SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la riqualificazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
Il fiume in India riveste da sempre un ruolo di primaria importanza in ambito spirituale e culturale; è infatti considerato base della vita ed elemento purificatore. Sebbene storicamente vi sia sempre stato un rapporto di simbiosi ancestrale tra città e fiume, i recenti sviluppi socio-economi del paese hanno messo in crisi questo legame.
Rivers have always had a primary role in the cultural and spiritual life of India; in fact, they are considered the basis of life and a purifying element. Although there has historically been an ancestral relationship of symbiosis between the city and the river, the recent socio-economic developments of the country have jeopardized this link.
Ahmedabad si pone come caso paradigmatico di questo complesso fenomeno. Il fiume monsonico che l’attraversa, il Sabarmati, era uno spazio di vita: sulle sue sponde si svolgevano diverse attività del quotidiano, come il lavaggio dei tessuti e il mercato tradizionale, mentre il suo letto veniva utilizzato nei periodi di secca per l’agricoltura e la raccolta della sabbia. Con lo sviluppo industriale della città e la sua rapidissima ed inarrestabile espansione, il fiume è stato fortemente inquinato dagli scarichi degli stabilimenti e si è trasformato in dimora di numerosissimi insediamenti informali; ciò ha determinando condizioni di degrado ambientale e le sponde sono diventate inaccessibili.
Ahmedabad is a paradigmatic example of this complex phenomenon: the monsonic Sabarmati river that crosses it used to be an actual living space: on its shores different everyday activities used to take place, such as the traditional laundry and daily market, while during the dry season its bed was used for farming and sand collection. With the industrial development of the city and its rapid expansion, the river has been more and more polluted by industrial waste, and started housing many illegal settlements; all this has made its shores inaccessible.
Dagli anni ‘60 si è resa indispensabile una riflessione sulla tematica e sono stati proposti dei progetti volti al recupero del riverfront, fino al recente intervento urbanistico messo in atto dalla municipalità: il Sabarmati Riverfront Development. Il progetto ha stabilito un nuovo margine artificiale del fiume ricavando nuove aree di espansione urbana, e ha regolarizzato la presenza di acqua durante tutti i mesi dell’anno tramite un sistema di dighe.
Since the early ’60s a public discussion on the Sabarmati river has been going on, and several projects for the recovery of its riverfront have been submitted, until the most recent urbanistic intervention promoted by the municipality: the Sabarmati Riverfront Development. The project built a new artificial level, thus creating new urban areas, and regularised the water flow during all year through a dam system.
Questa tesi propone di recuperare la risorsa ambientale e culturale rappresentata dal fiume ipotizzando una nuova arteria verde nel centro di Ahmedabad, capace di ristabilire l’ecosistema fluviale. Partendo da tali presupposti sono stati delineati gli ambiti e le aree di intervento, dividendo le proposte in un sistema interconnesso di scale. Il parco fluviale è pensato come elemento diversificato e attrattivo lungo tutti gli 11 Chilometri del Sabarmati; in esso vengono inoltre inserite delle polarità per attivare nuove dinamiche socio-economiche. A questo intervento si affianca un potenziamento di quelli che sono i tessuti margine tra fiume e città, specialmente quelli del centro storico: in questo ambito è stata presa in considerazione l’area tra i quattro ponti centrali, suggerendo possibili linee guida per l’edificato e le infrastrutture. Sono stati quindi presi in esame due casi studio ad una scala più ravvicinata, che suggeriscono come le indicazioni date possano materializzarsi ed integrarsi all’esistente.
This thesis suggests to recover the environmental and cultural resource represented by the river, by imagining a new green line in Ahmedabad city centre, thus restoring the river ecosystem. From this assumptions, the scopes and areas of intervention have been identified, structured in an interconnected scale system. The river park is designed as a diversified attractive element along all the 11 kilometres of the Sabarmati; centres to collect new socioeconomic dynamics are also included in the project. This intervention is complemented by the enhancement of the margin fabrics between the river and the town, especially the one in the historical centre: in this framework, the area among the four main bridges has been tackled, with adequate giduelines for the buildings and infrastructures. Finally, two case studies have been considered on a closer scale, alleging how the intervention may take place and integrate the existing features.
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
Milions
10
200
Rural population
500
Growing economic rate
Urban population
1911
1931
1951
1971
1991
2010
Concentration of particulated matter of 2,5 μg or less
India in the XXI century appears as a nation proud of its role of emergent global power; together with Brazil, China and Russia it’s been considered by Jim O’Neil as one of the most influent economies in the next mid-century. To refer to this group of rapid growing countries, the term BRIC was coined.
Reworked datas from World Develpment Indicators 2016 50 50 Trillion
1990
40 40 2,5
2013 2013
30
230
Reworked datas from The World Bank 2009 - 2014
1990
Milions
China
2030
Countries’ economic growth and most polluted cities
Average annual growth of per capita GDP
Indian population trend
India 17,5 %
0
China
Brazil
Russian Fed
India
Pakistan
Japan
U.S.A
Bangladesh
Other countries
Indonesia
Nigeria
200 150
1911
1970 1975 1980 1985
1990 1995
World’s fastest growing cities
2000 2005
No data Concentration of particulated matter of 10 μg or less in urban areas
10 10 100
Large cities of 5 Rural population Large cities of 5 10milion milion toto10
88 500
Medium-sizedcities cities Medium-sized milion Urban population ofof1 1toto55milion
606
Citiesofof500 500000 000 Cities milion toto1 1milion
44
1911
1931
1951
1971
1991
2010
2,5-2 -2 2
