Urban Design Portfolio by Ambica Wakhlu

URBAN DESIGN

PORTFOLIO

Ambica Wakhlu

CONTENT Urban Design Thesis Urban Re-construction : Re-uniting fragmented communities in the valley through spatial design strategies, Case Mattan, Anantnag Urban Design Studio Local Area Planning, Jammu City Study: Urban Aspirations, Kochi

URBAN RE-CONSTRUCTION, mATTAN ‘Who we are! Where are we from? are the questions through which people or communities identify themselves and build social relations. The idea of a place or home anchors us with the sense of our place in the world. But when some precarious situations arise and the home itself gets destroyed, tracing the memory back becomes difficult. So, what is one’s identity, and where does one belong? Kashmir Valley is one of the highly fragile regions of the country where the territorial & ethnic conflicts of the 1990s’ led to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and has transformed the social fabric & demographics of the region. In an attempt to rehabilitate the Pandits, the government has provided multiple relief and economic opportunities to the community under the Prime Minister Development Program (PMDP, 2004, 2008, 2015). As a part of this program, the government is building townships across the ten districts of the valley, conspicuously catering to the physical aspects of rehabilitation. The thesis inquiries into a rehabilitation model considering reconstruction by primarily reviving the lost social capital, creating urban design opportunities for bonding, bridging & linking that has strengthened the identity of the Kashmiri town in the past. As a part of this venture, Mattan from Anantnag district is chosen, which got equally affected by the exodus. A critical understanding of the place suggests a strong sense of belongingness is associated with many Pandits returning to live as tenants, indicating a positive beginning for the reconciliation process. Thus, the thesis builds onto an approach where collective memory, associations, and ways of living, are used to design spaces, strengthening the idea of socio- physical & socio economic reconstruction of the town to help it move away from its fragmented past towards a collective future.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Strengths

Social

Bridging

Economic

Linking

Positive Associations

Conflict

Exclusive Memory

More Community Engagement

Less Community Engagement

Connectivity

New Associations

Social Infrastructure

Collective Memory

Economic Opportunities

Local

Regional URBAN PLANNING FRAMEWORK

Negative Associations

Inclusive Memory

Need

Regional

Local

Bonding

Parameters for Development

Enhanced Community Engagement URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK

INTRODUCTION TO CITY

Parameters for Restitching

Towards Pahalgam

Towards Srinagar Bijbehara Town

Anantnag city is situated at an altitude of 1600 meters above mean sea level and at an distance of 53 Km in the South-East of Srinagar Metropolis. Important roads are Khanabal – Phalgam (KP Road) leading to (Amaranth cave) Anantnag – Kulgam, Anantnag – Kokernag, Veerinag – Dooru and Jammu- Srinagar (National Highway). The City’s sprawl has been moving towards Mattan & Bijbehara towns, located on Anantnag –Phalgam in the Northn east of the city and Jammu – Srinagar National Highway in the north west respectively. Anantnag being the administrative headquarter of one of the major districts in the Kashmir Valley has attained enormous significance due to the disposition of number of tourist resorts, Holy Amaranth Cave and Mattan Tritha (Draft MP Anantnag, 2032). The City has originated closer to the confluence of two important tributaries Lidder and Arapat which contribute substantially to the discharge of river Jhelum. It is flanked with a succession of plateau-like terraces in the north eastern direction, called ‘Karewas’ or ‘Vudr’ in the local language. This belt touching the foothills of the Pirpanjal represent the lower Karewas. The Karewa deposits are composed of sand, silt, clay, shale, mud, lignite, gravel and loessic sediments. Therefore, it is extremely important for agricultural and horticultural practices in the valley. The famous variety of saffron, which is locally is cultivated on this deposits.

Present

Issues

Physical

Parameters for Understanding

Future

Identity Social

Community Restitching

Need

Interdependency

Physical

Economic

Urban Reconstruction

Parameters for understanding

Past

Urban Development

Local

Urban Reconstruction

Bijbehara Station Lidder River

Mattan Town

Jehlum River Anantnag Station Anantnag city

South Campus Kashmir University

Karewa

Arapat River ANANTNAG CITY CONNECTIVITY

Towards Kulgam

Towards Jammu

Towards Achhabal

INTRODUCTION TO TOWN 0

250

Martand Temple

500 750KM

Towards Pahalgam

Mattan town is located on Anantnag –Phalgam road at a distance of about 5.5 kms in the north-east of Anantnag city from Khanabal chowk. It is sandwiched between two ecological important ecological features – Martand Karewa in the east & Lidder river in the North, and is at an elevation of 1600-1800m above mean sea level. The town is situated has with very gradual slope throughout. Most of the discharge during the rains is carried through a intense network of drains along the streets. The Developments along the valley lines on higher slope has disturbed the natural terrain and has also affected the water movement. Due to haphazard growth of the town and settlements mushrooming without any guidelines are fragmenting the agricultural & plantation land of the town.

