URBAN STUDY - VARTHUR PRECINCT ; BANGALORE, INDIA ( DESIGNURU '19 )

Overview Situated 25kms from Central Bangalore, what used to be a farmer’s paradise, covered in lush green vegetable farms and rose gardens, has now become the area of utmost conflict and chaos. The evolution of Varthur was very rapid as it had multiple exterior influences such as the close proximity to the Old Airport as well as to ITPL. As the migrant population grew, there was more need for residential as well as recreational facilities, resulting in an unorganised development around the area.

The farms are now being taken over by large developers who’s construction is not only reducing the natural nutrients in the soil but also contaminating the edge of the lake. Varthur lake thus experiences large amounts of pollutants as well as foaming. The lake systems around Bangalore are being disrupted and are slowly degrading.

There is a vast disparity in the two types of communities that reside in Varthur, causing a divide in the entire area. The conflict between the communities is seen as farmlands and access roads are being eaten away by gated communities.

The pressing need in Varthur is to create spaces that not only do good for the environment but also give back to both communities together.

We would like to thank our professors who were dedicated and passionate in giving us a very rewarding and rigorous studio : Ar. Pooja Mukundan Ar. Aruna Sujith Ar. Kavita Doshi Ar. Anand Kurudi Ar. Suryagayathri G Ar. Akshaya L Narasimhan This document was part of a submission for DesignUru Bangalore.

All data in this document was collected and compiled by the students of CMR University - School of Architecture.

Study Of The Precinct Varthur, Bangalore

40.0 KM 22.0 KM 13.0 KM BM TC BUS STOP

0.5 KM

PUBLIC ROADS PUBLIC ROADS

SECTION AA 1M

6M

1M

2M

SECTION BB 2M

26 M

2M

26 M

2M

SECTION CC

GRID IRON PATTERN

DERIVATION FROM GRID IRON PATTERN

GATED COMMUNITIES ACT AS A SINGLE B UILT MASS

LOOSE GRID PATTERN

DERIVATION FROM LOOSE GRID PATTERN

VARYING B UILT MASSES

LEGEND MAJOR ROADS MINOR ROADS GATED AREAS PUBLIC PARKS EMPTY PLOTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The figure ground study exhibits that the dense built spaces are separated from each other by vast unbuilt spaces in between them.

The figure ground study revealed that the open spaces on the northern part of the HAL Airport Road mostly exist as compounded areas and are in accessible to the general public.

Howeve the open spaces on the However, southern part which grew as part of the village community are areas accessibleveryone.

It was also observed that these regions are being effected by urbanization and the public spaces are being compounded for private use.

Open to Built

Infrastructure

LEGEND CITY LEVEL LANDMARKS LOCAL LEVEL LANDMARKS NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

JAGRITI RENNAISANCE

COMMERCIAL

SIGMA TECH PARK

RESIDENTIAL EDUCATIONAL

AADARSH PALM RETREAT

VIRGINIA MALL

LOCAL CLINIC

LAKSHMI TEMPLE

NAMMOORA HIRIYA PRATHAMIKA SHAALE

VARHTUR KERE

VEHICULAR MOVEMENT PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT GATED SETTLEMENTS LOW INCOME SETTLEMENTS INSTITUTIONS AGRICULTURAL LAND COMMERCIAL TECH PARKS PG

HEATHCARE RAJAKHALAVE

DNR ATMOSPHERE

LEGEND

RELIGIOUS

The city level landmarks outnumber the local landmarks.

The landmarks for the upper middle class and middle class are good in number. They consists of malls, restaurants and a theatre.

There are a number of well known residential communities as well.

The local level landmarks consist of mainly religious landmarks and few minor heathcare facilities.

There are currently very few recreational spaces for the locals.

Farmlands mostly belong to the people of the communitiy settlement. The farmers also live around the farms.

Some people from the lower income zone work in the gated communities and aparthments on the Northern side of the main road. f The movement of people from the two types of settlements is to the minimum. Hence, there is very less social interaction between the two groups of people.

