SMRITI VAN
E C O – R E V E L AT O R Y D E S I G N F O R D I S T R I C T PA R K T O E N H A N C E S O C I A L I N C L U S I V I T Y
Location : East Delhi district Duration of thesis : December , 2019 – July, 2020
Every child’s first memory of the natural space, becomes his foremost memory to find solace in - Author
Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth Come roll in all the riches all around you And for once, never wonder what they’re worth
SUSAN MARIA THOMAS 2018MLA015 (Author)
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers The heron and the otter are my friends And we are all connected to each other In a circle, in a hoop that never ends How high will the sycamore grow If you cut it down, then you’ll never know And you’ll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon For whether we are white or copper skinned
Dept. of Landscape Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal
You think the only people who are people Are the people who look and think like you But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger You’ll learn things you never knew, you never knew We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains We need to paint with all the colors of the wind You can own the Earth and still All you’ll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind Contact details: +91-9633143431 ar.susanmariathomas@gmail.com
- POCAHONTAS , Colors of the Wind (Lyrics)
SITE INTRODUCTION The name ‘Smriti Van’ evokes nostalgia, a nod to something that is immemorial even if it has expired in physicality. The park was named thus to be a place to plant saplings in memory of a loved one. Today, one of these 4 parks of Delhi is a District Park in East Delhi is facing neglect by the lack of use by people especially due to a strong social and economic divide. The park has fallen prey to social evils and disassociates by design and intent from the users in the neighborhood and district. However, being one of the 3 largest spaces allotted by MPD 2021 for recreational purposes in East Delhi, neglect of such large public open spaces cannot be afforded to be overlooked. The district also, has the highest population density in Delhi with of over 27,000 people In 1 sq.km., making it significant for the stakeholders. The thesis explores the natural and human associations with the park and tries to offer a middle ground to enhance the quality of the space, not just by design but by participation of the public and thus, improving footfall to the park. The design aims for sensitive planting schemes and for avifaunal habitat provision for the public to have a keener interest in the park. This overall aim is to enhance the ‘social inclusivity’ of the park by bringing all people in.
HYPOTHESIS (Questions)
Question 1: Would the design of a District Park improve the inclusivity of all socio-economic groups at a neighborhood, district and city level? Question 2: How does the landscape preferences of users affect the design of a park so that urban residents can enjoy naturalistic spaces? Question 3: How to find a middle ground for incorporating ecosystem services without the fear of security affecting the ‘naturalness’ quality of the intimate spaces?
CONTENTS EAST DELHI - HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SMRITI VAN PARK
03-07
ADDRESSING SOCIAL INCLUSIVITY
08-10
SOCIAL GOALS OF HISTORICAL PARKS
11
METHODOLOGY
12
SITE INFORMATION
13
STUDY OF NATURAL LAYERS - GEOLOGY - PROGRAMS, LANDFORM AND CIRCULATION - VEGETATION AND VISUAL QUALITY
14-19
STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT AND USAGE OF PARK
20-21
SYNTHESIS MAP
22
DSESIGN METHODOLOGY
23-24
CONCEPT AND POLICY LEVEL INTERVENTION
25-26
ZONING GUIDELINES
27-29
LANDSCAPE PREFERENCES OF ALL USER GROUPS
30-33
DETERMINING CIRCULATION CHARACTER BASED ON PREFERENCES DESIGN INTERPRETATION ECO- REVELATORY DESIGN
34 35-36 37
SITE PICTURES Spatial construct
walkways trails
Water edge and connectivity Edges
Discontinuous spaces
Tight enclosures Illegible paths
Discontinuous and degraded water edge Unused edges
BACKGROUND OF DISTRIC T – NEED OF PROJECT
EAST DELHI – POPULATION DENSITY AND OPEN GREEN SPACES
E A S T
D E L H I
SITE DESCRIPTION: In East and North-East Delhi, high population density(27,000 and above in 1 sq.km.) causes reduced quality of the urban landscape. However, the per capita parks and playgrounds are maximum in wards of southeast like Gharoli (5.2 sq.m.) and Anand Vihar (5.1 sq.m.). The chosen site is a district park lying in Gharoli district of East Delhi covering 52.1 acres of area in Mayur Vihar Phase -3. It lies along an important artery road connecting Delhi and Noida from Sector 12. Why re-design the park? Although the park is maintained by the DDA, the usability is affected due to the background of residential users i.e. SC, STs, working class labour and high income groups. The Park needs an inclusive design before it sees further degradation due to social divisiveness.
