URBAN INSERT- IN THE OLD CITY OF AHMEDABAD

URBAN INSERT THE WALLED URBAN OASIS FACILITIES FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES Instructors : Prof. Pratyush Shankar Vipuja Parmar

Hari Krishna .P PG 180319 SPRING 2019

AD STUDIO URBAN INSERT Prof. Pratyush Shankar Vipuja Parmar January 2019, Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University

Of Ruptures and Transformations The western edge of the walled city of Ahmedabad abuts the river Sabarmati. Historical sources tell us that in 15th century the place used to a large open ground Maidan-e-Shahi, just outside the Bhadra palace and close to the ceremonial entry to the city; teen darwaza. The maidan was place that saw weary travellers bring their wares from the length and breadth of the country. It was also the entry to the walled city of Ahmedabad.

This precinct has been a place loaded with history but at the same time it has been a place of ruptures and transformations. The maidan itself was an addition to the imagination of a small provincial settlement in the early days of the city.

The opening up of the Gandhi and Relief road, was the next important rupture that tore into the calm of the walled city during the period of municipal reforms initiated by the British officers and patronised by the elites of the merchant family The turn of the 19th century brought about new winds of change; whereas Mahatma Gandhi establishes the Sabarmati Ashram away from the city, the city embraces technology and industrialization. This shift is symbolized by the Ahmedabad Electricity Company building built on the corner of Sidi Syed Mosque. The first Art Deco building in Ahmedabad, bringing with it the best of International trends to the city. It is not only a new kind of institution but also a fresh new typology.

Come, 1950s and 60’s and the Modern movement takes the city by storm. This is period marked by frenzied activities on nation and hence institution building. Premabhai Hall, Central Bank building by B V Doshi and Apna Bazaar by Charles Correa were not simple new typologies but were an imagination of a new kind of urbanity; that brings the sea of humanity together in the fold of a universal system.

The Site The site that has been full of historical ruptures has shown the way to the city. Today in 2019, the city is looking up to this area of the city for some inspiration. The new building that is coming up at the site is a facility to house the new public private partnership of urban governance; like the BRTS, METRO, CMAG etc. These new models of urban development represent the new shift cities are making in the post global realities. No more are the cities looking towards central or state government for support but are rather becoming more autonomous as they try and compete with other cities for investments and better facilities.

However, the role of government is not really over and the time is ripe for the civil society, the markets and the state to come together in form of collaboration with the people of the city to imagine a new kind of urbanism The Project The building that you will have to design is the headquarter for multitude of Urban Development Agencies; the project is called The Urban Light House. Like a light house this building is will show the way towards a new future for the city of Ahmedabad.

The program for the building will be developed over the course of next few weeks as part of a collaborative workshop amongst the students. This whole precinct will be our site of study and during the first two weeks as we will get in grip with this context. After this stage of study students will choose a site in this precinct, that they wish to intervene in and will develop the program for the design of The Urban Light House Schedule and Expectations Week 1, 2 Site and the Context Week 3, 4 Taking Positions and Articulating Concepts Week 4, 5 Developing the concept – demonstrating its fit WeekMAAD 6, 7 the Program and developing a clear spatial system URBANSynchronizing INSERT Week 8, 9 Design Development WeekProf.

10, Pratyush 12 Shankar Developing the Design Language and Integrating all technological systems WeekVipuja 13, 14 Design Development Parmar Week 15, 16 Portfolio

Urban Insert Intervention - Site 1,2,3 Site area - 2500 sq m aprox.

(2752 sqm, 2537 sqm, 2672 sqm respectively) FSI - 3 Total Built up area - 7,500 sqm

Area Requirements -

1 2

Working spaces for the Institutions - 20% Spaces for Meetings, Seminars - 10-15% Auditorium - 1 - Capacity of around 200 seats Seminar Halls -5 to 6 - Capacity of around 20-30 seats Workshop spaces - 2 to 3

3

Exhibition spaces - 5% Space for Permanent Exhibition Space for Temporary Exhibition Provision of working spaces for other Institution to be added later - 10% Public spaces- Binding Spaces - 30% Plazas, Open Amphitheater, Cafes, Food courts Circulation Spaces - 20% Corridors, Staircases, Elevators, Lifts

N

SITE & IMMEDIATE CONTEXT

The site almost located at the entry point of the old city- beside of house of MG, and central bank designed by BV Doshi. The site physically surrounded by four different conditions, where the primary edge of the site (west side) is busy 10mts. wide road. Eastside, there is an art college where the students will walk in the site to reach college, which also demonstrates the strategy. Southside of the site an open space of the house of MG.

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B A 2

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Busy road

A. Cental bank of india

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Open spcae of MG House

B. Lucky tea point

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Arts college

C. House of MG

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Narrow street

D. Sidi Sayyid Mosque

URBAN BLOCK STUDY

THICK WALL BUILDING STUDY

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01 - Central Bank 02 - House Of MG 03 - Urban Light House 04 - Sidi Sayyid Mosque 05 - Apna Bazar 06 - Electricity House 07 - State Bank Of India 08 - Zillz Panchayat 09 - Bhadra Fort 10 - Premabhai Hall 11 - Bank Of India 12 - Ahmedshah Mosque 13 - CNI Church

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