Need for Hybrid

Different function of different nature when merged together creates a Hybrid

Figure 28

The framework for market can lead to a successful functioning where are in ideal environment is created and sense of trade is established. Considering Mumbai, there are numerous numbers of markets which has been established on certain set of rules and organization. Several markets have been present in the city of Mumbai. As Mumbai was a merchant city. The trade and commerce existed in the city since its foundation in the early days. The Public market came up in the city as a matter of not just creating infrastructure for buyers and consumers but also became an epi-centre of the city. The surrounding urban fabric was also established following the market. The fact that as the population increases so does the city. Several markets which included formal, as well as the informal market, emerged out across the city. The markets came up or were constructed in the areas where a sufficient amount of population existed or in future was planned to establish. The government made markets catered to and helped various individuals in setting up a market and workability. The state-owned market has though been established on careful planning of every ward to make it less congested and utilitarian. But being designed just for mono-functional of trade it lacked the sense of public realm. Yet most of them fails to even abide by the rules of planning by being mono-function in nature in addition to that the way a market needs to be lacks the certain character in it, design flow also mismanagement leads an increased footfall on the periphery while the shops in the interior lye vacant or under-used, also as there is less footfall in the shops. Also, the shops are turned into storage units leading to become a consumer driven market to B2B market. Hence the planned market location becomes a strategic location for B2B and not what it is meant for. To cater the demand of the consumers an additional market is created which is not supported by any organization but grown over time with the influx of people due to proximity of it close to major establishment. The present demographics show most of the markets which exits today in the city lies mainly in the region where a constant shift of people footfall is seen. Area of large congregation or mass movements have been occupied by the markets which are not permanent in nature yet a factor of convince is resolved. The transit hub such as railway station has been a popular choice for the market. The Formal planned market which can be a mall also lacks the involvement of public realm from all economic strata as well it acts an alienated box kept right across a street. Most of the mall exists in an area where a footfall or moment is completely driven by Mall in a way it doesn’t function naturally. Also, numerous amount of design flaws exists in these formal markets. Historically markets have been seen as the places, not just commerce and but as public infrastructure

Drawing by Joseph Fenton. Pamphlet Architecture: Hybrid Buildings. Architectural Books.(1985)

Figure 29

where interaction between individuals happens and sense of harmonious environment was created. As a result, the present-day markets exists just an underused entity which is driven mainly for the purpose of buying and selling, as a result, the public realm lacks in all of them hence there are numerous problems which are created and also leading to the closure of some. Thus, a market thrives under inclusion of a captivating infrastructure which is a modern and hyper dense environment. The fundamental of a public infrastructure relies mainly on the amount of people visits in it on a daily basis. So, to cater that the positioning of that institution should be placed accordingly. Also, architecture of it should also respond to it neighbor context as well. In the era of hyper dense environment, the land should not be designated for just a single function but it could become more useful if it is merged with another. The institution which lies vacant during the times when no footfall is there can be re-utilized and uniformity in the flow of people can be maintained. It could be possibly turned out into a major landmark. The idea of a multi used space is not something new but has been in practice since many years. The architecture which is designed to be mono-function develops as to be multi-function in an indirect way. The idea of hybrid can be injected where to different function can be merged into two and success rate of both can much more. Also, there is a more possibility of less conflicts between those function as it has never been imagined in a rational world, such that the chances of workability are more. In Mumbai, the city with extreme diversity in population and program has been replaced by high-density residential towers that generate a mono-culture and lose the richness of the hybrid city. This culture of high density can be responded with new hybrid typologies that efficiently optimize real estate into a continuous flow of the city through its buildings. For cities to maintain steady growth with adequate living conditions, it is important to hybridize infrastructure with building stock that generates a fluid metropolitan culture.