Review of 'Garden Cities of Tomorrow' & 'The Cité Industrielle' +
University ID: 21429764
MA Architecture + Urbanism (2022)
Manchester School of Architecture, UK
Heena Jameel Ahmed Shaikh
Copyright @2022 Manchester, UK All rights reserved Manchester School of Architecture
Copyright reserved by Heena Jameel Ahmed Shaikh University ID: 21429764 MA Architecture and Urbanism
C+U ESSAY 02-22 23-34
Introduction Background Urban Planner Master plan Concept Examples Critical Review Conclusion Comparative Analysis Bibliography
RME PART 1: Proposal 1. 2 3
Abstract
Introduction Aim Objectives Research Question Structure of Research Literature Review Research Methodology and Methods Study of Maps Case Study Design Studio Conclusion Bibliography
RME PART 2: Symposium 35-44
Group Report Individual Report
A review of 'Garden Cities of Tomorrow' & 'The Cité Industrielle'
"At the beginning of the twentieth century, two great new inventions took form before our eyes: the aeroplane and the Garden City, both harbingers of a new age: the first gave man wings and the second promised him a better dwelling-place when he came down to earth."
- Lewis Mumford (1946)
Background:
By the middle of the 19th century, over half of Britain’s population lived in towns The proportion had risen to over three quarters by 1900 (Miller, 2002) During this period, much of Britain's population is devoted to enhancing the frightening conditions in which many people lived in English towns and cities
In response to these efforts, the Garden City Movement was born, a visionary alternative to the apparent chaos of contemporary towns and a major contribution to English urban planning.
An English urban planner, Sir Ebenezer Howard is renowned as the father of Garden Cities Born in London, United Kingdom, he quit his education at the early age of 15 and worked in the UK as a junior clerk Inspired by his uncle, at age 21, he migrated to Nebraska in the United States to perform farming After a failed attempt at the same, he relocated to Chicago just after the great fires of 1871, which destroyed their Central Business district During this time, Howard observed the city's regeneration firsthand It is believed this event made him ponder over improving the standard of living in a newly founded city Eventually, in 1898 his book was first published as 'To-morrow a peaceful path to Real Reform' which was later re-issued in 1902 as 'Garden Cities of Tomorrow.'
The Garden city movement is a 20th-century urban planning movement providing emphasis on the quality of life and community living. Howard was unhappy with the way modern cities were developed back then and believed that an ideal society should have a combination of the country as well as the town This led to the popular three-magnet diagram that he described as the main attraction for living. He enlisted the benefits and drawbacks of town and country life and at last combined the positives of the two to create a town-country magnet This was thus defined by him as an ideal society profiting from all the socio-economic perks Such rearrangement would provide the basis for a society with fresh air, lush green lands, and scenic avenues together with opportunities for employment, growth and accessibility
Fig 1: Sir Ebenezer Howard Image © https://architectuul com/architect/ebenezerhoward
Fig 2: The Three Magnets, in which Ebenezer Howard summarised his concept of a town and country union Image © (Howard, 1985)
Howard explained his concept on a parcel of agricultural land measuring 6000 acres, purchased by the means of an auction in the name of a trust represented by few respectable members of the society The population of such a town was targeted to be 32,000 making it a compact pod which could be well managed and maintained. The main aim of developing such a magnet was to decongest the prevailing saturated towns, thus providing people with a better standard of living closer to major cities. The acquired land, imagined to be a circular pod, was further zoned out with components that were identical in every ward
Fig 3: Diagram explaining the concept zoning of the Garden City Image © (Howard 1985)
Fig 4: Diagram explaining the ward and centre of the Garden City Image © (Howard 1985)
Each of these wards has a central garden forming the main recreational plaza This consists of public amenities and larger buildings such as the town hall, and library that bring people together in large numbers thus making it an active hub. From this central node, are six boulevards radiating outwards to form six sectors The planning features of such a sector are well laid out by Howard Just beyond the central garden is the crystal palace which comprises shopping arcades, exhibition centres and a shelter during the rough weather Further, there are Sub Avenues, divided by ring roads which are lush green streets to beautiful houses with varied architecture unique to each yet set in harmony
Fig 5: Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire Image © Historic England Archive DP247673
Fig 6: Welwyn Garden City showing the layout and greenery Image © Graham Hussey
The main attraction though is Grand Avenue which is 420 feet wide and consists of green belts that are three miles long. These six sites in each ward are occupied by public institutions such as schools, and places of worship and consist of houses with larger frontages Furthermost at the exterior circle is the outer ring which consists of industries, yards and production zones thus setting it away from the public and residential neighbourhood. This outer ring is surrounded by a rail line, making transportation of goods easy, eventually helping ease industrial traffic within the core city hence reducing pollutants from the industrial waste to be let out into the residential zones.