Main indian cities on river banks by population
Delhi
Pakistan India 17,5 %
Nepal
Ganga
Jaipur
Yamuna
1
Bhutan
Lucknow
0,5
1960 1965
Africa Africa
Asia Asia
Europe Europe
Latin Latin America America
Nothen Northen America America
Oceania Oceania
China
Brazil
Russian Fed
India
Pakistan
Japan
U.S.A
Bangladesh
Other countries
Indonesia
Nigeria
City shape
Rivers
Foundation
Area
Population (metropoly)
Source: Census 2011
Source: Census 2011
1960 1965
Dahisar Poisnar Ohiwara
Mumbai
Delhi
Yanuma
Maharashtra
Delhi Union Territory
300 BC Maruya Empire
3500 BC BC Maruya Empire
603 km2
1970 1975 1980 1985
2000 2005
Mumbai
12
Megacities of 10 milions or more
10
Large cities of 5 to 10 milion
11,034,555 6
8
Medium-sized of 1 to 5 mili
6
Cities of 500 to 1 milion
0
Hyderabad
-2
Africa
Asia
Europe
Medium-sized cities of 1 to 5 milion
16,314,838
Large cities o to 10 milio
Myanmar
2
Pune
21 000 ab/km2
Megacities of milions or mo
4
Godavari
2010 2015
18,414,288
12,442,373
8
1484 km2
1990 1995
2010 2015
Kolkata
10
Surat
Density
2000 2005
12
Narmada
Population (city) 0,5
1990 1995
Bangladesh
Ahmedabad
1,5
State
1970 1975 1980 1985
Shipra
1
Name
2030
2030
00 Trillion
50-99 μg/m3
2010
1,5
22
100-149 μg/m3
1991
2 Megacitiesofof10 10 Indian population Megacities milionsorormore more milions
>150 μg/m3
1971
2,5
150 12 12
Reworked datas from WHO (World Health Organisation) 2008 - 2015
1951
Trillion
2010 2015
Milions Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2014, 200 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Less than 0
1931
AAs siaia SSo ouuth th
1960 1965
0 - 1,9
E aan Eaasst ndd t AA PPaa ssia cciif fiic M No Miidd Nor ddle rtthh A le Ea AffricEasst ric a t a SuS bu-b S AAf -aSahha rfirc arar iaca ann EEuu CCee roropp nntrtr ee a aal l annd AAssi d iaa LaLa tintin AAmm eerir cicaa NNo orrth th A Amm eeri ricca a
1
2,0 - 3,9
Urban population
0
10 10
00 μg/m3 0,5
Rural population
500
Afghanistan
1,5
4,0 - 5,9
Indian population
100
20 20
6,0 or more
E an ast d As Pa ia cif ic M i No d d rth le Af Eas ric t a Su bS Af aha ric ra a n Eu Ce rop nt r e a l an As d ia La tin Am eri ca No rth Am eri ca
A civilization of holy water
As ia
100
0
Indian population
So uth
ECONOMICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA
150
Cities of 5002000 12 592 ab/km to 1 milion
Latin America
Nothen America
Oceania
Geographical map
4 2
Karnataka Bangalore
Vrishabhavathi
Bangalore
0
1537 Kempegowda I
709 km2
8,443,675 -2 Africa
0-200 m
Chennai
8,499,399 Asia
Europe
Latin America
Nothen America
Oceania
11 876 ab/km
200-400 m
Kaveri
2
400-600 m 500-1000 m Telengana Hyderabad
Musi
1591 AD Muhammad Quli Qutb
650 km2
6,731,790
7,749,334
1000-2000 m
10 477 ab/km2
Sri Lanka
2000-3000 m 3000-4000 m Gujarat Ahmedabad
Sabarmati
1411 AD Ahmed Shah
464 km2
5,577,940
6,352,254
>4000 m
Gujarat, land of legends
13 690 ab/km2
Overview Tamil Nadu Cooum Adyar
Chennai
West Bengal Hooguy
Kolkata
Stone Age Pallavaram
426 km2
1960 English East India Company
185 km2
4,646,732
8,696,010
14,112,536
Main cities 24 000 ab/km
Economy
Urban
2
State highways
Rural
National highways
Services
Hindu
Industry
Muslim
Agriculture
Other Source: CMIE and Census of India 2011
The significance of water in Hindu religion Beliefs and mythology In ancient Hindu mythology water is relayed as the basis for life, elixir of immortality, and the foundation of the whole world. Water has always played a key role in the belief system culture of Hinduism.
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Practices
The sacred rivers Ganga
In Hinduism, all water is sacred, especially that of rivers, in which it is believed a spirit (usually goddess) dwells and controls the flow of the water.
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
Religion
Gujarat is located in the western part of India. It is known to be an important industiral hub and one of the fastest growing states of India, expecially in its main urban areas: Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot.
10 907 ab/km2
4,496,694
Population
The flow of rivers is connected to vital energy: in the Baghavata Purana, the entire visible world is depicted as the body of god Krishna, whom veins and arteries were the rivers themselves.
In Hindu Religion, taking a bath (Snanam) in a sacred river can purify the soul and washes sins away.
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
Confluences are particularly holy; they represent important spots of pilgrimage and celebration.
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
Water is used at the three major events during the life-cycle: birth, puberty and death.
Gangas’ water plays a central role in Hindu rites and rituals, with the ability to heal, cure and liberate the soul.
Yamuna
Kaveri
Godavari
Going by the Indian mythology, Yamuna is the one of the consorts of Lord Krishna.
River Kaveri is one of the few prominent rivers in the Southern India, and it’s known as the Ganges of the south.
According to the Hindu beliefs, a holy bath in the sacred water of Godavari liberates a person from the sins.
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Narmada
It is believed that Narmada descended straight from the sky on the order of Lord Shiva.
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
Sarasvati
dried
It is believed that the mythological Sarasvati flows underground and joins Ganges and Yamuna in Allahabad.
Kshipra
River Kshipra aka Shipra is one of the sacred rivers of Hinduism. The ancient holy city of Ujjain is situated on its banks.
INTRODUCING AHMEDABAD
Overview of a fast-growing metropolis in the Global South
Administrative sectors and landuse
Green open spaces in Ahmedabad Population growth rate by zone
Ahmedabad’s territory is organized and planned by different administrative authorities:
Residential
Commercial
5%
5%
1%
2,5%
0,5%
2%
Central
• AMC (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation), responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Ahmedabad. The municipality is then divided in:
Industrial
48%
34%
West 24%
- 6 zones (central, west, east, south, north, new west) - 64 wards
24%
South
• AUDA (Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority) carries out the sustained planned development of the area falling outside the perimeter of Ahmedebad Municipal Corporation.