0
5km Map of East Delhi - Site
Map for video/monograph presentation only
SIGNIFICANCE OF SMRITI VAN IN OPEN ‘GREEN’ SPACES OF DISTRICT
D E L H I
LAXMI NAGAR
E A S T
SANJAY LAKE
S P A C E S O F
MAYUR
VIHAR
MAYUR
T R I L O K P U R I
G R E E N O P E N
VIHAR
MAYUR
VIHAR
EAST DELHI RECREATIONAL ZONES 1. SANJAY LAKE
-
KHORA
GAON
17 HE
SITE
2. YAMUNA SPORTS COMPLEX- 26.6 HE 3. SMRITI VAN DISTRICT PRK - 21.1 HE
NOIDA
5 0 Map of East Delhi – Site showing different urban character Map for video presentation only
O P E N
G R E E N
S P A C E S O F
S U B - D I S R I C T
SIGNIFICANCE OF SMRITI VAN IN OPEN ‘GREEN’ SPACES OF SUB-DISTRICT
Opportunities for recreation offered by the neighbourhood, community and housing parks are limited. The intent of Smriti Van would be to have additional recreation and serve as a ‘designed park’ compared to the current status of parks in the vicinity.
WHY ‘SOCIAL INCLUSIVITY’? The urban landscape of East Delhi is reveals a socio-economic divide resulting from co-ercive resettlement policies from Central Delhi. These were all located at that time on the urban outskirt illustrated in Trilokpuri. Further with urban public housing policies, blocks of 3-4 storeyed LIG, MIG and SFS housing clustered alongwith these low- income areas.
E A S T D E L H I – The social ‘historic’ divide of East Delhi
(Mayur Vihar – Trilokpuri)
W H Y
‘ S O C I A L
I N C L U S I V I T Y ’ ?
REFORMS AND IMPACT – Due to residential shifting
LAXMI NAGAR
British raj – Old Delhi and New Delhi residential changes The ‘ Emergency’ 1975 – 1977 Evicted from central city to re-settlement colonies in East Delhi Public housing policy (failures) – 20th century
MAYUR VIHAR
MAYUR VIHAR
TRILOKPURI
1/4th of the population of Delhi living in East Delhi in 1995. MAYUR VIHAR
Rapid population growth between 1981- 1991 decade, 13.8% per year
KHORA GAON
DDA allocates blocks of 3-4 storeys for MIG and LIG groups clusters in pockets
SITE NOIDA
(Dupont, 2014)
5 0 Map of East Delhi – Site showing different urban character Map for video presentation only
E A S T D E L H I – The ‘economic divide’ (Mayur Vihar – Trilokpuri) DISPARITY
BASED
ON
RESIDENTIAL
SITE CONTEXT CHARACTER
I N C L U S I V I T Y ’ ?
80 60 40 20 0 DDA and cooperative group housing
Resettlement colonies and slums
W H Y
‘ S O C I A L
DISPARITY IN RESIDENTS BASED ON EDUCATION
50
0
The disparity in residential character, education levels and therefore income levels is seen as a context of the site also. For the Khora gaon re-setllement colonies, this park is perhaps the only open public space available for recreation for them.
ILLITERATES
DDA and group housing residents
Resettlement Colonies
However, since this is a large open space that can hold more activities at the district level, need to have a comprehensive design that addresses all aspects in the city (ecological and social) is needed.
SMRITI VAN RESPONSES When asked why the park is unused?
SOCIAL AND DESIGN DIVIDE
M AT T E R S T O A D D R E S S
I N C L U S I V I T Y ’ ?
