SHIFTING IDENTITIES OF THE WATEREDGES
Sweta Singh
Fifth Year Semester IX (Part 1)
Guide: Anmol Warang
L. S. Raheja School of Architecture
Affiliated to Mumbai University
2020 – 2021
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This is to certify that Sweta Singh has successfully completed his/her design dissertation (part 1) on the topic ‘Shifting Identities of the Wateredges’ under the guidance of Ar.Anmol Warang.
The dissertation is undertaken as a part of the academic study based on the curriculum for Bachelors of Architecture program conducted by the University of Mumbai, through L.S. Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai.
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L. S. Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai
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L. S. Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai
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Shifting Identities Of The Wateredges
Abstract
Although the meaning of the term ‘wateredge’ seems self-evident as land adjacent to a water body, many definitions abound. Researching for ‘official definitions’, the following definition and description emerge: The American Heritage Dictionary defines wateredges as land abutting a body of water. My encounter with the wateredges around India has led me to describe the Wateredge as a pause point- Between the movement of the water and the stillness of the land where this pause lets the human interact with the water diversely across India.
Diversity is the only legible term to describe life in India. This motion is the guideline of any activity performed by the people which naturally brings an Identity to the lifestyle and the architecture of the place. Diversity can be easily understood in terms of the languages spoken in India, clothing, rituals, lifestyle, religion, dance, food, architecture, and urban growth, but still, there is a hierarchy regarding occupying their spaces to perform different functions leaving an impression, In a physical sense, the impression is permanent and historical in Indian cities, but its experience keep changing. Similarly, as the flow of water changes its pace in every region, the expression of its wateredges also changes Depending upon the geography, cultural and surrounding influence from serving as ghats, to housing to, occupation, to celebrating festivals that boomed on the wateredges Since water is considered holy it is at the edge of India's waterbodies that one can see the amalgamation of life and divine.
Synopsis AIM
The study focuses on the diverse pattern of the edges of the water bodies of Mumbai, its influence, and the evolution of this cohabitation over time since its provenance and looks at the measures on how the aspects of architecture can co-exist and respond to the changing demands of the edges.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the purpose of wateredges.
To look beyond the stereotypical notions and beliefs of preserving sacred wateredges
To regenerate and help other factors associated with the wateredges i.e. its ecosystem, the status of water, and other issues related to water.
To enable the wateredges as an intersection point that can be oriented towards and not away from water.
To explore various futuristic approaches, forthcoming proposals, and look up to the interventions and innovations that are revolutionizing wateredges
To address the enabling opportunities where the wateredges becomes a critical factor for the economy, culture, identity, and politics of a region
To give these edges a platform to evolve and transform through various situations and serve its purpose through aspects of architecture.
To improve wateredge’s physical and social resilience with understanding what do the edges and its habitat wants as resilience.
NEED FOR STUDY
India has been home to more than 12,500 water bodies with the stretch of 7,000km coastline endowed with extraordinarily diverse and distinctive traditional ways of human interaction with its wateredges from housing to occupations like fishing which contributes to 7% of the GDP, to boosting tourism through its backwaters. But still, these edges are a less explored canvas for architectural exploration as compared to western countries.
For centuries edges have been a defining element for any settlement. But due to the water's untrusted nature and the rigid alteration on edges by human interventions, people have treated these edges as a barrier between land and water. Hence these wateredges have become a subject of negligence making wateredges vulnerable.
But even the Edges that are elevated with sacred architecture associated with religious activities are getting abused in the name of rituals.
These diverse interventions at edges come with diverse issues - dumping of garbage, unauthorized settlements, domestic sewage, industrial waste, effects of natural calamities, coastal erosion, coastal radiation, absence of infrastructure, an absolute absence of visual and physical linkages with the water that are shifting the identity of the edges
The phases of these edges have a story to tell of thier evolution and how each edge can cater to different purposes of their varied users
To sustain the purpose of the edges, these edges need to adapt to resilience. There is a need to study how architecture has tackled wateredges in the past, in present, and can in the future.
Link– Edges of the Waterbodies – Purpose – Character – Diversity – EvolutionTransformation Stages - Aspects of Architecture – Resilience
Scope and limitations
Studying the wateredges of India is a very vast subject hence the topic limits itself to the study and research of wateredges in an urban setting. The clashes between the laws for the wateredges for ex: (CRZ vs. SRA) towards development is limiting to understand the level of future progression.
CHAPTER 1
Human and the wateredge
1. Human and wateredge 1.1 Dependency
The relationship between water and humankind is as old as the story human evolution
Water covers 71% of Earth‘s surface and sustains every life form on and around it.Our bodies are 70% water and we are biologically dependent on water. To satisfy that biological dependency, humans needed to locate near the water’s edge in order to sustain life. Consequently, it affected a choice between the nomadic lifestyle to sedentary lifestyle
Thus, man is believed to have first settled by the water‘s edge
Since ancient times, water has been given a unique status in the social and religious traditions of India. Water is referred to as ‘source of life’, ‘cleanser of sins’, ‘generator of prosperity’ and so on. In the mythological descriptions water was considered to be divine and hence worshipped as goddesses-for its use for daily rituals and ablutions, and its ability to create an environment favouring spiritual peace and contemplation (Sharma 2009)
Rationally, the pattern of flow of water, the location of local goods and the productivity of the basin area played a role in deciding the location of the settlement (Kostof, 1991). On the cosmological and mythological fronts, water also played a significant role in the urban life of the ancient world. (Wylson A. , 1986) In ancient Egypt the settlements were located on the east of the Nile, the west was considered the necropolis. In India the Ghats (the steps) on the Ganges River, the holy river of the Hindus, were the progenitors of many contemporary cities (Samant, 2004).
In India, cities were built to the north of the rivers, never to the south due to cosmological beliefs. Indians have different gods for every form of water that was reflected through the value of water in their everyday life. Water’s edge thus becomes an attractive factor where people choose to live. Later, humans have chosen to live close to water’s edge for domestic and agricultural water supply as well as for navigation purposes, which has led humans to follow the courses of water bodies during migrations and locate in proximity to rivers when establishing settlements.
1.2 Catalyst
“Throughout history human settlements have been shaped by wateredge to a great extent. From the start, civilizations have flourished, declined, and revitalized on wateredges”.
lakes, canals, and on the more than 850,000 kilometres of coastline that mark the edges of the world’s continents and islands. (Cunningham, 2016)
The wateredges have been shaping up on how the region appears be it be the division or the unification of a region
Even at the time of Indus valley civilization, towns like Harappa and Mohanjodaro were in existence On the basis of their evolution in different periods, Indian towns may be classified as:
1. Ancient towns.
2. Medieval towns.
3. Modern towns.
Ancient Towns - Most of them developed as religious and cultural centres on the edges of the waterbodies Varanasi is one of the important towns among these.
Medieval Towns – During the medieval period. There were fort towns which came up on the wateredges itself. Among them are cites like Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Agra and Nagpur.
Modern Towns - The British and other Europeans have developed a number of towns in India. Starting their foothold on coastal cities, they first developed some trading ports such as Surat, Daman, Goa and Pondicherry extending their domination either directly or through control over the princely states. They established their administrative centres, hill towns as summer resorts, and added new civil, administrative and military areas to them. Towns based on modern industries also evolved on wateredges after 1850.
1.3 Emblem – Formation of a region’s character
Water, known as “elixir of life” is fundamental sustenance of life
Water has multifunctional roles, it can enhance and enrich a place by its mere presence. The aesthetic quality of water, which includes the visual, audial, tactual and psychological aspects, adds vibrancy and excitement to a space,
which may lead to development of the region’s character. (Timur, 2012) Even though the fundamental role of water and its edges has always been the same, its use patterns have changed through history. Above all, the unique environment generated by wateredges has become significant as symbolic spaces making the waterbody its emblem for recognition that satisfies people’s socio-cultural needs. In India, the mother river Ganges/Ganga has given birth too many cities, of which Varanasi/Kashi/Banaras has always been prominent in terms of its history, religion, culture and commerce reflecting various cultural symbols.