13%
1%
East
14%
1%
33%
12,5%
1,5%
North
Open Space
Public land
Mixed use
13%
4%
11,5%
9%
0,5%
4,5%
3%
7%
1%
4%
0,5%
7%
Other 24%
40%
40%
16%
44%
7%
34%
14,5%
65% 19%
New west
Source: AUDA DP 2021
2%
1,5%
5%
Population Ahmedabad has been subjected to an impresPopulation sive increase in population after the eighties: from 2,159,127 inhabitants registered in 1981, to 3,520,085 in 2001 until the actual Central AMC - Central zone 7,214,225 (source: Census 2011). Migrants come mostly from the rural areas of Ahmeda-AMC -West East zone bad’s bordering villages. Nearly 90% of AUAMC - New East west zone DA’S Inhabitants live in the urbanized area of AMC - North Southzone AMC. Northzone AMC - South Relocations happen between the city areas as AMC - West New zone west well, from the historical center to the newest AUDA AUDA lots. IndiaIndia
Informal Work
Population by ward
growth rate by zone
Total population by ward and villages
Increment of the informal workers
0-3000
54%
3000-5000
24%
35%
3000-5000
5000-10000
37%
5000-10000
10000-20000
23%
69%
Men
Females
60000-90000
Informal workers per zone
90000-120000
Central: 18 273 West: 16 219 East: 8 975
120000-150000
90000-120000
22%
2009-2010
35000-60000
60000-90000
19%
1987-1988
20000-35000
35000-60000
36%
38%
10000-20000
20000-35000
16%
49%
0-3000
North: 8 348
120000-150000
Reworked datas from AUDA DP 2021
New west: 7 377 South: 7 376
Source: AUDA DP 2021
Source: AIILGS, April 2011
1
Roads and transportation Main roads’ network
Ahmedabad is well connected through roads’ infrastructures, railroads and the airport. Thus, the increase of vehicles (from 2001 till 2009 the growth rate has been approximately of 103%, source: AUDA DP 2021) causes the congestion of the main axes.
Vehicles’ growth
4
% of vehicles’ distribution Motorcycles
Quantity
Railroads
3
73%
Taxies
0,5%
2
2,000,000
Highways
1,500,000 1,000,000
Ring roads
The majority of urban streets in Ahmedabad have poor accessibility to pedestrian, and in some areas crossing the road is quite impossible.
Rickshaws
500,000
15%
Trucks
6%
Main roads 1981
1991
2001
2011
Buses
Cars
13%
3 wheelers 4 wheelers
Total 2 wheelers Source: AUDA DP 2021
2%
Source: AUDA DP 2021
Source: AUDA DP 2021
Green open spaces Parks’ types
Only the 4% of the 450 km2 of AMC area is devoted to green public spaces such as parks and gardens (source: AUDA DP 2021), which are mostly in the western area.
Neighbourhood Park
Community Park
City-Level Park
0-4000
4000-20000
20000-800000
Size (m2)
With the increase of the population, more green areas are needed in order to guarantee the space quality of Ahmedabad’s most congested areas.
% of green spaces by zone Trees pe Ha in AMC area
Pedestrian Access (m)
800
400
New west
% of green spaces in AMC area
South
Trees pe Trees Ha inpe AMC Ha area in AMC area New West
West
South West
East
800
East North
TreesNorth pe Ha in AMC area 5 min walk
n° in AMC
10 min walk
46
0m
50
2%
New west 776 trees/Ha
Green streets
Reworked datas from ISSN
0,5 - 1
Cultivated land
Public parks
N
Parks on waterfronts
Case of study
1 - 2,5 2,5 - 5 5 - 7,5
2
THE PARK: Law garden 50 m 10 10
North 2081 trees/Ha
% of parks by size in AUDA area
Case studies of Indian public spaces Formal Activities
West 1984 trees/Ha
East 1093 trees/Ha
Source: AUDA DP 2021
LEGEND
South 1143 trees/Ha
Trees pe Ha in AMC area
10 min drive
78
54
Central 1854 trees/Ha
Central
Central
Catchment
1
Trees/ha in city zones Trees pe Ha in AMC area
250 50 50 m
10
100
500 m 10100 100
Institutional Commercial
3
THE WATERFRONT: Kankaria lake 12,5 - 25 25 - 50
Located 100 amidst the western part of 10 the city, predominatly institutional and reTo Nerhu Bridge To Nerhu Bridge sidential. The triangular space of the park is surrounded by roads on all sides. However, the barriers along the edges divide this internalised open space with extroverted peripheral space. 50
50
ToToNerhu Bridge Nerhu Bridge To Nerhu Bridge
Religious
7,5 - 12,5
100
100
0m
50
100 m 100 100 100 100 500
500 500m 500 1000
100
> 50
500500
1000
1000 m 1000
To Nerhu Bridge
To walled city
To walled city To walled city To walled cityTo walled city
Recreational
100 500 1000 Waterfronts represent very pleasant10 ventila50 10 ted spaces in the arid climate of AhmedaTo walled city AD, Kankaria lake’s banbad. Built in 1451 ks now host a garden which is a centre of recreation and leisure, offering a wide range of activities: a zoo, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a boat house and many others. It attracts many users and vendors.
1000 1000
50 100
4
THE SQUARE: Manek Chowk
0 m 10 100
1050 m
50100 10m
10050
10
50 100
100
10 Since city’s foundation, Manek Chowk has 10 10 50 50 100 100 been one of the most successful urban nodes. Its name means ruby square; this name is borrowed from the many jeweller’s bazaars which surround the quadrangolar void. This square undergoes a radical transformation throughout the day accomodating a wide and diverse range of activities on a daily basis.
50
THE STREET: Gandhi road
0 m 1010 m 100
50 m 50
100 m 10
100
Gandhi road was the first axes to be created during the foundation of the city. Since then, it represented the economical core of Ahmedabad and presents some important religious buildings. Nowadays it hosts a street market, which occupies the side of the street next to the shops. The vehicular traffic is very intense in this area and it collides with the dense flow of pedestrians.
