MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK Integrated residential township, Rancharda
ANUKRATI SHARMA PG 190151 Urban Design Studio CEPT University
STUDIO BRIEF UD4001 - Master Plan Studio Tutors: Brijesh Bhatha, Purvi Bhatt, Vipuja Parmar, Tapan Shah The studio focuses on preparing Master Plans for large green field developments in peri urban areas. To respond to the demand of expansion in the rapidly growing urban centres, governments facilitate such new developments through various development mechanisms. The studio operates within the existing development framework of the Integrated Township Policy which is a typically developer driven activity and involves design on a large tract of land under single ownership. The design of the project will involve preparing a three dimensional urban design master plan with strategies of street network and urban block, public open spaces, public amenities and infrastructure, integration of public transport systems, strategies for pedestrian and vehicular priority on streets, defining the building height and bulk, building uses and landscape strategy.
PREFACE
The work showcased in the document is part of Studio academic exercise undertaken for Urban Design (Faculty of Planning) in CEPT University.
Students will be required to prepare an urban design master plan for these developments with an emphasis on creating liveable neighbourhoods that explore the ideas of future living through their designs. The design process will consistently retain its focus on how these ideas can be translated into reality. The studio outcome will also involve preparing effective representation graphics and persuasive communication strategy for the design project.
01
1.1 Site location and connectivity 1.2 Development trend and feasibility 1.3 Site potential and constraints
02
TOWNSHIP VISION AND PRELIMINARY STUDIES
03
MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK
04
CONTENTS
SITE AND LOCATION CONTEXT
05
2.1 Vision and Key objectives 2.2 Case studies
3.1 Strategies 3.2 Master Plan 3.3 Master plan attributes
PERCEIVING TOWNSHIP ASSETS 4.1 Canal front neighbourhood 4.2 Active core neighbourhood 4.3 Public space system 4.4 Guidelines 4.5 Phasing
CONCLUSION 5.1 Concluding statement
01
SITE AND LOCATION CONTEXT The chapter elaborates on understanding the impact of the location, surrounding context and site itself in framing groundwork for design development and strategies.
1.1 SITE LOCATION AND CONNECTIVITY
Connectivity Map
Location Map
The site selected for township development is located within AUDA boundary at the western periphery of Ahmadabad city.
Time taken to reach Ashram road- 45 mins Time taken to reach Thol Sanctuary- 25 mins
The location of the site is approachable from city through Shilaj Road that connects SP Ring road (approx. 5 Kms from site) and leads towards Thol Bird sanctuary (a prominent recreational spot in Ahmedabad) towards western outskirts of the city limits. Public transportation connectivity to the city is through the same route, with AMC bus stop located within close vicinity to site. The SP Ring road provides robust connectivity to Gandhinagar, while Kalol is directly approachable through existing internal road network. Sanand is approachable through DMIC corridor effectively connecting the site not only to the Ahmadabad city, but also to various job centers located around the city.
1.2 DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND FEASIBILITY Job centers
To Delhi
SITE To Mumbai
Growth centers
The site is connected to Sanand, a growth center which will accommodate various SEZ zones and SIR’s. Thus, creating a large urban commercial and job center closely located to site.
DMIC Industrial corridor
Bopal is the closest urban zone providing various options in job market while the proposed institutional and commercial-logistic zone will supplement the existing job market.
Job centers map
Housing development
RAH Zone Insitutional Zone
AUDA Development Plan
Commercial & Logistic zone
The site is situated at a unique location that offers various possibilities of harnessing the potential for township. While the connectivity of the site to the city is made convenient through robust network, the development plan indicates heavy growth in the surrounding area of the site. The proximity of site to DMIC corridor, with proposed institutional and commercial-logistic zone towards western AUDA boundary, and easy connectivity with the city allows the site to develop as a centre that connects both upcoming growth centers and the city. Various job centers and housing options can already be seen in vicinity.
SITE Garodia
RAH Zone
Proposed RAH zone along SP Ring road clearly indicates the lack of affordable housing options in the city. The township would deliver the same while providing better quality of life than available in the city.
The site is surrounded by various upcoming housing projects that offer lowdensity luxury villa typology, clearly lacking in providing denser housing options which are essential part of regulating the urban sprawl.