Lastly, all of these layers are enveloped by an extensive green belt consisting of farmlands, orchards, pastures and charitable institutions No extension of the city could be developed on this parcel of land, thus ensuring the buffer zone remains in its natural form. Each such pod was defined to be a s
Fig 8: Aerial photo of Welwyn, England, UK Garden City shows the layout, railway line and industrial zone, Image © Dave Porter
The residents of such a city were encouraged to produce for their own needs thus reducing their dependency on others Importance was given to the green belt in relation to built form in order to maintain natural beauty The zones were well segregated to create a work-life balance and the ease of commuting drastically helped reduce travel time which led to healthy mental and physical wellbeing Howard stresses the scale of the city and believes that if it grew too big or if one of the above components were missing, it would not be an ideal Garden City but a derivation of the same. His ideologies stress the fact that scale matters, ownership matters, and governance matters to make it a successful model
Fig 10:
tenants Image © https://heritagecalling com/2016/02/18/a-brief-introduction-to-garden-cities/
Besides urban planning, Howard also conceptualised the revenue and administrative system of Garden city An important factor of the scheme states that rent received as per the value of the land will be given to the trustee. Urban rent was meant to be higher than rural land. The entire revenue is from rent and fees, not taxes Rent goes from residents and businesses to the city government which owns all property Post deduction of interests and sinking fund, the balance would be let out to the council for maintenance works He proposed a ‘Rate-Rent’ system which combined financing for community services with a return for those who had invested in it
Fig 12: Garden cities: Administrative Chart demonstrated by author
Westholm Green was designed by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin in 1906 for Letchworth Garden City
His model of expansion was inspired by Adelaide, Australia. When the city got overcrowded and needed expansion, a northern part of the city was developed, which leapt over the parklands He emphasised preserving the green belt around and never letting any development be proposed on it. Garden cities were surrounded by countryside; expansion was only to be done beyond the green belt The result would be a central city gathered around clusters of Garden Cities Each of these pods is to be connected to the central city by a railway line The people of all such pods would be part of a common larger community
Fig 13: Showing park land all around the city and its mode of growth Image © (Howard, 1985)
Fig 14: Illustrating the correct principle of a city's growth Image © (Howard, 1985)
Of the many Garden cities that were developed in England, Letchworth in 1903 and Welwyn in 1920 were the earliest examples witnessed Letchworth is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of 33,249 as per the 2011 census. It is noteworthy that these garden cities were based on the ideology of Howard and to a great extent were built around his planning components Another successful example outside of the UK is the Brondby garden city in Denmark We see aesthetically planned circular pods of residential development, each connected by roadways Though some cities such as the Tel Aviv garden city in Israel modified Howard's concept and developed it linearly, the design components remain the same.
Fig 15: Aerial view of Welwyn Garden city Image © Jason Hawkes
Fig 16: Aerial view of Brønby Haveby Denmark Image © Google Earth
Fig 17: The Parker and Unwin layout for Letchworth, first published in spring 1904 [Purdom 1913, 42]
Fig 18: Aerial view of Letchworth from 2009 Image © RIBA Competitions
The Garden Cities formed the basis of the revolutionary movement within the global urban planning concept. A collaborative and cooperative approach led to high-quality, well-designed places in the Garden Cities Howard’s thorough and intricate detailing of every aspect makes it easier for one to base it as a guideline and develop upon it. The book does explain the concept of a society that's achievable and hence it is different from the idea of Utopia which is an ideal society free of all evil This makes it more realistic and possible to experiment with Although the narration of the book is descriptive, it lacks illustration and visuals which could add value to the reader's imagination It promotes the sense of community and welfare of society over individualism Thus the chief reason for failure I believe would be the greed and want of mankind which can’t be controlled by urban planners Garden cities must adapt to survive, but we must seek to find a solution which allows them to evolve while at the same time retaining their character. The idea of leaving in such a neighbourhood with lush green avenues is definitely exciting and surreal In my opinion what adds value to it, is the concept of expansion, where each pod acts like a self-sustained unit thus reducing the transport and eventually the carbon footprint Today, with climate change at its peak, the incorporation of such change in urban planning principles in new towns will definitely help Many of the major global cities, including Mumbai all struggling for public open space, if the component of large recreational green space can be planned within the new towns, it will help us the pressure built up later due to urbanisation. It is thus imperative for the new urban planners to be aware of such design movements, analyse them, upgrade them to meet the present-day need and finally implement them into the design
Fig 21: The first very simple and visually uninteresting terraced housing scheme at Welwyn constructed in 1920
Fig 22: Examples of cul-de-sac constructed in Welwyn Garden City
