NUS LANDSCAPE : Landscape of Necessity - Re-Envisioning Productive Urban Landscapes

Landscapes of Necessity

Urban Landscapes A Community-Based Design Studio in Yelahanka, Bangalore, India 2019

Master of Landscape Architecture Programme

Department of Architecture

School of Design and Environment

National University of Singapore 4 Architecture Drive Singapore 117566

Tel: +65 65163452 www.arch.nus.sg

Editor

Jessica Ann Diehl akijac@nus.edu.sg

ISBN 978-981-14-1878-5

© Individual Contributors, 2019

As a studio product, which is not censored, this publication may contain mistakes or deficiencies. Editor and contributors do not warrant or assume any legal responsibility for the publication’s contents. All opinions expressed in the book are of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National University of Singapore.

Studio Tutor

Jessica A. Diehl

Studio Team

Vinamra Agarwal

Bao Lixia

Chen Beifei

Dong Yitong

Jiang Jiahang

Eingeel Jafar Khan

Li Ziheng

Toh Zi Gui

Shanika Tuinder

Yu Xi

Radha Waykool

Disrupted and disconnected urban ecosystems (water, agriculture, flora and fauna) resulting from rapid urbanization have detrimental impacts on the health and wellbeing of urban citizens; particularly disadvantaged social groups. This studio developed an appreciation for design skills in landscape architecture within the city-scale context of Bangalore, one of the most rapidly urbanizing cities in India. Greater Bangalore is the administrative, cultural, commercial, industrial, and knowledge capital of the state of Karnataka. It is currently the fifth largest metropolis in India with a population of about 7 million, with a population density that increased from 10,732 to 13,392 persons per sq. km between 2001 and 2011. Rapid urbanization pushes urban infrastructure to its limits and often causes increased social inequity, but there is also increasing pressure on rural landscapes to supply the city with resources and food. This studio focused on designing productive urban landscapes—multifunctional landscapes that grow food in the city.

Bangalore is increasingly food insecure. Despite the history as a “Garden City”, few crops are grown within the urban boundary— most are grown in the surrounding hinterlands of Karnataka or imported from long distances. Historically, Karnataka has been a productive agricultural state, but changing climate patterns are

causing longer and more severe drought conditions. Students will design food producing landscapes in north Bangalore. The key issues are: food accessibility and quality; associated environmental issues (e.g. water quality, waste recycling, environmental pollution); consumption patterns and food culture; participatory design and landscape stewardship.

The site selected for the design intervention was a typical, unplanned formal settlement in Yelahanka district. A residential and mixed-use neighborhood, Yelahanka supports a diverse population in terms of income, education, and religion. The physical environment lacks adequate waste treatment, is severly water-scarce but is in the process of upgrading to a piped water system, and has little tree cover. Students travelled to the site 26 January to 4 February 2019 to conduct fieldwork.

Through a community-engaged process, new design strategies were developed that integrate productive landscapes into the built, ecological and social urban systems with the aim of envisioning better work, live, and play environments. The students considered interdisciplinary requirements from planning guidelines, architecture design, engineering limitations; and developed an understanding of existing natural land and urban systems. Through the project site, they faced complex urban design issues in order to derive innovative design solutions using principles of ecology and sustainability.

Preliminary research

Data collection

Field booklet

Productive Landscapes: “the growing ofplantsand the raisingofanimals within andaround cities; it includesproducingfood for personaland/orcommercial consumption.”

The Resource CentresonUrban Agriculture& Food Security(RUAF)

The most impressive part for me was the innocent smiles form kids in Yelahanka, which affected me deeply and swept away any negative impression about India. They affectionately called me “Sister”, asked my name, and invited me to play with them by the lake··· ··· all these things will become treasured memories forever. Wherever you are in the world, even if you don’t speak the language, a smile is always the most powerful way to communicate.

------ Bao Lixia

The most interesting thing I met in Yelahanka was to communicate with the local people through translation. Although I could not understand their conversation directly, I could guess the answer from their expressions and emotions. I was impressed by the friendliness and simplicity of the local people.

------ Chen Beifei

My experience of Yelahanka was very positive. It is a community with many layers that we were lucky enough to uncover through site exploration. The community members were also extremely open and welcoming throughout the process which made the whole investigation very enjoyable.

-------- Shanika

Yelahanka is a culturally orientated community. The people are cheerful and always willing to help. Now I have a better outlook of the community through the survey held in the town, and it helped me to understand social issues to design better for the community.

The experience in Yelahanka was wonderful, and I became very interested in the local production model. The textile industry, as a pillar industry in the region, has exerted a great negative impact on the environment. However, due to historical reasons, such industry cannot be directly removed, and it is very interesting to find a balance between the protection and development.

------ Li Ziheng

------ Vinamra

This trip to India will affect my future design thinking, and the biggest influence of Yelahanka on me is to let me know another way of life in this world. Different areas should have different landscape design forms with more local characteristics. For landscape architects, how to discover local features and create unique landscapes is a big challenge.

------ Dong Yitong

India is a country with beautiful culture and ancient civilization. You will never know where her charm is without getting close to it. Yelahanka is the beginning of my understanding of India. From the colorful houses, the exquisite patterns drawn on the doorway because of religion, the flowers in front of every window, and the smiles on people’s faces can we see the beauty of the city.

Our trip to Yelahanka has been an interesting and inspiring experience. I am grateful for the hospitality of the people, who went all the way to help us with our work and made us feel at home. I will also miss the impromptu chai breaks we had while walking around Yelahanka.

------ Zi Gui

------ Yu Xi

Visiting Bangalore, one of the metro cities in my home country India, with my classmates for our studio project brought a revelation to me. Understanding the complexity of the Indian culture and our dependency on the ecological system for economic reasons was an exciting experience. Interacting with the community made me fathom the rooted bonds humans have built by interweaving culture and ecosystems and how are they are diminishing with time, with barriers created by us. In this process of learning, I realized how as designers we could be instrumental in creating solutions to integrate culture and ecosystem.

Yelahanka, with its web of relationships that bind its physical land, culture and community, gave me an in-depth understanding of the human tenacity to shape the landscape, whether it is rightly or wrongly done. My interactions with the community brought to light their deep association with various layers of their cultural ecosystem and the subsequent loss of it. I gained knowledge of how as designers we need to remember to design with the people and not for the people, integrating solutions with their lifestyle and embedded habits.

I have never thought I would go to Yelahanka before. This was a wonderful journey, from the bright colored houses, special religious culture, and the smiles on people’s faces, I can feel the charm of the city. And I’m also thinking about the regional and uniqueness in landscape, for landscape architects, this is a challenge.

------ Radha

------ Eingeel

------ Jiang Jiahang

analysis

Bangalore

Bangalore Yelahanka

HISTORY OF URBANIZATION BANGALORE

Kempe Gowda I founded Bangalore by building a fort with 4 gates and Pettah, the old centre of commerce. Tanks provide water and social gathering spaces.

The fort and Pettah is surrounded by agriculture and green spaces. There is a distinct separation between green space and urban space.

The British cantonment, which is the new centre of administration and commerce, was set up east of the fort after Tippu Sultan’s defeat and colonisation. Cubbon Park was built as a buffer space between the new and old centres.

The buffer zone is 1.5km wide. Other notable colonial developments include the general bazaar, parade square and batteries.

Decentralised new settlements such as Malleswaram are planned. Also note the existence of Hebbal as a small rural settlement, and Hebbal tank which provides water.

New planned settlements provide new homes for the rapidly growing population. India gains independence from Britain in 1941. Rapid urbanisation begins as the Scientific Policy Statement establishes technology as a major driver for economic growth in 1956.

More small rural settlements appear. Better linkage between rural and urban areas with new roads

In the 1970s, urban areas start to encroach rural areas. Farmers are faced with competing landuse and urban pollution problems.

The IT boom results in new settlements such as Electronics City.