Not everyone uses the park, just singles who come for time- pass. People don’t ‘want’ to come. We don’t see people from higher income groups at all – except for walks. There is stigma. - Workers on site
W H Y
There is no reason for them not to use the park apart from the social phobia. –
‘ S O C I A L
Fear of scrutiny. Lack of privacy and illegible pathways. – Younger women Require more private spaces for recreation and personal seating spaces. – Younger women
DDA Official (paraphrased)
Like to visit only early mornings. Evenings are unsafe. No space interesting. Plain ground. - Women No spaces for children. Supervision hard in a multipurpose space. – Younger women with children No gardens. Not inclusive of women and children. – Aged men and women Not safe for women – Men
Nothing really to see. Good for walking because it is big. - Men Although the maintenance and Authority officials affirm to this divide reducing use of the park, additional concerns about safety for women and children, dysfunctional spaces and lack of design is expressed by the users. Incident of evils such as rape around the park have caused constant police supervision in the park.
PARKS AND ROLES IN COMMUNITY HEALTH
I S S U E S
PARAMETERS FROM
Typology of parks Pleasure ground (1850 – 1900) e.g. Central Park, USA Birkenhead Park, UK
(b.)
Reform Park (1900 – 1930)
(c.)
Recreational facility (1930 -1965)
D E S I G N
R E S P O N S E
T O
S O C I A L
(a.)
(d.)
Historically, parks have in their roles catered to such social goals in their design and activities, whereas recently they have moved to participatory design along with ecological concerns.
Open Park System (1990- present) Ecological park (evolving concept in 21st century)
(Boland, Cranz)
STUDY OF HISTORICAL PARKS
Social Goals
- Social reform, - Public Health
- Social reform, - Children’s play; assimilation - Recreation service
- Participation, - Revitalize city
‘lungs’ of the city
Activities
Design Features
Strolling, bike- riding, picnics, music performances, nature education
Woodland & Meadow, Curving paths, placid water bodies, rustic structures, limited floral displays
Supervised play, gymnastics, crafts, plays and programs
Sandlots, playgrounds, rectilinear paths, swimming pool, field houses
Active recreation through sports
Asphalt or grass play area, pools, rectilinear paths, pools, standard play equipment
Psychic relief, freeform play, performance areas
Trees, grass, shrubs, curving and rectilinear paths, water features for view, free- form play equipment Usage of native plants, restoration of natural features, integration of “appropriate” technologies or infrastructure, community based stewardship
M E T H O D O L O G Y
CURRENT SITE SITE DESCRIPTION:
S I T E
O V E R V I E W
Accessed on three sides in the north, west and south by gates, the fourth edge of the park is shared as a Delhi- NCR boundary. Functions of the current park include parking, a dugout for boating service which is unused and multifunctional spaces which get used for cricket and other sports.
Accessed on three sides in the north, west and south by gates, the fourth edge of the park is shared as a Delhi- NCR boundary. Functions of the current park include parking, a dugout for boating service which is unused and multifunctional spaces which get used for cricket and other sports.
Site has flatter landform with the dugout being almost 5m below from the highest point which are the mounds at the entry area in the centre. Removing unusable activities and improving meeting areas alongwith focussing on design for spaces for women had to be explored. Sight lines and vegetation character contributed majorly to the lack to uability as tighter enclosures by hedges and a lack of middle storey , especially flowering types were missing. The habit becomes to pass the park rather than pausing and enjoying it.
VEGETATIO N O VERV IE W
A detailed vegetation study was begun to understand the visual quality of the park which hindered the circulation and usage of spaces. Orchards in the central part of the park plays a major role in discontinuity of movement alongwith species such as Prosopis juliflora at the edges of the site. Flowering trees and climbers are planted anew on the sides of the multipurpose space, however, not for focussing attention but as an area planting. Long avenues of Ficus shila separate the open pockets of space. An Arjun grove near the parking in the Southern edge contributes currently as the only aesthetic planting which is unaccessed for physical use. An absence of middle storeyed plants of flowering quality with only hedges along the circulation route is seen. An intense spatial quality assessment with dominant user groups of that space was conducted. Overall analysis of these activity pockets revealed the restricted usage due to lack of physical accessibility, visual penetration, lack of attracting planting, focal points and edge treatment of the circualation routes
VEGETATIO N LEA RN IN GS An overall character of the edges, core and buffer areas of the park show similar character in the spatial construct.
Q UANTI TATIVE S TUDY Further, of the 15 activities for a district park laid down by the MPD 2021 of Delhi, 7 activities like a Children’s park. Informal shop units, recreational clu, open air food court, orchards etc. had to be inforporated. Since 28 % of the site is taken up by the open dugout in the middle of the park, alongwith multiple multipurpose pockets of space, there requires a major zoning to be re-done for the park.
