and tranquility, solace and strength dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother. Shree Digambar Jain Mandir is present in sector 10 is a holy place of worship for jain community. Dwarka is a grand union of cultures, religion and language of people belonging to different castes and communities. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 6.4 : Shahjanabad Figure 6.5 : Church in Mosque,Sector 11
Figure 6.6 : Iskon Temple
sector 9
INTERACTION OF DIVERSE CULTURES IN RESIDENTIAL SECTOR • Each of the residential sectors has been envisaged to be self-contained communities and has been designed for a population of about 30,000 each. • Area of each sector is about 81 ha. (900 m x 900 m) • Each sector is bounded on all sides by arterial roads of 45 m and 60 m.wide • From arterial roads only 4 entries have been taken into the sector at a minimum distance of 450 m. • A network of cycle tracks and pedestrian pathways has been proposed within each sector which link the housing clusters and their facilities within each sector.
Figure 6.7 : Detail Plan of Dwarka Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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EXAMPLE – SECTOR 10
Highly developed and well populous, Dwarka sector 10 put across prime services
along
with
contemporary
recreation facilities that couldn‘t be availed at any other sector within the fine vicinity of the Dwarka city. From, shopping complexes to metro stations, major banks to educational institutions, each and every service is unique and instantly available within the range of Dwarka Sector 10. Apart from that, its high connectivity with the prominent and urbanized sectors (6, 9, 11 and 19) of Dwarka gives good options to the
ROAD 45.0 M
SEC-19
residents and travelers passing via its route connected in terms of connectivity
Figure 6.8 : The plan shows sector 10 with
and elementary services.
four entries
RECREATIONAL
Figure 6.9 : Park behind Godrej
apartments
ROAD 45.0 M Figure 6.11 :Dwarka Plan showing Figure 6.10 : Park near Golak Temple
recreational areas
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•Parks : Parks present in Dwarka are tucked into an intersection or a nook between the wings of a building. In addition to providing a quiet green spot amid the concrete and traffic, a park serves as a neighbourhood focus, with playgrounds, sports fields, jogging tracks, swings,gymming facilities and other facilities bringing together adults and children from all corners of the area.
Figure 6.12 : Green areas have been
Figure 6.13 : Playgrounds were ultimately
used for spending leisure time for old
found to ―promote interaction, exchange,
ladies
and comfort for a wide range of children
with
various
ethnic
backgrounds.
Figure 6.15 :Children playing on swings
Figure 6.14 : Interaction is created on jogging trails
Figure 6.16 :Yoga session
Figure 6.17 : Open gymming area Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Playgrounds : The children‘s playground is the closest thing to a melting pot a neighborhood can have. People of different races and ages were spotted engaging in friendly conversations… the joys and agonies of raising children provide some common experiences that all parents can relate to and often want to share.
Furthermore, the same parents are likely to meet at the same playgrounds often, and thus to have the opportunity to develop real relationships. It was revealed that one of the most popular activities among all racial groups was watching children on the playground. Presumably parents are attracted to the activity because it allows them to share stories and strategies with each other while their children play together. Whenever there is any problem in the park, people inform care-takers of the park, thus interactive relationship between both is created.
SEMI – PUBLIC BUILDING Schools : These can be places where children and youth of different cultures clash, or they can be places where those same kids develop lifelong friendships and learn to cherish their friends‘ differences. It‘s never too early to encourage children to make friends across racial, ethnic, class, and cultural lines, or to emphasize the
common humanity that all share. If there‘s an effort on the part of educators to respect each child for who she is and to create an atmosphere of warmth and shared purpose, schools can be the best places of all for interaction.
