Symphony of streets ( inside indian streets )

Dissertation Topic – Symphony of streets.

Hitkarini College of Architecture and Town Planning

Submitted to – Ar L K Binzzani Submitted by – Arjak Mitra

Hitkarini College of Architecture and Town Planning, Dumna road, Hitkarini hills, Jabalpur (M.P)

ACKNOWLEGMENT

IF FEEL OBLIGED AND THANKFUL TO AR. L.K BINZZANI FOR THEIR RESOURCEFUL AND CONTENT RICH GUIDANCE THIS SUBJECT WOULD NOT HAVE CONCLUDED WITHOUT THEIR UNTIRING EFFORTS THROUGHT. I HERBY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF ALL MY TEACHERS WHO HELPED ME DURING THE PREPARATION OF MY DISSTERATION REPORT. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BRING OUT THIS DOCUMENT IN SUCH A FORM. I AM THANKFUL TO THE WEBSITES. I VISITED AND ALL THE BOOKS, I REFERED TO COLLECT THE INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR MY PROJECT AND SPECIALLY MY GUIDE, WHO HAS GIVEN ME HIS CONSTANT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCES.

CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the Dissertation entitled ________________ is a bonafide record of independent work done by_____________ under my supervision and submitted to Hitkarini College of Architecture and Town Planning in partial fulfillment for the award of the Degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE.

Signature of the supervisor (With Seal)

DECLARATION I____________ a bonafide student of B. Arch in -------------------------- in Hitkarini Collage of Architecture and Town Planning would like to declare that the dissertation entitled__________________ submitted by me in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE is my original work.

Place: Date:

Signature of the candidate.

Index 1.1 - Aim 1.2 - Introduction 1.3 - Streets 1.4 - Streets types 1.5 - Banaras 1.6 - Old Delhi 1.7 - Andaman ( Port Blair ) 1.8 - Kolkata 1.9 - Conclusion 1.10 - Bibliography

1.1 Aim - To analyze & describe the philosophy of different streets. (Documentation) Objective - To explore every hidden surprise and explain the reason, philosophy and secret responsible for the beauty of the place.

Base & example for the study/documentation:1. Banaras streets 2. Muslim Streets 3. Colonial or costal settlements 4. Mahulas 5. Residential Analysis - Analysis on the basis of visional perspective , anatomy , substances ( stationary , moving , people , shops etc ) , voices , changes thorough out the day , colors , materials , occupation of the inhabitants , relations and lives .

Process - Process of analysis will be on basis of visiting the sites, talking to the people, reference to other similar sites, books , pictures.

Limitations - Will no deal with numeric valuations and standards (sizes, by laws etc).

1.2 Introduction The third intersection between two spaces which defines community and connections.

Where stranger share the journey with an unknown yet familiar. Where we nourish unconditional connections and bonds with a person we barely know name. Share our thoughts and feeling. Where the barrier of the society and class disappear.

The space which wear and tear the urban fabric of the society. I acts as a living thing it runs it sleep it breaths, talk, sing and express its feelings.

The symphony of streets describe about the life and the story behind famous streets of India.

There evolution, types, story, secrets, and explore different layers of time in its past.

We came across many famous streets and places such as:1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Banaras Old Delhi Andaman Nicobar Kolkata Jaipur

We will search out answer for a set questions.

1. How does the street accommodate or encourage social interaction, or serve as a social network? Is there regular pedestrian activity?

2. What makes the street stand out? What makes it extraordinary or memorable?

What elements, features, and details set the street apart from other streets?

3. How is the community involved in adding vitality to the street (festivals, parades, open-air markets, etc.)?

4. How does the street reflect the local culture or history?

5. Does the street provide interesting visual experiences, vistas, natural features, or other qualities? How does the architecture of the buildings add to the street's visual experience and public realm?

6. Is there consistency of scale between buildings (i.e. are buildings proportional to one another), and are the buildings designed and scaled for pedestrians?

1.3 Street.

A Street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A Street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable surface such as concrete, cobblestone or brick.