Housing settlement map
1.3 SITE- LOCAL CONTEXT AND ATTRIBUTES Site Attributes The surrounding development and location of site clearly indicate certain challenges and opportunities that creates base for addressing the contextual issues.
Development as growth center
Key map
40 m e
id
w
Proximity to institutional and logistic zone allows expansion for ancillary facilities and job center, creating a strong local growth center. (Fig 1.1)
Rancharda Lake ila
Sh oa
jR d ing
Roa
d
Connectivity limitations
40 m wide proposed DP Road
40 m wide
Shilaj Roa
SP R
oad DP R
osed
Non-perennial water body
Fig 1.2
d
wide
prop
Fig 1.1
18 m
90 m
wide
prop
osed
DP R
oad
INDUS University
Local context diagram Water bodies Urban settlements Low-density housing Gamtals
1. Connectivity- Connection from city to DMIC corridor through 40 m wide Shilaj road. Proposed road network indicates potential connections towards Sanand and Kalol. 2. Topography- Flat greenfield land, with a canal running along western edge of the site. Gradual slope towards the eastern edge of the site, creating watershed zone that supports the non-perennial water body. 3. Development- Gamtals and low-density housing settlements. Indus University located adjacent towards eastern edge.
Lack of any strong commercial amenities in surrounding housing settlements allows for potential to integrate a strong commercial center. (Fig 1.2)
Fig 2.1
Fig 2.2
The edges of the site are bounded by the canal, water body and agricultural land on three sides, limiting connections through road network. (Fig 2.1) The proposed road network of 90 m and 18 m road, indicate heavy traffic towards the canal edge of the site and also cuts off the physical connection of the site to canal. (Fig 2.2)
Ecological features Ecological features around site creates an opportunity to integrate recreational amenities with the existing topography. (Fig 3.1)
Fig 3.1
Fig 3.2
Ecological imbalance due to disruption of watershed terrain of the site, supporting the existing non-perennial water body. (Fig 3.2)
02
TOWNSHIP VISION AND PRELIMINARY STUDIES
The chapter focuses on establishing the core idea for the township and understanding underlying principles of objectives through preliminary studies built environment.
2.1 VISION AND OBJECTIVES Developing vision for life in township
VISION
A development that fosters liveable neighbourhoods connected through sustainable mobility network.
The idea for township vision develops from understanding the human behaviour and activities that transpires at edges of built environment. A typical experience of spaces reveal concoction of various uses on, and at the edges of the streets, often including interactive activities like playing, chance encounters, or even rendezvous.
LIVEABLE
Walkable neighbourhoods with diverse activities which enrich community experience.
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
NMT network loop for safe connectivity and environmentally conscious mobility.
OBJECTIVES The site context and vision lay out a clear idea for township development achieved through objectives that form the base for foundation for spatial strategies Thus, these spaces become elemental in providing primary chance of interaction with the surroundings. However, these characteristics aspects of spaces are often neglected resulting into fragmented built environment that disregard these experiences. The vision for township focuses on exploring strategies for design development of spaces that proffer more cohesive built environment at neighbourhood scale and providing safer, slower interconnectivity choices within the township and smaller blocks.
Thus the idea forms around providing a life that enjoys possibility to connect at various levels through creating streets and spaces that integrate various activities and offer opportunity to interact.
Strengthening existing connections
Responding to ecological features
Sustainable mobility connectivity
Strong growth center with commercial and recreational anchor
2.2 CASE STUDY STUDY- 1 : Deitenbach, Freiburg (Germany) 272 acres
The site is loacted at western outskrits of Freiburg city. The vision for the development of neighbourhood focused on mixed-use neighbourhood blocks with affordable housing options, all interlinked through sustainable mobility options. The study focused on understanding the planning, designing parameters and sustainable mobility network and strategies for the neighbourhood.
LEARNINGS The built and open ratio efficiently maintains a balance between the built environment and arrangement of open space system.
BUILT- 25% OPEN- 75%
PUBLIC OPEN30% PRIVATE OPEN- 34% ROAD NETWORK- 03% NMT NETWORK - 08%
PUBLIC GREEN- 30% The distribution of open space system offers an equitable distribution of public space allowing development of public open spaces as a shared asset to the city at large.
