BIDI MARKET
The walk-through market
The Quotidian
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION
About hebbal Public Life Sudy tool
PROPOSAL SITE ANALYSIS CASE STUDIES
K.R.Market Madiwala Market Las Ramblas Camden High Street
STAGE 01
SITUATUION
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Elements of the space Moodboard
ITERATIONS FINAL OUTPUT
Street Market Layout Sections (AA’)(BB’)(CC’)(DD’) Railway junction: Detail Model
STAGE STAGE 03 02
Tools and involvement
HEBBAL
INTRODUCTION
Hebbal was once the northern most point of Bangalore which was renowned throughout the city for its picturesque lake and greenery surrounding it but as time passed it faced off against the city’s industrial face. It’s now an example for a concrete jungle which has neatly tucked away the natural beauty of the city. The entire project revolves around Hebbal - the people of Hebbal and the stories they weave within the space.
The neighbourhood of Hebbal, it’s divided into four quadrants, namely the market area, the railway station, the lake and the bus stop/depot. Each sector is different from the other in terms of people and activity.
PUBLIC LIFE STUDY KEEPING A DIARY
“
Keeping a diary can register details and nuances about the interaction between public life and space, noting observations that can later be categorized and/or quantified.
”
HEBBAL MARKET SITUATION
The Hebbal market area is a small stretch of informal markets which has been in existence for a decade or more and is populated by the vendors, homeless, members of the transgender community and daily commuters with frequent glimpses of locals living in the area. It’s constantly occupied from morning to late evening.
As of today the entire stretch is used as a connecting space between two different bus stops hence it’s perpetually filled with transitory movement ergo giving business opportunities. The fault lies in the fact that not many people use this route; It is mostly due to the lack of knowledge about the very existence of this space (as it is hidden below the flyover), and it could also be the lack of accessible points and the overall unwelcoming appeal the space.
STAKEHOLDERS Sex workers Fisherfolks
Cyclists
Bus and auto drivers
Residents
Homeless
Pedestrians
Vendors
Transgenders
Business owners
Artisans
Dogs, cows & goats
Police
Pandits
Gardeners
PROPOSAL
HEBBAL STREET MARKET
Point of departure Born and brought up in Bangalore, it’s expected for me to know most about my city but as the city keeps developing, growing and expanding, it’s difficult to be familiar about places. As mentioned on any webpage, Hebbal was once the northern most point of Bangalore which seemed like a really faraway place to me initially up until I started travelling to college on a daily basis, yet the existence of Hebbal market was unknown and unacknowledged by me up until this project. The very first impression this space made on me was how chaotic and messy this space is at all times of the day. The market area being right next to the main road is perpetually noisy and has a constant flow of transient pedestrians, a few temples, built shops and stalls, garbage everywhere and sights of people urinating even though there are public washrooms. Even with all this ruckus created in the space, you can see how undisturbed and dedicated these vendors are, as though they are living in harmony in their own bubble. Considering how the market area is defined by these formal and informal vendors and how keen they are to keep the businesses running no matter what the condition is around them, it showed me the scope this area and community has which brought me to my line of inquiry “How can I make this place more accessible and help the vendors out spatially and financially?” Street markets have been a part of every culture around the world for several centuries and as inconvenient as it might seem in front of these upcoming supermarkets, it holds a special value at the heart of the city. We can see hotels and restaurants buy their goods from there. Even a few big households tend to buy from these markets because not only is the produce a lot fresher there, but it’s also relatively cheaper. When I was younger, there were plenty of informal vendors near my house selling vegetables but as time passed and commercialization begun, these vendors went out of business and were displaced. Hebbal is no different as a market and most definitely deserves a chance to do better and show its best.
Contextual Overview Located in north of Bangalore, Hebbal acts as one of the gateways to Bangalore as it has roads connecting from other major metropolises like Hyderabad and minor villages and towns like Tumkur. It was originally known for its free land and its lake but today it’s reputed for its chaotic flyover that is notoriously jammed round the clock. Hebbal is maintained by the Bangalore Development Authorities (BDA) and is divided into four different sectors which are in turn handled by two different government administrators. There is a distinct difference among the quadrants even though they belong to the same area. While it’s calm and serenade towards the lake, the railway station is inactive at most hours and contrasting to that, we have a messy and noisy market area. Right opposite to this, we have an abandoned piece of land which is proposed to be a park and gives out eerie feelings. Hebbal as an area is ran amok by various pedestrians and commuters with a few small scale businesses trying to earn a livelihood and is now being overburdened with the pressure to redevelop into a concrete mega structure which would mostly disrupt what Hebbal is as of today.
