Saurav Ashish Chatterjee Masters in Urban Design PUD23345 portfolio.
About the city
Ahmedabad is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the adminstrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad dstict and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. It has emerged as an important economic and industral hub in India, and was rarked third in Forbes’s list of fastest growing cites of the decade in 2010. In 2015, Ahmedabad was selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under the Government of India’s flagship Smart Cities Mission.
About the studio
The studio introduces urban elements, their role in the larger discourse of place making along with their representation, and culminates with design of public spaces. The studio is based on premise that urban design is best understood and expressed through study and a judicious representation of the built urban environment. The studio is divided into two parts: identifying and representing these essential urban design elements for functional spaces, and a detailed design of these public spaces.
Acknowledgements
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Sahiba Sodhi, our tutor, for her constant guidance and unwavering support throughout the studio. I am also grateful for all the assistance provided by lshita Agrawal whose insightful suggestions have enriched development of all the projects.
A sincere thank you to Prof. Purvi Chhadva for her guidance and tutors Maulik Chauhan and Nishi Shah for their timely critiques and advices.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my unit for their consistent collaboration and feedback, of which I am so grateful for because I don’t think it could be possible without them.
Table of Contents
module 01 what is Mumbai talking about?
introductory study
module 02a
streets and building types 02 |
03 |
|
Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore, India
module 02b
Piazza del duomo, Florence, Italy
urban block and open spaces
module 03
Homegrown Resiliencies
urban design - lake front and street closings conclusion
what is Mumbai talking about?
module 01 | introductory study
Mahalaxmi Racecourse is a famous horse racing track in Mumbai, built on the marshy land previously known as the Mahalaxmi Flats. The largest public open space in the city now confronts a critical challenge, the growing uncertainty surrounding its lease renewal. As stakeholders grapple with complex considerations ranging from urban development pressures the future of the Mahalakshmi Racecourse hangs in the balance.
Amidst various proposals ranging from more housing to a potential landfil, the state government had proposed setting up a “Mumbai Eye”, a replica of London’s giant observation wheel, a popular tourist destination. As the Mahalaxmi racecourse is battling for survival, one ponders how it could possibly turn into an urban forest, in a city that is today witnessing its worst AQI in the decade.
As we stand at the crossroads to choose, we need to think. Think long, think deep and think intergenerational. Consider the poster a signboard at that crossroad.
Park Area in acres
Population of Mumbai city (excl. MMR)
2.5%
% of Public open space
1.1 sq.m
Per capita open space
2,016 tons
potential to sequester tons of CO2 annually* *based on the thumb rules for forest carbon sequestation by Robert Mendelsonh. 221 17,673,000
Gandhi National Park
(source : Google Earth
Sanjay Thane Dadar Vihar lake Powai lake Lower Parel Bandra Byculla Mahalakshmi RacecourseRacecourse built.
Western India Turf Club formed
Enters into a 99-year lease with the Bombay Presidency
India independent.
Decades that follow, operations handed to city municipality
99-year lease ends.
No renewal. BMC proposes a theme park complete with ‘Mumbai Eye’
Premise vs. possibility?
Mumbai Park
NSCI Dome Jacob circle
Lodha World One
Western Line
Proposal to turn into a dumping ground.
Proposal rejected.
Global Pandemic.
Country’s largest COVID-19 centre set up at the racecourse.
Decade later, BMC proposes renewal.
Asks for 120 acres for ‘amusement park’
Precedents study
Arthur Crawford’s proposed Bombay Park at Mahalaxmi was to be spread over 400 acres.
(source : Bombay Imagined, Robert Stephens)
Arthur Crawford (1835–1911) was the first Municipal Commissioner of Bombay (now Mumbai). Crawford imagined a 400-acre park to detoxify the Mahalakshmi Flats.
The idea would be to simply leave the vast open space the way it is and undertake minimum upgrades in an ecologically-sensitive manner, perhaps something that one could revisit today.
Mahalakshmi railway station
Haji Ali Dargah
a
Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore, India
module 02a | buildings types study
Mahatma Gandhi Road also known as MG Road is a road in Bangalore, India. It runs east from Trinity Circle at one end to Anil Kumble Circle at the other. Also known as the South Parade in pre-independence era, it was renamed as the Mahatma Gandhi Road on 26 February 1948.