ROAD NETWORK- 03% NMT NETWORK - 08% The entire site is connected through dedicated pedestrian and biking network, while limiting the road network to an inner ring road and secondary internal regulated network at block.
03
MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK The chapter explains the strategies that set the framework for master plan and its characteristics
3.1 SPATIAL STRATEGIES DMIC CORRIDOR
Connectivity and mobility strategy
RANCHARDA
INDUS UNIVERSITY
To 40 m proposed road to SANAND
PALODIA
DMIC CORRIDOR
RANCHARDA
INDUS UNIVERSITY
PALODIA
DMIC CORRIDOR
To achieve the objective of strengthening the connectivity of site with surrounding urban zones, arterial connections are established connecting the site to existing and proposed road network. The main 30 m cross over infrastructure road connects Shilaj Road to the proposed 40 m DP that will establish connectivity of site to Sanand. The secondary network loop is created by borrowing connections from 18 m wide roads along canal edge, and road network along Indus university leading to Bopal. The secondary network is strengthened by a central electric loop which is accessible from any point in township within 5 min of walking distance. This main vehicular network and central electric loop is supported by establishing internal block level vehicular network and NMT connectivity across the township. The internal block level vehicular network is designed in a way that it only offers connectivity to residential parcels, limiting unnecessary traffic inside the neighbourhood blocks. The NMT grid laid across township is thus established as main connectivity network. A number of activity points within the township are accessed through the NMT network, making these lanes more vibrant.
Zoning and open space program
RANCHARDA
INDUS UNIVERSITY
PALODIA
DMIC CORRIDOR
RANCHARDA
INDUS UNIVERSITY
PALODIA
The zoning program builds upon site’s ecological features and proposed connections, while simultaneously taking into account the objective of creating a strong growth center by accommodating various commercial and institutional zones. 1. OPEN SPACE SYSTEM The proposed DP network along the canal edge indicates issue of possible heavy traffic and noise, thus a green buffer towards canal edge to provide relief. To allow for more permeability along the existing watershed terrain, the lower points on terrains are connected through a green area, creating a central green zone, while towards seasonal water body, the existing ecology is preserved. 2. ZONING The zoning strategy focuses on creating strong growth center in context to the surrounding area. Commercial use is located at centre in connection with central green area, creating a strong commercial and recreational center for township. A pedestrian bouleavrd with continuous mixed use edge connects this center to Rancharda and Palodia. The offices are located towards northern edge of site along Shilaj road, allowing direct connection from city, and DMIC corridor while limiting the floating influx towards the outer edge. The institutional zone is placed adjacent to Indus university, creating a larger institutional zone.
3.2 MASTER PLAN The master plan builds up on the strategies. A central network loop as main vehicular access, with E-shuttle completes the connectivity netowrk. Various uses and activities are distributed across the township to achieve heterogeneous environment, while still keeping major built use as residential to respond to fundamental idea of integrated residential township.
FSI achieved - 1.4
INTERNAL NMT NETWORK
NMT connectivity within residential blocks and across township
COMMUNITY OPEN SPACES
Neighbourhood open spaces with community facilities approachable through NMT network
HIGH RISE MIXED-USE APARTMENTS
Luxury canal front apartments with offices and commercial use
58% Public Open Space - 42% Private Open Space - 36% Developable parcels-
ZONE-1 Hospitality facilities
ZONE-2 Offices and commercial
HIGH RISE MIXED-USE APARTMENTS
Luxury park view apartments with commercial ground floor use
CENTRAL PARK
ZONE-3 Institutional
Township level park with recreational and c ommunity amenities
Residential blocks zone
COMMERCIAL PLAZA
Plaza with commercial edge
ZONE-1 Hospitality facilities
PEDESTRIAN BOULEVARD
Pedestrian link with mixed use edge supporting small scale commercial activities
ZONE-2 Offices and commercial
ZONE-3 Institutional
Canal front residential
BUNGALOWS
Luxury villa community
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Active core residential
EWS apartments
Luxury residential
CULTURAL CENTRE
Affordable residential
Cultural centre and library along institutional zone
ZONE-4 Preserved green
3.3 MASTER PLAN ATTRIBUTES
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE- 42%
BUILT ENVIRONMENT Road network
05%
The arterial road network creates an internal loop which will carry thoroughfare and the township level central E-shuttle. The arterial network ranges from 30 m wide road to 18 m wide road with continuous edge leading to tertiary block level roads. The blocks level internal tertiary connections allow vehicular access to residential parcels.