Research Question/Inquiry Hebbal as a space is lively, chaotic and fast paced which brings out multiple layers and complexities from the local community of vendors and residents. It’s an extremely people oriented space haunted by crowds at every hour. The space has potential to perform better and accommodate larger crowds in safe manners. This only brings out the scope for betterment of the space and people in terms of economic value and safety. • What are the politics of formality and informality in the context of Hebbal and Bangalore? • How can a public space design process create a more accessible, hygienic and user friendly market experience?
Problem Statement The Hebbal market area is a small stretch of informal markets which has been in existence for a decade or more and is populated by the vendors, homeless, members of the transgender community and daily commuters with frequent glimpses of locals living in the area. As of today the entire stretch is used as a connecting space between two different bus stops hence it’s perpetually filled with transitory movement ergo giving business opportunities. The fault lies in the fact that not many people use this route; It is mostly due to the lack of knowledge about the very existence of this space (as it is hidden below the flyover), and it could also be the lack of accessible points and the overall unwelcoming appeal the space gives. This brings us down to how one can make this space more accessible, approachable and economically healthy for vendors.
Assumptions • •
The upcoming flyover project over the Hebbal flyover won’t be executed, thereby saving the space for stakeholders. A government/private body would join hands with the vendor community in order to formalize the market in terms of safety of space and subsidized rents.
Partnerships • Vendors • Temple and mosque priests • Collaborating with either BBMP or a private organization to help formalize the sector
Possible Design Outcomes/Objectives • As the space becomes litter and urine free, the space becomes more approachable. By adding tactile pathways and making the space wheelchair and pedestrian friendly, there would be a visible increase in the accessibility of the space. • Providing free public toilets in order to get people to stop urinating and defecating on the tracks and street. • Formalizing the informal market in terms of subsidizing prices, providing better stalls and constant space to setting it all up. This would economically benefit the current working class of the area which in turn would help the other potential vendors in the future. • As the market area develops and if ran by an organization, there is a great potential to provide the homeless with work by asking them to run their stalls at a fixed salary.
HEBBAL MARKET SITE ANALYSIS
75+25 85+15
NUMBER OF VENDORS (MAX.)= 52
NUMBER OF VENDORS (MIN.)= 30
The Hebbal market area is a small stretch of informal markets which has been in existence for a decade or more and is populated by the vendors, homeless, members of the transgender community and daily commuters with frequent glimpses of locals living in the area. It’s constantly occupied from morning to late evening. S.R. Engg works
05
08
44
Mosque
25
Temple
TYPES OF VENDORS
Religious Institutions Greenery
Temple
Built Space Parking space Public toilet
Street Vendors Built Shops
Temple
ZONING
National seed corp ltd.
National seed corp ltd.
CIRCULATION
ACTIVITIES
Pedestrian movement High traffic
Social activities
Medium traffic Light traffic
AREA MAPPING
Neccessary activities
SUN PATH & WIND DIRECTION
Waiting areas Accident prone zone Garbage accumulation
Wind path Sun path
K.R. MARKET CASE STUDY
CONTEXT
SPATIAL ELEMENTS
ISSUES
K.R. Market also known as City Market, is the largest wholesale market in Bangalore in 1921 and is the first locality in the whole of Asia to get electricity.
