Elements of urban design Portfolio | Sem 2 | Cept university | Master's in urban design by Harsha Garg

HARSHA GARG P O R T F O L I O

Elements of Urban Design Studio

Pe o p l e c e n t r i c e v e r y d a y u r b a n s p a c e s

CEPT University |Master ’s in Urban Design| Sem 02 | PUD21128

Studio Brief Studio: UD4003-1 Elements of Urban Design Studio Tutor: Vipuja Parmar Instructor: Brijesh Bhatha, Vipuja Parmar, Tapan Shah, Sophia Islaam The studio is structured as an introduction to urban design representation and design of public places. The studio is based on the premise that urban design is best understood and expressed through study and representation of the built urban environment. The studio is structured in multiple modules running through the semester, each culminating with a review and exhibition of the outcome. All the studio modules will significantly focus on effectively capturing and communicating the spatial qualities of the urban built environment. The first module focuses on perceiving and representing the key elements of urban design (building types, streets, open spaces and urban blocks) that come together to make any functional urban space. The second module focuses on the analysis and design of streets including the detail design of elements. This studio will enable students to explore the scale, form, character of key urban design elements and their relationship with the larger urban context.

Acknowledgment I would like to thank my faculty members, Brijesh Bhata and Vipuja parmar who encouraged me to do better work week by week. A special thanks to Rafa Musadhik and Navneeth Raj who had constantly motivated me. Thanks to all my friends and fellow students for all help me through their valuable discussions.

Contents

Studio Brief Acknowledgment

1 2 3 4

What is your City talking about? Elements of Urban Design 2.1 Streets & Building Typology 2.2 Urban Blocks 2.3 Open spaces

Analysis & Street Design

3.1 Sindhu Bhawan Road, Ahmedabad

Key learnings Conclusion Bibliography

What is your City talking about?

This exercise was designed to make students aware about the current urban issues that their cities are focused on- either excited or concerned about. The students were required to identify such urban topics that are debated by citizens or are in media indicating evidence of interest from the city and citizens.

Dravyavati Riverfront| Jaipur Rejuvenation Project Project Brief Total stretch: 47.5 km long Inaugurated : 2018 (Phase1 - 16km ) Stakeholders: Jaipur municipal corporation, Jaipur development authority (JDA), Private developer (Tata infra and others) and Local Residents. Project value: 1672 crore Funding: NCRPB (National capital region planning board), JDA. The project is to rejuvenate the perennial river called Dravyawati located in Jaipur. Dravyavati river originate from the nahargarh hills, flowing along the west of the city, it merges into river Dhund. Recently, the degrading of river has gained attention due to its adverse environmental impact on the immediate context and loss of cities aesthetics.

Need for Intervention »

Aim

Dumping of sewage, industrial waste water and solid waste, river is reduced to a nallah (Amani shah Nallah) Vacant lands around the river is encroached leading to informal development. Recently, the degrading river has gained attention due to its adverse environmental impact on the immediate context and lost of cities aesthetics

» »

Public health benefits

Economy Generation

Restore river and flood control

In 30 months from stinking nallah to clean river

Project Became talk of City News

News

Impact on the city Pros

Cons A X

Boost economic activities

Employment generation

Improve public health

Improve Micro climate

The project has boosted the economic activities and generate employment. It is good attempt to improve the micro climate and public health. The jaipurites residing along the river are happy to enjoy the beautiful view, parks, cycle and jogging track and soon get used to the healthy lifestyle it offers. But soon the media was filed with negative

X B

Accessibility? Accessibility?

Safety?

Sustainability?

Functionality

news. Due to lack of maintenance, delay in opening of already completed parts and illegal dumping, the landscape and built form is getting deteriorated and hence turning the river back to nallah. This is due to change in government after inauguration. As the current government is completely neglecting the project

All this raises the question if the project is really about city’s health or mere a politically driven agenda for economy generation? 10

Major attractions of project

i ve r

Bird’s Park

v yav

ati R

Nahargarh hills

Dra

Riverfront

Old City

Jaipur City

3 Mega Parks Landscape Park

Dr av ya ti R i ve

Dra

at yav

i Ri

ve r

Dhund River

Experience and learning center

Schematic plan of Jaipur City showing Dravyavati Riverfront project development Botanical Park

5 Sewage treatment plants

Elements of Urban Design 2.1 Streets & Building Typology Indian- Johri Bazaar | Jaipur, International- Avenue 20de Novembre| Mexico

In this exercise, the main objective is to capture attributes of streets regarding its function & its role in influencing the building in it and how streets performs various social & cultural role in urban context. This exercise also try to explore the role of street as a public space along with street as a mobility. The streets are chosen one from indian city and another from outside of India. Along with this, two building are identified which contributes to the character of the street. Various attributes are captured via illustration to show its physical relationship and response to the context.

