SOCIAL DESIGN MONICA RAVI | 2017
GULMOHAR PARK
Gulmohar Park is an affluent, upmarket and green neighbourhood in South Delhi. It lies between Hauz Khas and Gautam Nagar and is named after the red-flowered Gulmohar trees (Delonix regia) growing inside. The nearby residential colony is known as Gulmohar Park Journalists' Colony or simply Gulmohar Park for short, and was established by a group of journalists in the 1970s and is today home to top notch business people, senior lawyers and cine star Amitabh Bachchan’s Delhi residence.
STAKEHOLDERS INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY & SAFETY FLORA & FAUNA ACTIVITIES NEIGHBOURHOOD MAINTENENCE DEMOGRAPHICS PUBLIC TRANSIT EVENTS STUDY DEMOGRAPHICS ACCESS POINTS CIRCULATION
DURING RAINY DAYS WATER LOGGING IN THE PARK & TRACKS BEING DIFFICULT TO USE
MOST OF THE SAMPLING ARE KEPT WITHOUT PLANTING THEM RELIGIOUS PRACTISES
HEAP OF DRY LEAVES AT THE BACKSIDE OF THE PARK
BENCHES KEPT IN INSIDE THE PARK FOR MEETINGS, ARE LOCKED AND RUSTED DUE TO WEATHER EXPOSED
PARK OBSERVATIONS
LITTERING OF GARBAGES - FOOD ITEMS MOSTLY, ONE OF THE REASON IS MANY FOOD STALLS OUTSIDE THE PARK.
WATERING PLANTS, TRIMMING EDGES
Activities inside the park ? SEGREGATION OF GARBAGE CLEANING THE GARDENS
OUTSIDERS SLEEPING ON THE BENCHES COLLEGE STUDENTS ENTERTAINMENT
QUENCHING STRAY’S THIRST VENDOR’S HAVING A CONVERSATION
MARKETING PEOPLE INTERACTING WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE PARK
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS
YOGA
MONUMENT SIGHTSEEING
GROUP EXERCISE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This study provides an overview of people’s uses, experiences and expectations of Gulmohar park and in-depth research using both participant and non- participant observations, survey, each of which was acquired and transcripted. This research project explores the social purpose, uses and future expectations of urban public park. The observation is recorded and documented.
What are the main reasons for visiting your Gulmohar Park ?
Which of the following options best describes why you do not visit the park closest where you live most often?
AGE GROUP OF THE PEOPLE VISITING THE PARK
AGE
OCCUPATION OF THE VISITORS
OCCUPATION
What time do you mainly
Do you like to have company during your
prefer to come to the park ?
visits to the park ?
TIME
ACCOMPANY SOMEONE / NOT
What form of transportation did you use to get to the park?
Do you have any medical issues ? YES/NO
Are you fitness conscious? YES/NO
Do you use the open gym? YES/NO
Do you face any problems using the open gym ? YES/NO
If yes, what kind of problems do you face while using the open gym ?
Are you satisfied with
Are you satisfied with all the
flaura of the park ?
facilities of the park ?
YES/NO
YES/NO
What are the major problem you see in the park which you would expect the authorities to work upon ?
OUR APPROACH
VIBRANT
TRICKLING DOWN TOWARDS THE KEY AREAS Other activities can be found in neighborhood districts Type of annual activities in park? Type of activities that currently occur in the park? Users of the park ? Times at which the park is used the most?
ACTIVITY HUB EVENTS STUDY
Closest public transit stops Connectivity with the nearby area Existing public transit connections Existing pedestrian connections to the park
Surrounding areas uses Design concepts that can be applied from the precedents Spaces adjacent to the site that have potential to work upon Community events occuring in park Residential spaces around
WALKABLE
CONNECTED
Existing trails in the area ( 1km around the GULMOHAR PARK ) Other activity hubs are in the area Amenities the park has Demographics of the area Types of community programs are offered in and around the area Unique features of the park
URBAN
DISTINCT
RESIDENTIAL vs VISITORS WALKABILITY
ENGAGEMENT
PARK USE SHADE STUDY CIRCULATION PARK UTILISATION
CONNECTIVITY
AMENITIES DEMOGRAPHICS VIEWS PUBLIC TRANSIT ACCESS POINTS ACTIVITIES PARKING
Where is the most active pathway Parking stations near / around the park Physical barriers around the park
ACTIVITY
SCOPE FOR INTERVENTION •
SENIOR CITIZENS : SENIOR CITIZENS ARE MOSTLY ACCOMPANIED WITH HELPERS. CREATING A PLATFORM FOR THEM TO INTERACT IS A SCOPE OF INTERVENTION. DESIGNING OUTDOOR GYMS AND PLAY AREAS FOR OLDER GENERATIONS TO IMPROVE FITNESS AND WELLBEING.