2003 map showing where IT industries are concentrated. Smaller IT industry clusters are observed in other urban areas, not just in the CBD area.

The Indian economy transforms to become more market-oriented. The agglomeration of IT industries becomes the unofficial new CBD.

General urbanisation pattern: rapid expansion regardless of direction, but mostly concentrated along major roads which converge to the centre.

Urban sprawl has led to loss of vegetation and water bodies across Bangalore. Afforestation movements from groundup were organised to counter the rapid loss of green cover.

Urban development reaches Hebbal and Yelahanka.

Rapid loss of vegetation until 2019.

District Scale

Source: Bangalore Development Authority

Source: Bangalore Development Authority

Yelahanka

Social ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PERCEIVED ----------------------------------------------

A single space can be interpreted in three ways:

CONCEIVED - Planned, formal spaces

PERCEIVED - Observed, informal spaces

LIVED - Social, Intangible spaces

Informal town gathering space

Truck parking and cow resting area

Informal connection between two planned roads

Fenced private land

Overgrown weeds, unplanned greenery

Neglected space appropriated by cow Private land used for car parking

Industrial field occupied by informal homes & structures

Old rest stop underused, and used by bike as sheltered parking

LIVED

landuse & planning

Gathering space under holy tree

Worker’s chat and rest space in between work

Private land used for commercial storage

Private cow shed, leftover space for construction debris

Structure & Infrastructure

Bangalore

Bangalore Road Map

Created by: Jiang Jiahang

Created by: Chen Beifei

Created by Yang Xiaowen & Tang Mengjiao

Created by Yang Xiaowen & Tang Mengjiao

Waste Management in Bangalore

Created by Jiang Jiahang & Manasi Prabhudesai

Building Map Permeability of surface

Created by: Yu Xi

Created by: Jiang Jiahang

Created by: Jiang Jiahang& Chen Beifei

Created by: Bao Lixia

Social Demography & Economics

Social Demography

Demography in Bangalore

Population density in Bangalore 2001 2011

Rate of crime against woman

Male and Female work participation rates in 2001 and 2011 (Bengaluru North and Bengaluru)

Population growth between 2001 to 2011

Male and female literacy rates in 2001 and 2011 (Bengaluru North and Bengaluru)

Karnataka Bangalore

Contributes to 20% of the garment production taking place in the country

USD 1.56 billion Valued

35% of the country’s raw silk production takes place in Karnataka

11% of the country’s total wool production

India’s Textile market size (US$ billion)

Employee 18%

Labor Work 14%

168 private training centres and 144 skill development centres International brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Allen Solly, Nike, Adidas, etc. treat the city as their sourcing hub

The city has around 386,00 manufacturing units in the textile industry that are engaged at the unorganized and the organized level More than 4,32,00 people are engaged in sericulture in city and its surrounding, who provides the silk.

Textile&Clothing

35%

Farmer 5%

Retailing 28%

Data From Questionaires

Occupation in Yelahanka

culture & community

Religious festivals in India

Hindu festivals

Makar Sankranti

Customs: Bath, fly kites, feast, burnfire, dance / Landscape space: rivers and lakes, open space

Karaga festival

Customs: Water, Dance, Music Landscape space: waterfronts

Christian festivals

Vara Mahalakshmi

Customs: ceremony Landscape space: indoor space

Muslim festivals

Vijayadashami

Customs: carry clay statues into water, burn / Landscape space: river or ocean front

Ganesh Chaturthi

Customs: worship clay status in water, feast / Landscape space: rivers and lakes

Good Friday

Customs: fasting, carry the cross Landscape space: open space

Mawlid an-Nab

Customs: ceremony Landscape space: open space

Eid al-Fitr

Customs: fasting Landscape space: open space

Groundnut Festival

Customs: celebrates the first groundnut crop Landscape space: open space

All Souls Day

Customs: prayer for the dead Landscape space: restricted space

Eid al-Adha

Customs: ceremony Landscape space: open space

Sources: https://www.holidify.com/pages/festivals-in-bangalore-483.html and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_holidays

Harvest festivals

Customs: light candles, pray beside the graves / Landscape space: restricted space

Easter Christmas

Customs: light candles, pray, share sweets / Landscape space: open space

Calendar of religious festivals in Bangalore

Customs: feature feasting Landscape space: open space

Hindu

JunMay

OctNov AguJulSep

Dec ReligionsFestivalsAprMarFebJan

Makar Sankranti

Karaga festival

Ganesh Chaturthi

Vara Mahalakshmi

Vijayadashami

Groundnut Festival

Mawlid an-Nab

Muslim

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Adha

Good Friday

Easter

Christian

Harvest festivals

All Souls Day

Christmas

Source: http://www.indyatour.com/india/festivals/major-christian-festivals-in-india

People and their Activities according to Time

A

Temple Spend at least one-hour doing religion-related stuff every day

Home

Market and

doorway

5:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.

They prepare breakfast, take their children to school, do cleaning, or take water between 6:00a.m.-7:00a.m. Then they go home to do prey and have breakfast usually between 7:30-8:00 a.m.

Between 8:0011:00 a.m., they do housework (cleaning,washing······)

Then they have lunch and may have a while to have a rest between 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.. Some of them sewing at home for extra income.

They may stop by the market on the way of picking up their children and go to collecte water after 3:00 p.m. Mothers need to take care of children and prepare dinner between 4:00-6:00 p.m.

They pray at home or go to the temple before dinner at 6:30-8:30 p.m.

culture & community

Yelahanka

Weaving Ecosystem

Coloring raw silk

Semi-dried raw silk ready for reeling

Weaving colored silk threads into saree

Drying and Reeling of colored silk threads

Making punchcards for saree design

Raw silk supplied from Devanahalli

Religious Ecosystem

Barber shop Outdoor Temple

Flower garland vendor Tea shop and gathering space beneath a tree

Shop selling miscellaneous stuff involved with prayer rituals

Banana leaves & coconut vendor

Vegetable farms

Agricultural Ecosystem

Flower Farms

Coconut

Mango Paddy Fields

Herbs

Banana

Religious household plants

Weaving Ecosystem

Temple Ecosystem

Agricultural Ecosystem

Saree Weaving informal industry

Outdoor temples

Religious buildings

Agriculture Land

Empty Land

Railway station

Railway station

Railway station

Bus Stop

Bus Stop

Bus Stop

Green & Biodiversity

bangalore

Vegetation Map

Vegetation Density

Flora Hotspots

1. National University Nagabhavi, Ward 128

This plot is planted with 414 medicinal plants consisting of 173 species of trees, 82 shrubs, 92 herbs and 42 climbers.

2. Bangalore Palace, Ward 35

Bangalore palace ground has rich and varied vegetative growth in many pockets.

3. Lalbagh, Ward 143

Botanical Garden. There are 1854 species of 673 genera and 890 cultivars of plants. There are many heritage trees here.

4. Cubbon Park, Ward 111

The park has 6,000 plants belonging to 68 genera and 96 species.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/five-research-charts-show-how-bengalurugradually-becoming-unliveable-city-36278

Forest Ratio: Urban Bangalore

http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/water/paper/Green_Space_in_Bengaluru/ results.html

Forst Ratio: Bangalore Rural and Ramnagar District

Urban Forest Areas

Anekal (1%) Bangalore (16%)

https://www.karnataka.gov.in/empri/Pages/State-ofEnvironment-Report-Bangalore-2008-EMPRI-2009-09. pdf?fbclid=IwAR0reslhmWnfbkjRKpAY7P8Arp1qAac7IOj_eEC_ rtnU5IkRCcDVRkYMqZU

FOREST STATISTICS

The total number of trees in Bangalore is

14,78,412

Kaggalipura (59%)

K.R Puram (12%)

Yelahanka (12%)

Bangalore has an average vegetation density of 14%

5. Kalkere, Ward 26

This plot is a rare collection of Ficus species including 40 species of shrubs and climbers. There are also 17 nitrogen fixing tree species.