The three storey building has 22 shell roofs and is designed in such a way that sunlight reaches corner and a huge mural of Lord Lakshmi is painted in the courtyard Basement - Parking area Level 01 - Vegetables + flowers Level 02 - Dry goods Level 03 - Tools
The number of vendors >> space provided
It’s considered to be one of the biggest flower markets in Asia The new market building was constructed in 1997 and it is one of the most modern markets in the country. It’s currently managed by the BBMP
Street vendors have expanded onto the streets as not all want to use the upper floors of the building
Poor maintenance of cold storage units and drainage and waste disposal system The concept of signages and easy circulation does not exist Limited parking area due to poor planning and immense growth in population Lack of proper loading and unloading areas
ZONING K.R. Market (Main building) K.R. Market (Street vendors) Chikpete metro station
POTENTIAL FOR CHANGE
Built commercial area Green areas Open areas
1. The need of a proper storage unit within the space 2. Need of signages and a linear circulation plan to avoid confusion 3. Understanding the needs of the vendors to gain more visibility and not be hidden up in corners of built structures
CIRCULATION
4. Need for expandable parking spaces to accommodate the ever-growing population 5. Need well implemented waste disposal system to make the space more clean
Pedestrian movement Metro line K.R. Market (Main building) K.R. Market (Street vendors) Chikpete metro station
6. Need of better washrooms within the space 7. Need of stable structures for the street vendors 8. Even though the space is managed by the government, police bodies take hafta which should be eliminated 9. It’s not universally accessible at any given point of the day which needs to be changed 10. Vehicular circulation and connection is poor due to shortage of space and vendors claiming the streets which needs change
MADIWALA MARKET CASE STUDY
CONTEXT
SPATIAL ELEMENTS
ISSUES
Beyond Koramangala lies an informal market in the area of Madiwala. Accessible by most modes of transport. This market has been here for decades and is in the centre of the city, surrounded by residential spaces and IT firms.
It is a long stretch of road connecting Sarjapur road and Hosur road where these informal markets have been setup
There are around 700-750 informal setup in Madiwala which is not managed by BBMP. They pay their prices to the local cops.
It is the oldest locality in Bangalore, based on archaeological documents and the temple of Lord Someshwara contains inscriptions that refer to the Chola kings having presided over the construction of the Temple of Lord Someshwara in Madiwala.
There is no built structure facilitating the market area. All the vendors have occupied the space on the footpaths and streets Insufficient parking spaces for the vendors and customers of madiwala Lack of waste disposal systems and hence the space is constantly Since the entire stretch is an informal market, no dedicated dirty space for parking or walking has been built
As the road gets widened by BBMP, they have a constant battle for space
LEARNINGS 1. The produce is collected from RMC yard in Yeshwantpur and they have been unsuccessful at cutting out the middleman
ZONING
Market square
Green areas
Built areas
Informal street market
Madiwala street
Open areas
CIRCULATION Vehicular movement
2. Basic facilities have been monitored by VKC association 3. Wholesale market hours are before 10:30am and beyond that it’s retail 4. Expandable parking spaces to accommodate the ever-growing population
Pedestrian movement
POTENTIAL FOR CHANGE 1. Dedicated space for the street market 2. Well implemented solid waste disposal system to make the space more clean 3. Basic parking area for the vendors and loading/unloading areas 4. Need of stable structures for the street vendors 5. Availability of basic commodities such as a public toilet for the vendors as well as the passer-bys
LAS RAMBLAS CASE STUDY
Las Ramblas is a 0.75-mile long, tree-lined pedestrian mall in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Because of its central location, the Ramblas became a meeting place for all the social classes and is now a tourist attraction. Las Ramblas is a boulevard with a 36- to 80-foot wide pedestrian strip down the middle. There are two side lines for the vehicles which forces the people to walk in the centre of the road, reversing the usual relationship between pedestrians and vehicles. The central promenade is usually full of retail pushcarts, sales kiosks, and arts and crafts exhibitions. There are ample seating areas.
LEARNINGS Comfort and Image • The pedestrian-prioritized street and the harmony between street width, building height, landscaping and intensity of usage create a pleasant pedestrian experience. • A mix of activities promotes diverse images and characters of the area.
Uses and Activities • Pedestrian promenade and sitting area for people-watching, discussions, and entertainment. • Retail and market space, including restaurants, eateries, and bars. • Exhibition space, festivals, bazaars, and demonstrations. • Cultural institutions, museums, and monuments
Access and Linkage • Major thoroughfare connecting central city plazas with waterfront by way of Gothic quarter. • Prioritized pedestrian access from central promenade. • Walkable along entire length as it is less than one mile • Access to the metro
CAMDEN HIGH STREET CASE STUDY
Camden High Street is a short stretch of road (less than 500m long) in Camden Town, in north-northwest London. It is part of the route from central London to Hampstead. It is the local high street and features major music venues at either ends. It is a one-way street only allowing vehicular traffic to travel northwards
LEARNINGS With its collection of vibrant markets and mix of cosmopolitan independent retailers, Camden high street is a world famous destination attracting over 10 million visitors each year. It’s also a thriving residential area and has an important local economy with an established focus on music, design, media and business.