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REDESIGNING AND REPLACEMENT OF DUSTBINS
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OPEN GYM AS A CONCEPT – MAKE MORE ACCESSIBLE BY PEOPLE IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS ( SHELTER)
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EQUIPMENT OR TOOLS IN THE PARK TO ENSURE HUMAN INTERACTIONS FOR WELL BEING
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BENCHES (NON-WATER - RESISTANT)
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REWORK ON PATHS TO MAKE IT ACCESSABLE IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
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PETTING ZOO : OLDER GENERATIONS DON’T HAVE MUCH SUPPORT AND FEEL LONELY. THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO RAISE A PET. SO A PLATFORM TO PROVIDE SENIOR CITIZENS WITH ANIMALS WHO THEY CAN INTERACT WITH IN THE PARK.
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DIY PLAYGROUND FOR CHILDREN; DIY CLEANLINESS PROGRAM: CLEAN THE PARK YOURSELF INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE THE FEELING OF TOGETHERNESS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
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AN ENTIRE IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND CAN BE PACKED UP AND MOVED AROUND—ONE OF ITS MAJOR ADVANTAGES.
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TO HAVE A BIKE SHARE, CYCLE SHARE, OTHER GAMES ETC WHERE PEOPLE GO AND CHOOSE DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO PLAY WITH OR DO ACTIVITIES TOGETHER.
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HOLDING DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL OR RECREATIONAL CLASSES EG. MEDITATION, YOGA, TEACHING POOR PEOPLE E.G. GARDENERS, GARBAGE PICKERS ETC.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT for SENIOR CITIZENS
01
Introduction
02
Need & purpose for open space needs for senior citizens
03
Physical activity needs for senior citizens
04
Towards an Intergeneration Playground - GOALS / OBJECTIVES
05
Design interventions
06
Conclusion
01
Introduction
DEMOGRAPHICS OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN INDIA With 1.21 billion inhabitants counted in its 2011 census (Registrar General of India, Census of India, 2011), India is the second most populous country in the world. Currently, the 60+ population accounts for 8% of India’s population, translating into roughly 93 million people. By 2050, the share of the 60+ population is projected to climb to 19%, or approximately 323 million people. The elderly dependency ratio (the number of people aged 60 and older per person aged 15 to 59) will rise dramatically from 0.12 to 0.31. At the same time, India’s older population will be subject to a higher rate of noncommunicable diseases, a higher share of women in the workforce (thus less able to care for the elderly), children who are less likely to live near their parents, and a lack of policies and institutions to deal effectively with these issues. (1) The population dynamics fueling India’s growth and changing age structure are rooted in the combined impact of increasing life expectancy and declining fertility. This inevitably warrants our attention toward their medical, social, and economic well-being. for this geriatric population (2).
Never too old to play !
1 - Bloom DE. India’s baby boomers: Dividend or disaster? Current History (April) 2011:143–149. 2 - India’s Aging Population - TodaysResearchAging25.pdf. Available from: http://www.prb.org/pdf12/TodaysResearchAging25.pdf .
The old-age dependency ratio—the number of people ages 60 and older per person ages 15 to 59—is expected to rise from 12 per 100 to 31 per 100 by 2050.
INDIA’S ELDERLY ARE PROJECTED TO BECOME AN EVER LARGER SHARE OF THE POPULATION
MEASURING THE HEALTH OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS : Almost one-half (47 percent) of older Indians have at least one chronic disease such as asthma, angina, arthritis, depression, or diabetes (Chatterji et al. 2008). By one measure, nearly one-half (45 percent) of India’s disease burden is projected to be borne by older adults in 2030. (1) “health care services will need to shift resources and services to respond to an aging population.” CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH : Economic development and population aging in India have contributed to increases in cardiovascular diseases and obesity—noncommunicable diseases previously associated with more industrialized countries. MENTAL HEALTH : Dementia is another noncommunicable disease associated with old age that becomes more prevalent in the wake of population aging.