Portions may also be smoothed with asphalt, embedded with rails, or otherwise prepared to accommodate non-pedestrian traffic. .Two zones private and public, which are separated by distance, can be linked or related to each other by a third, intermediate space. The visual and spatial relationship between the two spaces depends on the nature of the third space with which they share a common bond.

In architecture, the third zone can be seen as either a portion of space contained and defined by elements such as wall, floor, openings and ceiling or roof planes, a quality of space displaced by the mass of a building.

Steven Holl points out the metaphysical, experiential and poetic dimensions of anchoring, emphasizing: “The site of a building is more than a mere ingredient in its conception. It is its physical and metaphysical foundation… Through a link, an extended motive, a building is more than something merely fashioned for the site… Architecture and site should have an experiential connection, a metaphysical link, a poetic link.”

According to Holl, beyond the physical relation between the building and the site, they are also “metaphysically”, “experientially” and “poetically” linked, which depends on the anchoring of an architectural work into its site and situation, indicating a deeper connection in the architectural field. It is this reasoning that Holl can be distinguished from other approaches concerning the building/site relation. As building anchors into a site, a particular condition emerges; a new situation is created. Not only the site offers a particular situation, but also anchoring presents a unique situation. This created situation, for Holl, is the base that the site and the building become “metaphysically” connected to each other.

1.4 There are many types of streets such as

A

H



Alley



High Street



Avenue (landscape)



Home zone

C

I



Chare



Cobbled street



Crescent (architecture)



Living street



Cul-de-sac



Lovers' lane



L

E 

Esplanade

M 

F 

Fore Street

Intelligent street

Main Street N



Numbered street P



Pedway

1.5

Banaras (Varanasi) - 25.2807° N, 82.9557° E Varanasi, once known as Benares or Banaras and Kashi (which comes from the Kashia tribe, who first settled some 3,000 years ago), is a historical city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Northern India. Varanasi is among the most historic cities of India, and also among the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in the world. Varanasi also has one the finest religious river frontage that the world has to offer. The Ganga, or Ganges River, is the spiritual artery of the Hindu religion.

As it is very old settlement the few buildings in town look timeworn and forgotten. And the streets were loud enough to tell their stories and calm enough to keep itself as a secret hidden and unexploited from the modern commercial world.

The life in this habitat were exposed.

Virtually every life is carried out in public right in front of your eyes – prayers, sleeping, cooking, eating, nursing, bathing, hair-cut, shaving, even roadside dentistry. Nothing is hidden, and all the truth is out on the streets. And it is all these elements -the taste, smell, people, and most of all, the ever so colorful sight of India. This is Incredible India at its best.

The street type in Banaras are Alley and Snickelways.

Alley – An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in India, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting. In older urban development, alleys were built to allow for deliveries such as coal to the rear of houses. Alleys may be paved, or simply dirt tracks.

A blind alley has no outlet at one end.

In India we often represent it as gullies.

Snickelways – Snickleways, are a collection of small streets and footpaths. Words snicket, meaning a passageway between walls or fences, ginnel, a narrow passageway between or through buildings, and alleyway, a narrow street or lane.

In Banaras these streets were evolved organically. During our visit to Banaras we found that most of the streets were originated from the great Ghats. We king of relate it as a stomata in leaf cells.

We observed the spontaneous evolution of these streets, opening from the Ghats and every city road lead to these alley which further lead to these Ghats.

There were specific names of different alleys such as “Cachori gully” etc. where we found an entire hierarchy of alley full of traditional Indian snack and pickle shops.

Similarly we found many gullies dedicated to sell utensils, spiritual goods, and cloths.

These gully consist of houses stick with each other and ground floor converted into shops selling things prepared in house itself.

The distance between each house frontage was very nominal and sunlight getting inside was diffused that’s why the temperature inside was very comfortable and relaxing. The inhabitants of these streets have figure out pocket of spaces for communal harmony where they share thought on having a cup of tea made up of baked clay pottery.Let us go back and find out the answer for the questions above.