6. Doresanipalya, Ward 187

Eleven bamboo species brought from Arunachal Pradesh were planted in April 1991

The geographic area of Bangalore Urban district is 217,410 ha, out of which the forest area is 4,198 ha.

The geographic area of Bangalore Rural and Ramanagar districts is 5,85,431 ha, out of which the forest constitutes 1,01,117 ha.

Forest area comprises mainly scrub and grasslands with miscellaneous species. Eucalyptus and Acacia auriculiformes are found over most of the area.

https://www.karnataka.gov.in/empri/Pages/State-of-Environment-Report-Bangalore-2008-EMPRI-2009-09.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0reslhmWnfbkjRKpAY7P8Arp1qAac7IOj_eEC_rtnU5IkRCcDVRkYMqZU

The green cover for a healthy city is 30%

The recommended number of trees per person living in the city is

1.15

http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/ pubs/ETR/ETR75/summary.html

Created by: Shanika Tuinder

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The urban centre, New Town in Yelahanka is much more developed than its surrounding area. There is better infrastructure and more wealth. The vegetation in this area is much more dense. There are many large trees that form a canopy over the main streets and more green spaces.

The main landscape typology in old Yelahanka is Medium Density. The vegetation is very sparse. Limited to a few trees lining the streets in an otherwise concrete jungle. There are very few green spaces and people do not have gardens.

The industrial area and slum area are the grey space in this image. They are seperated by a green belt but have no vegetation themselves. The industrial area is completely built up and very polluted. The slum area is very small and densely packed, there is no space for vegetation.

The edge condition of Yelahanka lake varies from East to West. East there is little vegetation due to the built development. On the West there is agricultural land which has much more greenery. Planting has been done around the lake in an attempt to improve this condition.

The rural residential area of Yelahanka has a much higher green density. This is not only due to the agricultural plantations of ragi, beans etc. There are also more trees between the houses and the agricultural land. Concrete and green space are inversely proportional.

The agricultural area of Yelahanka has the highest density of trees and the most green space. The area is not inhabited, reflected through the lack of concrete space. The high level of flora attracts wild species. Here, snakes and peacocks can be observed.

Created by: Shanika Tuinder

Used for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant etc. Yes

Used to treat asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, gastric etc. No

Bark, leaves, stems and unripe fruit- antibiotic, used in Ayuvedic medicine.Yes

An ingredient in traditional Ayuvedic medicine and remedies. Yes

Used as a anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, contraceptive, and sedative. No

Used as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and for its anti-cancer properties Yes

No No

20 TropicalNative Seed, leaf, fruit pulp and skin have high phenolic content and antioxidants. Yes

Tropical Exotic Used for asthma, bronchitis, plaque and gingivitis, head lice, toe nail fungus. No

TropicalExotic Indian almond leaves have traditionally been used for stomach problems. No

TropicalExotic Used as anti-diabetic, antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic. Yes

13 Melaleuca citrina Red Crimson3x2

SubtropicalExotic No. No

14 Vachellia nilotica Babul 20

16 Millettia pinnata Ganuga 20

TropicalNative Used to treat diarrhea and inflammation No

TropicalNative The bark, gum, leaves and pods are used in various traditional medicines. No 15 Adenanthera pavonina Red Lucky Seed25

TropicalNative Used as antiseptic, also prevents pests. No

17

Cassia fistula Golden Rain tree15

19 Aegle marmelos Bael 12

20 Trachelospermum jasminoides Jasmine Vine 5

TropicalNative Flower oil: Hair growth treat Scabies, Eczema, Ringworms and Inflammation.No

TropicalNative In Ayurveda it is known as a "disease killer". The fruit pulp is a purgative. No 18 Tectona grandis Teak tree 40

TropicalNative Fruit helps in curing diseases like diarrhoea and cholera. Yes

Tropical Native Jasmine has been used for liver disease, abdominal pain and diarrhea. No

Created by: Shanika Tuinder

Flora Map

KEY

Fauna Map

YELAHANKA FLORA MAP

Mango Silver Oak

Eucalyptus

Coconut

Peepal

Neem

Tamarind

Jackfruit

Banana

Sapota

Jasmine

Banga

Bael Fig

Ganuga

Pomegranate

Gusgusea

Dhupadarmama

Badam

Golden Rain

Red Bottlebrush

Religious Peepal

Religious Trees

KEY

KEY

Mango

Silver Oak

Eucalyptus

Coconut

Banyan

Neem

Tamarind

Jack fruit

Banana

Sapota

Jasmine

Banga tree

Unknown Fig

Ganuga Tree

Pomegranate

Gusgusea

Dhupadarmama

Badam

Golden Shower

Common species

Banyan Religious Red bottlebrush

YELAHANKA FAUNA MAP

Dog Cow

Goat Chicken

Cat Sheep

Turkey Rat Pig

Peacock

Biodiversity Hotspots

The vegetation in Yelahanka is very sparse. The vegetation is mostly characterised by trees instead of shrubs and groundcover. Trees are dotted down the sides of streets. In the fringes of Yelahanka there are small pockets of wild vegetation in un-concreted areas. The little vegetation that there is in Yelahanka is a mixture of native and exotic species. Many of the trees observed on site can be used for medicinal purposes or harvested for their fruit. The Peepal tree is considered as the most sacred tree among the Hindus . For this reason many of the worship sites in Yelahanka were built around a Peepal tree, or a Peepal tree was planted.

KEY

KEY

Snake

Hawk

Dog Cow Goat

Dog Cow Goat

Chicken Cat

Sheep

Turkey Rat Pig

Chicken Cat Sheep Turkey Rat Pig

KEY

Peacock

Snake Hawk

Peacock Snake Hawk

Lake Margin Planting Open Space Vegetation Normal Trees Religious Trees

In Yelahanka there are many animals around but practically all fauna is domestic not wild. Cows and goats are all owned by someone and milked morning and night. During the day they are allowed to roam free in the streets so they can eat. Chickens, turkey, and sheep are raised in the same way until they reach a certain weight and are sold for their meat. These animals all roam the streets and tend to congregate around dumping grounds to eat the rubbish. The wild animals observed such as snakes, peacocks, and hawks were found in the rural agricultural area of the outer site where there are less people and more vegetation.

There are a number of important biological areas within Yelahanka that need to be protected in the design process. These spots include the new lakeside planting, existing patches of wild vegetation, public open lots, the small amount of trees that already exist in Yelahanka. and the religious trees. It is important that these areas are maintained for envionmental, sentimental, recreational, and religious purposes.

Created by: Shanika Tuinder

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Green & Biodiversity

YeLahanka

Patch Matrix

The site is a small fragment as a patch which forms the urban matrix. It exists in close proximity to green spaces like surrounding agriculture land, whose main crops are coconut and ragi, and many vacant lands, with low levels of qualities. On a larger scale, a few important green spaces come into the picture: agriculture land accounts for the largest area, around which vacant land is scattered. There is a clear distinction in development between the old and new urban areas. The red dotted line in the figure divides it into two parts: the relatively welldeveloped area to the west, and undeveloped area to the east. The Yelahanka site is part of the east area. Parks are all located in the west area, with natural ways linked with each other, and vacant land with no functions is relatively less.

Hydrology

Parks Agriculture Land

Vacant Land BBNP

Functional Land Owned By Government

Functional Land Owned By Individual Natural Ways

Boundary

Green Space Typology

21 types of green spaces are selected strategically based on the amount of density of the green spaces in Yelahanka. The green spaces represent a range of landscape typologies. The green spaces in the north of the site are large and continuous, while the green spaces in the south of the site are small and fragmented, separated by buildings and streets. Green spaces in the south are mainly residential spaces owned by the individual and commercial and reginal spaces owned by government. Most of the spaces have funtions, while spaces in the north are mainly non-functional places, apart from farmland.