14%
The NMT grid is established across the township, connecting various residential blocks. The grid is laid out in the manner that allow for various neighbourhood level, and township level active zones to be accessed through it. A primary pedestrian link runs across the site from northern edge to southern edge of the site, establishing connections between Rancharda nad Palodia respectively.
23%
BUILT- 22% OPEN-78%
Built and open environment Navrangpura
Bopal
SP ring road
Shantigram
Grid size 250 X 250 m
NMT Network
Comparison of open built ratio across city indicates the requirement of open spaces. The balance of built and open space allows for creating an environment which responds well to the quality of life achieved in the township.
Built use and zones 4% 2% 2% 12 % 8% 71%
1%
Residential Residential
Institutional Institutional
Offices Offices
Mixed MixedUse Use
Commercial Commercial
Res. Res.Mixed Mixed
Over 70% of built up area is residential, creating a homogeneous environment. The residential blocks are supported by various mixed use typology with offices and commercial use with residential allowing each block to function as a compact mixed use entity. Entirely commercial and institutional zone are limited to 2% of total built area, which could be expanded in context with surrounding development.
Public green spaces
Built density and heights
Township public green space are arranged at 3 levels, where canal green edge creates a buffer from 18 m wide road, with plazas to support offices and commercial use along the canal front luxury apartments. The central green space offers recreational and community amenities, while preserved green offers a quite environment. The neigbourhood green spaces act as anchor for community amenities.
The built form is kept consistent throughout the township to maintain congruent sense of scale. However, higher height (upto 45 m.) is allowed around the central open space to harness the views provided by the green area. Higher heights are also allowed along the canal edge, and norther edge of the site, allowing the buildings to borrow views of canal and Rancharda lake while also defining the edge of township through which entries are planned.
15-10 floors 9-5 floors 5- 3 floors 3-1 floors
04
PERCEIVING TOWNSHIP ASSETS The chapter deals with understanding the life in township at smallerr scale through design framework of two distinct neighbouhood blocks
4.1 CANAL FRONT NEIGHBOURHOOD BLOCK SIZE- 345 x 280 m
CANAL BUFFER
The canal front urban block is a typical entity to explain life at a smaller scale in calmer residential zone. The core idea is to have vehicular free internal streets, and shared community level amenities allowing people within and across the blocks to interact.
Vehicular access
Accessibility diagram
NMT access
Resiential parcel FSI - 2.7
Canal front residential
Township level park with recreational and community amenities
HIGH RISE APARTMENTS High rise apartments along park edge with residential ancillary use at ground floor to activate the edge
INTERNAL NMT NETWORK
NMT connectivity within residential block
OUTER EDGE
High rise edge along the 30 m road, with commercial use at ground floor
COMMUNITY SPACE
Community facilities and amenities provided at the edge of two neighbourhoods blocks
Internal streets, shared community spaces and diverse uses are key characteristic of the Canal front residential zone. The character of these elements are shared in detail further. STREETS AS SOCIAL CORRIDORS The internal streets in canal front zone are kept completely vehicular free, allowing these streets to act as social corridors encouraging active or passive interaction with the surrounding space. The program encourages the residential ancillary amenities like day care, indoor sports, gymnasiums etc. to open up to these streets, keeping the space active, making it safer. The private open spaces are also encouraged to open into these streets, blurring the line between private and public spaces.
Streets with no vehicular access in canal front residential neighbourhood
SHARED COMMUNITY SPACES The community spaces becomes the core of blocks to accommodate various amenities, like local mart, park, religious space, primary school etc. which are easily accessible within walking distance. The community zone, thus creates a central space with varied functions that allows residents to enjoy various activities in one place. They are strategically located at edges of neighbourhood blocks so they are shared between these blocks, encouraging more interaction across two smaller blocks.