Martand Kerawa

Towards Achhabal

Kheribal

Hutmurah

Sun Temple

Mattan KP Road

Bona Gund

Section A

Sarnal Karewa

Lidder Sun Temple Tanks

Street Fountain

1620M LVL

Park

1610M LVL

MATTAN TOWN & ITS ADJACENCIES

Towards Anantnag

Akura

SECTION A

0 100

Towards Achhabal

200 300M Martand Karewa

CRPF Camp

1630M LVL

Street Agricultural Fields

1620M LVL

Sun Temple

SECTION B

A B

Towards Acchabal

Martand Karewa

Chaka Nadi

Towards Pahalgam

KP Road

Towards Aakura

TOWN 3D VISUALISATION

Lidder River

Towards Anantnag

LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY

Lidder River

STUDY OF THE TOWN 0 100

The area is predominantly residential, mushrooming next to the religious institutions, with agriculture as an economic base. The road abutting the Sun Temple serves as the primary commercial spine for the town. There are two public parks, one temple ground & one playground that serve as town-level public spaces. There is an institutional area in the north of the town that constitutes, Municipal committee office, block development office, poultry, and other small departments. The street layout of the town grows outwards from the sun temple complex, and the arterial road that runs beside the temple acts as a public transportation route, along with KP Road. The area in front of the shrine is called Mattan Adda, a Matador and Sumo waiting area. The collector streets experience private traffic movements while the internal ones are solely accessible to pedestrians.

Towards Achhabal

200 300M

Sun Temple

Chaka Nadi

Towards Pahalgam

KP Road

STREET ENCLOSURE

Towards Anantnag

BUILT USE

Residence

Pedestrian Path

Water Channel

Pedestrian Path

Residence

0 100

Towards Achhabal

200 300M

NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET

Sun Temple

Chaka Nadi

Towards Pahalgam Shop Frontage

Encroached Street for Parking

Street

Encroached Street for Parking

LOCAL STREET/ SUN TEMPLE STREET

KP Road

Road Shoulder

Road

Divider

Road

KHANABAL- PAHALGAM ROAD

Towards Anantnag

Road Shoulder

TOWN CONNECTIVITY

KEY INFERENCES - SOCIO -PHYSICAL & SOCIO -CULTURAL MANIFESTATION OF RESIDENTIAL LIVING - ’90S AND PRESENT-DAY SOCIAL COMPOSITION & LAND OWNERSHIP 0 100

MEMORY AND ASSOCIATIONS 0 100

200 300M

Towards Achhabal

Sun Temple

Towards Pahalgam

KP Road

Towards Anantnag

BEFORE 90S

Inference: The open plan adopted the idea of commons, however, the religious boundaries perpetually separated one community from the other.

0 100

Towards Anantnag

Inference: The Ownership was notional, and spaces were for the commons & were used for the common good, creating a strong sense of a collective in otherwise segregated neighborhoods.

0 100

200 300M

Towards Achhabal

Sun Temple

Towards Pahalgam

KP Road

PRESENT DAY

KP Road

Towards Anantnag

Inference: The social void created due to the migration of one community resulted in the formation of an urban void, negatively affecting the growth of the town.

PRESENT DAY

Towards Anantnag

Inference: The urban fabric explicitly represents spatial segregation - reducing the chances for everyday interactions and harmonious living- contrasting the idea of commons.

KEY INFERENCES - SOCIO -PHYSICAL & SOCIO -CULTURAL MANIFESTATION OF RESIDENTIAL LIVING - ’90S AND PRESENT-DAY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

A TYPICAL NEIGHBOURHOOD IN 90’S Typical Pandit House

0 100

Visitor Room

200 300M 1

Visitor Room Second Floor

First Floor

Ground Floor

Towards Achhabal

Sun Temple

Information Source : Mughal. H. U. , 1961, Census of India - village survey monograph of Mattan Sketch Source : Madan. T.N., 1959, Plan of a typical KP house, Volume 1

Common Court (Aangun)

Kuchh

Aangun

Typical House

A typical town neighborhood featured an open plan, with a cluster of dwellings surrounding a large open space known as Aangan. This Aangan was a multipurpose space that accommodated a range of activities and functions spread across the year.

Towards Pahalgam

KP Road

Main Street

Morning - Prayer

Morning - Yoga

Afternoon – Kids Play, Swim & Relax

Towards Anantnag

Space for cattle Vegetable Drying

BEFORE 90S

Typical House

Watching TV

Dish washing, Clothes washing

Everyday Activities

2 3

Inference: For active public life, apart from providing spaces for interactions, the community needs reasons for engagement which could only be met by creating interdependencies.

2 1 1

Everyday Activities

Vegetable garden Paddy Drying

Weekly Activities

Mohalla Meetings

Play theatre (Band Pether)

0 100

Space for making coal from burning leaves

200 300M

Procession Route Janmashtami

Ram Navami Performance

Shivratri & Salam Celebrations

2 1

Towards Achhabal

Weddings

Seasonal Activities

Pits for storing vegetables

Shrad Pooja

Yearly Activities

NEIGHBOURHOOD TRANSFORMATION

Sun Temple

Towards Pahalgam

Present Settlement

Traditional Settlement Collective

KP Road

PRESENT DAY

Towards Anantnag

Inference: Lack of socio-cultural & socio-economic activities provides limited opportunity for community engagement, thereby reducing the chance of an active public life.

Domestic

Public

Thoroughfare

Disconnected Movement

This Aangan represented a collective life – where either the domestic life generated the intimate public life or openness of the space allowed publicness to flow through. Over the years, the transformation of this Aangan has taken place. In some cases, it is completely overtaken by the built, leading to an overall cluttering of the place and leaving bare minimum width of the streets, often with cul-de-sacs for movement, disturbing the form space relation. In other cases, it still exists but within the limits of the domestic boundary.