Central BBNP (Roadside)

Local BBNP (Roadside)

Temple courtyard

Local BBNP (Lakeside)

Residential + Open Space

Residential + Commercial Graveyard + School + BBNP

Temple Yard + BBNP Vacant Land

Vacant Land (Lakeside)

Farmland + Livestock Farmland + Residential Vacant Land + Slam Vacant Land (Roadside)

Roadside Belt Residential

Residential + Street Trees

Residential Garden Roadside

Commercial Reginal By The Railway

Created by: Chai Tianqi

water & ecology

bangalore

Story of Lakes in Bangalore

Manmmade water tanks for Socio-Economic Purpose

A cascading water system is interlinked to conserve as much as water possible for communities. High bunds to store water became the system for Bangalore and made it a city of lakes. Character of lakes changed with time and operation

Source:: https://scroll.in/article/855516/history-shows-that-it-was-nature-that-helped-bangalore-grow-and-now-the-city-is-destroying-it http://muscicapa.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-not-so-great-hedge.html https://issuu.com/biometrust/docs/bangalore_lakes_-_biome_dec_2016

Created by: Radha Wayakool

Bangalore city map, circa 1924 from "Murray's 1924 Handbook" with the pete and Cantonment areas clearly visible

The Bound Hedge of the Cusba of Bangalore (1800)

Kempe Gowda

Sultanate of Bijapur Mughal Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan

British East India Republic of India

bangalore

Watershed for Bangalore

Bantkondanahalli Lake Amanikere, Singanayakanahall

Yelahanka Doddakere Kattigenahalli Lake Gramadakere, Allalasandra

Jakkur Lake Amruthahalli Lake

Evolution of city with lakes

Kacharakanahalli Lake

Yellamallappa Chetty Lake Series

Yellamallappa Chetty lake series

Name of the Lake - Area (ha)

1 .Bantkondanahalli Lake- 42

2 .Amanikere, Singanayakanahall - 178

3. Yelahanka Doddakere - 135.68

4 .Kattigenahalli Lake - 2.5

5 .Kogilu Lake - 180

6 .Gramadakere, Allalasandra - 16.84

7 .Jakkur Lake- 50

8 .Amruthahalli Lake -9.35

9 .Rachenahalli Lake- 60

10 .Kodigehalli Lake- 21

11 .Chikkamaranahalli Lake -10

12 .Kacharakanahalli Lake -22.57

13 .Kalkere Lake -75

14 .Ramapura Lake -5

15 .Basavanapura Lake -56.6

16 .Seegehalli Lake -5

17 .Yellamallappa Chetty Lake -110

Source: BENGALURU WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE PROJECT (PHASE 3) : Final Report http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/paper/saket_biofuel/ https://www.newslaundry.com/uploads/2017/10/7-1.jpg

Created by: Radha Wayakool

YR :1792 YR :1888 YR : 2015

water & ecology

yelahanka

NGT-National Green Tribunal, India no construction rules: a lake buffer zone of 75m and 50m for primary, 35m for secondary, and 25m for tertiary stormwater drain.

Present: BBMP’s 30M Buffer for Lake

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/67411279.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Encroachment

Required by NGT: Min 75M Buffer for Lake

Yelahanka Lake

Jakkur Lake

Jakkur Lake

Allalasandra Lake

Allalasandra Lake

Yelahanka Lake

Paddy Fields

Paddy Fields

Paddy Fields

Paddy Fields

Opinions

Aspiration

community survey

Through formal surveys and informal conversations, we gathered local information from 68 Yelahanka residents. One-quarter were small business owners, one-qarter were housewives, and one-quarter were laborers. Half were female, half were under 40 years of age, and many (n=59) were Hindu.

SITE SURVEY_ YELAHANKA (RESIDENTS)

1. What is the source of your food? (Tick Multiple)*

i. Self-Grow ii. Grocery Store

iii. Roving Carts iv. Mandis

v. Other_______________

2. Do you have a garden and what do you grow there? (If Yes,then)*

i. Vegetable________________ ii. Fruits________________

iii. Crops___________________ iv. Others_______________

3. Where do you go for recreation? (Mark in Map)*

4. Where do you go for your daily routine? (Tick Multiple)*

i. Work ii. Market

iii. Shopping iv. Worship

v. School vi. Others________________

5. In your opinion which of these is a priority concern about waste in the area? (Tick one)*

i. Littering of waste ii. Effect on human health

iii. Effect on environment iv. Others________________

6. How does you treat your household waste? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What would you like to have in your community? (Tick Multiple)*

i. Home Garden ii. Community Garden for socializing

iii. Collective farming iv. Individual market farms

v. Food forests vi. Others____________

Reason:______________________________________________________________________________________

8. What do you think is the most important issue in this community?

9. How has the place changed over time? How was it used to be? ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Time Date

Yelahanka’s Community Vision Gender

The results of the community survey indicate that the key issues that the community in Yelahanka want to be addressed included: water availability, lack of open parks and green spaces, waste management, traffic problems, and lack of children’s play areas. Other issues of lower priority were: pollution, drainage, work opportunities, organic food shortage, mosquitoes, lack of vegetation, and poor infrastructure.

Created by: Shanika Tuinder

synthesis

visioning workshop

A visioning workshop was held in the studio to better understand the context of Yelahanka. Each student took part in this activity and shared ideas on the board. Later, everyone voted for the most important issues and strengths in Yelahanka. Some of the important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are listed below to better understand the context.

Internal EXternal

Strengths

• People are willing to participate in agricultural activities

• Lakeside ecology and habitat for plant and animal species

• Lake front development

• Surrounding land near the lake is fertile

• Existing connection between people and religion

Weaknesses

• Less availability of water for daily use

• Usage of the lake (limited access)

• Lack of urban greening

• Lack of public open recreational spaces and children’s play spaces

Scanned by CamScanner

Opportunities

• Government land as potential development site

• Channelizing lake water for productive landscape

• Rooftops could be utilized to grow fruits and vegetables

• Potential for re-using organic waste and greywater

Threats

• Urban encroachment of the open spaces

• Water and soil pollution: low water quality, leading to soil pollution

• No government support

• Young people moving out to pursue better job opportunities

Scanned by CamScanner

Environmental condition

Dwelling diversity

Cultural diversity

Vancant Lots

Typical Street Pollution

Water Scarcity

Proposals

Therapeutic gardens as part of regional hospital to improve human well-being in Bangalore peri-urban areas

Human health is one of the most important issues in Bangalore. It is mainly caused by unhealthy diets and living habits, pollution, food safety, and other environmental issues. As Yelahanka is periurban, health services are worse than the city center, and the health issues are more serious. The environment around hospitals and clinics is very poor, which is bad for the rehabilitation of patients. Despite evidence that exposure to greenery is beneficial to persons’ mental and physical health, the existing green spaces all have low quality. I want to create a therapeutic garden, combining medical therapy with horticultural therapy. It will provide patients with a healing environment, while providing residents with a high-quality green open space. In the future, therapeutic gardens can be part of regional hospitals in Bangalore peri-urban areas, improving human health and well-being.

Individual Site Analysis

Therapeutic Garden Design Principals

Site Hospital & clinic

Commercial buildings Residential buildings Temple School

The selected site is an empty land opposite the largest hospital (General Hospital) in Yelahanka Old Town. Other hospitals and clinics distribute densely in the area that will provide a nearby healing garden for the patients

GARDEN STRUCTURES

PLANTING

Concept Plan - Functions

Jiang Jiahang

A therapeutic garden is defined as the use of prescribed nature-related activities to aid recovery. Study findings have shown benefits such as the reduction of chronic pain and lessening of stress.