S TAK EHO LD ER A S S E S S M E N T A quantitative assessment of the stakeholders revealed the need for circulations that are experiential and also directly accessible for various recreational opportunities areas in the park.
S YNTHES IS M A P
A synthesis map is shown highlighting all the analysis. By concentrating movement of users to the entries would reduce the safety issues caused by circulation paths. Carving out opportunities near the entry zones, improving the connectivity of the open pockets, introducing pause points and improve planting strategies for the overall circulation route that are responsive to all the users needed to be explored at this stage.
DES I GN M ETHO D O LO GY
In detailing a design methodology, addressing responsivess to the landscape proved much more than improving the landscape fabric.
This was because results of a primary survey conducted by me among the regular users revealed that female stakeholders preferred formality in spaces more than complexity. This was a response of the Information Processing theory by Kaplan and Kaplan.
CO NC EPT AND S ITE PR O GR A M M IN G
Therefore, a paper by Shahnan in 2015 answered this paradox revealing that visitation to district parks by urban residents depended on low tree covers, whereas these were more important factors at the local scale. My intent therefore, is to improve the usability to the park by having programs that have range of social and educational interventions. The design needs therefore included understanding landscape preferences of all user groups especially with respect to wildenrness, incorporating policy level interventions at social level by bringing schools and college to hold nature events and for engagement of the park in improved designs of recreational zones.
S ITE PRO GRA M M IN G
ZO NI NG - 01
ZO NIN G - 02
L AND S CAPRE PREFEREN C E S
L A N D S C A P E P R E F E R E N C E S F O R U S E R G R O U P S T O U N D E R S TA N D P E R C E P T I O N O F ‘ W I L D E R N E S S ’ T O D E S I G N I N C L U S I V E LY
As mentioned earlier, landscape perception of naturalness was varying based on vegetation composition. Hence, a detailed planting strategy of spaces for children, women and aged and for all user groups were undertaken. Some results showed the need for less stimulating environments for children and for higher stimulating environment for women with pockets of larger open spaces in proximity to allow visibility. Other spaces that are private and offer prospect to view activities without engagement while finding refuge in the wilderness planting were preferred by men.
L AND S CAP E PREFE R E N C E S
CO MB INI NG S IM I LA R PREFERENCES F O R C IR C ULA ITO N
Combining the 4 aspects of Kaplan’s theory of legibility, complexity and coherence, circulation patterns for women, aged and children have been looked at with spaces that allow naturalistic spaces with legible edges through the primary loop. Spaces for prospect are also proposed as places that would be primarily used by men but can be open to use by all. Coherence is majorly seen on all major axes in the design to allow vistas that open up on further circulation
D ES IG N INTERPRE TAT IO N S
For the edges- Higher penetration of the edge to break the linearity in movement in pedestrian path into the park is done from the central entry as compared with the other two. This is based on the traffic on the abutting roads from each entry. Northern, Western and Eastern edges have been retained for the buffer for noise. South- Eastern zone is taken as the Ecological zone. Secondly, the water body as an aesthetic and natural body of water is introduced. Further circulation in around this is introduced. The primary loop fragments large pockets of spaces for additional uses.
Activity generators such as the children’s parks, plant nurseries near 2 entries, Cricket pitch, women play areas and event spaces for educational events is introduced. Pause points are also added where there is change in landscape character. Central axis divides the spaces into 2 parts. Trails will move between natural spaces with compositions of middle storey and upper storey plants. Sensorial gardens are introduced in the areas where there were orchards before. The planting is penetrated further alongwith visual focal points that open up vistas to activity pockets. Primary circulation has special consideration for women centric planting. Smaller pockets of seating are present near the naturalistic settings in central areas.
EC O - REVEL ATO RY B Y D E S IGN
These strategies will further reveal the importance of eco-systems that are harmonious to the interactions with humans in the edges, core areas and buffer areas.
- MASTERPLAN
D RAWINGS
- GRADING PLAN - M AT E R I A L P L A N A N D M A C R O - P L A N T I N G S T R AT E G Y - D E TA I L S A N D V I E W S
THANK YOU a r. s u s a n m a r i a t h o m a s @ g m a i l . c o m