KEY INFERENCES - STRENGTHS OF THE TOWN & MASTER PLAN ZONING STRENGTHS OF THE TOWN 0 100

MASTER PLAN ZONING

200 300M

Towards Achhabal

Central Jail

250

Towards Achhabal

500 750KM

Martand Temple

Towards Pahalgam

Kheribal Hutmurah

Sun Temple

PHC

Towards Pahalgam Chaka Nadi

Mattan

Bona Gund

KP Road Public Institution

Cricket Stadium

KP Road

Lidder Akura Towards Anantnag

1) Natural & Productive Landscape: Scenic beauty, Spiritual & cultural connections, Food Security, Livelihood 2) Compact Development: Live - Work/Learn Play within 15 -18 min walking range

4) Sense of Belongingness: Available Pandit properties Festivals & Rituals by the community 5) Communities Living in Harmony: Pandits staying as tenants in Muslim homes and Sun Temple being used by everyone

3) Regional level functions: Public institutions, PHC, cricket stadium, central jail, Sun Temple

Towards Anantnag

Inference: Mattan town with Anantnag & Bijhbehara is envisioned as a single urban entity, considering their overall urban growth. The current trajectory of the master plan exclusively focuses on tourismrelated infrastructural development with large chunks of land earmarked for big projects which do not necessarily cater to the local population. These large-scale projects on the agricultural peripheries of Mattan are threatening both the productive & natural landscape of the place. The true potentials of the site in terms of its compactness, local character have been completely overlooked. Thus, the master plan is developing Mattan under the shadow of Anantnag for larger agglomerative requirements and not focusing on the local identity of the town.

SYNTHESIS & URBAN DESIGN DEMONSTRATION VISION

Public Life

Retaining

Public Mobility

Strengthening

‘A vibrant small-town that has overcome its fragmented past and aspires to move towards a collective future, exhibiting a syncretic society and becoming a model for the post-conflict development of towns and cities.’

15min

Domestic Life

Internal Mobility Nature & Vegetation

Form Space Arrangement

Positive Associations

Compact Settlement

SYNTHESIS & URBAN DESIGN DEMONSTRATION 0 100

Towards Achhabal

200 300M

STRUCTURE PLAN - TOWN LEVEL Objective 1: To create a secure physical environment and strengthen the sense of belonging through the design of private & public spaces that exhibit the essence of home.

Strategy 6 – Utilizing the potential of existing resources and providing spaces for small scale local industries and opportunity for future entrepreneurship.

Strategy 1 – Reviving old Kashmiri Pandit Neighborhoods through deign of cluster housing using land pooling mechanism.

Strategy 7 – Creating a balance between the natural & productive landscape, preserving both by regulating the peripheries of the settlements.

Strategy 2 – Strengthening the cultural connections of the community to the town by restoring the Chaka Nadi Temple & Ghat. Objective 2: To reconcile communities back again by using old memories & associations as a bridge for creating new memories & new places of association Strategy 3 – Re-establishing the forgotten spiritual connection to the water resources by designing nature based community spine along the streams having community spaces & functions. Strategy 4 – Strengthening the upper(sun temple) street as more local & vibrant spine by upgrading commerce & social infrastructure for bringing communities together. Strategy 5 – Redefining public transport networks by creating new routes & strengthening connectivity of the town. Objective 3: To create new worklearn interdependency within the communities that strengthens the identity of a small town & boosts the local economy

Sun Temple

Towards Pahalgam

Strategy 8 – Developing KP road as a Regional Spine & creating guidelines for social infrastructure such as bus stand, schools, hospitals etc that caters to the town and nearby settlements Objective 4: To provide development guidelines for new and integrated developments across the KP road and create regional interdependency. Strategy 9 – Strengthening the existing connections by providing public transit system and planning appropriate functions along with the newer growth areas, and stitching the old town with the new, by developing public nodes.

KP Road Towards Anantnag

250

500 750KM

Towards Achhabal

Sun Temple

Strategy 10 – Developing River edges of the boulevard roads as river parks, walkways & halt zones as a regional level recreational space. These could also become a tourist halt point. Strategy 11 – Developing the bifurcation area as an entrance to the town connecting the new tourism networks. The bridge and the spine would facilitate the entry-level experience of the town.

Martand Temple

Towards Pahalgam

KP Road

Aakura

Towards Anantnag

SYNTHESIS & URBAN DESIGN DEMONSTRATION Reviving old Kashmiri Pandit Neighbourhoods through the design of cluster housing using a land pooling mechanism.

Redefining the existing routes of association and creating new that act seams between the communities both at town & neighborhood level.

Recreating memory through the design of a new built & open space system as a modern Aangan typology while adhering to the geographical conditions and respecting the existing fabric of the place.

Defining new pedestrian linkages and through movement paths connecting the neighborhood to the external social functions.

Strengthening the cultural & spiritual connections to the water system and developing Chaka Nadi temple and ghat as a part of the community spine.

Creating social nodes at the intersections of the defined routes and facilitating it with appropriate functions catering to the everyday need of the people and providing opportunities for incidental meetings.