Furthermore, by
bringing in people from the community as educational resources, and sending students out to do community service, schools can encourage inter generational interaction as well. College and university campuses : These are generally open to the public, and are often enhanced by works of art, massive old trees, and buildings of architectural interest. They may be the sites of concerts, classic films, lectures, and other cultural events as well, and are often just pleasant places to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
Figure 6.18 : Sports Meet at GGSIPU
Figure 6.19 : Interaction of students in school
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Figure 6.22 : Indraprastha School
Figure 6.23 : Venketeshwar School
ROAD 45.0 M
SEC-19 Figure 6.20 : Schools in Sector 10
PUBLIC MARKETS Figure 6.24 : Vandana Internal School
Figure 6.25 : Sector 10 market
ROAD 45.0 M Figure 6.21 : Public markets in Sector 10
Figure 6.26 : LSC, Sector 10
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PUBLIC MARKETS
Public markets are often among the most socially diverse of public places, bringing people of different ages, genders, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic status together for the experience of food, shopping, and conversation. Public markets hold special power in communities in so far that ―public markets enhance the potential for social interaction in public spaces–attracting diverse income levels, ages, and ethnicities–and thereby create a sustainable vehicle for upward mobility.
Figure 6.27 : Paranomic night view of sector 10 market Public markets are valued because they create common ground in the community, where people feel comfortable to mix, mingle, and enjoy the serendipitous pleasure of strolling, socializing, people watching, and shopping in a special environment.
RELIGIOUS GROUNDS
Figure
6.29
:
Golak
Dham
temple.
ROAD 45.0 M Figure 6.28 : Religuos places in sector 10
Figure 6.30 : Jain Temple
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HOUSING SOCIETIES Geared up with 45 Societies (CGHS) and 1 DDA Flats Pocket (society), Dwarka Sector 10 is the most preferred residential sector.
Figure 6.31 : Godrej Appartments
Figure 6.32 : Apartments in Sector 10
Figure 6.33 : Meeting for residents of society
Figure 6.34 : Christmas celebrations
How people of a housing society interact ? 1.Parks inside societies 2.Community Centres 3.Celebrations of various festivals 4.Corridors 5.Lift Lobbies
in the society
Figure 6.35 : Kids play area
Figure 6.36 : Interaction in Corridor
Figure 6.37 : Interaction in lift
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INTERACTION OF DIVERSE CULTURES IN PUBLIC SPACES Theaters, sports facilities, libraries, museums, and other places where people gather for entertainment and leisure activities. The activities that take place in these spaces attract diverse groups of people and invite them to share and discuss their experiences.
Figure 6.38 : Sports Complex
Figure 6.39 : Dussehra at sector 10
Figure 6.40 : Musical Concert at
Figure 6.41 : Circus at sector 10
sector 10 Raahgiri in Dwarka is organised every Sunday where everyone partcipates for car-free roads and participates in various activities. In this beautiful sub city of Dwarka, the Delhi Development Authority has planned to create a comprehensive golf course, which will magnetize the emerging and aspiring golfers from across the city.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT Good public transportation can encourage interaction in many ways. It is used by riders
of every description, and seating patterns often result in conversations
among strangers, especially when there‘s a delay. Both vehicles and waiting areas can offer inducements to making contact with others – short videos or movies, thoughtprovoking billboards, interactive games, etc.
METRO STATIONS Metro stations and bus depots have other attractions – places to eat, newsstands, performers – that invite people to linger, rather than rush out on arrival. Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 6.42 : People at Raahgiri
Figure 6.43 :Interaction on platform
INTERACTION NEAR INFORMAL SHOPS, HAWKERS
Figure 6.45 : Toys kioks
Figure 6.46 :Food Stalls outside parks
Figure
6.44
:Cloth hawker
UPCOMING MALL/CITY CENTRE
Figure 6.47 : Vegas Mall
Figure 6.48 :City Centre
Vegas Mall upcoming in sector 14 which will house first theater of Dwarka and many branded showrooms.City Centre in sector 12 is upcoming commercial complex in sector 12
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6.2 CASE STUDY 2 - TORONTO,CANADA INTRODUCTION Torontois the most populous city in Canada, and the capital of the province of Ontario.