50
100
To Nerhu Bridge
To Nerhu Bridge
Informal Activities
To Nerhu Bridge To Nerhu Bridge To Nerhu Bridge
To Nerhu Bridge
LAW GARDEN KANKARIA Users LAW timeGARDEN to reach Users frequency TIME TO REACH
Food stalls
TIMEFREQUENCY TO REACH
FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH
KANKARIA
TIME TO FREQUENCY REACH
LAW GARDEN LAWCHOWK GARDEN GANDHI ROAD GANDHI ROAD MANEK MANEK CHOWK Users
FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH
KANKARIA GANDHI ROAD KANKARIA GANDHI ROAD time to reach Users frequency FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY
TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY TO REACH TIME TO REACH TIME TO FREQUENCYTIME FREQUENCY TIME TO FREQUENCY REACH FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY REACH
FREQUENCY
TIME TO REACH
MANEK CHOWK MANEK CHOWK LAW GARDEN LAW GARDEN
KANKARIA
TO REACH FREQUENCY TIMEFREQUENCY TO REACH TIME TIME FREQUENCY TO REACH TO REACHTIME TO REACH FREQUENCYTIMEFREQUENCY
KANKARIA
TIME TO FREQUENCY REACH
LAWfrequency GARDEN MANEK GANDHI ROAD LAW CHOWK GARDEN MANEK CHOWK Users GANDHI time toROAD reach Users
TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY
KANKARIA
FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY FREQUENCY
KANKARIA
TIME TOFREQUENCY REACH
GANDHI ROADGANDHI ROAD
TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY
TIME TOFREQUENCY REACH
CHOWK MANEK CHOWK Users MANEK time to reach Users frequency
TIME TO REACH FREQUENCY
FREQUENCY TIME TO REACH
FREQUENCY
< 5 min
Daily
< 5 min
Daily
< 5 min
Daily
< 5 min
Daily
5-15 min 15-30 min > 30 min
Once/week Once/month Rarely
5-10 min 10-15 min 15-20 min > 20 min
Once/week Once/month Rarely
5-10 min 10-15 min 15-20 min > 20 min
Once/week Once/month Rarely
5-15 min 15-30 min > 30 min
Once/week Once/month Rarely
Objects’ vendors KANKARIA
TIME TO REACH
GANDHI ROAD GANDHI ROAD
KANKARIA
KANKARIA
GANDHI ROAD GANDHI ROAD KANKARIA KANKARIA
KANKARIA
GANDHI ROAD GANDHI ROAD KANKARIA KANKARIA
GANDHI ROADGANDHI ROAD
Recreational 5 am
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Morning
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
12 am
Afternoon
7 pm
Evening
2 am
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
5 am
Morning
12 am
Afternoon
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
7 pm
Evening
2 pm
5 am
Morning
12 am
Afternoon
7 pm
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Evening
2 pm
5 am
Morning
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
12 am
Afternoon
7 pm
Evening
2 am
GLIMPSES OF THE PAST
The importance of Sabarmati in Ahmedabad’s history
First fortification and later expansions
The historic centre Existing gates Main monuments Ancient walls Heritage walk
FIRST FORTIFICATION The Sabarmati has a key role on the city’s establishment. The first colonists chose the elevated area at the east of the river to protect themselves from flooding.
FIRST COMMERCIAL ROUTE The city developed along the first axis, connecting Bhadra citadel to Jami Masjid. Various merchants settled along this nucleus, which developed a zone of markets.
INFRASTRUCTURAL NETWORK The first infrastructure network is defined from the streets that connect the main gates to the productive centre.
ORGANIC PATTERN The growth of the irregular pattern of streets determined the subdivision of the land, which is characterized by dense and compact tissue.
EXPANSION UNDER BRITISH DOMINATION Since its foundation the city conserved a semi-circular shape defined by the walls. Thus, with the construction of Ellis Bridge, the city begun to expand on the west banks.
INDUSTRIAL GROWTH After the Independence achieved in 1947, a strong migration from Sind region occurred, which led to an impressive growth of the city on both sides of the river.
Pols on Heritage walk
Urban morphology
Urban evolution
Pols: units of the historic urban fabric The historic city of Ahmadabad is constituted of residential settlements named ‘Pol’. It has a specific scale of its community based on settlement grouping. Several of such settlements combined together form a ‘Pur’: a neighborhood. These various ‘Pur’ have its own urban structure which is self sufficient for the communities, where each ‘Pol’ is once again a self sufficient unit.
1411 1501 1854 1911 1939 1960 Current expansion
Birds’ feeder
Pol’s gate
Badhra fort 1411 Sealed off well
Raikhad gate 1489
Pol’s temple
Teen Darwaza 1415
Jumma Masjid 1424
Swaminarayan Mandir Kalupur - 1822
Pol’s gate Pol’s street
Key events Traditional market on the river bed, established in 1440
Lithograph by Philip Baldeus depicting the city and the river
City walls of Ahmedabad
River as a place for washing and drying clothes
Ellis Bridge construction -1892
Ghandi’s speech for the Salt March - 1930
Scene depicting textile workers H.C. Bresson - 1967
Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project 2001
1411 - City establishment
1486 - The fort wall
1572 - The Mughal Emperor
1758 - The Maratha
1858 - British occupation
1947 - Indian Independence
1960 - Ahmedabad capital
When Ahmad Shah took the trone, he abandoned the old capital of Patan and shifted his new capital on the elevated plain of Bhadraon, at the east bank of the Sabarmati river, establishing there his royal residence. According to legend says he chose this location because he saw a rabbit chasing a dog, which to him was a methaphore for strength and bravery.
The sultan Mahmud Begado, grandson of Ahmed Shah, built the second fortification of the city, a10 Kilometers long wall, which still exixts in part , with 189 towers and 12 gates. New streets and gardens were planned and the city gained new sumptuous buildings, which made Ahmedabad splendid.
The Mughal emperor Akbar ended the independent sultanate and made Gujarat a province of his empire. During his kingdom, Ahmedabad confirmed its commercial importance, becoming the main exporter in the opium and textile sector. It achieved maximal prosperity and remained the most important city in Gujarat.
For 20 year the Marathes shared the administration of the city with the Mughals. In 1578 the Maratha’s armies drove out the last Mughals’ successor. During Marathas domination the city was neglected. It was in a state of ruins with its puras deserted and the city walls tumbled down.
The british East Indian Company imposed colonial status upon the city. During the second half of the 19th century, the economic growth of the city was derived from the textile industry: three textile mills were built within the wall and another 80 outside. Ahmedabad become known as the “Manchester of India”.
In 1915, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi settled his two ashrams on the banks of river Sabarmati. Therefore, the city had a key role for the Indian Independece’s achievement. It is on the dired bed of the river Sabarmati that Gandhi started his famous Salt March in 1930, to protest against the taxation on salt’s collection imposed by the British Administration.
Since the 60’s, Ahmedabad became a metropolis equipped with western style buildings, institutions and research centres. The city became capital of the state of Gujarat untill 1970. It became an important financial pole and it acquired a key role in the technology sector.
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
THE NEW RIVERFRONT
Potential and criticism of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project
Background
How it was
1964
Ahmedabad had always turned its back to the river, due to its unpredi7 ctable behaviour and relative problems 6 connected to it. Since Sabarmati was 5 a seasonal river, it ran practically dry 4 for nine months of the year and car3 ried water mostly during the monsoon season. The dry river bed and2 river banks were used for farming and1 a re0 gular weekly market, Ravivaari, as well as other activities such as the circus. Until about the 1970s, the river was also the city’s prime source of water.
French Architect Bernard Kohn creates a proposal for Integrated Planning & Development of Sabarmati Riverfront project
Riverfront Development Group proposes an incremental approach to reduce the need for initial capital investment. Daroi Dam is built.
1976
The project in brief A seasonal river
The project aims to provide Ahmedabad with a meaningful waterfront environment along the banks of the Sabarmati and to redefine the identity of Ahmedabad around the river.
6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Reclaimed Area 200 Ha
Total Lenght 12 KM J
F
M
A
M
The structure of the river banks
J
J
A
S
O
N
The key feature of the project is a two-level,continuous promenade.