India’s wateredges are extraordinarily diverse-ranging from lakes and ponds to marshes, mangroves, backwaters and lagoons. Cities like Udaipur, Kolkata, and Allahabad etc had a rich legacy of water bodies. Which are marked in the map. All these cities have an identity achieved due to the dominance of water as a core element. So, it can also be said that the city’s core as a whole responds to the waterbody in a certain manner.This subchapter is concerned with setting out the historical context of the wateredges. At the outset, it defines the wateredge as a contemporary phenomenon and goes back in time to illustrate its roots. The subchapter highlights the pivotal historical phases of the phenomenon and what paved the way for current wateredge identity through timeline within Indian culture.
2. Historic association with wateredges
The association with the wateredges of varied scale from micro to macro scale generates different characteristics of the wateredges. The macro-scale wateredge i.e. (the seafront and riverfronts) that run through the city creates different forms and contains larger functions influencing larger contexts Compared to micro-scale i.e. the wells and the lakefronts
levels of contacts
1.As form of art
2.Reflection of beliefs
3.Use of materials
4.Shetler
5.Community interaction
6.Indentity of the empire
1. Pilgrimage
2. Shaping the town
3. Festivals
4. Historic Value
5.Indentity of the empire
1.Fort architecture
2. Economic benefits
3.Culture amalgamation
4.Transport
5.Irrigation
6.Infrastructure
7.City flourished
8.Historic value
4. Coastline Mumbai’s coastline
1.Occupation ex- fishing
2.Living
3.Amalgamation of architectural style
4.Transport
5.Amalgamation Of culture
6.Cities flourished
7.Ecosystem
8. Infrastructure
3. Integrity
The necessity of defining any space in the built environment is based on a variety of grounds. That necessity emerges from the need to manage space and to optimize its performance, and to enable each space to fulfil its function as part of the larger jigsaw puzzle of the built and natural environments
3.1 Land forms
When the land meets water, it forms a physical layout. Because of the liquid boundary which entirely confines the extension.
The landform of the wateredge makes the space disconnect from the existing fabric.
The characteristics of the land form of water’s edge can be understood by investigating two aspects.
1. The types of geometrical patterns that occur when land meets water.
2. The other is the interrelationship between the water’s edge and the water
The geometrical patterns when land meets water. There are six typical geometrical contact patterns –
l) ‘Straight’, 2) ‘concave’, 3) ‘convex’, 4) ‘extension’, 5) ‘enclose’ and 6)
‘island’.
The water’s edge is involved in the formation of the degree of closeness - l)
‘one sides’, 2)‘two sides’, 3)‘three sides’, 4)‘four sides’ and 5)‘surrounded’. The above two aspects, how land meets water and shapes the water’s edge, are important elements for designing wateredge space because different geometrical patterns provide the wateredge with different physical qualities and lets the user experience the wateredge differently
Shifting Identities Of The Wateredges
One Side One Side Two Sides Three Sides Four Sides Four Sides watersurround ed
1.One way visual interaction
2.less dynamic experince
1.Linear but dynamic frontage
1.Multidirection al visual interacti on
1.Improve d interactiv e wateredg e 2.More frontage
1.protec t the watered ge from waves
1. Multidimensio nal interacti on between water and the user
1.surroun ded by water on all four sides
sabarmarti
3.2 Facades
The Architectural response to water is not only limited to the built form but also interlinked with the psychological response. Therefore, the responses are in both ways interrelated to the other. Further, the Architectural response can be dependent on an interrelationship that depends upon the building use. E.g. If a public domain is designed, it has to ensure the security of the people along with recreational purposes, and therefore, in most cases water is made accessible physically and visually through the medium of Ghats. Similarly, if private domain it is designed then the architecture of the place would be more inclined towards providing privacy. Hence, it can be said that the change in the type of edge on the water leads to the change in the space and vice versa. The building on the water edge not only responds to water from the edge but it also responds from inside the building.
Movement experienced through the openings of facades
A transition from spaces of different characteristics can trigger changes in the activity and behaviour of the user. Movement from extremely closed to open spaces brings out a feeling of enhanced/ dramatized feeling of openness. Similarly, transitions between light and dark spaces bring change in emotions.
Exploration through Playing With Facades
The placement of the opening of the facades urges the person to pause,imagine and discover. instead of the paths guiding the user the facades compels the user to explore and experience the water The facades facing lake have been designed in a way that it leads the user to certain predetermined points
Most of the windows placed on the lake facing wall to have the view
The placement of walls are not in the same line which the monotony hence create an interesting facade with different elements like chattris,jalis,articulation etc
3.3 Built form
In the built environment, human activities are strongly related to the characteristics of the spatial structure of the built environment and its functional setting. Different spatial structures generate different types of activities. For instance, the notion of private and public space is determined by the nature of the design of the space, which suggests that the two are used for different purposes by different people. The built environment on the wateredge is no exception.
Human activities are more diverse and complex because the existence of the wateredge dramatically influences human activity patterns compared to inland areas. Moreover, the use of the wateredge in India requires a sensitive approach to meet user’s need. Thus, it is important to see 1) what factors influence the user’s activity patterns and 2) what types of activities take place on the successful wateredges.
“Forms become a decipherable expressions”
3.4 Inference
The main feature of the wateredge can be said as the physical and visual accessibility to water that also leads to a specific response to the water edge. Therefore, particular architectural elements such as Ghats, Ovara ,step-wells, and pavilions can be said as the evolution of built form with architectural conceptions along the water edge.
The users play an important role in animating the wateredge to create a sociocultural ambience. (Gehl, 2009) Argued that “people are the ‘market’ for the city’s public spaces. They provide the interest and the animation for its streets and plazas”.
“Forms are derived from differences of content”. He continues that “there is no form without content. No content without form”. (Lefebvre, July 1, 2005) Thus, it is important to understand the physical characteristics of the wateredge, as a form that contains certain contents
CHAPTER 2
Expressions
2. Expressions
“every place is given its character by certain patterns of events that keep happening there, the more living patterns the more it comes to life as an entirety, the more it grows” (Alexander, 1979)
In India, historically water is an utmost significant source for the communities as their religious, social & economic activities were truly dependent on the banks of the water. Wateredges are expressions of both social and cultural richness of cities. Whereas some cities, palaces, forts, and capitals were planned along banks. Most of these cities developed a distinct identity with their wateredge, guided by geography, climate, local resources & history. Wateredges are dynamic places by nature. As an edge environment, the overlap of different users and dramatically different conditions make for enormous amounts of complexity also in the non-human realm, wateredges are the interface of the aquatic and the terrestrial, the site of complex intertidal communities.as related to human history and use, wateredges have a long history. Once the site of initial settlements and exploration, the edges have long served as transportation corridors and ports, occupational hubs, travel centres, recreation venues, and much, much more. The demands made on these wateredges vary for each individual function, whereby the length of experience, experienced on the water’s edge plays an important role.
Mumbai was selected to study the structure of the wateredge in relation to city, to understand the pattern in context to its historical, physical, sociocultural and religious aspects of the city since Mumbai’s greatest assets is its coastline and the waterbodies which forms a series of unique and picturesque edges. Not only that the edges of Mumbai are a clear reflection of the hierarchy of occupations, livings, beliefs, economic differences etc. Its accessibility, combined with its versatility, is commensurate with the sanctity of space.
The city of Mumbai is full of diversity which is very well observed on its wateredges. Though there exists a strong capitalist division in the society, the citizens’ care for their waterfronts in their own ways.
4.1 Living on the edges
The liveability experience of the wateredge. Human habitation on wateredges existed since the Stone Age, People have always settled on the wateredges to take advantage of the amenities the water gives, with a sense of seclusion that the permanent view of the water offers.