Identify different users’ age groups and the extent of their illnesses to better design for their needs:

Concept Plan

Reduce stress and encourage a sense of well-being for long-term health care patients

DIGESTIVE & DIARRHEAL DISEASES DISABLED & INJURED PATIENTS

Make residents have awareness of food safety, and learn to grow organic food by themselves

CHRONIC SENSORY GARDEN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR EDUCATION

MEDICINAL GARDEN

EDIBLE GARDEN

INTERGENERATIONAL SOCIAL SPACE WASTE COMPOST

SENSORY GARDEN RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR KIDS

WHEELCHAIR-FRIENDLY

RAISED BEDS FOR PLANTING & TOUCHING

REHABILITATION EXERCISE SPACE

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR KIDS

Auxiliary patients rehabilitation and promote equal use, making therapy seem like a respite Provide

CHILDREN’S HEALTH

Existing Trees

Soft Boundary

Garden Entrance

Secondary Pathway

Sensory Attributes

Paving Connection

Jiang Jiahang

Jiang Jiahang

Master Plan

1 Restorative sensory garden

2 Rehabilitation exercise space

3 Small plaza

4 Edile garden

5 Shared tables for tasting

6 Waste compost display & education

7 Active sensory garden for kids

8 Water tank

9 Outdoor classroom

10 intergenerational social space

11 Crossing

12 Medicinal garden

13 toilet

14 rainwater catchment (roof)

15 Rain garden

Planting Design

Jiang Jiahang

Irrigation & Soil

Zone 2 - Active Sensory Garden for Kids

Zone 1 - Restorative Sensory Garden

Zone 3 - Edible Garden

Empowering the WOMEN OF YELAHANKA

This project is about reflecting the vibrancy and personality of the community in Yelahanka. Site investigation revealed that although many people in the community are happy, there are issues that need to be resolved. This project aimed to address some of the issues brought to light by providing work and socializing opportunities for women, open space, greenery, a produce market, and children’s play areas. The final design intertwines agriculture back into the city and provides opportunities for people in the community to socialize, buy organic food, play, and enjoy the natural environment. The long term vision is that this intervention will spark the creation of more productive landscapes that will eventually weave agriculture back into the urban fabric of India’s cities.

Community

“If

Shanika Tuinder

SCALE @ A3 1:1000

CONTOURS 1M SPACING

= Ecological Corridor = Fields

= Pocket Park = Peepal Tree /Public Park

= Community Garden

= Children’s Play Area = Produce Market

Shanika Tuinder

Drain (10mm)

Planting Media (500mm)

Gravel Bed (300mm)

Loose Gravel Pathway

Soil Rain Garden

Playground

Planting Media (500mm)

Gravel Bed (300mm)

Grass

Pre-cast Concrete

Planters

Linear Drain

(10x20mm)

Tile Pavers + Mortar

Concrete Slab

Soil

Linear Drain

Gravel Bed (300mm)

Planting Media (500mm)

Steel Plate (2000x2000mm)

Edible Schoolyard in Yelahanka

The students in Yelahanka are facing three main problems: (1) they do not have a good source of food, (2) insufficient space for activities, and (3) limited awareness of food safety and environmental protection.

To solve these problems, I propose to build productive landscape in schools, creating the “edible schoolyard,” which can produce healthy vegetables and fruits, provide places for children to play, and raise people’s awareness of environmental protection.

The design concept is to choose different kinds of activity units and divide them into three main zones: Farm to Table Zone, Outdoor Activity Zone, and Outdoor Study Zone. These zones together can become a system that helps schools at different scales to achieve the three goals.

The site I chose is the biggest primary school in Yelahanka. I hope it can become an example for other schools. The typologies illustrate that schools with different scales of schoolyards can also choose different kinds of activity units from the three zones.

Each zone will have a connection with the other zone(s) and will work as a system. Farm to Table Zone is the core zone of the Edible Schoolyard. The main concept is aimed to teach children how the life cycle operates from the fresh vegetables and fruits planted in Gardens to the Lunch Program, and then to the Compost Station. The water cycle will also be added into the whole system.

Bao Lixia

Productive Landscape-Drive Approach as a Framework for Women’s Empowerment

India ranks high globally for abuse of women, a serious human rights’ violation. Even though the Indian government promulgated a series of regulations to protect women in 2001, discrimination and crime against women still widely exists in education, marriage, work, and sex, especially in public spaces. Discrimination against women in Indian society makes them afraid to go outdoors.

My landscape planning strategies make use of the existing community spaces to create safer community spaces for women. The productive landscape-drive approach is a framework for women empowerment by providing new employment opportunities for housewives, rebuilding social networks, as well as re-education opportunities.

The plan is to design venues with different functions around the main activity spaces of women. On the one hand, it proposes transforming 200+ currently vacant lots adjacent to houses into productive land for housewives. On the other hand, it involves transforming more than 20 vacant lots along the street into women-only places for social contact, consulting, and re-education. Replicating this framework on an urban scale and implementing it as a women’s rights strategy could have a significant positive impact on women’s rights as well as promoting gender equity in India as a whole.

Four Safe Space Principles for Women

The safe space should be located in an area that is conveniently accessible to women and girls. Near places woman go frequently such as the market, temple, and school.

Women/girl-only / dominant space

Evidence suggests that the establishment of women- and/or girl-only spaces help to reduce risks and prevent further harm during acute emergency responses And, if the space cannot garantee women- and/ or girl-only, at least it is a women-led space.

The space should have a privacy fence or wall to ensure privacy and safety. Girl/woman groups should be visible, but avoid to being visible to men as much as possible.

Create a sense of ownership, rather than perceiving it run by an external group. Services should correspond to their life cycle as well as provide woman / girls-target facilities.

The whole productive pocket gardens are going to cover over 1,000 households, which accounts for more than 60% of households.

Yelahanka is going to be divided into 7 parts according to women's market locations and 3 minute walking maps, which means the products within one 3 minute distance can be collected in one market for selling together.

Make the main women's re-education and consulting center available for every woman within 5 minutes walking distance from their homes.

Social

Women

Bao Lixia

Master Plan of Productive Pocket Garden

Chicken

Foot

Drip

Women-dominant market

GREYWATER REUSE

Average grey water per household:1635L*94%*4=6148L/month

Average grey water per household after purification:6148L*60%=3689L/month

household grey water can support agriculture area:23m2

Growing fruits brings income/save expenses up to R$450/m2/Year

Growing vegetable brings income/saves expenses up to R$370/m2/Year

Growing flower brings income R$520/m2/Year

A coconutchip biofilter can help purify greywater. Kitchen sink water flows through the system, leaving food and grease behind. Chickens eat food particles in the upper coconutchip layers. When the drainage slows, the top layer of woodchips are replaced, old chips go in a compost bin where worms, centipedes, ants, bacteria, and other soil critters decompose food particles further. Bugs reproduce in the drum, provideing high-protein food for the chickens, and, after the woodchips decompose, provide fertilizer for plants.

Other Considerations:

Discrimination against women in Indian society is a process rooted in Indian religious culture, which has been continuously extended and strengthened in the long history. It is a severe and complex social problem. My approach is a political approach to planning and design. My project cannot realize women to be as free as men in the community, but it can bring women into spaces where they didn't exist before or felt they had no right to exist. In order to achieve the maximum benefits of the project, there are several additional recommendations in the design and implementation process:

1. Women participate in the whole process of project design, decision-making, construction and maintenance;

2. Family-based mobilization activities within the community to ensure the broad participation of women;

3. Active participation of local women's rights organizations;

4. Government policies and laws safeguarding women's rights should be constantly improved.

This is an adaptation of an ancient method of irrigation. It uses the porous nature of clay pots to allow osmotic pressure to suck the water into the soil where it is needed. People use beautiful

Chen Beifei

Revive regional vitality by merging different functional blocks and establishing an energy recycling system

Issues

1. In Bangalore, the construction of the city separates human activities from the natural environment.

2. Human resources move to the city center, and cities replace natural resources.

3. All the energy-flows in the existing site are one-way directional and isolated, and the energy has been lost throughout the process.