Water Retention & Recharge
300-600 m 275 m
Main actors reclaimed area
Rajasthan Pakistan
Economic activities on the riverbed
1992
Ahmedabad
National River Conservation Plan proposes construction of sewers and pumping stations at the periphery of the city as well as the upgrading of existing sewage treatment plants
Clothes dyeing and washing
Slum existing after 1991
Sand collection
2011
2
The sewage line
SRFDC
Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation
Sabarmati
3
Beginning of works on the riverfront
2003
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
Narmada canal
Cultivation lands
upper promenade
lower promenade
AMC
Daroi dam
Informal markets
1
D
Water level
Slum existing before 1991
The descents
Relocated Households 1400
Households affected 12000
Earth filled 1,21 km3
The river banks
EPC
Maharashtra
Riverfront opens to the public
Dams
Catchment Area
Environmental Planning Collaborative
CHP Design proposition
Interceptor sewage line
Ahmedabad
Masterplan proposed by SRFDC | Scale 1: 10000 Legend Institution
CHP Squares
Development sites
Parks
Sports’ fields
0
100 mt 200 mt
500 mt
Design proposition
1000 mt
AMC
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
SRFDC
Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation
EPC
Environmental Planning Collaborative
Completed areas Area : 6.0 ha It will serve for Shahibaug-Dudheshwar neighbourhoods
Subhash Bridge Park
Area : 1.8 ha It will serve as a neighbourhoods park and it will strengthen the green space network on the western part of the city
Critical issues Objectives Enviromental improvement
?
?
Accessibility
Usmanpura park
Area: 6.5 ha It has been designed as on open air market with a functional arrangement of platforms where vendors can display their goods
Riverfront market
Area: 5.0 ha It has been envisioned as a permanent flower garden with native and exotic flower species
? The relocation issues
The shadow issue
?
Flower garden
The seek for water connections
Area : 5.7 ha It has been planned to offer a wide range of venues for local and international events
Events ground
Public spaces for who?
Area: 0.9 ha It has been created to provide state-ofart facilities for the washing community that used the river for laundering
Laundry campus
? spaces ?A series of divided
Social infrastructure
Sustainable development
Weakness Threatment
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
The project is weakened by the difficulties of accessibility from the inner part of the city centre, as there still exist several barriers which divide the riverfront land from the city. For example, it is often impossible to reach the riverfront from the bridges and therefore, from the main axes of the city centre.
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
There is an important lack of shadow on the river promenades, which make the utilisation of the infrastructure really uncomfortable during the hottest months of the year. This is due to the scarcity of ground and water provided to the green line on lower riverfront walkway.
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
The relocation of the slum dwellers next to the riverfront banks could have been improved by being more equal. There were a number of challenges with the way the process of relocation was conducted. Early engagement of NGOs to facilitate the process of relocation would have also helped improving the process.
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
The project doesn’t create occasions for the citizens to have a closer experience to the water, and doesn’t fully take the opportunities of the special quality provided by the element of water, which is very important in hindu tradition.
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
The project claims itself as the solution to bring back the river to Ahmedabad citizens. Nevertheless, the already finished parks of Usmanpura Park and Subhash Bridge Park have a restricted access to urban poors, having an entrance fee and not allowing less wealthy urban dwellers to access to the parks.
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
The different programs for the land use propose a program which tends to divide the land close to the river. Also, they propose several constructions which risk to congest the site and could be not suitable for the fragile areas next to the river, as the possibility of flooding is not completely assured.
A DIVIDED CITY
Analysis of urban fabric and its physical components An extraordinary space: the street
Comparison of east end west Ahmedabad has three distinct urban morfologies, the old walled city, the eastern industrial section and the western part. The city is physically divided by the Sabarmati river. The east bank houses the old city;an area full of bazaars and markets, the rigid closed system of houses pol,temples and mosques. The western part of town grew thanks to the construction of Ellis Bridge in 1875. In this part there are institutions, modern buildings, well planned residential areas, shopping centers and business districts
Walled City
East
washing
storage
gathering
playing
resting
commerce
animal
parking
cooking
East
-
West
+
Residential High Density
Residential Low density
Discontinuous Commercial Fabric
Slum Area
Dense Commercial District
Well Planned Residential
Business District
Secondary Road, Bhai Center Road - 12 mt
Village Street - 3 mt
Secondary Road, Khanpur Road- 10 mt
Slum Footpath
Main Road, Ashram Road - 28 mt
Secondary Road - 6 mt
Riverfront Road - 18 mt
P
West
Analysis of urban fabric | Scale 1:10000 Residential
Istitution
private
Commercial
Industrial
Slum
Religious
public
street
east views
city walls
west views
Existing Parks
4 3
Sardar Bridge
5
B’
e
7
ru B Neh
ridg
i Br
6
bed kar Brid ge
C A’
Dr A m
1
ge
hi Brid g
C’
2
di Brid Ghan
e
D
Dadhic
S
ha ub
sh
A
e dg
ridge Ellis B
B
D’
5 mt
50 mt
0 10 mt
5 mt 0 10 mt
100 mt
0
50 mt
100 mt 200 mt
500 mt
1000 mt
100 mt
Section A-A’ | Scale 1:2000 Section BB’ | Scale 1:2000
Section CC’ | Scale 1:2000
Section DD’ | Scale 1:2000
Urban Landmarks along the riverbanks 1
2
GHANDI ASHRAM
MILL’S OWNER BUILDING
SIDI SAIYAD MASJID
Ghandi created the Ashram in 1917 in a piece of open land on the banks of the river. He wanted to do some experiments in living eg farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding. It served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle. .
It is a modern architecture,designed by Le Corbusier who built it in 1954 the new headquarters of the association. It sits between Ashram Road and Sabarmati River. Le Corbusier designed the openings to frame views of the river below.
It is one of the most famous mosques of Ahmedabad, built in 1573 in the last year of the existence of the sultanate of Gujarat. It is entirely arcuated and it is famous for its beautiful carved ten stone windows on the side.
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
5
4
3
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
6
BHADRA FORT
AHMED SHAH MOSQUE
SANSKAR KENDRA
The fort is situated in the walled city area.It was built by Amhad Shah in 1411. It consists of royal places, mosques, gates and open spaces.
It is a religious place for Muslims that is well known for its architectural designing. It was constructed in 1411 A.D. by sultan Ahmad Shan, the founder of the city. It is one of the oldest Mosques of the city.
It is a city museum disegned by Le Corbusier in 1954, depicting history, art, culture and architecture. It was originally a part of a large complex of Cultural Centre, which wasn’t entirely built.
