Figure 56: Public open space alignment

6.3.4. Enhanced pedestrian realm

Placemaking is based on a simple principle: if you plan cities for cars and traffic, you will get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you will get people and places. More traffic and greater road capacity are not the inevitable results of growth. They are products of very deliberate choices made to shape our communities to accommodate the private automobile. Thus, Walkability is an important aspect in defining the user convenience of any open public space. In the case of the Preet Vihar community center, the sidewalks or the pedestrian footpaths are either not adequately provided on certain sides or have been encroached by vendors or stalls. Hence to enhance the walkability, at first, the pedestrian footpaths should be regulated and the vendors should be provided with designated locations near or at the boundaries of the site.

Figure 56: Pedestrian walkability; Source: Author

6.3.5. Design buildings to support places

In many cities, new buildings are going up at an unprecedented pace. Massive gated communities are being built for the middle class, exacerbating the gulf between rich and poor. Traditional neighborhoods are being replaced by towering skyscrapers and civic institutions like schools and libraries often end up looking like fortresses. This trend has spread around the globe and it is damaging the fabric of cities everywhere. Thus instead of promoting gated communities, the open spaces should be designed in a manner by which they can be easily accessed from all sides. The open spaces at Preet vihar have been designed along the central spine of the site, thereby creating a barrier-free and visually accessible flow of movement.

Figure 57: Public open space alingment; Source: Author

6.3.6. Inclusion of adequate open space amenities

Public open amenities such as proper shaded seating areas or the lamp posts along with other recreational features enhance the overall user experience. Hence, proper public open space amenities should be added to the community centers to improve and develop the condition of the public open spaces in the community center. Adequate street furniture and garbage bins should be placed at regular intervals within the site.

Figure 58: Public open space amenities; Source: Author

6.4 Proposal justification

After the development of the proposal, a survey was conducted, in order to understand the stake of the visitors on the solutions proposed:

6.4.1 Create open spaces as multi-use destinations

Question 1: Do you think additional spaces for shops, kiosks, or food courts should be added to the open spaces of the community center?

Question 2: Do you think that inclusion of an entrance plaza or central plaza space can be more helpful in enhancing the user experience?

Justification for the proposal:

Thus, from the above two responses, it is primarily clear that developing the open spaces as interactive public squares can help improve the user experience and will induce activities into the public open spaces.

6.4.2 Build local economies through weekly or night markets

Question 1: Would you prefer to shop while walking or strolling through the open spaces of the community center?

Question 2: Do you think additional night market or weekly market provision is required?

Justification for proposal:

Thus, from the above two responses, it is primarily clear that developing market areas with the provision of night markets or weekly markets can help with developing the user experience and increasing interaction among the users.

6.4.3 Enhanced pedestrian realm

Question 1: Do you feel that walking within and around the spaces of community center is disturbed with vehicular movement?

Question 2: Do you think that segregating Vehicular movement will help improve the open spaces of the community center?

Justification for the proposal:

Enhancing the pedestrian realm will help the users to easily access the open spaces of the community centers and will also reduce the probable risks of any accidents that can affect pedestrian safety. The above survey highlights that the visitors will welcome such changes as it will allow them to easily access and traverse the open spaces of community center without facing any obstruction from vehicular movement.

6.4.4 Improved public space amenities

Question 1: Do you think that improving the seating facility can help improve the frequency of visits to the open spaces of the community center?

Question 2: Do you think that proper shaded seating spaces should be provided in the open spaces of the community center?

Justification for the proposal:

The above survey questions asked clearly highlight that improving the seating facilities and providing proper shaded seating areas will also help to enhance the usage and the character of open spaces of the community center