Based on the above analysis of the problem and related to the topic of urban agriculture, I believe that it is necessary to establish a demonstration area with good energy flow and practical benefits. Productive landscapes are based on a mix of uses that support each other to create a harmonious space. I want to get rid of the separation of the landscape and imagine a combination of all methods, in the city, where the current partition is very much present. This change will reduce the distance for the cycle to be completed and make the

space more powerful. The reduction in transportation costs between research, production, processing, and retail will help to build a better local economy.

On the one hand, an energy recylcing system can improve the way of urban life, redefine the existing landscape and diversify it. On the other hand, the actual feeling brought by the well-circulated urban ecological environment can arouse people’s motivation to think and change. By creating a new, ever-changing landscape model, the landscape is productive and at the same time integrates people into the site.

The mixed-use of land and the change of land structure enable us to respond to future challenges by creating an elastic venue that will not be damaged by future changes. A productive place with

dynamic characteristics is a flexible machine with strong resistance to change. In contrast, a single use, the passive landscape is resource consumption, but contemporary production landscapes can generate resources.

In the overall design, I include municipal ecological facilities such as green infrastructure, public green spaces, food processing, and distribution centers. It creates a closed loop that reconnects the energy, food, water, ecological and economic systems that were initially separated. In addition to planting strategies, recycling strategies include energy production and waste management. The energy flow is divided into four parts: manufacturing, transportation, consumption and recycling. They are arranged in the form of blocks, causing interactions to create a circular energy flow.

Ideal Situation

- collaborative site

- ecological circular system

- increase interest in argriculture

- new technology

- new job oppotunities

- resilience

- self-sufficient

At the same time, it gives meaning to the entertainment and education of the whole region. Through the introduction of high-tech agricultural science and technology, it stimulates people’s curiosity and exploration psychology. Through the establishment of community farms, farm restaurants, and agricultural products markets, it attracts the participation of ordinary families and infiltrates the ecological education into people’s In daily leisure activities.

Chen Beifei

Farm land area: 50,730 m2

Total output: 10,661 kg/year

India major crops output data:

rice: 2,800 kg/ha

wheat: 2,400 kg/ha

coarse cereals: 2,600 kg/ha

pulses: 730 kg/ha

Greenhouse area: 4,920 m2; 15 kg/m2/year

Total output: 75,000 kg/year

Pasture capibility: 11,680 m2

cow: 300 area: 2,000 m2

meat: 31,200 kg

milk: 183,724 tons/year

sheep/goat: 200 area: 300 m2

meat: 2,400 kg milk: 3.285 tons/

year

poultry: 700 area: 300 m2

meat: 910 kg

eggs: 161,000/year

India livestock ratio: cow:sheep (goat):pig:poultry=3:2:0.1:7

Public space: 10 hectares

Comfort per capita green are: 9 m2

Capacity of human: 10,000

Community garden area: 6,500 m2

Aquaponic system area: 7,500 m2

India’s per capita food needs include 158kg/year crops, 68kg/year vegetables, 5kg/year meat, 3kg/year eggs, and 108kg/year milk. The restaurant capacity: 100 people, area of market: 1500m2, number of shops: 50.

Key map

vinamra agarwal

Intergenerational CENTER FOR LEARNING

Old Yelahanka is one of the oldest towns in Bangalore. It was the agricultural hub, but due to urbanization, it has transformed into a high-density urban fabric. First, this has led to a generational gap in the society as the younger population migrates to other cities for economic benefits and opportunities leaving the older generation. Second, due to the scarcity of agricultural land, people have to import food from nearby towns and cities to fulfill their needs.

During the community survey, the data suggested that many people were interested in agricultural activities but due to the scarcity of land, lack of awareness, and insufficient funds they are unable to participate in agriculture-related occupations. Various studies have shown the benefits of intergenerational learning: children and elderly work better together to create a cohesive learning environment. There is a need to educate and make people aware of new agricultural technologies that require less space and have a high yield, as well as blur the generational gap in the society.

‘To connect inter-generation by cohesive learning through the integration of different farming methods and recreation.’

Strategies related to the proposed intervention include:

• Center for learning infused with agricultural technologies such as traditional farming, aquaponics, hydroponics, rooftop and vertical farming, and animal husbandry

• Yelahanka ‘Haat’ - Communal recreational spaces for events, food festivals and much more

Design matrix

AQUAPONICS

INTEGRATING BOTH HYDROPONICS

TRADITIONAL FARM

Possible solutions-integrating

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

FISH, MILK & EGGS COMMUNITY GARDENS COMMUNITY WELLBEING

EDIBLE GARDEN

FLOWER GARDEN

FRUIT GARDEN

PLANT THE PADDY

DYE INDUSTRY

RESTORE THE HERITAGE

FISH POND NATURAL AQUAPONICS

ROOFTOP FARM

YELAHANKA ‘HAAT’

Intergenerational activities

Intergenerational activities increase cooperation and interaction across generations. It involves sharing of skills, knowledge and experience between old and young. In the table shown, there are a few of the activities which young and old people like to do and how these activities can be integrated with the spaces.

This type of program will help establish a connection between generations creating a cohesive learning environment.

FUTURE FARM

SELLING OF SURPLUS

Traditional farming is a linear, soil-based agricultural system which requires a lot of resources for output. It requires a lot of land to produce vegetable and crops. This agricultural system is the most economical way to grow, but in the future due to the lack of land because of urbanization, traditional farming will not be an ideal system to grow food products.

Aquaponics is an innovative closed-loop farming system which helps to grow vegetables and fishes cohesively. This system requires six times less space and 90% less water to grow vegetables. An aquaponic system can be expensive to set up, but the cost can be recovered overtime. Aquaponics is the future of farming in urban areas as it is a portable option to grow food.

vinamra agarwal

Traditional versus Aquaponics

Proposed site

POTENTIAL SITE 1

SITE AREA : 17400 SQ.M (4.3 ACRE) POND AREA : 600 SQ.M (1080 M3)

vinamra agarwal

DETAIL 1 : INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING

CONCEPT Plan

DETAIL 1: INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING PLAN

RE-LEARN

• New Technologies

• Importance of food

• Growing symbiotic systems

• Community engagement

REAP

• Food

• Flowers

• Extensive knowledge

• Economic benefits

INTERGENERATIONAL CENTER FOR LEARNING

Master plan

RESTITUTE

• Give back to nature

• Biodiversity

• Self-sustained ecosystems

• Interdependent systems

Section

Resting Zone (Detail 2)

Resting Zone (Detail B)

Plant the Paddy Pond

Plant the Paddy Pond

Traditional Farm | Animal Husbandry

Traditional Farm | ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Intergenerational Learning Farm (Detail 1)

Intergenerational Learning Farm (Detail A)

Lakefront Pathway

Lakefront Pathway

Proposed Building

Proposed Building

• Labs

• Labs

• Conference rooms | Classrooms

• conference rooms | CLASSROOMS

• Roof top farm (aquaponics)

• Roof top farm (aquaponics)

Pedestrian Entrance

Pedestrian Entrance

Existing School

Existing School

Recreational Zone

Recreational Zone

Community Garden

Community Garden

Commercial Aquaponics

Commercial Aquaponics

Vehicular Entrance

Vehicular Entrance

Parking

PARKING

Yelahanka ‘Haat’

Yelahanka ‘Haat’

• Farmer’s Market

• FARMER’S MARKET

• Food Festivals

• FOOD FESTIVALS

• Recreational Activities

• RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Nursery

• NURSERY

• Open-air Amphitheater

• OPEN-AIR AMPHITHEATER

Rail

Rail

DETAIL 1: INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING

PERSPECTIVE

DETAIL 2 : RESTING ZONE | PLANT THE PADDY

Integrated farming system

DETAIL 2: RESTING ZONE | PLANT THE PADDY PLAN

Plan

FRUIT PEELS USED TO MAKE COMPOST AND FLOWERS USED TO MAKE DYES

OUTDOOR AQUAPONIC SYSTEM TO GROW PADDY CROP

LIVESTOCK (ORGANIC FERTILIERS) TRADITIONAL FARM COMMERCIAL AQUAPONICS (ORGANIC FISH FEED FROM FARM) ROOFTOP GREENHOUSE FARM (AQUAPONIC SYSTEM)

manure COMPOST

COMPOST COMPOST PRODUCE

Donors

Producer Ag Organizations

Quality Control Board

FoundationsCorporate donors Parents

CommunityStudentsFarmers

Farmer’s MarketCommunity Food System

NutritionistFood Labs

Researchers

Toh Zi Gui

Food Travels: Integrating Trustworthy Food Intake with the Joys of Gastronomy

Among Bangalore urbanites, organic home gardening is gaining popularity due to a growing distrust of commercial food production systems. Bangalore urbanites are also foodies who do not just take food for subsistence, but also indulge in the pleasures of dining out. However, these are conflicting practices, because organic home farming is an act of gaining control of food preparation, while gastronomy entrusts the preparation of food to others.