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
7 TAGORE HALL
It is a modern theatre designed by the architect Doshi in 1966
10 mt
A CLOSER LOOK
Discovering the interstitial fabric of Bhadra and Jamalpur
80, 000 street vendors in Ahmedabad
Main actions of SEWA SECONDARY CAUSES
How the Vendor Types acquire the goods (%)
EFFECTS
Food
Section A-A’ - Scale 1| 750 0 mt
Total B
Police Intervention
Immigration in urban areas
Urban beautification projects Growing number of vendors
Indian Economic growth
Increasing number of Supermarkets
Economical instability
Inflation
Vendors on the ground
Loans provision
Eviction of vendors
Acquire them for free Education on rights
Giuridical support
Buy them from other street vendor
SEWA
Lack of allotted spaces
City Walls
Buy them from an informal enterprise
Network creation
Harassment protection
B’ A’
Increase of competition
Section B-B’ - Scale 1|750
Buy them from a formal enterprise Formation
Growth of prices for goods
Acquire from a formal supplier to sell on commission
Walls City Walls
Height : 3 - 9 mt
Difference in height
Fences Not permeable
Walls
Accesses Concrete
Brick
Materials:
Other
Vendors with stands
city walls,barrier
LEGEND
Fences Height : 3-9 mt Not permeable
Height : 1-3 mt Semi permeable grate
Fences
brick concrete No storage and structure
Selling flowers
50 mt
Gap with no connection
A
Urban planning ideologies
40% of street vendors are women
Objects
10 mt
Make or grow myself
Bribes Weak law protection
50 mt
Accessibility and barriers
Main issues PRIMARY CAUSES
50 mt
0 mt
Analysis and problematics of informal vendors Introducing informality
10 mt
0 mt
Platform created with boxes
Cots and beds used to display goods
Selling fruits on moving cart with weather protection
Small space required selling flowers
Designed moving cart
Designed moving cart to sell icecream
Quality of the public spaces and its uses, activity mapping
Height : 3 - 9 mt Not permeable Materials:
concrete Height : 1 - 3 mt Semipermeable Materials:
Brick
Concrete
Grate
Concrete
Concrete
Grate
Fences
Analysis oh the historic walls
Localisation of accesses
Presence of solide waste
Localisation of staircase
State of degrade
Identification of City Gate
Height : 1 - 3 mt Semipermeable Materials:
to Swami Vivekananda Rd
Sardar Bridge
to Ghandi Road
JAMALPUR MARKET started in 1989. Now the same tradition continues over generations. The majority of traders are from Gujarat
to Relief Road
LEGEND
GAEKWAD-NI-HAVELI was built during
the joint rule of the Marathas and the Mughals. It is a fortified enclosure and remains an ISOLATED ELEMENT in the city.
Religious buildings
B to Mirzapur Road
Cricket area VICTORIA GARDEN is one of
Barbers
the most popular place for people who desire to chill out.
Stands
Ellis Bridge
B’ BHADRA SQUARE is the main square of the walled city and forms its HISTORIC CORE. It is surrounded by historycal structures,religious buildings and famous bazars.This is a city area of immense HERITAGE VALUE
Vendors on the ground
LAL DARWAZA BUS STATION is a traffic CONGESTED
Considerable buildings
point situated in an ISTITUTIONAL area.
Nehru Bridge Slums Urban Voids
LAL DARWAZA is a public park but
lack of maintenace and accessibility has rendered it a very PASSIVE SPACE
Reclaimed Land
Zoom on congestioned area of mosque
Zoom on Nehru Bridge
Zoom on congestioned area of Bhadra
Level of traffic
Traffic and flows
Daily flow
Bhadra fort
barber street slum
residences
hotels
hospital
historic walls
mosque
Zoom on Sunday Market
pedestrian traffic
Workingday flow
mosque
bus traffic
Istitutional area
high traffic maximum concentration of traffic
people
Night flow
Sunday morning flow
Quality of space
restaurants , banks
Morning
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
14.00
Traffic during the day Afternoon
20.00
Evening
2.00
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
medium
low
8.oo
Morning
14.00
Afternoon
Traffic during the day
under the bridge
on the bridge
20.00
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
Evening
sunday market
city walls
park
Traffic during the day
8.oo
Nehru bridge
riverfront street
vehicles 2.00
people
people under the bridge
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
bus station
Areas with the maximum concentration of traffic High traffic
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Medium traffic
8.oo
Morning
14.00
on working day
Afternoon
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
20.00
on Sunday
Evening
people 2.00
vendors
THE STRATEGY
Identification of the overall strategic lines Individuation of strategic guidelines
Mental map | Definition of thematics Social problematics
Infrastructure
Re-think the infrastructure Connect to the historic centre
New economic polarity
Presence of river
Recovery local know-how
Reconnection to the water ETHICAL ECONOMY
SUSTAINABILITY
URBAN QUALITY
LINEAR PARK
DENSE FABRICS
Fragmentation
Artisan tradition
HERITAGE
ACCESSIBILITY
Densify the disintegrated fabrics
Connect to the historic centre
Green Grid
Linear park
Barriers
Reconnection to the water
Re-think the infrastructure
Traffic
Infrastructure
Make the area usable
Congestion
Consolidate the primary connections Open new accesses towards the river
CONNECT Accessibility
Re-stitch the historic core of the city
Green grid
Urban Fabrics
Densify the disintegrated fabrics New economic polarity
Create an ecological infrastructure
Pollution
Make a system of exixsting green open spaces
Sustainability
Make the park an attraction and generate growth processes
SHARING
Create meeting places, to enjoy the space and to promote a sustainable development
Urban fabrics
Recompose the structure of the city
Fragmentation
Integrate the urban voids
Integrate the informal fabrics Space Quality
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
Involve public and private stakeholders in heritage conservation
Definition of processes Strategy’s structure Green Grid AMC
RIGID ELEMENTS
Infrastructure
Agricultural Cooperatives
Environmental Park
WHO
WHO
Cooperative
WHAT Self-production
Urban Fabrics Market
Private Group
WHO
WHAT
Environmental Park
FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS
Working Hub Cultural Center
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
amc
WHAT Start-up
Innovative systems
University
Research
Waste collectors
Waste management
WHO AMC + SEWA
WHO
WHAT Integrate the economic potential Give new production spaces
Mill’s owner Association + CHC
WHAT Maintenance
Cultural programs
Agricultural Cooperative
Local NGOs
Citizens
Private companies +
Cultural Center
Working Hub
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
SEWA
Exportation to the vendors
SEWA
Freelancer
Coworking
Citizens, tourists
WHY
WHY
WHY
WHY
Rediscover nature and a better quality of life
Strengthen basic and applied research
Improve the conditions of informal workers
Recover modern buildings and reactivate cultural amenities
Enable networks of people and propel the economy
Stimulate the management of solid waste with innovative systems
Create a meeting and education place
Extend the Heritage Walk
Encourage social inclusion of vulnerable people
Built production facilities for clean energy
Encourage the regularization of the artisans
Create cultural events to enhance the local art
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
urban farming parks workers park the hill
THE RIVERFRONT PARK sports park
recycling park
Proposed patterns for the green stretch along the Sabarmati
sculpture park floating park
relaxing park
Typologies distinction
Time schedule
Environmental park
Spiritual park
Urban farming
Sculpture park
Workers park
The hill
Sports park
Floating garden
Proposed parks’ sequence
Short term_5 years
Mid term_10 years
How parks relate to the existing tissues
Long term_15 years
36%
Planting trees on the whole linear park’s stretch
Provision of cyclo pedestrian ways accross the park
Workers park
The hills
Sports park
Cultural park
Environmental Urban farming park
i
P Environmental park
Urban farming
Workers park
PIndustial
Sculpture park
Floating garden
park
Residential i Slums
P
i
P
P P
P
On the pic-nic areas, more trees are planted in order to provide shadow
P
P 40 m
10 m
A fenced area keeps the cows separated from the users
P
i
i
10 m
20 m
P
This park could host many food vendors that are nowadays on the street, covered pic nic areas for workers to enjoy their meal outdoor. These could also be used for afterworks. WHAT’S NEEDED:
The area closer to the most inhabited neighbourhoods P should host new fields for the citizens to grown their own vegetables. An open structure hosts the farming cooperative, which could be managed by SEWA.