Mumbai being a peninsula, living on its wateredge becomes a symbol of both, in offering better accessibility and appreciation of water the panoramic waterscape generates indirect experiences
Natural edge (worli koliwada)
Built edge ( worli sea face high-rise buildings )
Open space
multifunctional spaces
Character of the space is defined by people
Physical interaction with water
Unplanned
High risk of natural calamities
Less infrastructural facilities
restricted open space
defined functional spaces
character of the space is defined by the function
Visual interaction with water
well planned
low risk of natural calamities
better infrastructural facilities
4.2 Celebrating through wateredges
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water, water is a fundamental attraction in all cultures” (Eiseley, 2020)
The experience of the sacred wateredges of banganga
In India water has influenced and shaped the pattern of the belief systems, the divinity of water has been mentioned in all religions. India has 4% of the world’s water resources which is one of the reasons why Hinduism embraces water into their worship.
Personal involvement with the kund of banganga portrays a sense of memory. Every elemet,structure and houses on the edges has its own story and ritualistic activities that takes place.
A framework of architectural fabric on its wateredges have been made over time changing it in their permanent outlook. The overlay of people’s activities, permanent or transitional are seen occupy the edges that support these sacred experience The built form reflects the community’s culture,habit and values thus the shaping of the expression of these sacred wateredge (banganga) goes hand in hand with its communal ritualistic activities
Rituals as a system narrates the historical legends strongly in people’s minds.There is an effort to convert these associations into built form,the temples,maths,samadhi,deepstambhas are built to inculcate legends and festivals.therefore banganga today also stands as a festive event hub for the community.
These built form have come aboutas a response to religious, spiritual and social needs where the wateredges have become places of human congregation.
4.3 Edges as recreational spaces
The importance of the interactive recreational wateredge lies in its potential as a magnet to attractactivity, a visual pleasure, an activity node, and a place for leisure and entertainment facilities to all user groups.Architect Charles Correa’s take on wateredges as recreational spaces is “…merely increasing maidans (open spaces) is not necessarily the solution; for they are not used by the entire populace, but only by certain age groups for cricket, football and other such games. No little toddler of two or three years would dare to play here nor does one see middle-aged couples using them for evening strolls. On the other hand, the pavements along the seafront in Bombay-which incidentally do not show up in the statistics are the great community spaces of our city. Obviously we should generate many more such promenades. They are the heart of the social life of the tropical temperate zones.” (Correa, n.d.) for the millions who live in the crowded city, the wateredges are the only major open/recreational, whether it is Bandra Bandstand, Marine Drive, Haji Ali, Chowpatty, Worli Sea Face, Dadar Beach, Carter Road, Juhu Beach or Versova. The wateredges are Mumbai’s most significant and popular recreational spaces and for the city to have a breathing void.
The experience of the user on the recreational wateredge depends upon the two aspects 1) the physically interactive wateredge 2) the functionally interactive wateredge which directly impacts on the activity patterns. The physical formation of the wateredge for public uses, which is characterised by ‘built’ and ‘natural’ and the functional aspects (walking, eatery, cycling ) of recreational edge provides contrasting (polarity) flow and congregation of people that generates vital recreational ambience on the wateredge.
4.4 Transportation corridor
Historically, one of the most fundamental roles of the wateredge was as a transport hub for people and freight on a small and large-scale. (Kostof, 1992) Regarded “waterways as one of the various street patterns”. Like the function of the street in urban space, waterways form important cycling, walking, jogging and connection routes to other destinations using both the edges of the waterway and the water itself.
In many respects, wateredge as transportation corridor became a tool for communicating and sharing social activities Because of the natural setting, “waterways provide a powerful focus for people and communities in urban and rural areas. Waterways have enormous potential as a catalyst for bringing people together”. (Waterways, 2005)
Wateredge is an aesthetically enhanced street type compared to ones inland, using a watercourse as transportation - river, canals, and coastline - provides a high quality urban passage for users that created an inseparable link port and city relationships (water and human settlements)
Konvits explains the relationship between port and city in a poetic way: “The relationship between ports and cities readily lends itself to contrasts. Ships suggest mobility cities, the fixed and immobile structures of civilisation. Ships disperse goods and people; cities concentrate them” (Konvits, 1994).
The advantages of water transportation are cost effectiveness, energy efficiency and environment friendliness. All important locations and heritage buildings can be linked by both roadways & waterways. Therefore many of the Mumbai’s urban wateredges took on a port character with warehouses, docks, ferry terminal etc.
4.5 Occupational edges
Water resources have played an important role in making Mumbai grow and expand their economic/working activities the impact of it are tangible on the wateredges
The city's Koli fishing community continued with its traditional occupation of fishing where sea bed area is valuable for fishermen because it acts as the breeding ground for many local fish species while some parts of the edges can be seen dominated by the industries (oil) to release its effluents directly into the waterbodies.
The edges are also predominantly occupied by marshalling yards and oil companies with their oil installations, oil tanks, and filling points. The presence of these installations is due to their proximity of oil refineries and the terminals on the fringes of the island city.
Comparative study on Traditional occupation of fishing vs industries on the wateredges
4.6 Inference
All types of vessels need to be encouraged to meet all sections of the society on the wateredges
“Cities also want a waterfront that serves more than one purpose they want it to be a place to work and to live, as well as a place to play. In other words, they want a place that contributes to the quality of life in all of its aspectseconomic, social, and cultural” (Timur, Urban Waterfront Regenerations, 2013)
The edges caters to every aspects for human lifestyle to dwell in, to play in, to socialize, to work and to reflect the notions/beliefs and thus from the above chapter we understand that how these functions lead to the formation of the different identities of each wateredge which guides the behaviour and influences the user using the edge. for ex- The creation of the recreational wateredge with an open character provides users with the freedom to flow, congregate and exchange with each other, and, as a result, a cultural ambience is developed. In a sense, visioning the wateredge space as a recreational area through its physical arrangement provides a place where community interaction can take place. In addition, these recreational edges integrate with the water to create a strong sense of place which reflects a particular identity
Human activities have diverse patterns that are quite hard to predict. When they are related to the natural and man-made urban environment, the activity patterns become more complex. It is, however, generally accepted that human activities are the expression of internal needs and a reflection of the paradigm of the time. In social science and psychology, there is an attempt to examine the mental states of human beings on the basis of their activity patterns, which is called ‘behaviourism’ when we study people we study what forms them, how do they relate to a place, how do they give a meaning to place,why is identity important for place and for the people,the reasoning thus guiding the built place they live in.
Based on this examination the following chapter explores place attachment dimension in understanding the relationship between the users and the Mumbai’s wateredge. How do the users regard the wateredge? What influence does the wateredge have on the user’s experience of the place? Do users psychologically attached to the wateredge as a major node in the city? The objectives of the study are to examine users' attachment to Mumbai’s waterdges and its influencing factors.
The movement towards sustainable development together with ideas about making all parts of the city interesting, identified and lively indicate the adoption of a policy of mixed uses for urban areas as said by J.c. moughtin
Shifting Identities Of The Wateredges
Function Aim Unbuilt vs. Built Achieved Living Edge
permanent view and Resources
Worli koliwada vs. Worli sea face high-rise buildings
Identity
Function Aim Unbuilt vs. Built Achieved
Recreational Edge Leisure and breathing void
Juhu beach vs marine line promenade
Identity
Function Aim Example Achieved
Sacred Edge Divinity of water Banganga tank Identity
Function Aim Example Achieved
Transportati on Edge
Transportati on Victoria Docks Identity
Function Aim Example Achieved
Occupation al Edge Occupation Fishing edge vs Industries Identity
sustainable
CHAPTER 3 Identity
5.1 Rootedness
3. Identity
why species want a sense of place?
“To be human is to live in a world that is filled with significant places, to be human is to have and know your place”. (Edward relph, 1976)
In his book place and placeleness relph (1976) states that the more intense the emotional connect one has in a certain place the stronger he/she will identify himself with it
relph (1976) claimed that there is an inherent want for a person, which is to belong to a certain place or community, It is necessary for people to both be able to experience a sense of belonging to a place and be able to recognise varied identities as they proceed in space. The individual identity of a place can be recognised by a sense of distinctiveness when being at specific areas, a feeling of uniqueness or even with visible separation in between places to indicate the changes that occur in environments. For ex-Landscape elements and features provide more meaning to places and can change the public’s attitude towards it.