This project provides an escape from hectic urban lifestyles to a gastronomic experience at the peri-urban town of Yelahanka. It is a place where the course of a meal is more than just a destination, but a cultural-historical journey. Crop cycles and recreational programs are closely integrated, so visitors can look forward to fresh experiences throughout the year as programs change with the seasonality of crops. This also enables history to be lively and relevant to Bangalore urbanites of today. The journey also acquaints them with a more accessible and trustworthy food preparation process, serving as a potential solution to the conflicting practices.

Site analysis: effects of rapid urbanisation

Rise in organic home gardening

Strategies

1. Generate surprise by offering food and recreational programs that vary all year round.

2. Present these offerings as a gastronomic journey.

3. Make commercial food production more personal to Bangalore urbanites.

Calendar of crops & recreational programs

The rise in organic home gardening is an act of taking back control of Bangalore urbanites’ food intake, bypassing commercial agriculture. (Images sourced from “Oota From Your Thota” Facebook page.)

Site selection

Inserting relevant programs in between crop cycles enables the offering of both crops and programs to vary throughout the year. So visitors get varied experiences and surprises with every visit.

Urbanisation is a cycle of effects which is spinning out of control. Rapid rural-urban migration drives housing and infrastructure demand, leading to unsustainable outgrowth of the city. Urban pollution eventually encroaches rural lands, leading to growing distrust of commercial agricultural processes.

Existing

site conditions

Yelahanka is a peri-urban town which serves as a gateway between the rural north and the urban south. This is an accessible location for Bangalore urbanites who seek a convenient getaway from the bustling city, and brings commercial agriculture closer to the urban centre. The site occupies leftover space between the town and the railway. The linear site emphasises the sense of journey undertaken by visitors. Existing site conditions include a railway station, leftover strip of land, small emtpy fields, a swamp, a lake, and a step-pool which is still under construction.

Historic timeline

detail plan

detail plan

Marigold fields (1:200@a2)

Iron-age field (1:500@a2)

Masterplan

plan

High-tech restaurant & step pool (1:200@a2)

Mango Plantation

Emmer Wheat

Bristle Grass Mung Bean Horse Gram Railway Station Stables

Baking Demonstration

Park Connector

Marigold & Spa Pods Step Pool

High-Tech Restaurant

detail

The immersive process

Visitors generally start at the railway station, with Iron Age themed crops and programs. Every themed zone ends with a themed restaurant, where self-harvested crops are prepared spontaneously. Every exit from a restaurant reveals a new era further down the course of history. Therefore, the visitor experiences a total of six eras from past to a possible future, experiencing varied recreational activities depending on the time of the year, and taking in a 6-course meal in the process.

Visitor’s experience map

Iron-age fields

sHIFTING sEASONS; sHIFTING cROPS

Marigold fields and spa pods

High-tech restaurant & step-pool/open space

sHIFTING pROGRAMS; sHIFTING eXPERIENCES

Eingeel Jafar Khan

Re: weave - cultural revival of yelahanka old town through injecting tourism as a booster

Historically known as the city of gardens, lakes, and culture, Bangalore, while moving towards rapid urbanization, has been adopting a more global outlook. The multicultural Indian city has had a lifestyle deeply rooted in its religious context where in the places of worship became the main nodes of social and economic activities. But amidst this shift, a question that needs pondering is whether Bangalore is losing touch with its cultural roots?

The old town of Yelahanka in Bangalore is gearing towards the same kind of shift. Known for its surrounding foodscapes of paddy, rice, millet, guava and grapes among other crops, Yelahanka is also known as the Manchester of Bangalore. Being a traditional place for weavers, the silk handloom industry has been the lifeline of the people for over two centuries and is also presently carried out in the North areas of Kamakshamma layout, Agrahara layout, Kogilu and Chowdeshwari layout. Integrating these tangible and intangible facets of the cultural ecosystem of Yelahanka while ecologically and economically reviving the neighbourhood is the main challenge.

The old inter-generation resident families of the place connection with agriculture and the lakefront complained of their long working hours inside the homes devoid of any recreational open space nearby for small work breaks. They miss the olden ways of saree making where in parts of the weaving process used to be carried out in semi-open and open lands (dyeing, drying and reeling threads). The community survey and onsite mapping also revealed that the religious places were the main hubs of social and economic activities, with most of the people going to them either once a day or frequently in a week--for worship, for social gathering, or for buying merchandise from stalls nearby. Hence, it was evident that Yelahanka as a neighbourhood has all these three factors as the backbone of its socio-cultural-economic fabric.

My design strategies are aimed at the ecological, cultural and economic revival of the place through augmenting biodiversity, socio-cultural relations, and local tourism; each building upon each other as part of a big system. For the first sphere of ecology, I aim to introduce the circular lifecycle design process wherein the source to end waste product is produced and utilized at site. The flower waste produced from the places of worship would be utilized in the dyeing process of the weaving industry along with other eco-dyeing crops grown in Yelahanka, and the coconut shell waste produced would be utilized in making craft products from the coir. Creating active open spaces and various pause points for residents and working weavers in conjunction with existing nodes of religious places is aimed at the second core sphere of culture and society. The last strategy of augmenting local tourism through weaving the three cultural elements of Yelahanka together, namely weavers, agriculture and the religious ecosystem is aimed at the third core sphere of economics.

Strategy 2 Strategy 1

Connecting the disjointed patch matrix system of Yelahanka through corridors of edible landscape along wth waste management

(AUGMENT ECOLOGY)

Strategy 3

Weaving the three cultural elements of Yelahanka together: Religious + Weavers + Agriculture ecosystems

(AUGMENT ECONOMY THROUGH TOURISM)

Process Weavers + Religious hubs + Vacant lands

Giving functions based on 3 ecosystems and connecting them through a trail

Weaving Religious Agricultural

Further diving the functions into detailed zones under each ecosystem

Grapes

Hibiscus

Guava

Turmeric

Turmeric

Fennel Green

Orange

Yellow

Brown

Mulberry

Henna

Chamomile

Carrot

Mango Bark

Tamarind

Beetroot

Nettle

Henna Red

Millet

Jasmine

Marigold

Paddy Basil Ragi Bael Banana Neem

Coconut

Creating active open spacesand small open spaces at various pause points for varied residents

(AUGMENT SOCIABILITY)

1. Parking and Service Centre

2. Gateway towards weaver settlement

3. Weaving History

4. Mulbery Plantation

5. Silk Rearing

6. Tea Break at Religious Centre 1

7. Jasmine flower Farm

8. Marigold and Hibiscus Farm

9. Flower waste centre at Religious Centre 2

10. Paddy, Millet and Ragi Farms

11. Grapes Farms

12. Vegetable Farms

13. Guava grove +Farm to Table

14. Central workshop for dyeing and weaving

15. Coconut+ Banana plantation + Coir Products Centre

16. Mango Orchard

17. Indigo Farms

18. Religious Centre 3 with ancient Kalyani

19. Herb Garden

Legend

Masterplan

Eingeel Jafar Khan

tourism with its elements as a tool for revival

Tourism will act as a booster to Yelahanka, pushing forward the revival process wherein the tourists from downtown and the larger region come to sensorially experience the inter-connected religiousweaving-agriculture ecosystem, and in turn be educated about the various processes involved.