Johri Bazaar | Jaipur Indian streets & buildings

Johri Bazaar during festive season transform itself to host curated activities.

Total stretch: 350 m | Streets are important elements of urban design. Apart from carrying traffic, they are widely used for multiple activities like congregation, holding informal activities, shopping and loitering and also for creating memories & experiences. Johri Bazaar is one such well celebrated shopping street. It is the main axis to connect two landmarks i.e. Sanganeri Gate and Badi Choppar. Apart from its unique architectural character, the street is a apt example for shared street.

Johri Bazaar Street View

Distribution of R.O.W. |

Pedestrian walkway|

Informal vending | Unique Facade |

Anchor Points |

Street Analysis Key Learnings »

Recessed upper floors| Perception of openness

Horizontal bands or projection and uniformly spaced signage | Perception of avenue

Arcade Walkway | Climate responsive Street providing shade from harsh sun ensuring spilling activities on the street.

Ground floor Use

The ground floor is dominated by retail stores which attracts a lot of footfall. The protruding religious entries breaks the monotony and anchor multiple activities.

Building Interface

Edge Type

Due to the presence of arcade and multiple access to internal streets, Johri bazaar is fully porous which makes it highly active and interactive.

Building Typology Residential apartment mix use

Plan

Building Name : Ground Coverage : Total Built-up area :

Commercial Building

Plan

Vardhman residency, Jaipur 110 sq mt 470 sq mt

Building Name : Salasar Plaza, Jaipur Ground Coverage : 540 sq mt Total Built-up area : 734 sq mt

Articulation of built form by dividing the space into two levels in JWohri bazaar provides additional activity space and can impart sense of comfort and safety by ensuring more eyes on street. The scale, colour and facade language makes it unique and different from the other streets giving it an identity of the street. 19

Avenue 20de Novembre | Mexico International streets & buildings

20de Novembre Street during festive season holds dynamic activities in organized manner.

Total stretch: 300 m | The street is a major connecting link between two landmark i.e. Metropolitan cathedral to Plaza tlaxoque. Apart from carrying traffic, the street hosts annual parade and other activities like congregation, holding informal activities, shopping and loitering creating memories & experiences. The street has a typical architectural character and is an apt example for shared street.

20de Novembre Street View

Distribution of R.O.W. |

Articulation of Edge |

Trees Boulevard | Heritage Facade | Anchor Points |

Planter for buffer 22

Street Analysis Key learnings »

Boulevard of trees | Perception of enclosure & intimate scale. Hence, there is more active social activities on Mexico street.

Horizontality with same lintel ht and uniformly spaced signages | Perception of avenue and continuous edge.

Built mass | Climate responsive street providing shade from harsh sun ensuring spilling activities on the street.

Ground floor Use

Ground floor has variety of retail and cafes that keep the edge active. As it is the main axis to connect two city level landmarks, the street is always busy with tourist.

Building Interface

Edge Type

The edge is partially porous which enriches the unhindered pedestrian activities. The street connects with pedestrian streets at regular interval.

Building Typology Office Building

Hotel Building

Plan

Building Name : Ground Coverage : Total Built-up area :

Plan

Promoda centro, Mexico city 730 sq mt 8030 sq mt

Building Name : Grand hotel, Mexico city Ground Coverage : 2440 sq mt Total Built-up area : 9760 sq mt

Equitable distribution of R.O.W. Ensures horizontal spread creating more interactive space which is accessible for all The scale, colour and facade language makes it unique and different from the other streets giving it an identity of the street. 25

Elements of Urban Design 2.2 Urban Block & Open Spaces International - Kempong Bencoolen | Singapore International - Jardin de Rambla | Barcelona

This exercise is designed to develop strategic understanding of various attributes regarding Urban blocks and its components- Building types, Streets and Spaces between buildings. The exercise require students to identify and represent the prevailing urban blocks and open spaces in our cities and develop their skills to draw these blocks and its three dimensional form that abstract the character of the blocks and open space.