Shared community spaces between neighbourhood blocks
Religious space Community park
Residential floors
Vending Plaza
Community Hall
Local Mart
Ancillary amenities
Primary School
Internal vehicle free street
EDGES OF CANAL FRONT NEIGHBOURHOOD BLOCKS The edges of canal front residential blocks are marked with high rise luxury mixed use apartments. Towards the canal side, the buildings offer office spaces at lower floors in residential buildings along canal edges, while towards internal 30 m wide road in township, they offer high-end commercial spaces. The lower floors with commercial spaces are punctuated with small plazas to accommodate informal vending, keeping the space active through formal and informal commercial functions.
30 m wide road providing main access to canal front neighbourhood blocks.
ROAD WITH MULTI MOBILITY OPTION The 30 m street is the main cross over thoroughfare that connects the site to Shilaj road and Sanand. The road provide equitable space to all modes of mobility, strengthening the idea of sustainable and safe mobility across township. Continuous wide walkways and bike paths allow a hassle free movement to pedestrians and cycle users, while the MUZ zone accommodates parking spaces not only for vehicles but also renting and parking services for bicycles, and along park edge, wait stations for E-shuttle service.
30 m wide road providing main access to canal front neighbourhood blocks.
MUZ 7.0 m
7.0 m
2.5 m 4.2 m 2.0 m 2.1 2.1 PARK EDGE
6 m PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE MARGIN
0.7 m MEDIAN
2.0 m 2.1 m 2.5 m
MUZ
4.2 ACTIVE CORE NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRAL PARK
BLOCK SIZE- 370 x 430 m The canal front urban block is a typical entity to explain life at a smaller scale in calmer residential zone. The core idea is to have vehicular free internal streets, and shared community level amenities allowing people within and across the blocks to interact.
Vehicular access
Accessibility diagram
NMT access
Residential parcel FSI- 2.7 Mixed use parcel FSI- 4
Active core residential
Township level park with recreational and community amenities
HIGH RISE APARTMENTS High rise apartments along park edge with residential ancillary use at ground floor to activate the edge
PEDESTRIAN BOULEVARD
Pedestrian link with mixed use edge supporting small scale commercial activities
INTERNAL NMT NETWORK
NMT connectivity within residential blocks and across township
COMMERCIAL PLAZA
Plaza with commercial edge
The active core neighbourhood is defined by various uses along the edges of this block, creating space that merges residential area with township level commercial and recreational zone. ACTIVE EDGES The active core neighbouhood block offers a mix of residential typology with large scale commercial and recreational spaces along its edges, creating a lively and vibrant space that merges the residential area with the active central zone. The edge is defined by ground floor with commercial activities, seamlessly transitioning into the recreational green edge of the park. It offers a vibrant life to residents, with an option of enjoying a city level recreational space right at the doorstep.
Residential upper floors
Ground floor commercial Vending and Sitting spaces
Park Edge
The active core neighbourhood blocks edges open into township level commercial and recreational zone that offers a wide variety of uses distributed across the open space. The open space program is focused on achieving the objective of providing a strong recreational and commercial zone, not only for township, but also for surrounding development, essentially establishing the township as anchor for recreational and commercial activities. The open space system has number of functions along its edges. A central green space for active recreational and community amenities along with jogging and bicycling tracks which seamlessly merge into established NMT grid of township. At the centre, a large green field provides options for flexible uses for large gatherings and congregations during festivals or other activities. The central green zone is connected to commercial plaza at centre, which act as green link between the active recreational zone and preserved green area that offers more passive recreational activities. The active core neighbourhood block also has pedestrian boulevard that connects the commercial plaza to the surrounding area, acting as main transitional lane for pedestrian connections between township and surrounding housing and gamtals settlements.
PEDESTRIAN BOULEVARD
CENTRAL GREEN
GREEN FIELD
CENTRAL GREEN
COMMERCIAL PLAZA
PRESERVED GREEN
4.3 OPEN SPACE SYSTEM
THE GREEN ZONE The green open space are divided into two parts, each of which offers different environment for recreation. The active green zone offers active recreational options with facilities like jogging bicycling tracks, sports complex and community centre. The preserved green zone allows direct interaction with ecology, encouraged though activities like walking trails, and camping, or bird watching tours.