Derelict & unorganized land parcels

NS Axis

Residential property & Serviced Land

PROPOSED SITE STRUCTURE

SITE PLAN

PHC Towards Sun Temple

Pedestrian Movement

1 1

2 1

7 11

100M

Public Transit Route Primary Neighborhood Street

Chaka nadi

12 5 8

New Built

PROPOSED SITE STRUCTURE

Preserved Structures Community Spine Social Functions Through Movement Connections Ist order Social Node

Towards KP Road

2nd order Social Node

1) Entry to the neighborhood 2) Mixed Use (Commercial+ Housing) 3) Space for Informal Vending 4) Bus Stop 5) Temple Area development 6) Mixed Use (Community Kitchen + Housing) 7) Mixed Use

Higher Secondary School Towards Martand Temple Private School

Public Park

17 11

Chaka nadi

100M

Preserved Built

Towards Martand Temple

New Built

Secondary School

Towards Sun Temple

Cricket Ground Towards KP Road

(Community Kitchen + Housing) 7) Mixed Use (Co-working Space+ Housing) 8) Mixed Use (Homestays+ Housing) 9) Pedestrian Street 10) Mixed use (Grocery Store +Housing) 11) Housing Cluster around Aangan 12) Juice Corner & Bakery 13) Stationary Stores 14) Primary School 15) School Playground 16) Bakery 17) Parking 18) Public Library

DESIGN DEMONSTRATION

Feet washing Area

Temple Park

Local Shop

Matador Stop

Pause Point

Matador Stop

Local Shop

Vending Area

Vending Space

Open Backyard

Public Park

Throughfare

Memory from the past

Aangan

Matador Stop

Temple Tank

Stationary Store

Temple Park

School

Paved Walkway

Playground

Matador Stop

Throughfare

lOCAl AREA plANNINg, jAmmU Covid transformed our localities in a way that we had not anticipated. Public spaces adopted different norms and underwent need-based spontaneous and innovative transformations – while some of them closed temporarily, others became more active due to a lack of any other open space – playgrounds became markets, streets changed their functions and purposes. Although communities were physically apart, stronger interdependencies were forged. But much more needed to be done. The study focused on Re-emerging Localities of the Indian City, to explore the role of urban designers and importance of community participation to strengthen resilience and sustenance from within. The studio aimed to achieve resilient and sustainable localities by localising the SDGs that relate to the prevailing conditions of the locality and resonate with aspirations of its citizens. The intent is to articulate an overall vision and set up objectives for spatial design and planning initiatives for the area in consonance with the locals.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY & NEIGHBORHOOD CITY CONNECTIVITY

NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIVITY District Reasi

Tehsil Akhnoor

Towards Ambgrota

Towards Janipur Colony NH44

Auto Stand

District Udhampur

Matador Stop Local Streets Collector Road (Private Transport)

Jammu City Boundary (Master Plan)

Local Main Road

Towards Paloura

(Private & Public Transport)

Jammu Municipal Boundary

Tehsil Ranbir Singh Pora

District Sambha

0 0.75 1.5 3KM

Major City level connection

Towards Amphala Towards Paloura

(Private & Public Transport)

Towards Parade

0 25 50

100

200M

HISTORIC EVOLUTION - CITY & LOCALITY Jammu was a walled city till 1947. The first planned colonies were developed in the southern part of the city in the 1960s & 70s, while the northern part attracted unplanned settlements post-partition. Around 1985, the city expanded in the north when people from the Old City started moving out for a better quality of life. Later, after the 90s exodus, Kashmiri pandits began settling in this area.

Janipur Colony

Agricultural area

Forest Depot Old City

Pamposh Colony

Before 1947

Before 1985 Paloura Gaon

Paloura Gaon

Old Janipur

Old Janipur New Plot

New Plot

Old City

(1947 – 1972)

Basant Nagar

This part falls under the Kandi Region, which is a water-scarce area. Before 1985, the area was primarily used for agriculture which later had stopped due to unprofitable business & scarcity of water. These factors led to heavy vegetation in and around the area and invited people from the old city for hunting.

Bhavani Nagar

1985 - 1996

After people migrated, patwaris in Paloura Gaon began selling plots to private owners, and unplanned settlements started developing. A small part of the Janipur Colony came as a part of the government scheme for middle & low-income groups.

(1985 – 1992)

INTRODUCTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILT GRAIN & HOUSING TYPOLOGY

ECOLOGY Towards Ambgrota

Towards Ambgrota

2 Towards Janipur Colony

Towards Janipur Colony

Remaining Talaabs

2 3 3

Talaabs that existed Remaining Water Channel

Towards Paloura

Towards Amphala Towards Paloura

Towards Parade

Built Mass 100

3) Coarse Grain – Unplanned Layout

4) Coarse Grain – Unplanned Layout

Towards Paloura

200M

The northern & eastern parts of the neighborhood have a fine grain texture which gradually becomes coarse when moving towards southern & western parts. The majority of the area is developed in an unplanned manner with narrow roads & varied size plots ranging from 80sqm to 300sqm.The size of the plot determines the relationship of built with open, where the larger plots have their private open spaces.

2) Fine Grain – Unplanned Layout

Towards Amphala

0 25 50

1) Fine Grain – Planned Layout

Water Channels that Existed

The first layouts is a cluster typology with a community park in the center, the second offers a street based typology, third & fourth are introverted typologies with large private open spaces.

5m Contour Interval

Towards Parade

0 25 50

100

200M

The neighborhood has a gradual slope with contours spread between 350 - 400m high from the mean sea level. As per revenue records, there were four talaabs and several drains connecting them, but due to encroachment and unplanned development, only two talabs are left and one drain is left, filled with garbage that overflows during heavy rains.

Present condition - Talaab 1 & 2 remain dry in summers and marshy in winters where as Talaab 3 & Talaab 4 have been converted into a public parking space and a public park respectively.

NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY FUNCTIONAL DISPOSITION | ACCESSIBILITY TO ESSENTIALS

ACTIVITY MAPPING Activity Generators: Parks & Grounds, Mandi, Grocery Shops, Mithai Shops, Kashmiri Bakery, Temples, Coaching Centers & Schools.