As one of the primary arterial roads of the city, the MG Road records a daily ridership of about 8,500, along its entire 2.25 kms long stretch. The East-West corridor of the Purple Line of Namma Metro also runs along MG road.
As one of the busiest roads in the city it is lined on one side with retail stores, food outlets, restaurants and many more. It has many office buildings, shops, banks and theatres, all a myriad collection of varied architectural styles, expressions and result of changing development control rules over the years.
Mixed Use - Business Center
Barton Center
Ground Coverage (sq.m.): 1,650
Total Plot Area (sq.m.): 2,450
Relatively new construction amongst on the stretch with large, active street frontage.
Public Utility Building
Ground Coverage (sq.m.): 2,967
Total Plot Area (sq.m.): 4,450
Tallest building on the street, also serving as a major landmark and visual marker. Commercial Non
Commercial - Printing Press
Deccan Herald - The Printers Mysore
Ground Coverage (sq.m.): 420
Total Plot Area (sq.m.): 650
Art Deco styled printing press, with an opaque, uninteractive street face.
Institutional - Government
City Civil Court - Mayo Hall
Ground Coverage (sq.m.): 1,747
Total Plot Area (sq.m.): 8,185
Oldest, perhaps most prominent public building on the street built in Greco-Roman style.
0 50 100 200m.
The elevated boulevard on M.G. Road was razed to facilitate the construction of an overhead Metro station. The city has been losing around 1,500 trees in each of the past five years. Many of them were 35 to 60 years old, whose permission is required prior cutting.
The Metro alone has put 1,500 trees on the chopping block. City NGO groups advised Metro that they have to compensate in a 1:10 ratio. There remains a 30% success rate to the replantation policy as of 2024.
- Barton Centre
- Public Utility Building
- United Mansions
- Cauvery Emporium
- Deccan Herald Printers
- City Civil Courts
- Higginbothams
- Shankarnag Swagath Theatre
- Sam Maneckshaw Parade grounds
Key Plan
a
Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore, India
module 02b | Street study
The inception of the Bangalore Metro, particularly the Purple Line, has significantly impacted the landscape and connectivity of MG Road. The introduction of the metro has catalyzed further development along MG Road and its vicinity. The area has witnessed a surge in commercial and residential projects, with modern high-rise buildings reshaping the skyline. Additionally, the integration of metro stations with shopping complexes and entertainment centers has created vibrant hubs of activity, attracting people from all walks of life.
While the expansion of the metro system is undoubtedly crucial for addressing the city’s transportation needs, the manner in which it has been pursued raises a lot of questions about priorities of urban planning and community engagement.
The demolition of the old promenade serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges cities face in balancing progress with the preservation of their rich heritage and the well-being of their citizens.
Stats at a glance
Type of road arterial 18.0
MG Road in detail
1,250
350 8,500 ROW(m.) length of road (m.)
ridership
2024
East-West metro corridor
BMRC metro corridor
Road side parking bays
Sam Maneckshaw
Parade grounds
Children play area
Cross lanes to Church St.
2014
BMTC Bus stop
New promenade
Performance area
Rangoli Metro Art Centre
2007
Cariappa Park Old promenade Old promenadeGround floor Use
Commercial - Retail
Commercial - Non Retail
Porosity Map
Partially porous Opaque
Thoroughfares, thresholds and edge conditions (pre independence)
Colonial - era structures, often built to edge, lead to encroachments, appropiation of their margins space. Activities concerntrated between buildings rather than in front of them.
With subsequent chnages to development control rules over the years, newer structures boast more street frontage encouraging more pedestrian activities
Thoroughfares, thresholds and edge conditions (post independence)
Intervention and its effects
The decision to raze down the old promenade at MG Road in Bangalore to make room for the metro sparked significant controversy and criticism.
For the people, the promenade itsef symbolized more than just a space for leisure and cultural activity; it embodied the city’s history and communal identity.
Its demolition represents a huge loss of heritage and a complete disregard for the sentiments of the local populace. Furthermore, the decision also reflects a prioritization of the ciy’s infrastructure development over the preservation of cultural landmarks and public spaces.
Section through MG Road
Credit : Adapted from ‘Unfolding of Historic urban metaphor’, Poorna Chinappa et all. (2012) before after
Piazza del duomo, Florence, Italy
Module 02b | Urban block study
The Piazza del Duomo is a large area in the city center where the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is located. The square contains Florence Cathedral with the Cupola del Brunelleschi, the Giotto’s Campanile, the Florence Baptistery, the Loggia del Bigallo.