1. How does the street accommodate or encourage social interaction, or serve as a social network? Is there regular pedestrian activity?

Answer - These streets reflect the life of the inhabitants so most of the things of each other is known,sadness,joy, tragedy is shared among everyone. As well as there are pocket of spaces which act as meeting point (adda in India).

2. What makes the street stand out? What makes it extraordinary or memorable?

What elements, features, and details set the street apart from other streets?

Answer - Its unique features that will make you lost in magical world of itself. The narrow paved antique street will lead you into a different time loop. Light, cool atmosphere, vibrancy, colorful homes and finally the Ghats makes the experience memorable.

3. How is the community involved in adding vitality to the street (festivals, parades, open-air markets, etc.)?

Answer –Compared to other societies relation among people are too integral because of nearness of homes, people are bound to meet each other automatically the get indulge into everyone’s life. Everything is shared sorrow, happiness, death, birth and most important hope. Hindu festival are more commonly celebrated.

4. How does the street reflect the local culture or history?

Answer – Definitely by all its unique features, architecture and society. It get its unique identity that reflect the local culture and history.

5. Does the street provide interesting visual experiences, vistas, natural features, or other qualities? How does the architecture of the buildings add to the street's visual experience and public realm?

Answer –With homes so close to each other and each with different colors createvibrancy andan architecture unique in itself. Which can be experienced both visually and metaphysically.

6. Is there consistency of scale between buildings (i.e. are buildings proportional to one another), and are the buildings designed and scaled for pedestrians?

No, as I said the development was organically not planned the ratio of the building was not according to the streets.

1.6 Old Delhi - 28.6667° N, 77.2167° E The city of Delhi can be quite misleading. The name Delhi is often used to include urban areas near the National Capital Territory, as well as to refer to the better known New Delhi, capital of India. New Delhi, was created by the British and is the center for government and more modern mercantile activities. It is an interesting fact to note that within Delhi you will find two places with utter contrast – New Delhi and Old Delhi.

New Delhi represents a cosmopolitan nature but old Delhi – No words for it. I can say that it is small city in Delhi itself or the chaotic side of Delhi which ever you choose. Old Delhi is much older, and today has a large Muslim sector. It is interesting to know that India has the world’s second largest Muslim population.

Old Delhi is shaped almost like a quarter circle, with the Red Fort as the focal point. Old Delhi is a rich and colourful city with a medieval ambience. Venturing along the streets and winding lanes, we can see crowds of beggars, wallahs and street vendors swelling the city which already seem to burst at the seams. Rickshaws, worn-out taxis, wooden carts, endless bicycles, trolleys, over-loaded buses, cars and cows filled the streets.

Old Delhi consist of the largest spice market in all of Asia (Khari Baoli bazaare), the famous Lal Quila (Red Fort), and India’s largest mosque (Jama Masjid Mosque). The street type in Old Delhi We can relate it to the High Streets or fore streets found in Old England but in a different fragrance.

High streets High Street (or the High Street) is a metonym for the generic name (and frequently the official name) of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and shopkeepers in city centers, and is most often used in reference to retailing. However, in recent times the phrase "High Street banks" has been widely used to refer to the retail banking sector in the United Kingdom.

Let concentrate on the above questions to discriminate it identity.

1. How does the street accommodate or encourage social interaction, or serve as a social network? Is there regular pedestrian activity?

Answer – Similarly like Banaras we found that life was quite open to the streets reflecting stories and colors of life. Hence having a good social network. The road is basically dominated by pedestrians.

2. What makes the street stand out? What makes it extraordinary or memorable? What elements, features, and details set the street apart from other streets?

Answer –Crowd, shops, circulation, voices, traffic, colors, and activities creates a whole world of itself.

3. How is the community involved in adding vitality to the street (festivals, parades, open-air markets, etc.)?

Answer – Everything combines to make a society at old Delhi mutual understanding, communal harmony, business, and religion. These are the main ingredients of the society existing over here. Similarly their festival specifically Eid is celebrated in huge enthusiasm.