Issues • The number of pedestrians have increased over the years and hence shortage of space • Due to a wide carriageway, speeding vehicles are noticed and hence this area has become accident prone • Confusion about loading and unloading areas for shops which adds onto the chaos on the streets • Lack of greenery within the space
Potential for change • Wider footpaths for the pedestrians at a max. height of 50mm to highlight the importance • Narrower carriageway would force drivers to slow down and promote more cyclists • A flexible loading bay which also acts as a walking space during the weekend • Addition of a green landscape
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION TOOLS & INVOLVEMENT
Community Involvement
I. RAPPORT BUILDING
Interviews Understanding the needs, assumptions and aspirations of the people Number of interviews conducted : 15
CHALLENGES : • Approachability
Who ?
• Language
• Street Vendors - 8
• Timing
• Bus Drivers and Conductors - Group of 5
• Site specificity
• Structural Engineer - 1
LIMITATIONS:
Inferences:
• Quantitative data is more surface information. Does not incapsulate a large audience.
• Understanding the political economy of the
• Social loafing and behaviours - influencing opinions and actions.
• Future of the market - Users are apprehensive
• Difficulty in handling mob mentality while conducting a social experiment. • Filter of the type of people or category of people - mixed - doesn’t target a clear stakeholder or age group.
• Women pedestrian - 1
area - Private/Public ownership is unclear. about their livelihood. • Illegal activities and Safety - not overtly discussed but people know it exists. • People love the space and see nothing wrong with it. There is a sense of attachment with it.
II. ENGAGEMENT a) Survey Number of people : 25
YES - 76% NO - 24% HOW? 1. Targeting a specific userpedestrians who are waiting for the bus. 2. Asking them for 2-5 min of their time to fill out the questionnaire. 3. Verbal explanation to participants who do not understand English.
1. Do you trust people around this area?
YES - 32% NO - 68%
2. Is the street market a hindrance to your commute?
OUTCOME? 1. Direction - project research questions. 2. Perceptions about the space by first time users and frequent users.
YES - 60% NO - 40% 3. Do you fear injury because of the traffic?
OBSERVATION 1. Target group - Pedestrians and Women 2. Women approachable.
were
more
YES - 88% NO - 12%
3. Preconceived choices for target audience. 4. Do you think the space requires more greenery?
b) Polling Game HOW?
OBSERVATIONS:
Number of people : 50
1. Setting up shop like a vendor in a strategic location.
1. People mimic others actions.
Age Group - 8 - 65
2. Using posters to visually attract people. 3. Using free chocolates and postcards to establish and give and take relationship.
2. People impose their opinions on others. 3. Women were hesitant to give their opinion. 4. People recognised the issues that exist in the space, especially related to the flyover. 5. Answers were mostly by the residents
YES
NO
NO COMMENT
42+12+46 34+20+46 40+24+36 68++16 42 %
46 %
46 %
20 %
12 %
1. Do you need a seating area in Hebbal?
34 %
2. Do you feel Hebbal is safe?
16 %
36 %
40 %
24 %
3. Do you find the space visually attractive?
16 %
68 %
4. Should the space under the flyover be utilised?
1
c) Seating Experiment
HOW? 1.Placement of chairs in areas of requirement. 2. Initiation by telling one person it is alright to use and sit. 3. Intiation triggered others to use it (social behaviour) followed by fly on the wall observation.
MOSQUE
1
4. The idea of four women standing behind a stall, was interesting to see how people react to it.
3
OUTCOME? 1. Program requirement - seating spaces and the areas.
3
2. Quantitative data – How many people want seating in the area or require it. 3. Behaviour in a Public Space – How they use seating, how long they wait and comfortable they are.