People working in the Tech parks use the small shops on the southern side of the main road.

Activity Mapping

Residential Complex which are usually given out as paying guest accomodations.

Heights range between G+ 2 TO G + 4.

GOVERNMENT SCHOOL : Most of the Children staying towards the southern settlement of hal old airport road are sent to this government school. There is also a play field attached to the school that has public access which is used by people around the settlements to play sports like cricket, football , etc TEMPLES : The southern settlement has a series of temple networks. The temples range from larger temples with large gopurams to smaller temple setups.

Middle class residential units that are restricted to two floors.

RESIDENTIAL

Lower middle class units , restricted to one floor.

The units spill out onto the streets.

A large BOREWELL has been dug out , and tanker systems are set up to transport water from this borewell to nearby localities.

The settlements around the lake also get access to water through this set up of tankers.

The def tem

Sri math Adishakthi Draupadi temple is one of the most important temple in the locality.

A yearly celebration of the Karaga originates from this temple.

I

ALL

TH

RA

A SM

Ano tem

RD

WA

TO

A

TOWARDS MARATHALLI

RETAIL

Mixed use residential Complex. The bottom most floor is given out as retail space and the

VARTHUR KERE

MARIYAMMA TEMPLE BUILT TYPOLOGIES

Categorised by narrow streets with single storeyed houses on either sides.

STREET CHARACTER Activities spilling onto the streets.

Occupied by low income groups.

Simple contruction technology.

No defined plinth.

Narrow streets just enough for pedestrian and smaller vehicular movements.

Middle class settlements are characterised by small scale apartment buildings of three to four floors. Roads are sufficient to accomodate two cars.

C B

A mix of middle class and lower middle class settlements , characterised by an overlap of smaller apartment buildings and single storeyed houses that spill onto the streets.

The n chara chara settle

IT BUILDING TYPOLOGY Characterised by large glass facades , cantilevering blocks and large open spaces.

These typologies cater to the IT working crowd that are predominant in Varthur and Whitefield.

HIGH RISE APARTMENT TYPOLOGY

D

INDUSTRIAL

These retail units mostly cater to the upper middle class population

COMMERCIAL

MALL TYPOLOGY Characterised by large glass facades and billboards. These units enclose large retail units within them.

These apartment typologies house a large number of people and vary from a height of G+8 to G+15.

A C

They enclose larger open spaces and amenities within their compound wall.

LOW RISE APARTMENT TYPOLOGY These Apartments are much smaller than the high rise apartment typologies.

SECTION DD

The amenities are also limited compared to the hiigh rise apartments. These units vary from a height of G+3 TO G+5

SECTION DD SECTION BB

SECTION CC

D

APARTMENT TYPOLOGY

COMMERCIAL/ RETAIL RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL

Compounded apartment communities enclose amenities such as parks, public spaces , retail etc.

This typology is dictated by a upper middle class demography.

These typologies range from a height of G+6 to G+8

SECTION DD

A

SECTION BB

SECTION AA

Gated community settlements usually single villa units. A villa typology with private gardens and backyards.

The materials and textures used are more neutral and balanced.

BUILT TYPOLOGIES

RESIDENTIAL

VILLA TYPOLOGY

SECTION CC

A

TOWARDS MARATHALLI

HAL OLD AIRP ORT ROAD

TOWARDS FORUM VALUE

A B C

B D C

SECTION AA

E D

Squatter setlements near the lake - These settlements are built on encroached lands. The settlement is characterised by very temporary structures,lack of light and ventilation. No public facilities such as water and electricity.

E

SECTION BB

SECTION CC

SECTION DD

TOWARDS FORUM VALUE

TOW

ARDS

I

LL THA

RA

MA RDS

A

TOW

VARTHUR KERE

STUDY OF THE SETTLEMENT ALONG LAKE EDGE

VART

HUR

VILL

AGE

ROSE AND VEGETABLE GARDENS : along the periphery of the varthur lake. The farm lands have been depleating over the years and the lands are being sold off to developers.

SECTION EE