CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background study 1.2 Identification of Issue 1.3 Aim of research 1.4 Objectives of research

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Cities are civilization the word civilization related to Latin- civilitas- refers to culture of cities, place where heterogeneous mixture of people are concentrated in cluster of meaningful size to exchange -exchange good services and ideas. (Lozano, 1990)

A city is amalgamation of various places, spaces, features and elements with different activities related to it. Any city/town structure has these three spaces -

 URBAN SPACE- According to Rob Krier, any external space are basically urban space which has a consideration of physical, sociocultural, political, and symbolic.

 PUBLIC SPACE- In urban planning, a public space can be defined as any open space accessible by all. Due to changing culture, privatization of space is observed so the definition is changed a bit and said as a place that is accessible and used by general population.

A space accessible and used by all the people is generally known as Public spaces. These public spaces are of great importance in all the context may it be rural, urban, peri urban areas. Public Spaces is one of the constant element in structure of cities since ancient times till the date (modern era). So, they have a unique and timeless value.

Figure 1 Gradual spatial context of approaching an urban square (source: Zeka, 2011, p17)

Public spaces acts as catalysts for social change, it’s a platform for community interaction and

enhance the living environment in the city .It helps people to share their views, culture, tradition, sports, and entertainment for peaceful co-existence. Depending on the type of Public place that exist in a city or town, public life is facilitated and inhabited. Public spaces can be distinguished as open spaces which includes beaches, parks, squares, or other natural spaces and closed public space such as library, museums, heritage sites, etc.

A good public space gives a territory a special place of identity in eye of people. The process of “Place-making” is a key tool in creating quality public spaces. Strengthening the connection between people and the places they share, place making refers to a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value. More than just promoting better urban design, place making facilitates creative patterns of use, paying

particular attention to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution. (Project for Public Space, n.d.)

 URBAN SQUARE - An Urban square can be defined as an open public space at junction of roads (Node). Urban squares tend to be spaces with distinct edges, they may be a square defined on each side by buildings, or open spaces on few sides, etc.

 NODE - Nodes are points, the strategic spots in a city into which an observer can enter, and which are the intensive foci to and from which he is traveling. The nodes may be simply concentrations, which gain their importance from being the condensation of some use or physical character, as a street-corner hangout or an enclosed square. Nodes may be both junctions and concentrations. A strong physical form is not absolutely essential to the recognition of a node. But where the space has some form, the impact is much stronger. The node becomes memorable. Urban Square is not only a node or junction but it reflects the identity and character of city. (Lynch, The Image of The City, 1990)

Particularly a square is one of the significant public place which gives equal opportunities and accessibility for all the citizen form a common platform for different functions and activities like to meet people, to shop, to share culture and interest, for entertainment, etc.

Figure 2 Project for Public Place (http://www.pps.org)

Public spaces in India represent a distinct contrast of constancy and change. The constancy stems from the concept of public spaces being the underlying current of Indian way of life. Tradition wraps public spaces with people and their defined activities that stamp the permanency factor on them. These public spaces transform as part of the sociocultural panorama and retain their ethnicity unnerved by the ravages of time and urban development. (Dichotomy of Urban Public Spaces, 2012)

In most traditional cities, the squares were formed at the intersection of two major crossroads (Chowk). They acted as market squares, mosque squares, temple courtyards, open spaces, venues for cock fights, preaching etc. There was a translation of Vedic principles and concepts to forms such spaces within the pols, mohallas and group them to give a central location for interaction. In metro cities, these Chowk have merely reduced to traffic nodes which need to be rehabilitated as safe public places.

Squares are often designed as formal and informal spaces. The informal ones being more prevalent and used in India. Formal spaces have a strong sense of enclosure with ordered flooring, lighting and street furniture. The surrounding buildings also enhance the formality by their symmetrical layout. Informal squares are more asymmetrical and relaxed in character with a variety of architecture

While both the elements- the dynamic street and the static squares seem to be different, but are actually connected to each other in the cityscape. A Street gives a much bigger importance to square than just forming the edge and an important square can enhance the use of a street. Thus the way they interact can bring another dimension the place. (Perception of Urban Public Squares in India, 2015)

Figure 3 Dynamic Public squares of India