The term identity as the ability to distinguish an object among others due to its characteristics and to realise it is a separate entity, district among others. The same occurs in spatial identity. (lynch, 1960)
To be able to create places with distinctive to comprehend the process of how the public gains a sense of place and the meanings attached in local spaces, identity is strongly connected with imageability, the characteristics that will evoke a strong mental image in the onlooker. Additionally the identity of a place is more or less defined by the activities/functions occurring in that space. Individual and mass identity is greatly influenced by the built environment giving it social value to accommodate the various needs of the public. (ujang, 2015) relph ( 1976) also argues that close attachment , familiarity and preservation of a place can be connected with the sense of belonging. This attachment/ feeling can also be called rootedness, the sense of having roots in a place, fitting in it and having formed a bond with it.
The perception of a place is not only physical or emotional, but allows the user to adapt his/her behaviour according to the properties of the place. In this way the user starts feeling accepted and secure in the environment. This psychological adaptation is activated through the human interpretation to achieve the emotional feeling of security and control.
5.2 Meaning
“Meaningful places becomes of point of engagement”
As specified by (speller, 2000) that has attained meaning through people’s interaction and continuous association with it. Similarly, relph ( 1976,p.59) claims that the activities, experiences and motives people have within space is what provides it with meaning and transforms it from space to place Heidegger in his book being and time ( 1962) examines the nature in ‘being’ by using the term ‘dasein’ which means ‘ being there’ existing and somewhere in the world. In his work dwelling is not only linked to living in a building but creating a world which has meaning and the user is emotionally attached to it . Additionally (Norberg-Schulz, 2018) looked into the concept of ‘genius loci’, the ‘spirit’ of a place, its unique character setting it apart from all rest. He claims that the architect should be able to envision the ‘genius loci’ of place and that he has a responsibility to design places with meaning and significance to assist man to dwell within the environment
What makes a place meaningful?
Humans have an inherent need to apply meaning and significance to any place.Every human has connections and associations with certain parts of the urban environment and this relationship is filled with meanings attached to each place. The viewer selects, organises and provides meaning in what he sees and encounters daily. This meaning can be either practical or emotional. However the meaning given to places varies. The world is perceived differently by each human due to diverse experiences, education, social, economic and even psychological factors (lynch,1960,p.1-9).
It is suggested that locations where place associate activities happen become more meaningful. This can happen with places like home, office, store etc. it can also be argued the locations are more meaningful to the users as they act as boarders between diverse roles and social settings like notion of home is connected to private and dwelling and work is related to being employed and functioning within a group. However, meaningful places can also exist in specific social contexts amongst groups or because they are easily recognisable and identifiable and may aid navigation in cities. (bhattacharya, 2008)
5.3 Experience
“We know not through our intellect but through our experience”
– Mourice merleau- pontyIdentification occurs with experience. Through the persistent negotiation and renegotiation of the architectural forms, objects and activities happening within the place. (loannidis, 2011)
(Canter, 1977) claims that urban cities are usually neutral. When a person is approaching an unfamiliar environment they usually have a feeling of uncertainty. This is understanble as the form and general organisation of a place cannot be fully comprehended at first glance. On the contrary, place acquires more meaning with repeated visits, continuous exposure to the urban settling and through comprehending its spatial characteristics. The sense of belonging and rootedness is connected with the experiences people have in space. Nonetheless a loss of form and distinctiveness could also affect attachment to a place. Therefore when studying a place it is important to take into account not only its form and structure but the ways humans dwell, experience -the visual experience,the auditory experience,the olfactory experience, the tactile experience and feel within it as we are both emotive and rational beings.
“we built on the senses we know”
5.4 Inference
“The concept of 'Sense of Place', 'Place Attachment' and 'Place Identity' could describe the quality of people's connections with a place”
Wateredges are inextricably linked to significant places with strong identitiesas an origin and lifeline of the cities.
When trying establish the connection between the cities and wateredges characteristics are scrutinised. Points of connection, pathways, architecture, materiality, texture, landscaping, street furniture, relation to water and viewpoints are some of the factors that contribute to the formulation of the character of the place moreover the smells,noises and sounds water generates,whether sea, river or pond are widely different from the city’s core making the wateredge even more distinguishable. The emotive response it evokes is important to acquire a full embodied experience of the location. All these leave a stronger impression of place to the public, make it more unique, meaning, provide a strong sensory experience and therefore attract a multitude of people
Arendt and Habermas believed that the definition of a place is essential for its continued existence. (Swanson, 1992) that is, a place without definition cannot survive.
Additionally another point that needs to be taken into consideration is that different users observe and perceive the edges in dissimilar ways depending on their own personal intended use of the edgespace. Therefore residents, devotees,tourists, swimmers, fishermen, sailors, workers may possibly have different views on this urban area (west, 1989) Hence, the identity of a place is reflected in more than just the physical form, but also involves a social and symbolic meaning for individual and the community
Wateredges have been extensively used by humans in the past, present and future for their inherent fascination and attraction to nature, utility in living travel, trade, recreation, living and rituals and have also suffered cycles of abuse and neglect from these very use patterns resulting to shifting identities and definition of its use
Community Context
Attachment
Belongingness
Ownership
Personal Context
Place identity
Place Dependence
Rootedness
Social Bonding
Nature
Bonding
Place Identity & Dependence
Natural Context
Connectedness to nature
Environmental identity
6. The past, present and future Mumbai has four rivers, Mithi, Oshiwara, Dahisar and Poisar, together 40.7 kms long that is Almost invisible to the city's population, these rivers are waiting to be 'discovered' Mumbai's riveredge can yield 81.4 km of walking and cycling pathways. They are the 'veins' that can be networked with other public spaces.
The story of human beings and the wateredge is an evolving and multifaceted one, varying between dependency, contemplation, negligence and reverence.
6.1 Neglect
“We do not have the great maidans of Delhi and Kolkata. The waterfronts are our only relief, but we treat them like the city’s backyard”. (Das, n.d.)
The enthusiastic connection that existed between the water and the human settlements decayed through years.
As the human settlement drifted away from the wateredge because of the untrusted nature of the water the settlements turned its back towards the water making the edge a barrier between the land the water, and treated these abandoned edges as a backyard for dumping garbage and sewage disposal
People seemed to lose the reason of settling in such an environment which resulted in formation of the indiscriminate landfill sites on the wateredges for example the Deonar dumping yard, and Gorai dumping ground.
The edges that were elevated with sacred beliefs associated with religious activities also started getting abused in the name of rituals turning into toxic wateredges of religion -Plastic bottles, flowers, earthen pots, lamps, idols inundated the waterbodies and its banks.
6.2 Urbanization Rapid urbanization and unplanned growth have led to the deterioration of wateredges.
The relationship between the urban area and the water is repeatedly changed. New spaces are continuously being created on the wateredge.
arrival of the 20th century can be considered as a turning point. By then the effects of industrialisation took the lead. Urban settlements, traffic roads, harbours and industrial sites have closed in on the fringes of the city and others are displaced far from it. Industrial development occurred at the water's edge. And when the wharf era passed by, the edges of Mumbai have been left with abandoned warehouses and factories. Both harbors and wateredges suffered from the same problem of neglect and lack of development.
The damage caused by the exodus of industrial and port activities are still visible on the edges.as sanyal said for the wateredge of Mumbai “All kinds of dark activities take place there,” says Sanyal. “Right now they are dumping 1.8 to 2 million tons of coal every year. There are some toxic ship breaking happening. And then there are all kinds of illegal and underworld activities which go on in the cover of darkness. The lands need to be reclaimed for the city of Mumbai.” (Sanyal,
n.d.)Eighty per cent of marine pollution is said to be from untreated sewage and 20 per cent from industrial effluents. Estimation of 8,000 industries,discharge waste into the waterbodies. Oil spills prevent the dilution of other pollutants by binding them into a toxic concentrated form, which then migrates along the edges, causing harm to human and marine life. During the monsoon, this oil is brought to the beaches.40 million litres per day of industrial effluents, from around 600 industries, mostly untreated or in violation of treatment standards, and raw sewage (200 million litres/day) from the areas of Dharavi, Kherwadi, Kurla, Andheri, Vile Parle and Santa Cruz are discharged into Mahim creek, Thane and Bassein creeks, along with several tidal inlets, such as Mahim, Malad and Manori, as well as bays, including Worli, Mahim and Backbay, discharge large quantities of domestic and industrial wastes into the wateredges. Urbanization and land reclamation processes has affected public accessibility on the wateredge both physically and socially.