P
Commercial
P
i
10 m
20 m
0m
P
i
The area could host a landfill that could initiate a recycling practice in Ahmedabad, and a Biogas digester that could make resources from waste. The park also aims to inform and stimulate a critic conscience on environmental problematics to the citizens.
P
i
P
i
Sculpture garden P
i
i
P
The services’ boxes are used for toilets, changing rooms and places to rent and stock sportive material
i
Proper illumination and trees’ arrangement should be studied to enhance the sculpture’s exhibition
i
P
i
40 m
40 m
40 m
10 m
Commercial
The biogas dygester produces energy out of organic waste
P
P
P
The containers for the plants are made of reused plastic
Commercial
WHAT’S NEEDED:
The low hill could be used as a natural arena for an open air movie theatre
P
Commercial
P
P
Sports parkP
The wetland plants will absorbe excess nutrients and improve the quality of the water
Industrial
The info box are used by local NGOs for pedagogical interactive activities
20 m
i
The hill
Institutional
40 m
40 m
10 m
P
Floating garden
Residential
i
Chai tea vendors, shaded areas and yoga pavilions for meditation can provide the basic needs for an enjoyable break next to the park, while the existing temple could be the occasion to take a moment to pray.
P
i
Institutional
Informative panels explain the modei of operation of the recycle centre
i
WHAT’S NEEDED:
P
Heritage
P
0m
WHAT’S NEEDED: i
P
P
i
0m
0m
Residential
i
P
The existing temples are P to P connected restored and the wooden path
20 m
Commercial
i
P
P
40 m
P
P The slope allows to create an underground parking, accessible from Riverfront Road
20 m
Floating garden
i
i
The vegetable garden generates new jobs and permits to grow local products.
The hills
P
i
i
P
Sculture park
Environmental park
The yoga pavilion is open towards the river and offers a quiet place for meditation
i
i
P
Spiritual park
1%
i
P
P
Sports park
9%
i
P
i
P The cooperative building is used for administration of the workers and for stocking the materials.
Workers park
9%
11%
i
PSpiritual
The food stall area is a paved space provided with basic structures to prepare and sell the meals.
15%
i
P P
18%
Auxiliary urban furniture equipment
P Urban farming
23%
10 m
40 m
Tennis, Cricket and other sport fields are provided, as well as playgrounds for kids
20 m
10 m
Sculptures and installation can be provided by local students, artists and artisans
20 m
10 m
20 m
0m
i
0m
0m
0m
The basic structure for the park could be provided from the recycling of plastic materials, that could i be transformed into the containers forP the garden and the floating path. The plant roots grow down into the water. Once planted, these floating islands are much easier to care for than terrestrial gardens, and there will no need to water them.
To respond to the most congested areas, and to create new perspectives on the Sabarmati, a series of low slopes are created. The hill provides a separation between the streets and the park, while the difference in altitude functions as a viewpoint and as a parking underneath.
Ahmedabad is scarcely equipped with spaces for youngsters to play or practice sports. This park’s pattern aims to provide playgrounds and sports’ fields for pubblic use and for events. The majority of fields would be for cricket, since it’s the national sport.
A sculpture garden could represent an important occasion for the students from NID and from local artists to exercise on a public ground, creating pavilions or artistic structures. It could also be used for special festivals, shows and events.
WHAT’S NEEDED:
WHAT’S NEEDED:
WHAT’S NEEDED:
WHAT’S NEEDED:
P
i
P
i
P
i
P
i
P
TREES AND WETLAND PLANTS SPECIES
CASSIA SIAMEA evergreen maximal height: 20 m
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
ACACIA NILOTICA no leaves in dry season Maximal height: 15-20 m
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
NEM TREE evergreen Maximal height: 30 m
Urban furniture on the path
PELTOPHORUM PETROCARPUM evergreen, flowers in summer Maximal height: 25 m
DELONIX REGIA evergreen, flowers April-Jun Maximal height:12 m
FICUS RELIGIOSA no leaves in dry season Maximal height: 30 m
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
HOLOPTELEA INTEGRIFOLIA evergreen Maximal height: 18 m
PONTEDERIA CORDATA
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
LOTUS
IRIS PSEUDACORUS
Beachers
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Food stand
Bench
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
Swing
Information panel
ACTIONS ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS
Lineguides to improve and densify the areas next to the linear park
The urban fabric
The infrastructure
Densification of existing blocks
Reconsideration of cultural amenities
Reconsideration of smaller volumes
The organisation of the main axes
Opening of the amenities for public activities
Connection to Riverfront Park
Next to the Sabarmati area lie some hidden cultural amenities which could provide quality space for cultural activities and events. Their exterior could be connected to the nearby riverfront park.
The integration of the urban fabric close to the riverfront could be an opportunity to densify the area, improve the façade on riverfront road and promoting private investments for new housing and commercial programs.
