Reconnecting to the River Case of River Hooghly, Kolkata
Synopsis
Rupamita Bose PA200615
Guided by Prof. Sandip Patil
Master of Landscape Architecture Faculty of Architecture
2015-17
Premise Connectivity is the major tool for human beings to travel to different regions of the world. Connectivity has helped us believe the diversity that the world holds .Looking at urbanization, it can be observed that the connectivity has improved since ages and this connectivity is not only physical but also emotional,psychological, religious etc which helps to connect people not only to each other but also connect themselves to a place both physically and psychologically. The premise hence taken into consideration is the connection of the people both emotionally and physically to the riverfront. The design will decide critical areas where the intervention can be minimized or left untouched. The idea is to have an understanding of the area and its various layers, also understanding the contributions it has to pay for Kolkata Riverfront. The planning of the area needs more strategies and has to be oncerned for nature and the existing activities taking place in the site .
Research questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
What is the importance of riverfront to a city ? Should natural areas and existing uses should be neglected while designing a riverfront? What are the impacts of such design where human emotions are neglected? What are the ways to approach such a problem, reducing the impacts ? How a river can contricute in creating the imageability of a city?
What is a Waterfront?
Urban waterfronts are the edges of seas, lakes or rivers where land meets water. Waterfront planning examines the different ways of experiencing and understanding their qualities for the community. Urban waterfronts are dynamic places, like the cities they help defining the social and economic environment for places. Breen & Rigby (1996) assign developed waterfronts into six distinct groups: commercial waterfronts; cultural, educational and environmental waterfronts; historic waterfronts; recreational waterfronts; residential waterfronts; and working waterfronts.
Fig. 1 : Dynamic Waterfront
Waterfront Developments:
Criteria for guidelines of riverfront development concept  River as a main attraction of development o According to the guideline, for any reason, river’s role is remaining as a main attraction for the development. o River itself must be developed earlier than any others development planning. o Removal and changing river line or row are not permitted.  Beautification of river reserves o According to the guideline, developers are required to provide recreation and beautification plan for river. o Maintaining river reserve as a buffer zone to control environmental problem such as soil erosion. o Utilization river reserve for green areas and recreational use are allowed to the developers.
 Level of river flow o According to the guideline, a development close to river areas would not increase level of river flow. Development are more than 10 ha are required to build retention pond with maximum area approximately between 3-5% of total development area.  Development of permanent infrastructure o According to the guideline, the development of permanent building and infrastructure are not allowed within river and river reserves, unless facilities for recreational purposes such as playground.
Need for study Water has always played an important role in the history of urbanization. The location of the centres has always been very strategic.From the past, it has been observed that all the great cities have their origin around a river. Vienna has the Danube, Moscow has Moskva, Alexandria and Cairo share Nile. Baghdad grew around Tigris, Istanbul around Bosphorus and Amsterdam around Amstel and India is no exception. Ancient Indian civilization flourished along the banks of the River Indus. Looking back at some of the ancient and the sacred sites we find out most of them are located around a water source. The reasons of the flourishing the settlements around the rivers are not only because it helps in maintaining the ecological balance but also in providing drinking water, irrigation, transportation, electricity and other miscellaneous purposes. While rivers continue to be the heart and soul and pride of the major cities around the world, in India they are highly neglected. The rivers which were once the reason of protection and survival is getting converted to neglected spaces- spaces where human wastes, industrial wastes get dumped. The rivers are choking to death-the water is getting polluted, the ecological balance is getting lost and most importantly, these spaces are not used by the people which in turn becoming spaces for vandalism and other antisocial activities. On studying the existing scenarios of some major Indian cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata it can be concluded the importance of rivers is at stake. Meethi River in Mumbai, Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, Yamuna River in Delhi, Hughly in Kolkata are all dying a slow death and so there is an urgent requirement to convert these spaces into active public spaces so that both the importance of the river and the culture of the city does not get lost in the tide of time.
Intent The intent of selecting this project is also to work on the regional and micro level simultaneously. In regional level emphasis has been given to the existing zoning, land use, connections with the other part of the city. The main objective is to help in connecting the other part of the city with the waterfront to help redevelop the socio-economic conditions of the city. However, at the micro level, importance has to be given to the programmatic layout which will make the space lively to ensure safety at all times. The urban riverfront has a place for both planned and random spontaneous activities like marinas, restaurants, food vendors, etc. Finally, the main intention is not only to attract residents of the city but also people from neighboring areas towards the water which will meet the community’s longheld vision for re-uniting with the river.
