Abstract

researching many aspects of Panaji. The first couple weeks consisted of surveying several areas of the city and researching topics such as planning and government structure, land ownership, and water and waste services.

When it came time for groups to be assigned areas, the Central Business District (CBD) was given to groups three and four. After a week of researching the CBD as a team of six, it was time to narrow the focus into two defined areas. To guide the decision, the teams used a participatory method called activity mapping. Participants were asked to mark their most and least favorites on a map and then explain their choices. Through this process, two areas of interest were revealed: the Panaji Market and the area surrounding the church square. Group three took the Market, and group four took the church square.

Through exploring a wide range of participatory methods, we familiarized ourselves with our respective sites and began to identify key stakeholders. These methods provided valuable insights into the culture, building typology, as well as issues and concerns of the local community. The findings from these insights informed our situational analysis and in turn, enabled us to identify the issues faced by various stakeholders of our area.

The prevailing issues concerning children in the city, livability for families, and mobility were intrinsically linked to concerns of accessibility and safety. This led us to two primary proposals. The first proposal is ‘Children in Public Space’ aimed at facilitating the inclusive and safe participation of children in public space.

The second proposal, ‘Streets for the People,’ focuses on issues pertaining to mobility. These are wide and varied but attempt to address the issues identified with parking, pedestrian safety, and public transportation.