Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai : Claiming Urban landscape
Neha Shah Guided by Prof. Deepa Maheshwari Co-guided by Ar. Divya Shah
Masters of Landscape Design Faculty of Architecture
May, 2017
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
Synopsis:
Abstract Mumbai is quite exceptional in terms of its location, for the unique landscape that defines it. The city is composed of varied ecosystems, from the coastal area to forested hills and water systems to wetlands. The growth of city clearly imparts, the ever-increasing demand for development. The ecosystems have been threatened by the process of urbanization as the built area has encroached upon the water systems, wetlands and fringes of the forested area. In a city like Mumbai, the natural areas are environmental assets that form vital ecosystems. And they need to be dealt with strategies that are sensitive towards their conservation and up-gradation. The idea is to have an understanding of an area and it's natural layers. Thus understanding the importance of such natural areas in a city. While planning the ecologically important areas more strategies and considerations which are sensitive towards the area need to be undertaken.
Neha shah PA201615
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
Introduction Cities could be term as ecosystems - that includes the built, landscape and all the inhabitants, kind of an urban ecosystem. These are dynamic and complex systems which are constantly changing. It's this time or say this age, wherein the issues like climate change and rapid urbanization are the major concerns. With ever increasing population, cities need to expand. In that expansion scenario, the natural areas are the first that get affected due to urbanization. They start shrinking and get deformed, lost and degraded due to urbanization. Identifying and understanding such shrinking green areas can be viable to explore alternative solutions for development in an urban scenario thus understanding the ecological, social, and natural parameters of the green area. Developments in the city are essential for the better functioning of the city. But if the developments in and around natural area don't address the sensitive concerns, it severely hampers the area. Any such areas once lost cannot be regenerated. The study will take into consideration an natural area. The scope of the study lies in understanding a present urban fabric- integrating and preserving the landscape quality as well as the identity of the natural area. KEYWORDS: ecosystem, green areas, developments.
Neha shah PA201615
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
NEED FOR STUDY: Cities are mostly perceived as built environment without nature. But actually they imbibe all of it, the built and the natural environment. And the common yearning of the city dwellers is an escapade towards wilderness. Mumbai has a quite exceptional landscape, from costal area - forest hills, creeks, water systems and ponds etc. Amongst these natural areas lies the largest green patch, the Sanjay Gandhi National park (SGNP) in the heart of the city. Due to developments there has been pressure on the fringe areas of park. Along the fringe areas there are different conditions, of which Aarey milk colony area has been facing developmental pressure. It may be just 25% of the fringe area the SGNP, but plays important role in protecting the urban forest. This green land parcel is fragmented from the SGNP, has a unique Agrarian woodland character and also has tribal inhabitants. A setting which is quite rare to find within the city limits, and new developments have been main reason behind shrinking of the area. AIM: The study aims at assessing the area, thus deriving strategies and considerations that can provide integrated solutions for future development. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to preserve the natural areas as they are undervalued but are of vital importance to our ecosystem. If there has to be any development in such areas then there could be alternatives, if not that then a better way of intervening in the study region that will keep the area less disturbed. SCOPE: The scope of work includes identify an natural area which has a importance to the city, which is facing developmental urban pressure. The identification will help us select a study area as a type of study and put possible developmental guidelines for reducing the impact on vital natural areas.
Neha shah PA201615
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
METHODOLOGY:
Introduction to study area
To understand an natural area and establish its importance to the city
Identify and understand
To study the area for natural layers : Hydrology, vegetation, land use, existing conditions etc.
Inferences Overlay the natural layers to find critically important areas that could lay foundation for considerations for the region. Analyze any future proposals and reservations for the area by the governing body.
Design proposals and guidelines
Formulate guidelines and proposals after studying the critical areas. Proposal for preservation and upgrading to be suggested.
Neha shah PA201615
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
Study region:
The study region is an extended forested area to the SGNP. The land had been given to Dairy development department in 1949. The landscape of the region was broken to create grasslands, marshland , to set up stables and dairy development unit. Due to this the study region has an unique agrarian - woodland character. The vegetation is similar to SGNP - mixed moist deciduous forest type. The region is surrounded by dense urban fabric on three sides and one side connected to the SGNP. The entire region has dispersed tribal village settlements. The urban fabric is bit sparse as compared to other fringe areas around SGNP. The region is shelter to many species of reptiles, birds and mammals that depend upon this area for survival. They gain surplus food from the region. Hence the region is diverse natural feature, which is one of the important natural areas in Mumbai.
Neha shah PA201615
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
Sanjay gandhi national park
Vihar lake
Powai lake
Study region
source: Google
Site Pictures:
Woodland
Neha shah PA201615
Stable
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
Farmlands
Fodder Farms Issues : The site is surrounded by dense urban development bounded by national park on one side. Over the years due to the land use (Dairy development Set-up) and extension to the national park, it is composed of various ecosystems which contribute to larger urban ecology. Since 1981 the study region is categorized as "No development zone" wherein certain possibility for development was kept. Hence some developments happened in and around the study region. After analyzing existing conditions and the natural layers following could be observed : 1. Development pressure 2. Informal settlements degrading the landscape and exploiting the natural resources. 3. Loss of culture - Tribal villages converting into slums. And developments in the region causing dislocation of these tribal. 4. Human intervention has cause degradation of forested area. 5. The river Oshiwara is used as a sewage drain, wherein sewage from the stables in led into the river. Neha shah PA201615
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
Proposal: The region has a potential to be a open space for the citizens. The features or the attributes that contribute to this exceptional landscape setting are as follows: Landscape character- Woodland, grassland and fodder and agricultural farms. Ecological value -
Supports bio-diverse fauna (reptiles to mammals, birds to amphibians)
Dairy development- Grasslands , stables give this unique agrarian character. Tribal villages -
Village settlements defining an rural edge character.
Strategies : Woven landscapes Wherein attributes that gives the region its identity are stitched together to create one holistic approach towards the future development of the study region through following design strategies: 1. Preserving the assets: The patchwork of the landscape pattern and natural features would be retained: the fodder farms, woodland and agricultural fields, hillocks the natural water system will be intact. The cultural landscape responding to the village settlements and the stables units would be intact as well. Preservation and up gradation of the recreational spots created by the dairy development governing body. 2. Upgrading the site water drainage: Existing drainage system is kept intact. More bio-swales in addition to the pre- existing water system can help in water seepage and drain water can be treated naturally. Creating a network with water holding ponds for the agricultural fields and villages to create open systems for irrigation as well increase opportunities for water percolation.
Neha shah PA201615
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Landscape Assessment of Aarey, Mumbai- Claiming urban landscape.
3. Promoting community based program: To create sustainable developments, it can be viable to explore design strategies promoting involvement of local communities. Collaboration from local communities can prove to be helpful for maintaining such important natural areas. To engage the locals with other fellow visitors through activity-based interventions.
4.Composing the landscape with intervention: Formulating vistas with attributes accentuating the experience through structures, boardwalks, platforms circulation paving way for the visitors. It can create opportunities for visitors to interact with the landscape in a vivid manner.
Conclusion: According to the development pressure if the study region is not intervened with some considerations than development pressure could lead to its decline. The study aims to provide considerations and proposals that could help preserve, upgrade region and give a purpose that could curtail the pressures on the region. The study region could act as resonating place for locals to recreate and relax. The network of interventions could escalate the experiences one could have with nature. Community based program will indirectly give the ownership and maintaining responsibility to the local community and the visitors. In a way wherein social-cultural fabric is integrated to provide sustainable development.
Neha shah PA201615