We often witness new towns being developed to desaturate a congested city One such example is the existence of Navi Mumbai (New Bombay), India which was planned along the east of Mumbai to ease its pressure It is based on a grid layout laid by Architect Charles Correa The layout is divided into sectors with each having its own municipal co-operation for efficient administrative purposes. The design components similar to the garden cities such as large planned boulevards, recreational areas, segregation of residential and commercial land use, and a rail network connecting its nine nodes were laid Though the initial shift from the Urban neighbourhood was slow, today it is a successful model providing an example for other cities in the country Its purpose has been successful to an extent but the shift was seen from surrounding tier 2 cities instead of Mumbai. At present Navi Mumbai itself is overcrowded and requires further expansion
In my opinion, Howard's principles are limited to a fresh parcel of land and provide rather no solution to improving an existing town which is the case in most cities Another aspect that could cause hindrance is the existence of corruption in the city councils; it will be difficult to monitor and control this after a certain stage The administrative system suggested by Howard is difficult to achieve as well and the right to ownership will certainly be a concern It does address the issue of expansion by limiting the population of each pod and emphasising the solution of replication, although I am not certain how effective this would be today Duplication of public amenities for each pod may not be the most viable solution considering the priority of most developing cities is the lack of affordable housing which further leads to slum development
Though it is vital to learn from the mistakes of the past to create a better future and Howard's Garden city does provide the right direction The question remains if the answer to today's needs is in planning a brand new city or developing infrastructure and expanding the existing ones to satisfy the ever-growing needs.
Fig 23: Navi Mumbai Masterplan, showing a shift from Mumbai Image © Charles Correa Associates
Post studying the ‘Garden Cities’, another concept that stimulated my interest is ‘The Industrial city’ by Garnier. Unlike the garden city that was developed in a circular zone with emphasis on the central public facilities, Garnier generated a linear plan with a focus on the industries It is vital to understand all these revolutionary urban planning principles that laid the foundation for us today Most of the concepts may not be exactly replicated as there is a drastic change in the 21st century needs. Although they provide a strong foundation for the basis of all new-age urban development. It is of utmost importance to understand the setting in which these utopian concepts were produced and further develop the same to suit today’s needs
Introduction:
The forerunner of the 20th-century French Architects, Tony Garnier was a city planner and architect by education, unlike Howard He was born in Lyons, France and has extensively worked in the region. It is said the best solutions come out of the conditions we are living in and improvising the same His father was a worker in the silk industry which exposed him to the industrial background from an early age He grew up in a modest household, where people often worked and lived around the same zone. During this time small scale textile mills were being taken over by Large Industrial setups This along with generating employment also raised concerns about health and hygiene Often the waters and air were polluted with industrial by-products. Garnier lost his mother to a pulmonary illness, that could have been caused by the unhealthy living conditions Hence throughout his vision, we see an emphasis on factors such as living conditions, health and sanitation
During the years 1886-1889, he studied architecture at Lyon's Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts During his study period. For his design of a national bank, he received the coveted Prix de Rome award Following this, he was able to live in the Villa Medici in Rome It was during this time, that Garnier developed the concept and layout of the Cite´ Industrielle His initial drawings and ideas were rejected by Ecole to be displayed at an exhibition. There was a requirement of producing Renaissance architectural studies when on the grant Though persistent with his idea of An Industrial City, he continued to work on it independently for 3 years developing it further. Eventually in 1904, along with his study on the reconstruction of the Tusculum town, his work was displayed at an exhibition in Paris This was the first step for Garnier to project his concept to a wider audience
The industrial revolution attracted the population to the central cities in need of work. This resulted in overpopulated cities which further led to a lack of housing and resulted in slum development It also impacted the living standard of people, leading to cramped houses, overcrowded streets, lack of green spaces to name a few This situation leads the way for urban planners to conceptualise zoning in order to provide a healthy social city. Garnier too developed a zoning plan separated by functions into several categories For this purpose, he took into consideration all aspects of a city namely residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial and administrative purposes
Garnier chose Southeast France for the Industrial City, which is positioned on a plateau and lake to the north, and a valley with a river running to the south The proposal was made for a population of 35,000 inhabitants All the prime aspects to run a socialist city are well considered in this plan Components of an actual working city were considered by him namely governmental, cultural, residential, industrial and agricultural A briefly laid out zoning plan states the location of all prime functions. The railway station is zoned to the east of the river, with industries to the southeast, an old town to the northeast and a silk manufacturing unit to the north of the old town The old town is located near the railway station to provide a visual treat to the tourists arriving This verifies that Garnier believed in community living and was proud to display the town’s unique character The railway station forms the central hub, linking all public facilities and forming the main connection between industries and the city, further up to the medical facilities. Garnier believed in the idea of generating energy for industries through a renewable source Above the old town in the mountains is the dam providing hydropower to the city.