Towards Ambgrota

Towards Janipur Colony

Spaces Less Active

Most Active

Temple

Streets

Towards Paloura

Less Active

Mosque Towards Amphala

Residential

Most Active

Mixed Use

6:00AM - 9:00AMTowards Paloura

Towards Parade

0 25 50

100

200M

Commercial

Towards Paloura

Industrial

Towards Amphala Towards Paloura

Towards Parade

Activity Generators: Banks, Offices, Commercial Stores, Schools & Mandi.

Towards Ambgrota

Institutional

Towards Janipur Colony

Public Park/ Ground 0 25 50

100

Spaces

200M

Less Active

Most Active

Towards Ambgrota

2 min walk

Towards Janipur Colony

200M 2 min walk

400M 5 min walk

600M 7 min walk

Grocery Stores Departmental Stores Vegetable Market Shopping Stores Clinics & Chemist Temple Tailoring Boutiques Small Stationery Stores Petrol Pump Eateries Matador Stop Auto Stand

Streets

Towards Paloura

Less Active Towards Amphala

Most Active Towards 10:00AM - 2:00PM Paloura

Towards Parade

Towards Amphala Towards Paloura

Towards Parade

100

200M

Spaces

Main streets are occupied by private & public transport users and few street vendors. Internal streets get active waste collection. Chowks get activated because of the shops and the matador waiting area. During winter afternoons, parks become leisure spaces for nonworking & retired people. Activity Generators: Parks & Grounds, Mandi, Grocery Shops, Retail stores, Grocery Stores, Coaching Centers, Eating outlets, Temples.

Less Active

Most Active

Streets

Towards Paloura

Less Active

Schools Public Parks/ Walking Track Furniture Market 0 25 50

100

Towards Janipur Colony

Ration Shop Fabric Stores Tailoring Boutiques Bakery Halwai Shops Golgappa Stall Schools Temples Nursing Home Electrical Item Repair Works

7-10 Mins walk

0 25 50

Towards Ambgrota

5 Mins Walk

Towards Paloura

Streets are Mostly used by Morning Walkers, Milk Sellers, Cleaners, Newspaper Sellers and School Buses. Chowks apart from having shops & temples also serve as a waiting area for daily wage workers.

Towards Amphala

Most Active

5:00PM - 8:00PMTowards Paloura

Towards Parade

0 25 50

100

200M

Streets have peak traffic. They are also occupied by the evening walker and kids cycling. Internal streets are also active because people prefer to get household items during this time.

STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION, TOOLS AND METHODS ETHNIC GROUP DISTRIBUTION

LAND OWNERSHIP

Jammu Development Authority

Dogras

Jammu Municipal Corporation

Gujjars & Bakarwals

Manhas Biradri Land

Kashmiri Pandits (KP)

Private Land

Native Muslims Mixed (Dogras +KP) Manhas Community Migrants Communities (Chhattisgarh, Orissa)

Disputed Land Parks Under Horticulture deptt Roads under R & B deptt. PWD Roads under JMC Drain Under JMC

0 25 50

100

200M

0 25 50

100

200M

STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION AND PARTICIPATORY TOOLS Participatory Method

Interviews (Face to Face)

Business Owners

Grocery Store Departmental Stores Coaching Institutes Retail Café’s & Restaurants

Service Providers

Vegetable Vendors House Helps Gardeners PHE, PDD, SBM etc

Authori ty

Ward Corporator JMC Officials

Other Users

Residents

Stakeholder Kids Adolescents Men 33-60 Women 33-60 Men Above 60 Women Above 60

Student Teaching Staff Vegetable Shopper Grocery Shopper Retail Shopper

Semi - Structured

Unstructured

Telephonic Conversation Unstructured

Group Interactions Semi - Structured

Unstructured

Drawing & Writing Competition

Google Forms

Google Form 1 Gender

40% 16-30 Age group

46.25%

58%

42%

31-60 Age group

13.75% Above 60

Female

Male

Total Respondents- 80 Online – 69 | Offline - 11

STAKEHOLDER BASED FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION – A DECADE OF CHANGE Earlier

Now

Residential character within the neighborhood Earlier

Now

Residential character within along the main spine

Small grocery store

Multipurpose Store

Multistorey Stores with/without parking space

Commercial Character

Type 1

Type 2

Emerging need for Open Space

STAKEHOLDER INTERACTIONS FOR DESIGN CO-DESIGN METHODS FOR LOCAL DESIGN ACTION PLAN Group Discussion 2

Core Design Group

Core group Group Discussion

Group Discussion 1

EXISTING STRUCTURE PLAN 1 Legend Garbage dumping locations

6 7

Spaces where people do drugs or alcohol bottles are found Walkability issues

2 1

Streets not safe for girls & women

Drain overflow/ blocked drain

200M

400M

600M

2 min walk

5 min walk

7 min walk

Commercial Mixed Use

4 Greens that are not utilized or are less maintained Poor condition/ encroachment of Talab

Maintenance/ Access to the Playground Mandi related issues Lack of Public parks

AIM : To introduce the study area and present the prioritized set of issues and suggestions from the people to the core team. Check feasibility of the projects and through their suggestions. Suggestions for the Paloura Pond : 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9)

This is the best location for a park. Since it is not inside the area surrounded by residence it has a potential of becoming a great public space. We need to create a situation/ mahol for people to come here. Already coming user groups are people using temples. Kids can be another user group – there are schools that are in close vicinity (200-600m distance). There should be something that attracts the youth – people are on social media all the time. So what are we offering them? It could be a destination where people from other neighborhoods would also come – like they use sabzi mandi. Park should be accessible from all the directions. Since it is already sunken it does not require boundary walls. Image creation for the locality through the history of this place. Some kind of iconic structure in the center of the park with water surrounding it. Spaces in the park that is comfortable for the people. They are accessible to all age groups.