Wayfinding elements

Seating along trail Signage Trail Material: Permeable

detail plan

Legend

Break point 1 and flower waste centre

detail plan

Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica)

Eco- cultural Trail (colored permeable stone paving

Pergola for drying Dyed Raw Silk and Rain Shelter

Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa) Mango Tree (Mangifera indica)

Permeable stone paving

Flower Waste Centre

Flower Farms (Jasmine, Marigold and Hibiscus)

Sensorial Experience along the Trail

stone paving

Seating under Tree Vendor Stall

Food Farms: Grapes Plantation during Fruiting Season

Food Farms: Paddy Farms during Harvesting Season

Silk Rearing Centre with all stages of Sericulture

Farm to Table Restaurant in midst of farms

Flower Waste Centre at Religious Centre 2 with all stages of eco- dye process

Annual Kargah Festival at Religious Centre 4 near lake and ancient Kalyani

Dong Yitong

Continuous Productive Urban Landscape (cpul) in Yelahanka

What is needed: Improve people's awareness. Restoration and protection of the ecosystem.

How to do it:

Build green space system. Community garden as medium.

Dong Yitong Master Plan

Continuous: Linear park (for green space and community garden) Productive: Community gardens for residents

Continuous: Linear park (lake water for irrigation) Productive: Community gardens for residents

Productive: Sunday market (promotion effect)

Linear park near the railway

Linear park near the lake

Linear park along the road

Current situation

detail plan

Dong Yitong Little fingers

Phase 1: Full use of vacant land

Half-closed vacant land & connection

Half-closed vacant land near the street

Small area vacant land

Connection with linear park

Functional zone

Interconnectivity

Cow gathering area

Main Street

Dong Yitong

Use building facedes for vertical garden

Design process

Community

Phase 2: Green corridor

Phase 3: Green corridor & roof gardens

Orchard

Mainly responsible for supply of plant dyes; the garden primarily produces fruits and vegetables that can be made into vegetable dyes

Flower Garden

Mainly responsible for supply of plant dyes, flowers such as tulips and morning glorys are very good natural dyes after treatment. At the same time, it can provide an excellent experience for tourists.

Herb Garden

Mainly responsible for supply of vegetable dyes. Many herbs have great potential for use in dyeing, which enables tourists to learn more medical knowledge while visiting.

Water Treatment

Although Eco-Dyeing, the process of dye production will use a small amount of chemical agent to improve the color of the dye durability. The lightly polluted water needs to be treated.

Cotton Field

Mainly provides cotton, so that visitors can have a better understanding of the raw materials of the fabric. The cotton produced here can be used in the workshop

Central Workshop

An area for various textile activities. Visitors can learn about the extraction of vegetable dyes, the coloring of fabrics, and the making of fabrics. These paid activities can also promote and increase the income of local residents.

Mulberry-base pond

Mulberry trees were planted in large Numbers to guarantee the production of silk, and fish were raised in the fishponds. Tourists could do all kinds of waterloving activities such as fishing.

Mainly used to purify the pollutants produced in the process of dye production

1. Entrance

2. Shopping Area

3. Agriculture Walk

4. Orchard

5. Tea Garden

6. Muibberry-base Pond

7. Dock

8. Watching Tower

9. Textile-history Walk

10. Central Workshop

11. Purification Stream

12. Glass Cover Street

13. Flower Garden

14. Lake Walk

15. Herb Garen

Li Ziheng

Plant selection for dyeing

The choice of plants is very important. Apart from cotton and mulberry trees, which provide fabrics, other plants selected can be used for dyes. The roots, leaves, stems, fruits/peels, and petals of these plants can be used as natural dyes. Also, plants should be chosen for their agricultural qualities, such as apple trees: the fruits can be eaten and the flowers can be used as dyes, making them ideal for growing in fields.

Interlake - Amplifying The Strength Of Connection Between Community And Yelahanka Lake By Amalgmation Of Productive And Ecological Landscapes

In between understanding the lake series developed throughout Bangalore, the system of lakes helped to know why and how they were built for rich landscape assisting socio-economic aspects. The primary purpose of the lake series faded away with the development of the lake city, creating barriers and destructing the lake series. Even though the authorities tried to keep the buffers for a revival of this lake series the sense of belonging to the lake has mostly diminished. That’s why the part of the design was redefining these boundaries and utilising them to nurture the whole lake series of Bangalore and set up an example to follow.

Though rapid urbanization was taking over such significant features in the town, Yelahanka lake and the stories told by the communities maintained to trace the importance of Yelahanka lake within the community, which inspired me to come up with an intervention that reframes the past by linking the city to the lake and surrounds. The lake served the community for cultural and economic reasons in the past, and the challenge was reintroducing the lost bond with a new expression to engage present and future generations. The strategies revolve around giving access, the original purpose by building and activating edges and sharing the resources to build community.

Corridors

Proposing areas for transfers of ownership right to authority. Leasing the land in the buffer zone to public private partnership program where land can be distributed among communities creating opportunities to produce and maintain the buffer zone.

Understanding the proposed landuse plan introducing entry points for better accesibility of fenced zones of the series. Proposing bicycle track connecting the lake series of bangalore for awareness as well as better connectivity to lake system

Instead of no construction bufferzones making the green buffer orridors providing guidelines for natural remediation techniques according to the context of the lake series

As A Green Corridor

The BDA states that fencing is a crucial aspect in protection and preservation of water bodies.

Past conditions : Multi crop farming

Past conditions : Urban influence

Decline in farming activity

Present conditions : Unorganized development

Encroachment

Gated lake area

High contaminated soil and ground water

Proposed phase 1 : 5-6 Years

Phytoremediation to extract contamination and improve soil quality for productivity

Creating green buffers to purify the surface runoff from surroundings

Proposed phase 2 : 2-3 Years

Post extraction process using the land for production

Proposed phase 3 : 1-2 Year

Planting fast growing + nitrogen

fixing trees to increase soil quality And again using for production

wetland 2.Kalyani with view points

3.Food forest with guilds 4.Farm pockets

5.Productive ghats 6.Fruit orchard

7.Activity zone 8.Information centre 9.Reserved vegetation

zone and nursery

zone

through food forest

Credits

Guest critics, Lecturers, & Consultants: Hwang Yun Hye, NUS Tan Puay Yok, NUS

Herbert Dreiseitl, NUS guest lecturer

Saurabh Gaidhani, 100 Resilient Cities

Ryan Shubin, Rambol Studio Dreiseitl

Helen Smith-Yao, STX Landscape Architects

Henry Steed, ICN Design International

We also acknolwedge the work of the students in Prof. Hwang’s studio, whom we teamed up with during the first two weeks of site analysis: Chan Wing Fai, Chen Nan, Dai Yuke, Isabel Villegas Molina, Hou Yanru, Liu Ye, Manasi Prabhudesai, Tang Mengjiao, Yang Xiaowen, Zhang Qinqin, Muhammad Rahmat Bin Khairudin, Mitali Kumar, and Elsa Sim Rui Jia

A special thanks to: Dr. Annapura, Jalaposan Trust

Aparna Rao, Sriganesh Rajendran, Rahul Paul, and Maithily Velangi, FICUS

Rajendra Hedge, Biological Research Innovation Centre and Solutions LLP

And to our knowledgable English-Kanada translators: David and Sumitra Bodapati Hithesh Shettigar, Karthik Gowda, and Nithyam Nachappa who made it possible for us to engage the residents of Yelahanka.

Finally, a very special acknowledgement to the residents of Yelahanka, we were truly inspired by your community.