Figure 6.49 : Political map of world
Figure 6.50 : Map of North America
Figure 6.51 : Toronto in Canada
Figure 6.52 : Map of Toronto
LOCATION Toronto covers an area of 630 square kilometres (243 sq mi),with a maximum northsouth distance of 21 kilometres (13 mi) and a maximum east-west distance of 43 km (27 mi). It has a 46-kilometre (29 mi) long waterfront shoreline, on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario
Figure 6.53 : Aerial View of Toronto Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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PRESENCE OF DIVERSITY IN TORONTO The Toronto CMA has a total population of 5.3 million people, of which 2.6 million
reside in the City of Toronto. Best known as a ‗city of neighbourhoods‘ and recognized globally for its multicultural, tolerant society, the majority of the world’s ethnocultural groups are represented in the region. Toronto‘s residents speak more than 100 languages and dialects. After English and French, the top languages spoken in the City of Toronto are Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Tamil; while Chinese, Italian, and Punjabi are the top languages in the region. Toronto‘s culturally diverse population is a vital source of creative talent. Immigrants from around the world bring their skills, experience, social networks, and artistic traditions to the city, and they develop new ones through their interaction with other
cultures. In doing so, they represent a critically important economic asset. Social infrastructure that supports settlement and integration of diverse Torontonians into society and the labour market has played a key role in this process. Especially important in this regard is the strong public education system and, in particular, artsbased educational programs tailored to meet the needs of specific communities and neighbourhoods. Equally important is the rich array of local festivals and events that celebrate and showcase Toronto‘s cultural diversity in an open, welcoming, and inclusive way. Ethnic Origins
Population
Percentage
English Chinese Canadian Irish Scottish East Indian Italian Filipino German French Polish Portuegese Jamaican Jewish Ukraine Russian
333,220 308.690 291,665 250,460 245,545 195,590 177,065 140,420 119,030 115,300 98,315 93,050 81,380 78,860 64,875 62,850
12.9 12.0 11.3 9.7 9.5 7.6 6.9 5.5 4.6 4.5 3.8 3.6 3.2 3.1 2.5 2.0
2011 Canadian census Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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Figure 6.54 : PRE 1940s
Figure 6.56 : 1950-1960
Figure 6.58 : 1970-1980
Figure 6.60 : 1995-2000
Figure 6.55 : 1940-1950
Figure 6.57 : 1960-1970
Figure 6.59 : 1980-1990
Figure 6.61 : 2000-2005
Maps showing migration of people to Toronto from different countries Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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INTERACTION IN SQUARES
Nathan Phillips Square is an urban plaza in Toronto, Canada. It is an events landmark in the center of the city. During the summer, the square is in motion daily, with people watching concerts and dance performances, viewing art at outdoor exhibitions, shopping for fresh produce at the farmers‘ market, attending weekly children‘s events or sitting by the fountain, eating lunch. The Peace Garden is a small green haven in the square, ideal for quiet contemplation or reading. In the winter months, the reflecting pool becomes a skating rink, with skates available for rental.
Figure 6.62 : Nathan Phillips Square
Yonge-Dundas Square The central hub of downtown, Yonge-Dundas Square is located directly across from the Eaton Centre and aims to attract both tourists and residents alike to celebrate Toronto. The square hosts community celebrations, theatrical events, promotions, and concerts. During the summer months, the Square hosts free weekday concerts, evening movie screenings and takes part in summer festivals like North by Northeast. When not used for special events, the square becomes an urban plaza, an open space for the public to enjoy.
Figure 6.63 : Yonge Dundas Square
INTERACTION IN PARKS Toronto has more than 1,500 parks with numerous open spaces and 600 km of trails. The parks system covers 8,000 hectares, or roughly 13% of the city's land area.
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Figure 6.64 : Activities in park
Figure 6.65 : People enjoying near fountain
Figure 6.66 : Swings
Figure 6.67 : Discussions in park
INTERACTION ON TRAILS Toronto has an extensive trail network with a variety of trail types and experiences. Multi-use trails can be found in parks and along greenways, and many are part of the city's bikeway network. These trails are shared by more than one type of
user, including pedestrians, cyclists, in-line skaters and others. Natural environment trails are typically unpaved and wind their way through natural areas. They are great spots for hiking, biking and connecting with nature in the city. The trail network also features discovery walks. These self-guided tours link ravines, parks, beaches and neighbourhoods to explore toronto's natural and cultural heritage.