Lack of availability of footpaths, roadside parking, traffic congestion, along the main spine acts as barrier for free movement. Spillover of the mandi and waste dumping on various locations including the drain creates an unhygienic & unhealthy living environment. Boundary walls & dense vegetation along the street edge offers less visual permeability and lack of natural surveillance creating unsafe walking environment. Almost 75-80% of the internal roads are cul-de-sacs and adjoining plots are guarded by the boundary walls, restricting through movements.

Lack of availability of green accessible open spaces, small and ill maintained parks donot provide residents a space for recreation. There is a need to develop Talaabs and spaces around as they are often encroached and are in poor conditions, left for drying or filled with garbage. Presence of a large green parcel, open ground and talaab have a great potential to be used for public realm that would also ensure maintenance of the natural features. Proximity to essential services within the neighborhood is an added advantage which could be used to enhance people’s participation outside their homes.

SYNTHESIS & URBAN DESIGN DEMONSTRATION Objective 1: To create neighborhood streets that prioritize pedestrians over vehicles and provide a safe, uncluttered, comfortable environment for all individuals & groups – SDG 11

PROPOSED STRUCTURE PLAN

Strategy 1 Decluttering the public realm by redesigning the main streets by reclaiming space for pedestrian walkways with the pause points

Legend Public Transport Route

Strategy 2 Developing matador waiting areas at fixed locations, integrated with the auto stands and toilet facility, and ensuring easy access from neighbourhood interiors.

Vehicular Route Proposed Matador Stops Proposed Mixed use development Proposed Small Scale Commerce in the residential locality Temporary/Paid parking space

Proposed Talab revival Proposed Greens & Public spaces Redeveloping Market Areas Bio Swale

Objective 2: To regulate the activities on the commercial spine for retaining and enhancing the residential quality – SDG 11

Dry waste collection centers Wet waste collection units with the public parks Space for informal market

VISION

Strategy 3 Creating a mixed use development, both horizontally & vertically, and having active street frontages along the main spine. Secondary streets to have few local shops in addition to residences.

Strategy 4 Incremental reduction of on street parking by reclaiming parking space for footpaths. Temporarily utilizing vacant land which could not be used for public purpose, for paid parking.

‘A healthy and a safe neighbourhood, which is sensitive towards its people and ecology along with the development, where the quality of life is of utmost priority & people are happy.’

SDGs

SYNTHESIS & URBAN DESIGN DEMONSTRATION Objective 3: To create a symbiotic relationship between nature & people to safeguard natural resources by providing public realm opportunities near the water bodies – SDG 6 & SDG 11 Strategy 5 Restoring the existing talabs by rainwater harvesting, cleaning up the existing drains and creating new water transmission networks feeding these talabs.

Strategy 6 Creating walking & cycling tracks or public park alongside the talab and facilitate a range of activities for maximum public participation.

Objective 4: To create a clean and healthy neighborhood where the waste is managed through active public participation and treated as a resource – SDG 12 Strategy 9 Developing a waste segregation mechanism where wet waste is collected in the morning hours & dry waste is collected in the evening hours. Wet waste collected is used for neighborhood parks & other greens & dry waste is sold to different vendors for recycling.

Residences Residenc es

Commercial Commerci al

Mandi

Wet waste

Parks

Neighborhood park system with composting units and compost selling spaces

Dry waste

Neighborhood collection units

City level collection

Objective 5: To provide alternate economic opportunities to the families which are involved in primary sector works and people from basti by creating markets – SDG 8 Strategy 7 Enhancing access to these talabs and creating a network with the adjacent streets , the market area & other parks.

Strategy 8 Creating a soft edge of the existing drain and developing a Bio swale that uses bioretention media & water tolerant vegetation for improved water quality.

Strategy 9 Creating spaces for informal markets for dairy farm products integrated with the parks.

Strategy 10 Integrating household grain production with the ration shops in the neighborhood.

Morning markets for dairy farm products

SYNTHESIS & URBAN DESIGN DEMONSTRATION DESIGN DEMONSTRATION 1 1) 2) 3)

Existing Site Conditions

Vegetable market Vacant land/ Plot Road shoulders & vacant residual spaces taken over by parking

Proposed Layout

2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

8) 5

1 2

Redesigned Mandi Layout with waste management

Reclaiming unused pockets for public realm

Neighborhood Kid’s Park

Paid Parking for Mandi

Graffiti/ Art wall

Redesigned mandi layout Paid parking for mandi Children’s park Matador Stop Auto Stand Hawker zone Walkways & Pause points Street extension to the main road Dhaba Spillover Space

Drain with natural edge & clean water

Bridge for pedestrian connections 3

9 8

Commercial

Space for Hawkers

Residential Public Realm

Public Realm 0

12.5

50M

Section A

Existing

Proposed Auto stand

Proposed

Proposed Matador Stop

Road Shoulder

Pause points/ Hawking space

Carriage way

Walkways

Proposed walkways with pause points

Carriage way

DESIGN DEMONSTRATION 2 Existing Site Conditions

Proposed Layout

Talaab developed as a public space

10 6

9 16

18 17

2.7m LVL

18 12

00m LVL

Public Realm Water Body Greens

4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 8A) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18)

Playground Matador stop Public toilet Bamboo kiosks for Informal Dhaba & outdoor seating Walking & cycling track Pedestrian connections Dairy selling kiosks Nursery flower beds Nursery shop Waste Collection Food kiosk Zen garden Entry ramps Walkway Stepped Seating Kids play area Multipurpose hall Maintenance office Mixed use block