Kempong Bencoolen | Singapore Urban Block

Pedestrianized street acting as an open space providing respite in hustle neighborhood.

Block Size: 350 x 450m | Urban block are the modules of the city’s neighborhood. Kempong Bencoolen lies in the north of Downtown core Singapore. It is surrounded by high speed highway on all sides naming Rochar canal road & Bras basah road in north-south direction while Princep street & Victoria road in East- west direction. Block is divided into two half by middle road. The selected block is northern half part of kempong block. The block is versatile in building use and have a pedestrianized street running through the middle connecting all important buildings and public spaces.

Urban Block Analysis Key Learnings

Built- open

Hierarchy of street

Private open Space 4%

High speed streets act as edge. Secondary streets divides the traffic. The central street is pedestrianized connecting major commercials.

Vertical distribution of open space Public open space on ground. Podium terrace for private open space. Compound wall is eliminated to creates a wider pedestrian footpath.

Public open space 40%

Building use

Transit stops and sky bridges Well connected via transit and road with rest of the city. Sky bridges are provides connectivity within the block facilitating pedestrian movement.

Built space 56%

Institution 9%

Residential 10% MixedUse 6%

Commercial

5%7

M e t r ol i n

Street network

Podium typology Upto podium level the building has commercial use with retails at ground floor. This activates the streets and brings the space to human scale. Primary Street

Boulevard of trees & street furniture Boulevard provides shading and sense of enclosure. Furniture facilitates comfort.

Secondary Street Tertiary Street

Block Perimeter Range- 300 m- 450 m Link- node Ratio-1.46 10

Inferences

40 20

Predominantly commercial building use with podium typology adds to the identity and character of the block. The high-speed traffic lanes define the edge of the block. The pedestrian street in the center is well connected through transit stops that hold the major footfall. This street acts as an open space providing respite and slowing down the pace of movement in the busy commercial area.

B uil d n g I t e r f a c e | i s m a d e p e r m a b l e b y e lim n a t g t h e c o m p un d w al an d r e c s in g t h e b u i l f o r m t p ov i d e m r p u b l i c opens ac.

T h e b uil t e d g

Jardin de Rambla | Barcelona Open space

View of elevated garden from pedestrian street with cafe and retail.

Elevated Rambla: 800 x 30m | Public open space is a centre of social interaction in urban context. Jardin de Rambla is an elevated garden which runs over a corridor of railway lines cutting through the sants neighborhood in Barcelona. Rambla der badal is a completely pedestrianized street which runs perpendicular to jardin de ramla. There is a six lane underground highway that runs beneath the street. The chosen open space is the intersection of these two ramblas.

Open space Analysis Key Learnings A

X B

Accessibility & Equity

To ensure ease of access lift, escalator & stairs are provided. This also aid in way finding & place making. Presence of elevators and ramps aids in inclusivity & makes it equitable for all.

COUNT

Peak hr activity graph

MON TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN MON

Understanding the activity throughout the Week Xaxis-DAYS

Time is Constant

Yaxis-COUNT

Hierarchy of space

Building use

Due to retail edge on the ground floor the lower promenade caters to Necessary activities. The upper promenade has garden and also enclosed by built mass caters to Optional activity.

Commercial 7%

Street elements The landscape element aids like street lights, kiosk, water feature & pergola helps in orienting users and creating pause points.

Residential 93%

Edge type

Art & vegetation

Partially porous 5%

Density and the strategic position of the masses of trees give the feel of confinement and privacy. It also acts as acoustical and visual barrier. Vertical garden and art wall creates curiosity and attracts people.

Opaque 95% Total Building Edge= 650m Total no. of Entrances= 5 No. of Entrances/100m= 5 10 0

Inference

40 20

Jardin de Rambla is a linear pedestrian-friendly open space located above the active railway lines. The building edge acts as an envelope & facilitate multiple activities. The space amid the dense mass is activated by providing multiple universal access routes.