A roman city at the start of 10th century, Florence transformed from a neatly defined Roman grid, with streets perpendicular to each other and small, defined town centers, into a rapidly growing urban city. The Duomo, or Florence Cathedral, also caused the city to urbanize and grow into one of the most powerful areas in Europe.
Today the square (piazza) draws about a million tourists to the city, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. The juxtaposition of medieval structures with contemporary urban demands underscores the need for a nuanced study of the same.
Loggia del Bigallo Column of Saint Zanobi
Mercato Vecchietti Column of Abundance
The Makings of a Roman City Network of markets, lobbies and urban art
Elements of Urban Design studio | Spring 2024
Mercato del Porcellino Equestrian statue of Cosimo I Fountain of Neptune
Replica of statue of David
Loggia dei Lanzi
Mercato Nuovo
Pedestrain movement Street actviities, shopping, tourist district
ATAF bus stops & routes Light city bus service connecting piazzas across city
Police and emergency services corridor
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Signoria (Political square) Piazza della Repubblica(Commercial City square) Giotto’s bell tower Baptistery of St. John Palazzo Vecchio Town Hall Loggia dei Lanzi Scuplture galleryarea - 15,872 sqm
perimeter - 850.2 m
Decumanus | East - West
Cardo | North - South
Delaying the Florentine urban block
Originally a Roman camp, Florence quickly grew to be one of the larger town centres located on Via Roma, the first roman road, joining all major cities across Europe. Squares or ‘piazzas’ would form at intersection of the east west oriented decumanus and north south oriented cardo.
Over the centuries, formidable increase in trade expanded the city well beyond the river Arno leading to a highly dense cluster of urban blocks with smaller courtyards in the innards of the blocks.
Today, the built form has been appropiated to suit the modern needs of communities residing therein roday.
area - 560.2 sqm perimeter - 101.2 m
Unbuilt - 57,522 sqm
Built - 1,14, 775 sqm
public life revolves around these plazas
Elements of a Florentine City square
facciatas/facade Facades of florentine streetscape
vias/strades
Narrow winding roads define urban blocks
piazzas open spaces for congregations
Typical Florentine urban block
“Loggia” lobby as a congregation space
facades with classical proportions
Nature of Florentine piazzas
Scales, purpose and expressions
Unlike the grand open squares found in many European cities, Florentine piazzas often take on a more intimate scale, nestled amidst narrow streets and surrounded by centuries-old built forms.
Each square tells its own story, bearing witness to centuries of political intrigue, artistic innovation, and social upheaval.
Piazza del Duomo Religious square
The most important and culturally significant squares of the city
Mercato Veccheitti
Piazza della Repubblica Commercial square
Originally the site of the city’s first forum; then of its old ghetto before Risanamento (citywide level urban renaissance)
Piazza del Signoria Political Square
Site of protests, congragations, throughout histroy right from renaissance till today.
Piazzas along Via Roma, first Roman Road
Idea of linked squares like successive rooms in a house
Loggia dei Lanzi
Pallazzo Vecchio Old Palace
Mercato dei Porcellino
Ponte Vecchio Old Bridge
River Arnoimage of the city
The cathedral is the dominant urban marker in the city’s skyline, also serves as wayfinder.
Monumental yet cozy
Despite large scale, the block resuts in cozy spaces apt for various activities.
lack of vegetation
the density of the urban block restricts possibility of vegetation to internal courts.
unseen demarcations
streets and activities arrange themselves without any physical boundaries
Ashish Chatterjee | PUD23345
Piazza del Signoria
Palazzo Vecchio museum Loggia dei Lanzi Open Theatre
notion of boundary
urban art as markers
less ornate facades
less commercial dominance
section through the square
inward looking buildings
expression
crenelated buildings, lack of articulated facades attest the political/public nature of square
activities
spill over in the shade of buildings
activities
invisble bounds
activities arrange themselves without distinct physical, or visible boundarys
monumental scale of plaza, attributed to its function as a political square
to accomodate maximum number of citizens possible
Typical deck modules
Lower and upper decks, Thaltej lake
deck module 01 : Bikeway + Seating width : 5.00m
deck module 02 : Trail + Lounge spots width : 5.00m
Lower and upper decks, Thaltej lake dry lake bed thin metal piles
series of thin connected decks floating above
Existing
Proposed