Residential

7 8

Pedestrian connections with public functions for natural surveillance

Commercial

Using exiting greens as a resource for public realm

-5.00m LVL

Natural edge and ghat like steps

Removing the boundaries creating ramps for free access

8 5

1) 2) 2a) 3)

10 10

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

Playground Parcel of land with greens Boundary around the ground & greens Delapidated Talab Temples Basti Garbage dump Restricted access to the talaab

1) 2) 2a) 3) New Blocks Public Realm Water Body Greens

Playground Matador stop Public toilet Bamboo kiosks for Informal 4) Dhaba & outdoor seating 5) Walking & cycling track 6) Pedestrian connections 7) Dairy selling kiosks 8) Nursery flower beds 8A) Nursery shop

9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18)

Waste Collection Food kiosk Zen garden Entry ramps Walkway Stepped Seating Kids play area Multipurpose hall Maintenance office Mixed use block

Livelihood opportunity for primary sector works

9 6

5 7

Livelihood opportunity for Basti Dwellers

2a 7 3

2 1

Integrating existing Play ground

CITy STUdy: URBAN ASpIRATIONS, kOChI The theme Urban aspiration explores the stated and the unstated directions of the city and the region of Kochi that are shaping the present development of the area and determining their future expression. These directions are outcome of planning strategies, central/state or private projects initiated and/or proposed for the place. The study focused on all the state- level initiatives through its various departments, agencies & organisations as well as private industrial, corporate and real- estate actors that are contributing to the transforming urban form of the city and its functional/ Characteristics. In this study of understanding the city’s growth and aspirations, five key stakeholders have been considered - citizens, real estate, political organizations, planning bodies and ecology. Based on these stakeholders, the city’s developments have been studied and a critical view of manifestations and implications of the changes have been deduced - keeping in mind the city’s needs and citizens’ aspirations. Team Members - Ambica Wakhlu Andrew Lallianthanga Insia Hasnain Olivia Jacobs

CITY VISIONS – CENTER AND STATE Sanitary Board Town Planning Dept. Interim Dev. Plan Municipal Co. Dev. Plan GCDA

1896 1957 1966-81 1966 1976-91 1966

BEFORE 1990

2006-26 2009-31

2006 & LATER

INFRASTRUCTURAL Metro 2017 Aster Medcity 2015 Canal Redevelopment 2015 Vytilla Mobility Hub 2011 Kannanghat W/Island Bridge 2017

Angamaly

INDUSTRIAL FACT- Eloor 1943 FACT- Ambalamugal 1973 Industrial Estate 1960 BPCL Kochi Refinery 1963

Binani and other industries 1962 FACT 1943

Kalamassery Development Industrial Estate 1960

INSTITUTIONAL CUSAT 1971 C-SEZ 1984

CUSAT 1971

C SEZ 1984

Canal redevelopment 2015 Cochin International Airport 1999

Parur Kotuvally Tsunami rehab housing 2015

Vazhapuzha

Binani and other industries 1962 Rail metro phase 1 2017 KINFRA 1993

Vazhapuzha bridge 2001 Cheranellur

Beach corridor 2018 - ongoing

CUSAT 1971

Aster Medcity 2015

Thrikkakara

Goshree road, bridge 2004

Kochi Refinery 1963

Indian Maritime University 2009 Kannanghat W/island bridge 2017

INDUSTRIAL

Kalamaserry

Infopark phase 1 2004

C SEZ 1984 Vytilla mobility Hub 2011

FACT 1973

Crowne Plaza 2013 Maradu

RESIDENTIAL BSUP 2007 Tsunami Rehab Housing 2011 INDUSTRIAL Aroor Seafood Park 2010

Kerala startup mission 2006

FACT 1943

CDP Draft Master Plan

FACT 1973

Brahmapuram diesel power plant 1997

Kochi Refinery 1963 Tripunithura

INSTITUTIONAL KUFOS 2011 Indian Maritime University 2009 COMMERCIAL Kerala Startup Mission 2006 Crowne Plaza 2013

KUFOS 2011

Kumbalangi tourism village 2003 Aroor Seafood Park 2010

NH 17 1970

INSTITUTIONAL

TOURISM

INDUSTRIAL

UDF

LDF

2001 2002

1990 - 2006

Structure plan Vision document

INFRASTRUCTURAL Airport 1999 NH 17 1970 Vazhapuzha Bridge 2001 Goshree Road, Bridge 2004 B.O.T Bridge 1998 Cochin International Airport 1999

Binani and other industries 1962 Vazhapuzha bridge 2001

KINFRA 1993

FACT 1943

Kalamassery Development Industrial Estate 1960

Goshree road, bridge 2004

CUSAT 1971 Infopark phase 1 2004

C SEZ 1984 FACT 1973 NH 17 1970

Brahmapuram diesel power plant 1997

INDUSTRIAL Brahmapuram Diesel Power Plant 1997 KINFRA 1993 COMMERCIAL Infopark Phase 1 2004 Le Meridien 2001 RECREATION Kumbalangi Tourism Village 2003

PROPOSED PROJECTS

INDUSTRIAL PARKS, LOGISTICS AND MSMES Cryogenic Warehouse | 10 Acres Multi Modal Logistics Park | 100 Acres Integrated Manufacturing Cluster | 50-500 Domestic Led Lights Manufacturing | 10 Acres Kinfra Petrochemical Park | 481 Acres MOBILITY DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES Silver Line (Semi -High Speed Rail Coridor) Kochi Metro Rail Project Phase 2 And 3 Electric Bus Rapid Transit : Poothottaangamaly TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY Cruise Development Blue Rhapsody (Regeneration And Development Of Canals) Wayside Amenities Along Expressways

Kochi Refinery 1963

Le Meridien 2001

Kumbalangi tourism village 2003

INFRASTRUCTURE

INDUSTRIAL

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL

TOURISM HERITAGE

INFRASTRUCTURE TOURISM

UDF

TOURISM

LDF

STATE ASPIRATIONS AND ECOLOGY

STATE ASPIRATIONS AND ECONOMY

State aspirations are creating economic opportunity leading to more privatized development State aspirations are not being fulfilled due to ecological constraints.