KEY WORDS : CARDIOVASCULAR & MENTAL HEALTH | HEALTHCARE SERVICES | SOCIAL PARTICIPATION | RESPECT & SOCIAL INCLUSION | CIVIC PARTICIPATION | OLD-AGE DEPENDENCY
Source : United Nations Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision (New York: United Nations, 2011)
1 - David E. Bloom, “Population Dynamics of India and Implications for Economic Growth,” Harvard Program on the Global Demography of Aging Working Paper 65 (January 2011a), accessed at www.hsph.harvard.edu/pgda/working.htm
02
Need & purpose for open space for senior citizens
ELDER’S PERSPECTIVE as per the interview “Open space in my mind should have sunshine, breeze, greens, trees, flowers, and sky. So I want to spend time and have a walk there.” Elders described parking lots, driveways, and even balconies as open space. Despite this limited notion of open space, they had consensus about their ideal open spaces : peaceful and relaxing scenery. Do elders have different open space and physical activity needs relative to younger persons? UNDERSTANDING biopsychosocial NEEDS & PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY GENDER
LEARNING/MEMORY
PHYSICAL ILLNESS
ATTITUDES/BELIEFS
DISABILITY
PERSONALITY
GENETIC VULNERABILITY IMMUNE FUNCTION NEUROCHEMISTRY
BEHAVIORS
BIOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
STRESS REACTIVITY
EMOTIONS COPING SKILLS PAST TRAUMA
MEDICATION EFFECTS
SOCIAL CONTEXT
SOCIAL SUPPORTS FAMILY BACKGROUND CULTURAL BACKGROUND SOCIAL/ECONOMIC STATUS EDUCATION
PARKS AIDING THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS Parks represent valuable assets for cities as they provide recreational opportunities, serve as places for social interaction and offer a natural respite to urban dwellers. Parks can be particularly beneficial to older adults who may be at risk for social isolation. Parks can reduce the prevalence of social isolation, provide opportunities for intergenerational interaction, and create a sense of place and attachment. They provide settings where elders can interact with other elders, exercise, visit together with their families, or tend to their grandchildren. At the same time, the connection between people and nature is a deep bond that reaches back thousands of years and has also been associated with healing processes, also improving cognitive function and performance,
03
Physical activity needs for senior citizens
Open spaces provide settings for both passive and active recreation. Older adults need to remain active as they age and require spaces that accommodate their limitations in mobility and strength. Thus, the parks should support exercise, vitality and health. “Providing areas where seniors can get active requires creating spaces that allow seniorfriendly physical activity programs.” Open spaces with “multiple ways for people to be involved with multiple activities, such as gardening and even watching others, which can inspire activity.” Parks with gym equipment provide the opportunity for exercise and the incorporation of low impact equipment like stationary bicycles and elliptical machines that allow older adults to participate. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WILL ASSIST IN : - REDUCING THE PROBLEM IN SENSORY AND PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES - INCREASING SOCIAL INTERACTION ( Physical activities in groups ) - INCREASE CONFIDENCE, MOBILITY & STRENGTH
SENIORS’ PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF OPEN SPACE EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PHYSICAL HEALTH (E.G., WALKING, PHYSICAL EXERCISE)
SENIORS’ PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH (E.G., SOCIAL INTERACTIONS)
SENIOR’S SUGGESTIONS FOR PARKS
NATURAL ATTRIBUTES
SOCIAL INTERACTION
SECURITY - HUMAN THREATS - ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
AGE-FRIENDLY DESIGN - PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES - EQUIPMENT FOR LOW-IMPACT PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
Interview analysis of Seniors’ perceptions and experience of open spaces and physical activities
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151 158 148
157
WELLTHY IN
URBAN TREES, BETTER AIR QUALITY Trees in cities can remove up to a quarter of the particulate matter pollution in their immediate vicinity. And when planted between a source of pollution and an apartment building, school or hospital, urban trees can help protect human health.
TREES shade buildings reducing the need for air conditioning which reduces fossil fuel consumption
REDUCED HEART ATTACKS, STROKE'S AND ASTHMA
According to the· System of Air Quality and Weather Forecast and Research (SAFAR), respirable pollutants, PM 2.5 and P were clocked at 283 and 517 micro-grams per cubic meter at 8pm of Diwali. They should be at 60 and 100 respectively, I readings rose by 42 times and PM2.5 readings rose by 12.5 times. Reading taken on Oct, 2017.
TREES absorb small particulate matter from the air
HEALTHIER PEOPLE
LARGE, HEALTHY TREES have the greatest per tree effects at pollution removal
IMPROVED NEIGHBORHOOD AJRQUALITY
AIR POLLUTION
Awareness of the harmful effects of pollution led creating breathing rooms using plants that clean the air and the mind, following the Indian Supreme Court's ban on fireworks and increased awareness of the harmful effects they have on people's health and the environment, brands released spots that inspired positive change. Vodafone invited customers to participate in Green Diwali by distributing eco-friendly fireworks containing air-purifying plant seeds.
