context-less dwarka - Urban Design 2015

ASHVEEN KAUR SUDAN A/2430/2011

MICHAEL VIVIAN EKKA A/2048/2011

SONAM CHODEN TSHERING A/2419/2011

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE

SUMEDHA DUA A/2323/2011

UD SYNOPSIS The mother city of Delhi is a multi-nodal city, one of whose emerging nodes is the sub-city of Dwarka. This is further enhanced by the ease of access through a dedicated metro corridor, and the remarkable transit-oriented development.

Further, multiple infrastructure projects are in progress to improve not only the connectivity and face of Dwarka, but also to give it a competitive edge against the rest of the nodes of the city.

The proposed and existing connectivity of this sub-city to major destinations such as airport, Gurgaon, Najafgarh, etc., provides an impetus to build in this location.

Such projects promise to raise Dwarka’s profile from a purely residential area to a well-developed commercial hub. Also, some parts of Dwarka are still lying vacant, because of the increase in the population holding capacity with vertical residential strategies. As a consequence, the sub-city is attracting several recreation and infrastructural features.

The proposed area of development falls in Sector 24, Dwarka, where a pocket of 14 hectares of land is expected to be developed into a world-class cultural/ convention hub. Such convention centres, of international standards, venues for performing arts, and commercial facilities are being acknowledged not only for their role in improving the quality of life of citizens, but also in stimulating economies.

This multi-purpose project combines social and commercial purposes through a common platform. It is also inviting more investment in this sector as a result of rising economic growth of the country and its capability of increase global exposure.

The project involves leasing galleries, auditoriums, seminar halls, and conference and convention halls for performance and art purposes. For people who will attend these, residential facilities such as hotels are a part of the program.

Apart from these, a commercial complex, that draws the masses towards the shopping complex, and business on its upper floors is also envisaged as a part of the project. The UER II borders the site on the South. The site, though well connected through road networks, has limited access to public transport, with a long walk to the nearest bus stop or metro station. The proposed metro stations near the site are expected to improve this situation.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

The site, close to the Najafgarh drain, is found to have a natural slope, aiding natural drainage. Yet, since the site is low lying compared to its surroundings, it has a tendency of water logging and flooding on the site.

Since the land is also fertile, vegetation and landscape is facilitated.

The site proposed is adjacent to a golf course, which acts as a strong resource to the hotels proposed. Further, due to its vicinity to the airport, the convention centre gets easy accessibility for international guests, yet is found to have greater noise levels due to the air traffic. Further, the height of the buildings is restricted to 30 metres, due to its presence in the air traffic zone.

The case studies involve an intense study of Barakhamba precinct, a part of which were The World Trade Centre, The Lalit Hotel, and the Metro Bhawan.

The land use of this area is contiguous and cannot be depicted within clear boundaries. Yet, most of this is commercial towards the main road, while towards the inside, the land use is primarily residential.

The precinct is found to be unfriendly to pedestrians, who are preferred to be kept outside the boundary wall of each complex, thereby closing them off. This adds to the unsafe nature of the precinct, apart from the non-interactive edges of such complexes. Further, this is enhanced by adding a green buffer, which acts as a visual barrier. The area also lacks porosity and permeability through complexes, consequently increasing blank walls, dead ends and travel distances, and decreasing route options, engagement with the complex and safety. The neighbourhood is vehicular-centric, thereby encouraging vehicular movement and compromising with pedestrian accessibility.

The roads are busy both in terms of vehicular and pedestrian movement, due to the presence of Shankar market and Connaught Place in the vicinity. Yet, there are no provisions to cross the roads safely, and pedestrians indulged in jaywalking and crossing roads during heavy traffic.

Insufficiently planned parking in the complex resulted in off-street parking, hence making it an isolated dead space.

These findings were considered as parameters that influenced the site planning and design of the building complexes.

As per the program, the site was to be developed into 4 significant built blocks – the convention centre, the commercial centre, the luxury hotel and the business hotel.

DESIGN INTENT

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The hotels were planned to be together, so as to be able to share services, and in close vicinity to the convention centre.

The first stage involved planning the two hotels together on the northern edge, with a view of the golf course. The convention centre and auditorium spilled out into the greens, which was on the east edge of the site. The commercial centre was located on the Southern edge of the site, closer to the roads, to facilitate easy access to office staff. The mass was envisioned to be contiguous, yet the green was found to be separating the hotels from the rest of the complex.

The second stage involved rotating the grid to 15 degrees to avoid the east-west sun.

The site planning changed in the third stage, with the luxury hotel strategically positioned on the south edge of the site, to increase its visibility. It was viewed as an iconic building and served as a landmark. A forecourt was created between the luxury hotel and the other hotel proposed on west edge outside of the site.

The convention centre and auditorium spilled out into the greens. The business hotel along with the commercial and office centre shared the same complex to share facilities such as business centres and meeting rooms.

This time, the hotels were separated and hence couldn’t share services.

In the final planning stage, the site was carved into two masses – the built and the green. The green was consolidated in the front edge of the site - to provide easy access and availability for large public gatherings. It also acted as a buffer from the busy roads.

The buildings were envisaged to be a part of a single built mass, which was fragmented to create interactive spaces and connections.

The hotels were located so as to get view of the golf course. The convention centre and auditorium had direct access from the main road.

The central pedestrian spine connected all the buildings at one focus. All buildings opened up to this pedestrian spine, for an experiential walk and to make inclusive complexes.

The commercial-cum-office centre was a culmination to the central spine. A skybridge from the diplomatic enclave entered into this culminating node to provide easy access to the pedestrians from the neighbourhood. The other culmination point was towards the consolidated green. In between these two were nodes which create experiential interactive spaces along the spine.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

INTENT AND CASE STUDIES CONTEXT

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

CASE STUDIES

School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

SITE ANALYSIS - CONNECTIVITY

School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

SITE ANALYSIS

School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

SITE ANALYSIS

School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

CONCEPT and AUDITORIUM

School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

SITE PLAN

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

BUSINESS HOTEL OVERVIEW

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

LUXURY HOTEL OVERVIEW

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

OFFICE BLOCK OVERVIEW

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

CONVENTION CENTRE OVERVIEW

School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Dwarka, Delhi

SITE SECTIONS

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