Street Design & Analysis Sindhu Bhawan Road, Ahmedabad

. Hig

hw a

Total stretch: 3.3 km Identified stretch: 480 m from Pakwaan junction Right of way: 36m It is a newly developed street located on the western fringe of Ahmedabad. It is major connecting link between S.G. Highway and S.P. Ring road. This is developed under T.P.Scheme 20 (Bodakdev) with 36m R.O.W, large plot size and 9m setback.

S.G

S.P. Ring

road

Site Context

Road network

igh

way

Thaltej Ro

road

S.G

Sindhu Bhawan

S.P. R ing

Pakwaan Junction

Rajpath Rangoli Roa

The building typology is dominated by high end retail commercial & office building. The presence of lake park, entertainment hub and restaurants also attracts a lot of City’s Youth, children and senior citizen especially from nearby residential areas. It also has its own night life catering to newer trends of food truck which attracts lot of bachelors.

Users

Working Professional

Local community

Youth

Activities

Shopping

Cycling

Interaction/ waiting

People watching/ Leisure time

Street vending

“This gives the street its own character, gradually converting it into status symbol & identity to newer development. Hence, making it destination place for ahemdabadies to just be their in leisure time.”

Routine Walk/ Fitness

road

Pakwaan Junction

S.P. R ing

Entertainment hub & hotels

S.G

Sindhu Bhawan

igh

way

Building Use

Lake Parks and play area

Retail & Commercial

Why is there a need to design ?

Fully permeable building edge | this makes private plot 9m setback a part of the public realm. But edge is occupied by parking acting as visual & physical barrier.

Issues

Pedestrian walkway | Encroached & discontinuous creating hurdles

Building frontage | Parking affects the quality of space.

Transit stop | lack of space and shading

As currently, the street fails to cater to these activities efficiently and lacks in providing safety & comfort for the users. 40

Design Strategies

Optimization of R.O.W.

Enhancing the vehicular & pedestrian mobility

Place-Making interventions

The strategies focuses on equal priority of vehicle and pedestrian. The design interventions are done considering the current issue faced by users and passerbys. As the street is an identity for newer development, the aspirations aspect is also been taken care of.

1. Optimization of R.O.W. Equal Priority | The Right of way is distributed equally between pedestrians and vehicles. As the road is a major connecting link between S.P. Ring road and S.G. Highway it acts as a arterial road. Hence, pedestrian realm is increased while vehicular lanes are optimized giving equal priority to both.

Median

Existing section

Walkway

Furniture/ Utilities

Cycle track

Parking / M.F.Z.

Pedestrian Zone- 9m

Vehicular zone- 18m

Pedestrian zone- 9m

Proposed section 41

Design Strategies| 480 m Plan 2. Enhancing the vehicular & pedestrian mobility

Mid Block

For Pedestrians | Unsafe crossing

For Pedestrians | Table top mid block pedestrian crossing provided at regular interval to avoid accidents.

For Vehicles | Accidental prone with no traffic light

30 m

Existing Plan

No crossing

Proposed Plan

For Vehicles | Intermediate crossings lying between 750 m apart signaled junctions are eliminated

For Pedestrians | Vehicular access to the property is limited to provide an unhindered pedestrian walkway 43

Design Strategies 3. Place making Strategies 3.1 Pakwaan junction design | Pakwaan junction is organized by reclaiming and designing the space to be able to act like a street identity & landmark for the city. Various food plaza & selfie point are also proposed to attract people and activate the plaza.

Public plaza Pakwaan Junction

3.2 Temporal transformation | Activating the street round the clock| Street parking space is proposed to be accommodated by food trucks temporarily during the nighttime. Creating a street food plaza and activating the street round the clock.

Walkway and seating area used by pedestrian

Day scene | Parking

Walkway and seating area transformed into food plaza

Night scene | Street food plaza

Design Strategies | Place making Strategies 3.3 Anchor points |

Integration of non- motorized transport Cycle Track |

AMTS bus stop |

Material Palette Surface material palette | Sustainable street scape plays an important role in forming the visual image of sustainable cities. Hence, the materials used are economical and sustainable with low maintenance and high durability. This also adds in environmental efficiency and economic operations of street scape.

Walkway

200x200x80mm Concrete paver (Two shade) LVL+0.15m

Cycle track

Pigmented Finished P.C.C. LVL+0.15m

Buffer/M.F.Z.