New housing programs on Riverfront Rd
Rethinking the exteriors as public spaces
Supply for public facilities
Slum upgrading Some of the informal settlements which used to be located next to the river remained on site. They could represent new formal tissue, by upgrading their spatial features with few actions.
Riverfront rd National Institute of Design
Sanskar Kendra
The fortified area of Gaekwad Haveli is currently not accessible to public and could host a new sports center open to the public.
City centre
0m
50 m
100 m
200 m
Victoria garden
Creation of dry toilet structures
In between Pitam Rai Cross road an Riverfront rd there could be a student campus, due to the proximity of NID and othe universities.
Sunday market
1,5 m 1,5 m green line walkway
6 lanes road
Every 250 m Pedestrian crossing
The aerial walkway
The stairs toward the bastion
The cross bump
The improvement of the existing openings
The passages over the gallery
The stairs from the bridges
The floating plaza
2m street vendors
Badhra Nerhu bridge
Ellis bridge Riverfront Park
Khanpur rd
Riverfront rd
Khanpur rd
The void on the inner side of the ancient walls next to Badhra fort could host new building for offices and institutions.
Through the existing disgregated fabric, new access should be designed.
The docks
The plots used for stocking in Khanpur could be used for new housing programs.
Riverfront rd
1,5 m green line
4 lanes Every 250 m 1,5 m road street Pedestrian vendors crossing
The canopies on river banks
500 m
Urban fabrics integration
Reconsideration of cultural amenities
Slums upgrading
New programs for urban voids
Pedestrian stitching
Crossing: bump
Wall crossing: stairs
Main axes’ development
Crossing: aerial walk
Wall crossing: opening
New roads
Crossing: gallery
Staircase to bridges
Urban farming
Working hub
Spiritual park Urban farming Sports Park Workers Park Hills
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
The connection to the water
New roads toward the park
New programs for urban voids
Municipal Medical College
Normalisation and pavimentation of existing roads
Removal of the barriers
The access through the barriers
Only the main congested roads cross the Sabarmati. To reconsider the fluxes, it’s important to include the presence of street vendors in the street planning.
Line of trees separating Riverfront Rd Creation of semi-public spaces in between buildings
Crossing Riverfront rd
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
Relaxing park
(IN)FORMAL WORKING HUB
A new spot for the informal vendors
Definition of Actions CO-WORKING CENTRE
1
A new wave of independent professionals is rising in the last decades. Co-working spaces offer the opportunity to share some tools and equipments. Also, it gives the chance to professionals to enlarge their network.
2
Re-connect the fabrics
3
3
INFORMAL WORK CENTRE
The structure
This polarity offers the opportunity for informal workers to reunite with a cooperative that could help them get proper space to produce their own craft and to sell it.
Potentiate community
The working hub
Exploded view
The 5x5 m unit could be a singular workshop and selling area, or a restricted area for professionals renting co-working spaces
Wooden roof
The design concept is based on the need for permeability. It amis to create a relationship between people and functions of each building.
The 10x10 m unit could host community activities of the cooperative, such as meetings, meals, lessons and conferences. They could as well host the activities of other associations, or be rented for private events
1
Manage flows
Restore the walls. Improve the market
2
Re-think the infrastructure
Clean up the garbage and remove the objects piled next to the ancient walls The pedestrian bridge connects the working hub to the market area Involve the Ahmedabad Cultural & Heritage Creative Industries Cluster to restore the walls The water plaza becomes the occasion to host shows, events and an open air movie theatre
Create a green stretch all along the historical walls
Provide wooden structures to bring shadow to the maket areas
The plaza creates a new access to rediscover and appreciate the river
A new opening on the city walls allows to access to Gaekwad Haveli and the city centre
Section | scale 1:500 SPORT CENTER
10 mt 5 mt
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
SUNDAY MARKET
RIVERFRONT STREET
WORKING HUB
CULTURAL PLAZA
50 mt
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
UniversitĂ degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio
RE-STICHING
Processes of re-connection from the heart of the city to the riverfront 1
The extended Heritage Walk
2
Bhadra Square
Sidi Saiyad Masjid
INTERVENE ON PUBLIC SPACE
PRESERVE THE MONUMENT
remove vehicles
building maintenance
The re-stiching process used to return the river to the city, implements design solutions that have the objective to recover the water-city relationship. The designation of appointed places and their connection to a solid structure such as the Heritage Walk, creates charismatic systems of the river rediscovery.
RENOVATE FACADES
DECONGEST THE AREA
to Jumma Masjid
VALORIZE THE SYMBOLIC BUILDINGS
replace some informal activities
provide building maintenance
reduce the traffic
inclusion in a tourist and cultural route
repave the street
inclusion in a tourist route
re-thinking furniture
to riverfront
to Ellis Bridge
RENOVATE THE SPACE repave the street
Heritage walk
1 Path
2 Path
RENOVATE THE OPEN SPACE to Nehru Bridge
to Bhadra
repave the street
organization of activities
CREATE A NEW PATH
organization of activitie
to bus terminus
reconnect to the Heritage walk
re-thinking furniture
3
Sidi Saiyad Masjid
re-thinking furniture
Two dominant paths Heritage Walk
PRESERVE THE MONUMENT
a
Teen Darwaja
b
Premabhai Hall
c
Bhadra Fort
d
provide building maintenance
Shahi Jam-e-Masjid
400 mt
inclusion in a tourist route
FACILITATE CROSSINGS
270 mt
CREATE A NEW PATH
control the traffic
240 mt
160 mt
to riverfront
160 mt
e
Sidi Sayad Masjid
600 mt
reconnect to the Heritage walk re-thinking furniture
a
discover the value of nature
to bhadra
b
to riverfront c
1
POTENTIATE THE STREET SHUT DOWN A ROAD
create a green filter
manage the flows
extend the sidewalk
repave the street
manage the flows
d
2
create a public space
4
Riverfront Park
e
3
CREATE NEW PATH RECOVER THE WALLS
re-thinking furniture
provide maintenance of the historic elements
rediscover the value of nature
create a view point
4
1st path Ellis Bridge
GET CLOSE TO THE WATER
2nd path
development of water mobility
INSTALL PAVILLIONS
Nehru Bridge
installation of relax areas
SABARMATI W(E)AVE
Riscoprire il fiume: proposta strategica per la rigenerazione del riverfront di Ahmedabad
UniversitĂ degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Architettura
Anno Accademico 2016-2017
Relatori: Marcello Balzani, Romeo Farinella; Correlatori: Meghal Arya, Pietro Massai
Laureande: Simona Basile, Caterina Dallolio