Proposed Projects in Ecologically Sensitive area

Most of the tourism and IT projects are proposed in the ecologically sensitive areas. Aerocity and Metro village are coming up in the flood plains. Whereas projects like infopark, oceanarium, Kerala Maritime cluster are being proposed in Coastal Regulation Zone 1 (CRZ 1). These, if not sensitively dealt with, might result in the fall of these aspirations.

Projects violating CRZ regulations

Future Projects and Real estates Hot Spots

Population Density and Real Estates Hot Spots

The state is intending to further increase IT & service sector developments in future. These are not only acting as magnets for the people to come from different parts of the country but are also triggering the real estate development towards Angamaly and surrounding areas leading to a shift of economic triggers thereby creating hot spots for more private investments.

Employment Opportunities and Real Estates Hot Spots

STATE ASPIRATIONS AND SOCIETY

FINDINGS - LEISURE SPACES The open public spaces in the city cover approximately 7% of the total city area which is less than the minimum standards set by WHO and are mostly concentrated in the city core.

FINDINGS - RESIDENTIAL AREAS 40% of Kochi at present is residential sector. Many residential projects and schemes have been implemented in the city. There are proposed housing in areas of higher footprint and where there is more job opportunities.

The newly developed areas towards Aluva and Perambavur cater to a population density ranging from 51-100 pph and above with lack of hangout spaces, parks, grounds etc.

Areas rural in nature, lying in flood zones are not being looked. There is a need for flood resilient housing along with livelihood opportunities. Since the city focuses on expanding industrial developments without any buffer spaces between the residential, industrial and the city landfill areas, is leading to poor livable conditions in areas such as Eloor, Kakkanad, Brahmapuram State Aspirations & and Aroor. Residential Areas

The city projects related to recreation majorly cater to the tourism sector. These are concentrated near the city resources, leading local people travelling long distances. Non functional developments in areas like Vypin, Aluva, Ambalamugal and Kumbalam have State Aspirations & deteriorated the community life of residents. Work Areas

FINDINGS - RESIDENTIAL AREAS The swelling entrepreneurship in the city has led the state government to develop the commercial and industrial sectors, concentrating these towards the newer growth areas and catering to a certain user groups.

State must aspire on improving living conditions and providing better the quality of life in order to have sustainable & inclusive growth.

There is a demand for better infrastructure in the city but due unavailability of skilled resources, the demand for migrant laborer’s increases. The rural areas are largely dependent on farming, fishing and tourism with restricted employment State Aspirations & Leisure Areas opportunities.

State Aspirations & Citizen Areas

The rise in entrepreneurship in the city because of the state’s aspiration has led to the development of the commercial and industrial sectors, concentrating towards the newer growth areas like Kakkanad, Tikakara, Kalamassery catering to the service sector, declining residential quality in these areas.

Future Employment Generation Future Infrastructural Development

Land Price

Everyday Experience

Infrastructure

Connectivity

Employment Opportunity

Open & Public Spaces

Living Conditions

ASPIRATIONS AND POTENTIALS

Edakochi

Angamaly

Rising Potential Areas where city’s aspirations are being addressed through development

City’s Present Growth Direction

Aroor Kumbalam

Falling Potential Areas where people’s aspirations and ecological assets are being overlooked by the development

Perumbavoor Nettoor

Recommended Growth Direction

Industrial Effluents IT Sector, Industry, Institutional

Pallikara Tourism & Connectivity

Vytila Ambalamugal

Development Trend The state aspires to reinvent the profile of the city from a tourism destination to a an educational, commercial, industrial and hospitality destination; where it is developing its infrastructure rapidly to promote growth & economy of the city.

City Dump yard & Flood Plains

Unregulated Development

Kakkanad Thrikkakara Tourism & Connectivity

Edapally

Recommended Buffer around Industries

Kalamassery

The city’s urban development has been influencing the surrounding cities. The similar nature of developments towards Angamaly and Aroor are spreading beyond the city limits.

Eloor

Aroor

Varapuzha

Industrial Development

Paravur Kothad Vypin Good

Average

Bad

Future Scenario & Potential Mapping

Recommendations Based on City’s Aspiration & People’s Concerns, Growth Direction & Industrial development has been re-imagined towards perumbavoor.

OThER pROjECTS Urban Design Studio Delhi Flows - Study along the Barapullah Nala Urban Form Lab The city of Refuge - Case of Migrant workers Women’s Participation in Public Spaces Co-existential Crisis - Blind eye towards non-humans Urban History Research Tracing the Spiritual & Mythological order in the formation of a city, Mathura Urbanity, Covetousness & the Eventuality, New Delhi Landscape migration : From a Creek to Nala, New Delhi

Thank you! For more details please contact - ambicawakhlu@outlook.com