6.2.1 Inaccessibility Physical Inaccessibility
Although Mumbai has a coastline of 150 km their high level of neglect and degradation make them inaccessible.
Most of the beaches on the western waterfront of Mumbai are polluted by dumped garbage and sewage disposal and are often encroached upon by slum dwellers, builders, property owners and government agencies. Destruction of mangroves along the coastline and creeks have added to their degradation
During the past few years the public in mumbai has started to express their dissatisfaction with the inaccessibility of the sea. Their frustration with the style of urban growth and the decline of public space and access to the water is frequently expressed through statements conveying a sense of loss, deprivation, and social injustice. The total length of the eastern waterfront of Mumbai is 13.85 km, but public access is available to only 1.55 km concentrated in the Apollo Bunder and the Ballard Estate area. Though huge tracts of land, approximately 7.5 sq km, are owned by the MPT along this waterfront, the port activities are confined within 55 per cent of the total area owned by the trust. The trust has leased parts of the land owned by it to various government and private agencies, such as the Food Corporation of India, Cotton Exchange and other commercial enterprises, such as Reliance Industries etc. Apart from big industries, such as oil refineries, several small enterprises such as fishing at Sassoon Dock, the steel recycling industry and ship breaking, are also located here. Several agencies conduct their activities in the region
Social Inaccessibility
Social accessibility adds to Social sustainability of a public place on wateredge
Social sustainability depends on factors such as accessibility by users group largely public, planning with public participation and public involvement with overall support in management. Most important factor of social sustainability is that a wateredge must be inclusive and provide universal access to all. It has been observed that the present wateredges are becoming more sustainable than it was few decades ago. The wateredge has been completely transformed into a functional space-The design elements includes amphitheatres, chess playing areas, children playing areas, dog parks, green shaded spaces from a dumping ground
The Carter Road promenade is well accepted by the citizens of Mumbai and is perfectly blended with the urban fabric of the city Carter Road Promenade is a public wateredge managed by public, but still has strict laws and regulations to be followed. Multiple signage are put up at several points on the promenade indicating rules and regulations. One of the signage mentions ‘no entry to for beggars’ which means that the public space is not for the poorest of the poor, food items are forbidden and cycling is not permitted on the promenade. The play area is gated and kept locked. It opens at the schedule timings- 6:00 am to 11:00 am, lack of proper storage and parking to the fishermen.
6.2.2 Loss of language
The major global concern that has arisen from urbanization is the elimination of language could be linked to the loss of meaning of a place, place attachment, place identity
6.2.2.1 Engulfed
One of the prominent characteristics of designing urban spaces is the concept of “contextualism’
“Contextualism is a somewhat pompous architectural term developed in the 1980s to describe a well-developed and widely agreed belief that buildings and building developments should be in context with their settings” (Trombley, 1998)
The banganga tank has been severely transformed by being virtually engulfed by haphazard highrise development and the obvious problem of slum encroachment in the environs losing its spatial essence new settlements dominate any form of scale of enclosure, thus, destroying the symbol of communal memory that the banganga tank holds.
6.2.2.2 Mass production.
The repetition of identical spaces is not a symbol of progress but rather, difference is a symbol of expression and diversity that is more important nowadays.
‘To achieve distinctiveness and avoid Disneyfication’ (Harvey 1989)
The technological development contributed to efficiency in production. This did not only influence the way we conceive our surrounding but also our understanding of architecture. Due to the importance of productive and economic efficiency, the relation between difference and repetition in architecture has disappeared.
Real estate contributors are now mass profiting off the fallacious marketing of a better lifestyle for consumers through one repeated typology with no respect to distinct site factors or orientation.
Through this way the virtual world is overtaking the physical reducing the need for senses in favour of convenience and productivity. Society now focuses more on speed, while they have lost the main aim of experiencing life and the sense of time and space, and in fact, architecture is now designed as an image, losing the different layers of perception.
The idea of an image has caused architecture to be the result of a nice photograph that flattens metaphysical reality of a place, the tectonic logic and materiality of architecture.
The importance given by architects to the vision in urban planning has led to a contemporary city that is ‘the city of the eye’. Thus, the experience and architecture have converted into image products without existential contact with the surroundings.
Project - Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad
Project intent
The project was supposed to become an active public realm with technical aims as a supporting function
A lot of residential and market components were displaced for the spaces as said above to be created. Of all the markets only the two were provided a space back by the river stretch emergence of newer markets due to recreational zones was not taken into account.
Positives
Made the unusable patch into a usable zone
Integrated with the promenade
connects city to the river
Negatives
Destroys the water ecology
Massive displacement and rehabilitation
Heavy maintenance required
Location prioritized on the basis of vehicular nodes and traffic pattern
Displacement of informal settlemets
Displacement of redevelopment of dhobi ghats
Development of bazaar
Lining most of the river’s edge with vehicular roads
The entire project had ‘riverfront roads’ as an integral facet of the development
The recreational and economic development under the influence of globalization however, is not enough to sustain the project without the consideration of local contexts
6.3 Sea level rise
‘In earlier times we shaped our edges to fit in our rivers, now we are shaping our rivers to fit the size of our vessels’
Variations in climatic characteristics both in space and time are responsible for the problem of rising sea level from the expansion of warmer waters which could slowly swallow our edges and our communities.
Flooding in Mumbai is a modern concept and resulted from the development of the myriad pans, tanks, and mudflats that used to accommodate the deluge. But with the emergence of the modern city, the natural hydrology and culture of infiltration was forgotten. (Cuhna, n.d.)
Storm surges
“Cities have sacrificed its ecology for development”
In Mumbai the wateredges are tucked under real estate projects, industry, and state infrastructure-railways, roads and city’s airport, and choked, the city’s water networks at various strategic points. Every monsoon, the city floods. “Even between 2005 and now, the built-up area in these neighbourhoods has increased without any regard to open spaces and flow of water. There is just too much concrete, so where will the water go?” he says. Srivastava points this concern over rapid construction over wateredges. “This whole craze for ‘sea facing’ apartments has led to a serious increase in the number of high-rise buildings and rampant concretization close to the sea,” he says. “And it puts entire localities in a very vulnerable position.” Even the new Waterfront development projects have been promoted in the name of flood control, beautification, and urban development and designing that are taking place for wateredges haven’t considered the ecology of the surroundings like The Rs 100-crore Sabarmati transformation provided Ahmedabad with a 10-kmplus waterfront that serves as a large public space but has also been criticized for being ecologically unsound.“Having a nice picnic spot is not the same as having a good river,” says Himanshu Thakkar of the South Asian Network of Dams, Rivers and People for the over use of concrete and reducing the biodiversity,alter ecology and destroy floodplains. Even Chitale, who sees the Sabarmati project as a success, says that “wherever possible, the river banks should be kept natural, with mangroves and trees that provide a natural filtering of silt and waste.” This filtering is part of natural wateredges of what experts call a river’s “ecosystem services” the critical, if often invisible, functions performed by a river system including absorption of floods, replenishing aquifers, and selfcleaning crucial to consider while designing For most ecologists, restoration of
flood plains, water flow, and riverine vegetation is critical to reviving a river. “There has to be a balance between environment, social, and economic needs,” says Gautam Kirtane of Mumbai First, who has studied the Mithi River. “You can’t have engineering solutions in isolation. But you also can’t have no development at all”. (Kirtane, n.d.)
Rising sea level
Global sea levels have been steadily rising, but this process has been accelerated over the last century due to global warming, global ice volume, ocean heating, and other processes. It is subjective to predict, and different regions will be affected by rising sea levels and storms at different degrees based on their local climate and geology.