Figure 6.68 : Lower Don River Trail
Figure 6.69 : Hummby valley Trail
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INTERACTION ON STREETS Food festivals that is held annually on the street during a weekend in early august. There are attractions such as music, games, rides, and interactive sports but most of all the food is the main attraction. People can come taste all the different dishes and enjoy their day roaming.
Figure 6.70 :Danforth food festival
Figure 6.71 : Car free day in Toronto
INTERACTION IN MARKETS The Kensington Market area is a maze of narrow streets and alleys. The rich multicultural mix is obvious in the shops packed with goods from Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, South America and Asia. On busy days, the market is every bit as lively as street markets around the world: a cacophony of sounds, piles of fruit and vegetables, exotic spices and sweet treats. People are attracted not only to the good prices but also to the market‘s wide variety of unusual shops, including some of Toronto‘s best vintage clothing stores. Every December 21, Kensington celebrates the winter solstice in a colourful pageant called the Kensington Karnival. The neighbourhood stages a traditional candlelit mummers‘ parade, with gigantic costumes and wonderfully atmospheric music.
Figure 6.72 : Keninston Market
Figure 6.73 : ST.Lawrence Market
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INTERACTION NEAR PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND LANDMARKS Toronto's Old City Hall was home to its city council from 1899 to 1966 and remains one of the city's most prominent structures.Presently works as courthouse. The Toronto Eaton Centre is more than just a shopping centre. It‘s an architectural model for shopping malls around the country. Completed in 1979 and given a new facade in 1999, it is the third largest mall in Canada and is one of the city‘s most popular attractions.There are more than 285 shops, restaurants, and services to wind your way through including brand new stores.
CN Tower is visited by over 1.5 million people each year who enjoy breathtaking views and all the CN Tower has to offer : rocket to the top aboard the world‘s No. 1
Elevator Ride*. The Tower‘s glass fronted elevators also Attractions include a state of the art theatre, KidZone play area and 10,000 square feet of unique Canadian artisan souvenir shopping in the Gift Shop. Visual displays throughout the building share many fascinating stories about this engineering marvel. Toronto‘s ultimate event venue, the CN Tower hosts over 500 events each year from receptions and dinners to product launches and themed events for 2 to 2000 people.
The Royal Ontario Museum is among the world‘s leading museums of natural history, and of world cultures. Indeed, in combining a universal museum of cultures with that of natural history, the ROM offers an unusual breadth of experience to visitors and scholars from around the world.
Figure 6.74 : Figure 6.75 : Toronto Eaton Tower
Figure 6.76 : Old City Hall
CN Tower
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CONCLUSIONS FROM CASE STUDIES DWARKA Large green spaces are an essential part for interaction among diverse cultures. It is discovered that people, regardless of cultural background, had quite similar ideas about the importance of public spaces and use them in similar ways. Common values included recreational and sports opportunities, spending time in nature, and meeting new friends. Whenever there is any problem in the park, people inform care-takers of the park, thus interactive relationship between both is created. All the
people of this sector gather in temple during festivals or religious ceremonies. But hindus gather at temples,jains at other temples, christians at churches. So no interaction among diverse cultures. Inside societies, people only interact whenever there is any get-together of festivals or any other event. There is no interaction without any purpose. Dwarka does not contain any socio-cultural centre, haat, museums, libraries where diverse cultures can interact. Dwarka houses largest working population with diverse cultures living in igh rise.There should be a large social space so that everyone can meet and interact comfortably.
TORONTO Best known as a ‗city of neighbourhoods‘ and recognized globally for its multicultural, tolerant society, the majority of the world’s ethno-cultural groups are represented in the region. Squares, trails, plazas, parks etc allow everyone to interact. Squares, trails, plazas are missing in Delhi. Presence of multi-functional spaces makes Toronto a better example than Dwarka. Also the presence of mixed use around public spaces encourages continuous activities and presence of people
thus allowing this natural surveillance to occur.
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CHAPTER 7 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 7.1 CONCLUSIONS The identity of Delhi is changing with increase in the cultural mix creating diverse and
complex communities. This is the time for intercultural ideas to change
the
infrastructure of the city with the aim of providing cultural diversity.