Aim and Objective The project aims to provide Kolkata with a meaningful waterfront environment along the banks of the Hooghly River and to redefine an identity of Kolkata around the river. The project looks to reconnect the city with the river not only physically but also emotionally through creating identity, culture, and image of Bengal and positively transform the neglected aspects of the riverfront. The objectives of this project can be categorized under these topicsImageability: A river can mark a path, an edge, a district, a node, and a landmark. In fact, it is very difficult to imagine an urban waterfront that eludes being tied to any of these elements. To use Lynch’s vocabulary, a waterfront is a highly imageable form. Social Infrastructure: to identify the various social activities happening on the riverfront and how they contribute to the imageability of the city and thus enhancing the riverfront without disturbing the existing usage of the space.
Methodology -The site needs to be studied at various scale: a) Macro- understanding the overall conception of the riverfront b) Meso-Understanding various hierarchy of people participating in the riverfront and identify the user group for creating the imageability c) Micro- selection of a section of the stretch to understand place and image making -understanding the heritage value of the site and its present day relevance within the contemporary city - Study of the characteristics like visibility, distinctiveness, and attractiveness in the landscape of the riverfront. - To understand the evolution of the riverfront as a public space, its actual intent during the British era and how it serves in the present context - To study the planning strategy that was guided by the natural landscape and the context surrounding the area.
Scope Documentation of the 4.5 river along KMC. Boundary based on SWOT analysis of the entire river length along KMC boundary. •Document the diversive character of Hooghly River and the role of the bridges •What is the range of institutions, activities and places that can be found there? •Sketch out potential future developments of the river embankments, keeping in mind the climate change and a transformation of the public view of the river as a site of urban activities and social interchange. •To establish the visual connection between the river and the city and to create an imageability •To stitch the existing urban fabric with the river by using the existing deadwalls and unused structure like warehouses by the side of the river.
Limitations •Though the entire stretch of the river along the KMC boundary will be documented but the final proposal will be developed for a 1.5km stretch •Though ecology is one of the most important aspects but due to the given time frame it will not be looked upon in details in the design proposal. •The design proposal will be mainly based on the types of existing users on the waterfront and their way of perceiving the space, it will not encourage tourism activities to much extent.
Description Today, cities are also rediscovering the value of their rivers and lakes. Urban waterfronts represent environmental, aesthetic and economic opportunities as well as a record of the industrial and maritime culture and history. Lack of interesting design can make these spaces monotonous; which can make them socially dysfunctional and culturally blank. This may lead to a strained interaction between the people and these valuable areas. Moreover, in many metropolitan areas, inhabitants are isolated from these spaces of the city. This often generates unhealthy and unstable environments within the existing socio-economic systems. In my research project, my goal is to recommend exciting urban regeneration of a city which is seeking for urban revitalization. By recognizing the importance of the natural water resource as an attraction; I would like to propose an urban infill on the riverfront, where all groups of people, from workers to shoppers to tourists, students and residents can create a continuous hub of activity. I have chosen the site in Kolkata along the River Hooghly/The motivation for this project is to generate socio-economic development in the form of an urban space which will be designed with mixed use facilities and sustainable urban development. Additionally, the space will provide a sense of place and community commitment to achieve a more humane scale with an intimate and a vibrant street life. Hooghly River is the reason for the existence of Kolkata and the city’s location. It is a natural harbor is located strategically near the industrial areas of the jute industries, as well as close to the Bay of Bengal, the choice of the location for the city by its founder Job Charnock proved to be decisive, marking its development ever since. Today, most of the city’s major functions and infrastructures are located along the Hooghly River. Kolkata’s main train station, Howrah Station, aging jute factories, power stations, the harbor and all warehouses can be found on either side of the river. Apart from these, the river is the center of many ritual activities in the Hindu life. A number of temples and shrines are located on the ghats where Hindu believers immerse themselves in the holy waters of the Hooghly. Burning ghats are located upstream from the city center, where the city’s dead are burned and their ashes dropped into the water. A riverfront is always the face of the city.The riverfront always focuses on the construction of the urban image of the city, with spectacles of social and economic dynamics.It generally revitalizes the image of the city and forms an identity by creating public realm at its edge.