Coastal cities like Mumbai are in low-lying areas and prone to land subsidence, they are more vulnerable to coastal flooding and will only become more vulnerable in the face of rising sea-levels and more frequent storms. Cities, therefore, need to adapt themselves
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted that global sea levels could rise around 20-70 cm before the end of the 21st century, but many argue that these figures are far too conservative and that sea level rise over the last few decades has already exceeded the best case projections, countries all over the world are preparing themselves for defence from the sea.
With 6700 kilometers of coastline, India is under a severe threat. Our survival depends not in resisting the environmental changes that have already been set into motion. But accepting them and using this knowledge to minimize the destruction that will most definitely ensue from the disruption of the environmental balance.
Likewise, climate change is no longer something which can be ignored and these environmental changes are directly affecting the livelihoods of Indian fishermen resulting into migration and shifting far from the edges.
6.4 Policies
Ownership of land along the wateredges is held by various government authorities, such as the Collector, Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), Airport Authority of India (AAI),Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), (AAI) Airport Authority of India (BBRT) Bandra Bandstand Residents’ Trust (BMC) Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BNHS) Bombay Natural History Society (BRAVO) Bandra Reclamation Area Volunteers Association (BWRA) Bandra West Residents' Association (CRZ) Coastal Regulation Zone (DCR) Development Control Regulation (DP) Development Plan (FSI) Floor Space Index (INTACH) Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (MMRDA) Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MoEF) Ministry of Environment and Forests (MPLAD) Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund (MPT) Mumbai Port Trust (OCRA) Oval Cooperage Residents' Association (PIL) Public Interest Litigation (SRD) Slum Redevelopment (SRS) Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (TDR) Transfer of Development Right (UDD) Urban Development Department (ULCA) Urban Land Ceiling Act
In Mumbai’s context the clashes between laws are visible it is interesting to see that both the Coastal Regulatory Zone policy advocating a strong environmental preservation path and the Industrial relocation policy have largely supported repurposing of city’s abandoned industrial site to support environmental causes. And yet a large part of Mumbai’s wateredges continues to be dominated by largely unregulated industrial/commercial uses on land owned by a central government agency. On the other hand The CRZ policy restricts any construction within 500 m of the high tide line along the coastline of the country There are, however, several slums on the wateredges while 10-20 per cent of the slums are covered by the Slum Redevelopment (SRD).and Five-star hotels and resorts have been constructed in violation of CRZ, as at Land's End in Bandra and Madh and Marve islands.Furthermore Under the guise of redevelopment, private developers and builders, with the support of the government, are trying to build houses along the coastline in violation of the objective of the CRZ that of restricting further congestion of the coastline, and check further pollution and abuse.
The Nivara Hakk Suraksha Samiti, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) striving for housing as a right since 1986, has proposed that in order to improve the liveability of slums along the coast, the slum dwellers should be allowed to reconstruct their houses within the CRZ guidelines and the services and infrastructure be made available to them by the government
Thus to avoid such clashes between so many authorities that takes a toll on the overaal development of wateredge there should be
“A single Mumbai Waterfront Development Authority should be created with comprehensive charge.” As suggested by P.K.Das
6.5 Inference
Through phases of wateredge phases of wateredges from decline to revival can be recognized into four stages.
The appearance of the wateredges, which is the period of initial development, creation of human settlement and early infrastructure in shoreline areas.
The growth and development of wateredges, in which the activities taking place have boosted the economy leading to the rapid development of the wateredges. New infrastructure for transport is created and industry and transportation are primary uses of the area. Congestion and environment pollution start to appear.
The decline of the wateredges, as due to different needs industries are moved and city ports cities lose their primary function. This led to the deterioration of city wateredges,lack of accessibility and to derelict and abandoned waterfronts.
The rediscovery and renewal of the waterfront, with governments and private investors attempting to rehabilitate neglected areas and to mend the loss of connection but with limited ecological concerns
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Appearance of wateredge settlemets
Development of ports, industries and warehouses on edges
Decline of waterdges
Rediscovery of wateredges
The urban growth and land reclamation processes affect public accessibility on the waterfront, both physically and socially, the relationship between the urban areas and the water is repeatedly changed Through time and transformation, the traditional waterscape and its inherent Indianness is gradually fading away. The identities of vibrant wateredges are lost to misplaced aspiration and imported perceptions.New spaces are continually being created on the wateredges and others are displaced far from it. This study is an attempt to understand why those spaces were created, how they are displaced and how they are being consumed both socially and economically
After analysing the influences of each phase on waterdges one can understand what the wateredges were lacking in the past, in the present and how will the demands keeps changing in the coming future
The great importance attached to the wateredge development lies in the fact that the way it can be designed to suit - the functional, psychological, physiological, context, symbolism, memories, historical trails, and socioeconomic attributes of the society.
This study summarizes the past and the potential drawbacks can affect the functionality of the wateredges for these concerns a framework is created that will assist the incorporation of design for a better performance of the wateredges.
CHAPTER 5 Design
5. Design
"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context - a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan."
Eliel Saarinen7.1 Integration
Wateredge design is not only essential in developing and maintaining selfidentity of the city, but also has a significant effect on human wellbeing and behaviour (Ujang & Shuhana, 2012). While the wateredge influences selfidentity, people also tend to create, change or maintain their physical surroundings in the way which reflect themselves. In addition to physical setting, it include message and meanings that people perceive based on their roles, experiences, expectation and motivations (White et al., 2008).Hence, the physical environment of the wateredge is a reflection of the identity of its users. This provides human with a feeling of belonging to the environment, instead of just passing through it.
It allows people to avoid monotonous culture in this globalised world. It encourages the human experience in a landscape, the local knowledge and traditional stories about the wateredge. It is important to allow a person to have a connection to their past to give them a strong sense, comfort and meaning to their environment. Therefore, wateredge design can contributes to satisfaction and attachment and an important factor in maintaining the quality of life and environment
The parameters taken into consideration for the case studies in this regards are users’ association with the given wateredge over a considerably long time, sense of belongingness amongst the community, and overall connectivity with the city
Project- Chicago Riverwalk / Chicago Department of Transportation.
“one can incorporate a higher aesthetic on the wateredges while also promoting mass usage and participation”
Shifting Identities Of The Wateredges
Location: Chicago, IL
Architects: Ross Barney Architects
Year of construction: Phase 1 completed 2009: Phase 2 completed May 2015: Phase 3 completed October 2016
Design motive
The planning of the Chicago riverwalk successfully achieves its sole purposebring the vibrancy and vitality of the city’s wateredges. And to return access to the river.
Challenges
As the city shifted and changed through the centuries from the industrial to civic and beyond, so too has the perception of the water, after many decades of industrial and waste water use rendered it polluted, unsightly, and often unpleasant to be near. There were technical challenges to the realization of the riverwalk which the design team understood and accounted for in this early stage of design
Level difference between the edge and the waterbody
River traffic within each block to allow rest and emergency pull-offs.
Limited build-out for design.
River fluctuations and occasional flooding that limits public access during flood events and requires maintenance for post-event clean-up
Opportunities
Turning these challenges into opportunities, the team imagined new ways of thinking about this linear wateredge
The design included the river’s annual flood dynamics of nearly seven feet.
Rather than a path composed of 90-degree turns, the team reconceived of the path as a more independent system one that, through changes in its shape and form, would drive a series of new programmatic connections to the river. These spaces include:
The Marina Plaza
Restaurants and outdoor seating provide views of vibrant life on the water, including passing barges, patrols, water taxis, and sightseeing boats.
The Cove
Inspired by beach landscapes, the flat concrete benches are reminiscent of beach stones, while the planting concept was beach grasses and wetland plants near the edge and trees with woodland ferns in the corners
The River Theater
A sculptural staircase linking Upper Wacker and the Riverwalk offers pedestrian connectivity to the water’s edge and seating, while trees provide greenery and shade.
The Water Plaza water feature offers an opportunity for children and families to engage with water at the river’s edge.
The Jetty
A series of piers and floating wetland gardens offer an interactive learning environment about the ecology of the river, including opportunities for fishing and identifying native plants. The jetty also incorporates several innovation and low- cost features- Lunkers,curtains and hules- that ensures a great experience for those species who live below the surface
Created diverse programming opportunities that respond to different portions of the river, exploring urban river typologies.