2 BUS STOP
AT THE BUS STOP TOWARDS MEKHRI CIRCLE
2
AT THE BUS STOP TOWARDS OUTER RING ROAD
3
IN THE STREET MARKET
OBSERVATIONS • Men were surprised a group of women sitting on the side of the road. • Usually people sit in a shady place • Next to a bus stop, not enough seating provided for users • People sit for maximum 10-15min • Shopkeepers don’t want seating areas in front of their shops, because it will attract drunk men and sit there for long. • No responsibility, as people will steal it. • A lot of people don’t want to sit in the street market stretch. • People are hesitant to sit/talk. • Once people sat, they got comfortable and sat for long hours. • When women see other women sitting, they feel more comfortable in the space • People mimic others actions - Women in saris or people who had a lot of luggage.
d) What is the word you associate Hebbal with?
d) What is the one word you associate Hebbalwith?
NEED TO IMPROVE SHOPPING
TRAFFIC
MOSQUE AGRICULTURE COLLEGE
LAKE
BRIDGE
I HATE HEBBAL, ITʼS TOO BUSY TEMPORARY
TRANSIT
IT’S ALL GOOD
BUSY
AREA
JUNCTION
DIRTY
FLYOVER
AIRPORT
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ELEMENTS OF THE AREA
Designated stalls for the market Loading/ unloading zones Dustbins Seating
Temporary stalls/ kiosks Barricades at either ends of the road
Shelter
AMENITIES
Storage
Parking
Ramp & gates at the railway jn.
AMENITIES
SAFETY
Lights
Seating Parking
Tactile pathways
Walkways
ACCESS Open to expansion during certain occassions
MASTER PLAN: HEBBAL
Eco-friendly materials
Shelter
Public toilets
Landscaping Public toilets
Loading/ unloading zones
SAFETY
Lights
Barricades at either ends of the road
Walkways Low levelled plinths
Low levelled barricades
ACCESS Curb extensions to define the walkway
Open to expansion during certain occassions
DESIGNATED MARKET AREA
Ramp & gates at the railway jn.
CONCEPT DRAWINGS IDEATIONS & ITERATIONS
HEBBAL STREET MARKET FINAL OUTPUT
Cobblestone paving through the walkway to make the pathway attractive and interactive
Pebble texture tiles at the entry/exit points of the walkway which act as a tactile
A concrete ramp at the railway junction to increase the simplicity to cross over to/fro the market
Pedestrian light at 3.5m height which radiates light in five directions
SCALE 1:125
Mangalore tiled double roof for shelter space. The base of the roof has a two-way light for the vendors as well as pedestrians. The roof is at a height of 2.5m and shelters 3-4 vendors (each occupuing 6m2 area). The frame of roof is made of steel and the supporting pillars also act as a personalising factor for the vendors.
Dustbins after every 3-4 stalls. Green bins signify wet waste while blue is for dry waste. This helps in segregation of waste and keeping the space clean. Since the market mostly produces dry waste there are no major issues of moulding smell. Lanscaping throughout the market to increase the shade and helps improve the mood of the pedestrians as well as the vendors. All the trees are locally available.
SCALE 1:125
Bottlebrush tree
Butterfly tree
Honge tree
Indian laburnum
Flowering Ashoka
Curry tree
Guava tree
Neem tree
Tabebuia (pink)
Operable wrought iron bollards which is managed by the market association. Open from 5:30-7:00 AM for the delivery vehicles and garbage collection vans to pass by.
SECTIONS
Sec BB’ showcases the relation between two opposite vendors and the walkway between it. A street lamp which throws light out in 5 directions in used Src CC’ shows the relation between the street market and the built shops. Certain spaces have a few benches which acts as a pause point Sec DD’ shows the street market towards the railway junction where there is ample amount of seating and greenery SCALE 1:75
RAILWAY JUNCTIONDETAIL
The railway junction has a automatic operable gate to define the waiting space when a train is passing by. A ramp has been added to level and make this space user friendly SCALE 1:50
HEBBAL STREET MARKET FINAL OUTPUT
Hebbal Street Market Sunboard, skewers, clay SCALE 1:50 The model showcases the entry point of the market (near Outer Ring Road). Bollards to prevent vehicles from entering in. Designated market space on a raised platform (at 0.2m) with ample amount of greenery. Pathway is slightly curved to increase the the walking time by a few seconds. The built structures around the market exist the same (includes shops for lease and a public toilet).
The Quotidian
Aditi Boggaram