4. How does the street reflect the local culture or history?

Answer – Basically a Muslim oriented place that derive a unique kind of culture at the place and represents the history.

5. Does the street provide interesting visual experiences, vistas, natural features, or other qualities? How does the architecture of the buildings add to the street's visual experience and public realm?

Answer – The places nearJama Masjid Mosque and Red fort have architectural influence but the other areas have very chaotic and unmanaged habitats.

6. Is there consistency of scale between buildings (i.e. are buildings proportional to one another), and are the buildings designed and scaled for pedestrians?

Answer –Yes but due to unmaintained condition things are deteriorating and traffic is unmanaged.

1.7Andaman Nicobar - 12.5000° N, 92.7500° E The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, and are a Union Territory of India.The territory's capital is the Andamanese town of Port Blair. Andaman and Nicobar have been undertaken by many controllers such as 1. Rajendra Chola I (1014 to 1042 CE) 2. 1756, the Nicobar Islands were made a Danish colony 3. In 1789 the British set up a naval base and penal colony on Chatham Island next to Great Andaman, where now lies the town of Port Blair.

4. During World War II, the islands were practically under Japanese control.

5. Now by Indian government.

We found clear evidence of its interesting history reflecting from the city of Port Blair.

Ruins of war, dark history of cellular jail, World War 2 were found at the islands of Andaman such as Russell’s island etc.

The evidence of colonial settlement reflects from the architecture of Andaman.

Opposite from the previous cities Port Blair was well planned and managed. As a characteristic of the colonial architecture.

The street resembles Esplanade An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk.

Shared space Shared space is an urban design approach which seeks to minimise demarcations between vehicle traffic and pedestrians, often by removing features such as curbs, road surface markings, traffic signs, and regulations Main Street Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name (and often the official name) of the primary retail street of a village, town or small city in many parts of the world. It is

usually a focal point for shops and retailers in the central business district, and is most often used in reference to retailing and socializing.

Fore Street "Fore Street": a name often used for the main street of a town or village.

Let see how does Andaman answers our question.

1. How does the street accommodate or encourage social interaction, or serve as a social network? Is there regular pedestrian activity?

Answer –Not that much if we relate it from Banaras or old Delhi, night be due to excessive gap between residences. Different occupation, culture etc. There is social interaction only limited to groups.

2. What makes the street stand out? What makes it extraordinary or memorable? What elements, features, and details set the street apart from other streets?

Answer – Its mixed heritage, mixed culture, architecture, colonial flavor, costal fragrance, colorful and interesting mixed culture.

3. How is the community involved in adding vitality to the street (festivals, parades, open-air markets, etc.)?

Answer – Regional festival are celebrated. Most of the time mixed cultural celebrations.

4. How does the street reflect the local culture or history?

Answer – As mentioned above streets reflects its varied history, through architecture, culture, etc.

5. Does the street provide interesting visual experiences, vistas, natural features, or other qualities? How does the architecture of the buildings add to the street's visual experience and public realm?

Answer – Andaman have been used as a naval base. As well as famous for its cellular jail which is related to India’s great freedom fighters. History, culture and coasts give the streets a unique identity.

6. Is there consistency of scale between buildings (i.e. are buildings proportional to one another), and are the buildings designed and scaled for pedestrians?

Answer – Yes a particular scale and proportion is carried at different places of the city which can be clearly identified.

1.8 Kolkata - 22.5697° N, 88.3697° E Kolkata or Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it is the principal commercial, cultural, and educational center of East India, while the Port of Kolkata is India's oldest operating port as well as its sole major riverside port. Its the third-most populous metropolitan area in India.

Kolkata is like living legends in cities by just entering in city we can feel a different flavor, especially if we are from a different cities we can feel it strongly. Kolkata have its own unique history, consist of literature, club culture, movies, culture, unique tradition etc.

Kolkata consist of many famous streets such as1.

2.

3.

4.