Creatively adapted underutilized wateredge infrastructure into a highly integrated, sustainable, flood-resilient downtown amenity.
Offer a continuous car-free environment that connects a series of distinct community spaces at the river’s edge.
Greater emphasis on flexible, paved spaces along the path to become greener and more intimate suggesting more use by locals, or tourists on a stroll.
Offers an experience of both continuity and variety. Within the unbroken flow of the walkway and consistent use of materials,
Through all these interventions the Chicago Riverwalk managed to reinvent its identity a. Taking everything into account while designing it at designing phase itself and not relocating the existing functions far from it just to beautify it Chicago has now become a hotspot for tourism globally. The improvements on its wateredge have been one of the major reason behind this as now both locals and tourists are able to fully enjoy the shores in a multitude of manners.
For a wateredge to be sustainable in terms of design the principles followed in the project follows
a) wateredge being a part of the urban fabric
b) Integration of mixed land, sectors of class, functions use along the wateredge
c) Wateredges should be conceived as an integral part of the existing city and it should contribute to its vitality.
d) Identity of the users
e) To allow the user to have a connection to their past through the revival of wateredges
7.2 Multifunctional Experience – Beyond the frame.
The role of intimate relation with water and human on the wateredge could deliver a more holistic experience
According to plasma, vision is the fastest sense that is up to date with the fast development of technology. Due to which, the remaining senses are now disconnected from reality acknowledging this very fact designers should build through the embodied experience i.e. The importance of good quality architectural design - form, scale, material, height, and style - which also plays a vital role in shaping the built environment for a better humanistic link towards the water
Christopher Alexander (1987: 74) argued that one of the failures of urban development has been that the “road network comes first, buildings come second, and pedestrian space comes third. The correct sequence is just the opposite: pedestrian space first, buildings second and roads third”. The literature review of wateredge redevelopment also clearly showed that the above rule can be applied in the same way.
San Francisco did not fix the Embarcadero Elevated Freeway after it was damaged in the earthquake of 1989, instead it was demolished in 1994 to allow for a better humanistic link between the dense and busy districts of the city and the wateredge
Charles Moore in his book “Water and Architecture” points out that the key to understanding the water of architecture is to understand the architecture of water – What physical law governs its behaviour and how liquid acts and reacts with our senses,. The nature of water can though in soft,in its potential can make the most of its form, transparency, reflectivity, sound, movement, refractivity, and color
These examination of the macro and micro-scale characteristics of the wateredges for the experience finally leads to the overall spatio-functional characteristics.
“It is an ecosystem reacting to its environment a fragment of living earth, inviting the fauna and the flora of the floral biodiversity to come and make its nest in the city”
Tesla
“When we were planning Brooklyn Bridge Park [BBP], people kept telling us how much they wanted to be able to touch the water,”
Says BBP’s designer,
The parameters taken into consideration for the case studies in this regards are to understand and to react to the aquatic life and water dynamics through the edges.
Similar geographical Location and condition to Mumbai - The designers also understood that the park must be durable, as the low-lying site faces daily tidal pressures and occasional storm-driven floods of the East River.
Beyond the frame
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a success because its designers embraced the realities of the site when they envisioned what the park could become. The constructed ecologies are not designed as pure nature, but part of an urban experience, and for this reason they thrive in the heart of a populous city. Hundreds of New Yorkers can gather for a summer film festival while a delicately calibrated salt marsh community grows only a few feet away. The provision of things for people to do, not just things to see, has helped form a loyal local constituency and regular users from throughout the city and beyond, ensuring that the park has the broad base of support it needs to be an enduring cultural institution.
At Pier One, the capture cascades through water gardens a pond and terraced wetland that double as a gravity-fed, natural treatment system. The runoff, from paths, landscape, and the development parcels’ rooftops, is stored in five subterranean cisterns of up to 140,000 gallons each. New York has a combined sewer system, which carries wastewater from buildings and stormwater runoff in the same pipes. During heavy rains, overflow of such
outmoded systems is common, dumping untreated automotive and biological pollutants into rivers. But here, by contrast, the rainwater is captured and recycled on-site, satisfying 70 percent of BBP’s irrigation needs. (Associates, n.d.)
Less maintenance
A large share of the park's irrigation demand is met through reuse of site stormwater.
Andrew Blum has defined as a “a concern for ecological processes that is not merely illustrative, treating nature as if it were a museum exhibit, but rather that is necessarily rooted in a holistic understanding of site ecology.”
Adaptive reuse
Park benches are made from wood salvaged from demolished shipping terminal buildings on the site and retaining the steel frame of the warehouse that once occupied the pier, designers left the original concrete deck at the perimeter exposed, to create a promenade. Passing across this rough industrial edge and through the steel of the warehouse, you enter a green oasis. Part of the park's rugged authenticity comes from use of salvaged materials, including stone from a dismantled city bridge for the Granite at Pier 1 and bench slats made from aged yellow pine beams of demolished site buildings. New materials and fixtures were chosen for durability in an urban coastal environment, inevitably referencing former industrial uses, from galvanized steel and stone riprap common in marine ports to naturally rot-resistant locust fence posts.
Transforming the industrialized shoreline was a challenge for the designers, but they also found opportunities in the remnant port infrastructure.
Materials
lightweight geofoam blocks- To build topography on this flat surface without overloading the structure designed to withstand water inundation Stone riprap banks became an especially versatile tool. Riprap is inexpensive and better than impervious walls at absorbing tides and storm surges, and it can be sculpted into a myriad of usable forms. Lending a material coherence to the entire site, it provides informal seating, steeply graded slopes for boat launches and abrupt elevation changes, sheltered planting pockets, improved marine habitat, and breakwaters for sensitive intertidal ecologies.
Layout
Hillocks and gentle rises lend this park-within-a-park a bowl shape, and define its expansive central lawn, which is flanked by meandering paths, an open event plaza, and the labyrinthine Discovery Garden, with its funhouse mirrors and “whisper room.” In plan, the lawn resembles an amoeba, with numerous curvy nooks, perfect for small private gatherings and picnics. “We had never heard of social distancing when we designed the park,” says Van Valkenburgh. “But the concept was there in the public realm, many of us like to have separation.” Low cedar dune fencing appears to be holding back dense growth as if to prevent it from jumping out onto the tamed grass
Topography
Not merely noise attenuating, the topography strategically directs stormwater into filtering swales and drain inlets
Microclimate
MVVA used a resilient, salt-tolerant plant palette that includes bayberry, beach rose, witch hazel, switch grass, and quaking aspen. Juniper brings yearround greenery. The horticultural staff here is deeply invested in ecology, says Siebenmorgen: Brooklyn Bridge Park is managed organically, irrigation is used sparingly largely to help establish new plantings and maintenance is adjusted according to such things as pollination studies, which might, for example, indicate when to prune. This jibes well with MVVA’s “natural and rowdy” general aesthetic, says Siebenmorgen. “Plants are not sitting clipped and well-behaved in the corner,” he says. “They brush up against your ear or touch your arm it’s about that kind of physical interaction.” While larger plantings oak, black cherry, coffee trees, lindens, and hedgerows are inland, moving toward the waterfront, the scale comes down with scrubby specimens such as sea kale, sassafrass, salt shrub, Mauntauk daisy, and beach pea. The overall effect is that of an accelerated trip through a chain of microclimates: from forest to meadow to headland. (Siebenmorgen, n.d.)
Shift of the vantage point
Beyond the human realm to understand the co-existence of the ecological habitants and the human habitants.
Use of soil
A large share of the park's irrigation demand is met through reuse of site stormwater. Hedgerow and understory areas are densely planted with small-caliper trees and shrubs, easing establishment and allowing natural succession to determine a well-adapted species composition over time.
To further minimize environmental impact, organic soil-release fertilizers, made from fish emulsion and natural minerals, were used during construction, instead of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides a policy adopted in the park’s ongoing maintenance.
7.3 Resilient
“Resilience is defined through - innovation, equity, regeneration and protection” .
Ecologically ethical
Parameter taken into consideration for the case study was to understand how an ecological ethical wateredge development can bridge the gap between the development and environment. Wateredges can serve as important wildlife corridors, while maintaining biodiversity.