P.C.C. Rough (tile marking) LVL+0.15m

Road

Asphalt LVL 0.0m

4 Proposed Tree A zardirachta indica

Mid block crossing

200x200x80mm Concrete paver (Two shade) LVL+0.15m

Median

Planter LVL+0.20m Proposed shrub Tecoma

Seating plaza Concrete green paver block LVL+0.15m

Parking

Proposed plant Plumeria alba

Cobble stone (Two shade) LVL 0.0m

Play area High density EPDM LVL 0.0m

Street elements | Landscape | Street elements creates an identity and develops a sense of place around it. It also contributes to major proportion of street finance, hence recycled and durable materials are proposed which are easy to maintain and economical. 48

Dustbin/ transformer

Bollard Concrete -300mm dia 500mm ht

Vendor

Street light Post (Up light)

Bench Precast Concrete

10 m

Design Analysis | 200 m Stretch Existing plan | Area distribution 9% 8%

67%

16%

Road

Parking

Shoulder

619 SQ M Pedestrian Walkway

Trees

Pedestrian walkway

1794 SQ M Public Realm & Utilities

25 m

Despite the 36m right of way, space is inefficiently utilized. Most of the walkway and shoulder space is encroached by parking which hinders the pedestrian movement and experience of the space. Proposed part plan | Detail Auto stand

Bus stop

Table top crossing

4 Wheeler Parking

Access to property

2 Wheeler Pa

arking

Proposed plan | Area distribution 7%

17%

20% 4% 52%

Road

M.F.Z.

Cycle Track

1220 SQ M Pedestrian Walkway

Trees

Pedestrian walkway

2274 SQ M Public Realm & Utilities

Parking

25 m

The underutilized space is reclaimed and used as pedestrian walkway and multi-functional zone to enhance social interaction. Mid crossing

Vendor

Seating area

Kid’s play area

Cycle track

Furniture/ Utilities

Existing Section | Perspective View

Office

Setback

Parking

Shoulder

Carriageway

Office

Retail store

10.75m

0.5m

36 m

Existing street section demonstrating how the street is divided into multiple layers consisting of carriageway, sh

Carriageway

Shoulder

Parking

Setback

Restaurant

12.75m

2.2m

houlder, parking leaving no space for pedestrians.

Proposed Section | Perspective View

Seating area | Provided under the shade with planters on road side. This acting a buffer provides a segregated social place by working professional and pedestrians.

Office

Utilities

Office

Setback

Cycle Track

Carriageway

Walkway

Parking/ M.F.Z.

Office

Retail store

2.75m

36m 54

Proposed street section demonstrating how the street is divided into multiple layers consisting of pedestrian w

.5m

Buffer

Kid’s play area |

Carriageway

Parking

Cycle Track

Walkway

Setback

Restaurant

.75

2.2m

walkway, utilities/furniture,cycle track, multi functional zone and carriageway.

Visualization | Sindhu Bhawan Road

Acce Parking/ M.F.Z.

Bus stop

Auto stand

“The broader vision is to create a comfortable and safe place for all, responding to the emerging demand of users round the clock” 56

ss to property

Key Learnings

Overview | Urban space is an amalgamation of various urban design elements- Buildings, Streets, Open spaces & Urban blocks. These elements are interdependent on each other and hence help in functioning of public realm. The study helped in understanding the relationship between these elements by analyzing the context, condition of built edges, scale and proportions of various elements. How human eye perceives a space plays an important role. User experience should be kept in mind while designing any urban space. Streets & Building Typology| - Streets and its relationship with context and public realm. - Multi functionality and adaptability of space to make it more active. - Various elements which combining forms a functional public space. Urban Blocks| - Efficient planning of network and road hierarchy and its integration with multi-modal transport - The interweaving nature of public- private boundaries making a human centric public realm Street Design | - Integration of cycle track, wider footpath, seating areas & Public plazas makes the space people oriented and active. - Intervention should be taken to encourage walking by sensitively planning movement patterns and also by creating various anchor points that will attract the users. - Organizing and providing streets elements like table top crossing, parklet and play area etc enhances the overall character of the street. - Apart from solving the issues, providing an aspirational elements consider the demand of users makes people excited and eager to use the space.

E leme nt s of Urb a n Desig n Stu d io 60

Master ’s in Urban Design| Harsha Garg | PUD21128