Fig. 2 : Character of Kolkata Riverfront
Fig. 3 : Narrative of the Site
The city of Kolkata is disconnected from its riverfront primarily because of all the infrastructural corridors.These corridors restrict pedestrian movement to and fro from the the city. In addition, Riverfront Park do not provide enough activity to attract people from inner city. Unpopularity of the spaces creates a further problem of safety in these areas. Hence, the main challenge is to give a design solution which will not only address the existing issues at local level but will also bring people at a macro level
Design Challenges
- How to provide undisturbed and safe pedestrian access, - What types of activities are lacking in the city and at the same time will engage people. - What kind of Design Strategy will be economical for such kind of public space? -Creating the imadeability of the Space
Need for Activities
The Riverfront is predominantly full of industries. After working hours, most of the places create lonely pockets . Lack of public activities and entertainment centers makes these spaces inactive in the evenings. Despite having a beautiful riverfront area there is not a single place such as water viewing restaurant, bars, cafes, which take advantage of the scenic beauty and lot of local art is taking birth in the city. However, these artists do not have a good platform to showcase their talent.
Design Programme The current work introduces a cultural centre and the biodiversity based on study of various layers as there is a lack of cultural centres and biodiversity park in the city which can be active in all the seasons, and will also serve as an active public space. All the exhibits will get replaced from time to time, to give opportunities to many different artists. Additionally, it would be more interesting for a person to look at new things every time he or she passes through. - It will involve many different types of local art such as paintings, sculptures, photography, murals, etc. - It will also have an auditorium to provide an appropriate platform for performing arts like dance, drama and music. -It can have a public library and a book store which will attract people of all age groups. -Playground for Children. The Riverfront is of great historic importance. The proposed linkages would include markers which will lead people to the riverfront and also the schemes of different linkages will be different. For egthe characteristics of a Historic street will be different from that of the Commercial Street. There can be floating amphithetres at the Places where people gather There will be a specialty restaurant facing towards beautiful Howrah Bridge and having scenic water views with seasonal open-air sitting and a garden area and reorientation of the existing marketplace
List of Case Studies at Macro Level
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1. IMAGEABLE, LEGIBLE AND PERFORMATIVE LANDSCAPE: Case Study of Varanasi 2. Creating identity to a city: Case Study of Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad 3. A place for all: Case Study of Wadi Hanifa, Riyadh
Selection criteria of Case Studies
In this project, there are mainly three design challenges; and a cohesive solution .for all of them can produce a successful connecting link Connections to riverfront - Developing a connection which will not disturb existing forces, and at .the same time will be safe and user friendly for people Readaptive use of Industrial Structure – Designing spaces by integrating the unused industrial .warehouses while playing with all the attributes and challenges of the site Conserving the Historic structures – The riverfront is lined with with historic Structures so there isneed for not only preserving them but also ingrating them in the design How to develop a Commercial Riverfront keeping the existing uses intact and to transform the.place into a safe place Reorientation of the Historic Flower Market.How the culture of Kolkata can bring about the sense of identity and belonging in this space-
Case Studies at Micro Level 1.. Aspin House 2. Freedom Park Bangalore 3. Tate Modern, London 4. Boat Quay, Singapore 5. The Forks Renewal, Canada 6. Queens Quay Terminal, Toronto 7. Flower Market 8. Culture of Bengal
Bibliography Barman, Adwaita Malla. Titas ekti nodir naam. Kolkata, n.d. Basel, ETH. “Rivers.” n.d. Chaudhuri, Sukanta. Calcutta - The Living City: Volume I: The Past: 001. OUP India, 1990. —. Calcutta - The Living City: Volume II. OUP India, 1990. HCP. Sabarmati Riverfront Development. Ahmedabad, 2011. Illinios, University of. “Ghats of Varanasi.” 2014. Kharagpur, IIT. “River Based Creative Economy Generation.” 2015. Marcel Hunziker1*, Matthias Buchecker1 and Terry Hartig2. “Space and Place – Two Aspects of the Human-landscape.” n.d. Randviir, Anti. “SPACE AND PLACE as SUBSTRATES OF CULTURE.” n.d. Tuan, Yi FU. “Space and Place:Humanistic Perpective.” Tuan, Yi FU. n.d. www.agakhanwards.com.