It is concluded that in following ways architecture can create spaces for diverse cultures to interact : • To express the sense of cultural diversity, there are several ways that many architects have tried before. For one way, some features can be chosen from each cultures and shows on façade, materials and decoration so that every culture can relate itself to the place. This method is viable when it is used to express a single culture or several certain cultures in architecture. • Concept of multi-functional space , example green areas cater to different activities for all the age groups. • Streets and squares : These are open spaces free of cost where anyone can move, sit, eat and do whatever they want to.
The key elements in transforming public spaces into vibrant diverse communities
places ,whether they are parks, plazas, public squares, streets, or the myriad other outdoor and indoor spaces that have public uses in common . These elements are :
1. The community is the expert : The people living in the place know what needs to be done and how to do it. As they share and use that place with people of different communities and act as single community.
2. Create a place not design : If your goal is to create a place (which we think it
should be) , a design will not be enough. To make an under-performing space into vibrant space,physical elements should be introduced to welcome diverse Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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communities such as
interesting seating spaces and managing pedestrian circulation. 3. Observation : By seeing how diverse cultures don‘t interact and what can be reasons for interacting and not interacting a great deal can be learnt.
4. Make feel welcome and at home : Comfortable environment for everyone .People should feel their territorila rights on that space.
5. Form supports function : Consider how present place is being is used for future
designing.
6. Create multifunctional spaces and triangulate it
7. Start with petunias
7.1.1 FLEXIBILITY IN FUNCTIONAL SPACE Space is an objective existence. It does not dissapear because of any changing of external conditions. In the architecture field, the walls, floors and roof are the tools to restrict the space. They do not create space, but design the space into different volume. When a box is moved away, the space that box occupied is still there. This property of space provides the chance to make the space multifunctional. The definition of cultural diversity makes it a changing number of cultures and various scales. In architecture language, it could be translated as a space which can contain every cultural activity. A space, which is flexible enough to host every kind of event in it, is a feature of cultural diversity. It is space. It could be a theater, an open stage,
exhibition hall, office, classroom, conference hall, market, series of studios, shopping mall. The words remind me about Steven Jobs ― introduction for his first iphone6.It is a revolution of the mobile phone. An iPod, a phone and an internet communicator are combined together to become a smartphone by software by software technologies. A smartphone has many functions. The function can be treated as many aspects of software existing in one hardware. The different cultural events are like software and cultural centre is the hardware. In this hardware, it can be used as theater, an exhibition , an office, a classroom, a concert, a magic show, a shopping mall, even a Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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botanical garden. It could be a new typology of architecture just as iPhone did. What
needs to be provided is the fllexibility in functional space. In this aspect, the functional diversity can be way to represent cultural diversity.
7.2 EXAMPLES FOR RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Koolhaas’ elevator : Since the 1870s in Manhattan, the elevator has been the great emancipator of all horizontal surfaces above the ground floor. It truly frees the horizontal surfaces, but not totally frees them. The elevator is a transportation method to allow the skyscraper to go higher which means containing more activities. Then, if elevators are not treated as transportation but any space which can move vertically, it could be a way to solve problem which the flexibility of function rooms has on vertical directions. In the book Koolhaas Houselife, Rem Koolhaas designed an elevator for a house owner. It is a stage that can go up and down. Beside the stage, there is a three level high book shelf. The house owner can use this device to reach the books in different levels sitting on her chair and also transport heavy furniture by this means. When the elevator reaches different levels, it leaves different space perceptions for other levels. This precedent is a developed practice of Rem Koolhaas‘theory. He used the elevator as a functional space that can bring communication or activity to activate the relationship among horizontal levels. For the requirement of flexible scale and expression of cultural diversity, functional diversity needs to achieve the same space having different ―functions by different planning, permutations and combinations of spaces. If we treat Koolhaas‘ elevator as one of many units that compose larger space and treat these ‗elevators‘ as massive system,there will be unlimited possibilities for what this system can do.To achieve a ― universal space‖, a more powerful space unit is needed which can be moved, transformed or spliced to form various spaces.