Park Street College Street Sudder Street Millennium park

Park street – This street is completely different form other areas (at least part of it) with big beautiful buildings in good shape, nice shops, good walking pavements. Further South it becomes more 'Indian' but close to the metro it looks almost 'western'.

This is indeed the specialty of Kolkata with many famous shops and restaurants.

College Street – College Street (name derived from the presence of many colleges) is a ~1.5 km long street in central Kolkata. It houses many centers of intellectual activity specially Indian Coffee House, a cafe that has attracted the city's intelligentsia for decades.The College Street is most famous for its small and big bookstores, which gives it the nickname Boi Para (Colony of Books). People from whole city and different parts of the state gathers here for their book.One can buy rare books at throw-away prices and extensive bargaining take place.

Sudder Street–

Sudder Street is a street in Kolkata famous for cheap hotels and foreign tourists often prefer the living places in this street during their stay in Kolkata.

Millennium park – Millennium Park is a public park in Kolkata, situated along the Strand Road on eastern shore of Hooghly River for a stretch of 2.5 km near Babughat and opposite to Koilaghat.

The park consists of landscaped gardens and children's amusement rides. Also act as a lovers lane at Kolkata.

Street types we can found at Kolkata.

Avenue In landscaping, an avenue or allĂŠe is traditionally a straight route with a line of trees or large shrubs running along each.

Living street A living street is a street designed primarily with the interests of pedestrians and cyclists in mind and as a social space where people can meet and where children may also be able to play legally and safely.

Lovers' lane Lovers' lane (or "The Point") is a generic term for secluded areas where lovers can spend some quality time. These areas range from parking lots in secluded rural areas to places with extraordinary views of a cityscape or other feature.

Main Street Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town or small city in many parts of the world. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in the central business district, and is most often used in reference to retailing and socializing.

Let lookout for our questions to get answers.

1. How does the street accommodate or encourage social interaction, or serve as a social network? Is there regular pedestrian activity?

Answer – We found existence of club culture at Kolkata extensively. There are good clubs, restaurants at every streets thus making the night life of Kolkata very colorful.

We have found pedestrian walkways everywhere.

2.What makes the street stand out? What makes it extraordinary or memorable? What elements, features, and details set the street apart from other streets?

Answer – The streets are painted with the history, culture, architecture, literature and fun. That’s why we call it as the ‘The city of joy’.

3.How is the community involved in adding vitality to the street (festivals, parades, open-air markets, etc.)?

Answer – As the whole state have its own unique culture and tradition it celebrates its own unique festival with full enthusiasm.

4.How does the street reflect the local culture or history?

Answer – Due it’s deep and rich history it reflects its vibrant culture and history. Due to architecture, culture and tradition streets of Kolkata get its unique identity.

5.Does the street provide interesting visual experiences, vistas, natural features, or other qualities? How does the architecture of the buildings add to the street's visual experience and public realm?

Answer – The Street offer surprises at every corner of it. We can even find different architecture at different places of the city. But a common theme is carried over.

6. Is there consistency of scale between buildings (i.e. are buildings proportional to one another), and are the buildings designed and scaled for pedestrians?

No, as Kolkata is a very large city we can find difference at every corner, but yes every streets carry its own perspective and scale.

1.9 Conclusion By understanding the importance of convivial life in the street as seen in all the above cities one can understand the concept that public street life must be maintained as a positive attribute informing the integration of the street edge so that it becomes a

boundary unmarked by set parameters. These streets are a part of our life when we celebrates it celebrates, it share our feeling such as joy, pain, sorrow, and all. Streets play an important role to connect people and nurture bonds of communal harmony.

These lively streets should always be a part of an architect’s design. But yes the true identity a street can get by its people and time. With its identity and influence become stronger and stronger.

1.10 Bibliography The above given data are referred from 1. Internet ( Wikipedia,) 2. Experiences shared from (Loy Chuan photography & self site visits) 3. Philosophies from (Steven Holl: A Translation of phenomenological philosophy into the realm of Architecture, Study of interface zone on a street) 4. Photos (self clicked & Google images)