Project -The Qingpu Wetlands
Location- 30km south-east of downtown, Qingpu, Shanghai
Design process
The park first developed plants, water, and land. Then, respectfully around and between these elements, they designed the Path of Experience, weaving up to 4m above ground (Cassell, 2012)
Edges as porous boundaries
For water
“When there’s a storm surge, it creates an enormous amount of energy,” Mr. Cassell said. “Wetlands absorb that energy and protect the coastline.”
To initiate the system of overflow ponds at various points along the stretch, preventing floods by buying time for the water to move out.
During rainy periods, the rainwater is collected at the lower areas and purified by plants and natural filter systems. After rainstorms, surplus water drains away into the river. The collected water nourishes the park and, during the dry seasons, river water can be directed into the wetlands to be purified and used for natural irrigation. The wetland assures the purity of the water and provides the basis for an ecological park. This is especially
Plants used: Locally grown plants only, with strong anti-reversion forces, capacities of purification, comprehensive usable value and thus following the principles of sustainability
For humans
The wetlands are connected in nonintrusive ways to surrounding urban areas by bus and ferry.The park shows ways how to simply regenerate local natural habitats, and make them accessible and attractive. Even the disabled and elderly have the opportunity to enjoy and gain a new understanding of plants and wildlife, while creating new sensitivity for current issues like pollution and sustainability.
Technical challenges and services
The chemical waste is purified at the edge itself a park that would naturally clean the polluted water through bioremediation.
Inference
Mumbai is one of the few cities in the world where over 70 sq km of creeks and mangroves coexist with the city's land mass. A proven natural barrier against high tides, cyclonic winds and coastal erosion, their environs also represent unused potential for the development of ecologically-sensitive public open spaces. The city stands to gain approximately 33 km of boardwalks and promenades in the process. By creating these spaces alongside ecologically rich creeks and mangroves, we open them to public vigilance and therefore greater protection too.
Even the promenades dominated by paving and concrete can be shaped to harvest runoff from paved surfaces and collect waste water from the buildings to provide local supplies of recycled water. And where the boundaries are created by the plants and not by the rigid wall
It is crucial to design new developments that can accommodate and direct flood water through the porous edges using strategic open spaces and corridors to minimize damage to valuable infrastructure and cause storm surges
“Sustainability is a subject that commits everyone, as individuals or as peoples, not just in environmental and economic practices but also in the defence of our cultural and ethnic differences.”(green lines institute , 2007 )
"It's about making the cities more flexible," she added. "How do we utilise these spaces that sometimes are wet, sometimes are dry?" (Rijke, 2012)
Design intent
To increase the resiliency of the edges to protect the city against current and future storm surges.
Context specific
The design acts as string of pearls of social and environmental amenities customized to their specific neighbourhoods, which will also shield their hinterlands from flooding.
Reverse aquarium-
The form is derived from the flood protection at the water-oriented design that would be a maritime museum or an environmental education facility that features a ‘reverse aquarium’ which enables visitors to observe tidal variations and rises in sea level providing an effective flood barrier. The answer is not creating a huge concrete wall around the city. The proposal is to form the “Big U” a ring of park/flood management areas around the south end of Manhattan which will serve as public spaces most of the time and then capture and mitigate flood waters during extreme storm
layout
The team envisions the layout into three compartments that function independently to provide flood protection. Each compartment comprises a physically discrete flood-protection zone that can be isolated from flooding in adjacent zones. At the same time, each presents opportunities for integrated social and community planning. The compartments work in unison to protect and enhance the city, yet each compartment’s proposal is designed to stand on its own.
7.4 Holistic and empathetic approach
Mumbai has often faced the challenge of balancing between environment and development in their planning of wateredges. The coastal city have fragile environment requiring their conservation as an environmental agenda. The Government of India has notified CRZ areas with a view to achieve it.
“Water is a defining force that fundamentally shapes the character of each place it touches. The role of water in transport, industry, sanitation and nourishment made it the raison d’etre of human settlement. It is a feature to be honoured and celebrated - not to be treated merely as cosmetic or as just a commodity”. (Centre, 2002)
Water is not simply a material element in the production of cities but is also a critical aspect to the social production of a place. Water directs a series of connectivity between the body and the city, between social and bio-physical systems, between the evolution of water networks and capital flow, between the visible and invisible dimensions to urban cities Therefore, a one-size-fits-all definition for ‘Wateredge’ or ‘Wateredge Development’ may not be applicable
‘the new waterfront, a worldwide urban success story’, breen and rigby (1996) suggest typologies whilst mentioning that aspects from each one could be combined. In detail the following are mentioned.
commercial redevelopment
a tourist pole of attraction providing various bars, restaurants, hotels, shops, open markets along the shoreline
historical redevelopment focusing on the presentation, restoration reinvention and modernisation of the existing infrastructure
Cultural, educational and environmental redevelopment museums, theatres, open concert spaces, aquariums, ecologic and technological parks are created targeting both specific and general audiences.
residential development
one of the most challenging endeavours as it attempts to connect the privacy of the home and the public coast, sometimes creating a barriers between the city and the waterfront
recreational redevelopment
organising outdoor paths area,piers,restaurants and cafes targeting a wide range of users
‘An estuary demands gradients not walls, fluid occupations not defined by land use, negotiated moments not hard edges. In short it demands the accommodation of the sea not the war against it…’ (soak-Mumbai-in-anestuary, n.d.)
From what has been studied so far, it can be concluded that the redevelopment and regeneration of the wateredges acts as a representative example showcasing the ability of each city to take advantage of new opportunities, to recreate, reimagine and to adapt to new prevailing technologies.
There are numerous parameters that need to be accounted for during planning.The relationship between water and the edge environment, requires a multifaceted approach integrated planning and investment in time and money.
It depends in each case on the design and overall approach of every individual project.
The principles mentioned by giovinazzi and moretti (2010,pp.58-59) are the followings:
1. “secure the quality of water and the environment”
2. “Waterfronts are part of the existing urban fabric”
3. “The historic identity gives character
4. “Mixed use is a priority”
5. “Public access is a prerequisite”
6. “Planning in public private partnerships speeds the process”
7. “Public participation is an element of sustainability”
8. “Waterfronts are long term projects”
9. “Re-vitalization is an ongoing process
Conclusion
“Watereges not as an external entity but something that suggests multiple existence within”
Through the examination of this research it is clear that the wateredges always attracted human settlements. It is a combination of a manmade environment and the natural elements, pause point between the city and water. The water represents a community heritage and its intersection with the edges demonstrates different aspects of urban social and private life. The wateredge therefore, has a great influence on how the city is designed, structured, its character and the emotions it evokes. Even the smallest scale of the wateredge i.e. the wells have a strong cultural connect within different communities in Mumbai. The legends and histories surrounding them onlymake them more fascinating objects of history
The current condition does not support this relationship which is resulted in the loss of attachment to water as a source of meaning and sustenance. Place attachment has a significant contribution to the sense of ownership of a place. With the lack of attachment to the wateredge, have become inaccessible and hence neglected
Urban wateredge regeneration has become a global phenomenon in the 21st century. However, this can have both positive and negative effects on the city. It can either attract more locals and tourists, create more employment opportunities, Generate good transport connections, provide varied functions and uses around the wateredge and promote the adaptive reuse of historical buildings or on the other hand, unthoughtful regeneration can also make waterfronts extremely commercial, standardised, without character and essentially no identity. Furthermore, in some cases heritage is casted out to maximise possible profits, as well as poorest of poor population are neglected. The way to go forward is to design a holistic wateredge regeneration that is not just survivable but also liveable- by being aware of this potential clash of interests between development objectives and environmental concerns and lastly to identify wateredges as an expressive element in urban cities.
“Ideally what would happen is that you would break down the wall and allow people access to the water,” says Dalvi. “But you allow everyone access to the water, not only those who own the land. Transform it in ways that can move people to the sea, that can make people interact, that can bring people together,” (Mustansir Dalvi, a professor of architecture at the Sir J. J. College of Architecture in Mumbai)
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