Figure 7.1 : Rem Koolhaas house
Figure 7.2 : Rem Koolhaas house
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2.Sliding doors/walls : In traditional Japanese houses, people are good at dividing spaces using sliding doors or walls. The floor plans are regular squares or rectangles which allow people to get enough space that they want by sliding the walls among their simple and orderly structures. The same idea can also be found in much modern architecture such as Crown Hall by Mies Vander Rohe. He uses extremely simple structures to support a large free space and uses movable walls separating spaces freely. In this way, flexibility of function on horizontal level is achieved.
Figure 7.3 : Movable walls
Figure 7.4 : Movable racks
3. Cultural shed : In New York City, a new project is proposed by Diller Scofido + Renfro in collaboration with the Rockwell Group in Feb 2013. It is an expandable 170000 square foot multi-use cultural venue which is located at the south of Hudson yards. It is called New York Culture Shed. The concept of culture shed comes from the understanding that so many of New York‘s cultural groups did not have real estate
houses large audiences, nor have the means to expand any exiting venues. They think New York City is prone to missing out on travelling shows due to lack of available exhibition space. To remedy this, the culture shed is a cultural venue without permanent exhibits. Instead it will provide a home for temporary shows , fairs and concerts such as New York‘s Annual Fashion Week, which currently takes place in pop up tents.
Figure 7.5 : Culture’s shed
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The Culture Shed idea is to achieve functional flexibilty is to use retractable canopy to
borrow the plaza space when the canopy is stretched out for events and return the space when the events are finished. The theory is similar to some alteration of furniture design. In order to save space or make an efficient use of space, some architects design multifunctional furniture with foldable, slideable or movable devices. For example, a sofa against a cabinet in a living room can become a bed and living room is changed into bedroom. A piece of timber can be pulled out from floor and become a table or seat. These retractable, stretchable or foldable methods provide another way to achieve architectural function diversity.
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6
REFERENCES
1. Chapter 27. Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World | Section 10. Understanding Culture, Social Organization, and Leadership to Enhance Engagement | Main Section | Community Tool Box 2. Chapter 26. Changing the Physical and Social Environment | Section 8. Creating Good Places for Interaction | Main Section | Community Tool Box 3. Deiter , Walter (2010) World heritage and cultural diversity, available: https://www.unesco.de/fileadmin/medien/Dokumente/Bibliothek/world_herita ge_and_cultural_diversity.pdf 4. Sanjay Pandey (2007) Constitutional perspective of multiculturalism in India, available: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=963563 5. Hardy A.(2004) Multi-cultural architecture, available: http://www.globalbuiltenvironmentreview.co.uk/Documents/3.2%20Comment ary%202.pdf 6. NK Das ,Cultural diversity, religious syncretism, and people of India : An anthropological interpretation, available: http://www.bangladeshsociology.org/BEJS%203.2%20Das.pdf
7. S.M.Michael,SVD (2010/77) Cultural Diversity and inculturation in India, available http://www.sedosmission.org/web/en/missionarticles/doc_view/1764-cultural-diversity-and-inculturation-in-india Other References http://www.unicultural.com/blog/archives/07-2014 http://delhi-architecture.weebly.com/architecture-and-identity.html https://cityscans.wordpress.com/indian-architecture/architecture-identity/ https://www.delhitourism.com/heritage/culture.html http://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-21175 http://www.pps.org/blog/multicultural_places/ http://www.dwarkawala.com/dwarka/from-masjid-to-dwarkadheesh-fromchurch-to-isckon-dwarka-is-diverse-dwarka-is-united/ http://www.cli-ica.ca/en/about/about-cli/indicators/live-cultures.aspx http://nathanphillipssquareskaterentals.com/ http://sensiblereason.com/muslim-hindu-religious-interactions-in-the-mughalempire-the-birth-and-death-off-a-cohesive-culture/ http://www.outlookindia.com/article/delhis-architectural-face/237694 http://www.indiagate.org.in/India-gate-lawns.htm http://www.cpgw.org.uk/cwgc-war-memorials/delhi-memorial-india-gate/ http://www.visit-ancient-greece.com/ancient-greek-agora.html Urban form : An interaction of Diverse Cultures
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