THE ACTIVE ZONE The active zone includes the central commercial plaza which supports the influx of informal activities around the central commercial zone. The plaza is designed to accommodate spaces for formal and informal vending activities. A large part is made permeable through plantation to maintain the watershed terrain along the plaza. The plaza is connected to pedestrian bolevard which supports small scale commercial activities
GREEN FIELD A central green filed is proposed at the centre of green zone. The space offers flexibility in terms of use, where it act as a large playing field on everyday basis, but can also allow for large gatherings during festival celebrations or for cultural activities. This space becomes the heart of the township, mirroring the core idea of open spaces that encourage interactions and also established the identity for the township.
GREEN ZONE
COMMERCIAL PLAZA
FESTIVAL CELEBRATION
ORGANIC LOCAL MARKET
PRESERVED GREEN
PEDESTRIAN BOULEVARD
CONCERTS
OPEN THEATRE AND CINEMA
4.4 BLOCK GUIDELINES GUIDELINE OBJECTIVES The objectives for guidelines are focused on establishing vehicular free network, creating diverse uses within blocks and shaping built form along the major entities of the township. The idea is explained through the two neighbourhood blocks discussed earlier.
CANAL FRONT NEIGHBOURHOOD
ACTIVE CORE NEIGHBOURHOOD
CONNECTIVITY No parcel will have access from outer arterial network. The established tertiary network will be utilised for access, which will not allow any on street parking. The internal streets marked should be kept vehicle free.
USES AND ACTIVITIES The blocks will allow for various commercial and recreational uses along the edges. The residential blocks should ideally utilise ground floor for ancilary functions like- gyms, sports facilities, workspaces, day care etc., facing the internal street.
FORM AND HEIGHTS Higher heights, upto 45 m will be allowed along the central park edge and canal edge to harness the views and defining the assets of township through help of built form. Pedestrian boulevards and plazas should ideally have a continous built edge without margins.
4.5 PHASING STRATEGY
PHASE - 1
PHASE - 2
PHASE - 3
PHASE- 4
PHASE - 5
The first phase includes mid range housing apartments, with partial commercial area and part of central green zone. The first phase can be directly accessible through Shilaj road. This acts as an idea to glimpse everything the township will offer at a smaller scale.
The second phase includes mid range apartments with neighbourhood open space and luxury apartments overlooking the central green area along with hospitality faciities and institutional zone. The institutional zone will create a distinct benefit as the surrounding area lack any institutional facilities.
The third phase will include the 2nd half of canal front residential zone which will include mid range apartments and luxury villas. The office zone along the northern edge will also be built, which will benefit from the surrounding logistic zone that might experience considerable development at this stage.
The fourth phase will include the second part of active core residential zone, along with the rest of the central green zone and commercial use with plaza. The phase will also include the luxury mid use apartments with offices along the canal edge, after the connections from the proposed DP roads are established.
The last phase will have both affordable and luxury housing, effectively balancing the housing options offered. This will also allow for more flexibility along the southern edge as the surrounding area might develop from agricultural land and indicate to other typology/uses.
The studio focused on designing urban design master plan for integrated township, and the study bought to focus the idea of designing the large scale urban zones. The design framework helped in delayering complexities associated with large scale built enviornment through understanding impact of existing developement context, and response of designed space to its surroundings while siumulaneosuly focusing on the larger idea of providing improved quality of life to the people.
05 CONCLUSION
The master plan framework envisioned to achieve a built environment that responds well to the human behaviour observed and experienced in any typical Indian city. The core idea focused on providing a quality of life that allows for safe mobility, interactive spaces that foster community spirit and an active life in the township, while simultaneously integrating well within the city at large by providing assets that are utilsed and enjoyed by the city. The objective of safe mobility and interactive spaces is reflected at smaller scale through neighbourhood blocks where the mobility network is designed to be vehicle free, allowing streets to act as social corridors encouraging interaction at community level. At neighbourhood scale, these spaces are accentuated by shared neighbourhood amenities strengthening the chance of interaction, and sense of community spirit across the neighborhoods. At larger level, the open space system act as shared assest to the city, providing the commercial and recreational amenities and infrastructure, while also maintaining the ecological balance between the site and surrounding zone. Thus the township asserts its identity as an urban zone that not only provides improved quality of life to its residents, but also responds well to the city at large.
ANUKRATI SHARMA PG 190151 Urban Design Studio CEPT University