In addition to the aesthetic benefits, research by Nasa
Indoor Garden Large Home In
shows that houseplants can remove up to 87% of air
Kerala Decoration Using Large
toxins in 24 hours, and! that their presence can improve concentration and productivity by up to 15%
Glass Walls In Home Including Bamboo Plants Indoor Garden Decor And [)ark Brown Wood Garden Breathing Walls
04
Towards an Intergeneration Playground & Spaces - GOALS / OBJECTIVES
Encourage different types of recreation activities; necessary, optional, or resultant activities. Create routes to the site that are easily accessible for pedestrians. Provide a diverse amount of amenities on site. Incorporate activities that create volunteer opportunities for the community. Use mixed-use development to activate spaces adjacent to the site. Create a physical environment that represents the values of the community . Create spaces for seasonal entertainment and performances. Users should feel safe at all times of the day on site.
Funneling down to key areas Based on the gaps identified from the research.
IMPROVE CONTROL
OFFER GREATER CHOICE
CREATE A SENSE OF SECURITY
- Way finding with large & visible fonts - Benches with armrests
- Passive or active recreation, sun or shade, single or multiple seating
- Sidewalks should be wide and smooth - There should be shade but not too much so it feels enclosed - Parks should enable “eyes on the street.” - Isolated areas need good maintenance
SOCIAL SUPPORT
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
PRIVACY
- Designs facilitating interaction. - Featuring bulletin boards, outdoor reading rooms, sculptures and fountains that help start conversations.
- Exercise machines - Mile markers for encouragement - Programs included fall prevention, arthritis training, Zumba, line dancing,
- Use buffer plants to reduce street noise
NATURE
ACCESIBILITY
- Use buffer plants to reduce street noise
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS
PERSPECTIVE VIEW
The purpose of the design solution to increase the quality of air in the park for visitors. Delhi is ranked one of the most
18 feet in height
Wire Frames put in a parametric form Awareness of the harmful effects of pollution led creating breathing rooms using plants that clean the air and the mind, have an effect on people's health and the environmental wireframes would be covered by air-purifying plants enabling people to breathe pure air.
INSIDE VIEW
i I I j 5.4 feet in height !
I I
I
12-78 feet in width, depending on the curve
polluted city in the world. There is a need for fresh air for breath ability. Creation of shelter using plants and bushes will cleanse the air and refresh the minds of the people. The open gym will be shifted under these planted wireframes It will also be beneficial to the fitness conscious people who indulge in exercises, yoga, etc to workout in fresh air. Thus, this intervention will complement the healthy lifestyle of fitness conscious and provide fresh air for people to breath.
TOP VIEW
Arrangement of the chair in a straight line represents a screw from above.
•_.•••,,_ • • ,__,. �
The design proposes seating arrangement in a linear way, where the second seat starts where the first seat ends. It is convenient for elderly people to sit & relax. The back of the chair is in a concave shape accommodating the spine curve to a great comfort. Recommended for mild meditation where they are not disturbed by any still, accompanied by many others.
9 *8 feet
2 feet
Air pressure system is equipped, which is gentler on muscles and joints. Gives motivation to exercise . Weights can be adjusted accordingly. Helps people who have Osteoporosis in decreasing knee/joint pains with low risk of knee injuries.
WALK A THON
Organizing senior friendly events, namely walk-a-thon in the park for community engagement. Marathons for elderly in the community would enable the same benefits for them as everyone else in the community. It helps reduce heart diseases and other health related problems. These marathons would focus more on the participants finishing a specified distance as per the age group it is organized for, with no specifications on the time limit. The image represents landscape design of walking paths Walking field will be surrounded by curved recliners for them to rest after walking
The equipments in the open gym has been redesigned keeping in mind the needs ofthe senior citizens. O 1-Shoulder arches right &left 02-Shoulder arches straight 03 - Handroll 04 - Twin Hand roll 05 - Balance Spring 06 - Wave t>eam 07 - Snake beam OB - Handro/1 09 - Finger stairs
The equipments require minimal muscular movements while ensuring adequate scope of exercise for the senior citizens. The open gym has been designed in a way that it ensures reducing the problem in sensory and physical capabilities, increase social interaction (physical activities in groups) and increase confidence, mobility & strength among the senior citizens.
22* 18feet
WEATHER PROOF MATERIALS
D OF T
PRO
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