The buildings are grouped into 2 major sections, residential and public The elongated residential blocks run East-West maximising the sunlight and wind. This is said to be one of the 1st attempts at passive solar architecture Each of these blocks is designed as a low-rise structure with large windows and an elegant exterior as per his sketch. Restriction of height is seen in these blocks, such that harmony is maintained and does not intervene with natural sunlight No light shafts were allowed, and each block was placed with a plot margin that leads to good-quality light In order to keep the layout welcoming, fences and barricades were eliminated The public zone set on the plateau consists of administrative buildings, museums and sports facilities similarly set to the Hellenistic Acropolis. All the various functions were well linked by the pedestrian as well as vehicular services and ease of circulation was stressed There is a provision for a healthcare centre and a park on the higher terrain with the cemetery situated to the southwest. All of it was further enveloped by a green agricultural belt The functions were zoned such that each activity relating to the other was placed at a convenient distance yet segregated in form For instance, the school for vocational training was placed closer to the factories such that it will provide an opportunity for a hands-on learning experience for the students Such small yet vital thoughts bought to light the importance of the social aspect stressed by Garnier.
Fig 30: Visionary view of the hospital in the industrial city Image © (Wiebenson, 1982) Tony Garnier: The Cite Industrielle.
It is fascinating that no provision for jail, a police station or a place of worship was laid out in the concept, as he believed in the goodness of mankind And that every individual must be aware and responsible for his own actions in a socialist environment thus, the need for judicial and law was eliminated Though the concept in the present time, sounds impossible to achieve, it was envisioned as a utopian socialist living Maybe in an ideal world, if people are provided with all basic needs and work-life balance, it is achievable through the greed component of mankind is nullified
During his young day, Lyons was a textile and metallurgical manufacturing centre, thus the setup of these industries is reflected in his zoning A strong influence of the era is seen in Garnier’s zoning. Another important aspect was the medical unit zone. During that time, there was no advancement in the technology of medical tools and equipment Thus, emphasis was given to providing a healthy environment to the patients which resulted in faster recovery Hence a lot of large hospitals back then were broken down into smaller units and pavilions to increase exposure to nature By 1897, health and hygiene formed the basis of design in Germany Strict development rules were set on defining the ground coverage ratio of each plot. Green zones and plantations were encouraged to act as a buffer between varying zones This model was soon adopted by Garnier in France. He laid emphasis on how people lived in their routines. Thus, accessibility from house to workplace was laid out well in the plan
Fig 31: Visionary view of the railway station in the industrial city Image © (Wiebenson 1982) Tony Garnier: The Cite Industrielle
Garnier believed in the concept of open planning, his vision of housing thus prohibits any fencing or boundary walls that obstruct the right to access On the contrary, he encourages these spaces to be developed as common green areas for recreation He planned wide pedestrian pathways, natural ventilation and sunlight into houses, as well as green roofs. He tried to create an open garden-like layout by placing all the taller buildings in one section and regulating the heights of each zone One of the key factors of his layout was the concept of expansion. Each function could expand individually depending on the demand which is an ideal way in my view The situation of mankind and its need vary with given time, region and condition; hence the flexibility of functional expansion was a modern approach adopted by him
Fig 32: Visionary view of the habitation running East-West in the industrial city Image © (Wiebenson, 1982) Tony Garnier: The Cite Industrielle
The then-mayor, Victor Augagneur commissioned Garnier for his first project in 1905 to design a municipal dairy In his career, he accomplished about 80 projects, most based in Lyon During his work years, he did intensive work on upgrading the standard of the working-class habitats in Lyon by providing running water, sanitation facilities and hygiene environments Some of his notable works include the hospital of the Grange and the Municipal stadium in Lyon For ease of any work, political backing is important and hence the support made it possible for Garnier back then too
Though his vision of the Industrial City was never built, it laid the foundation for other planners. At present Garnier is not one of the common names as Le Corbusier but he holds an important place in the city of Lyon. His presence is felt in every part of the neighbourhood and the city itself is a clear reflection of his thoughts and work One can see large walls of Murals in residential neighbourhoods depicting his vision of the Industrial City and other works
Critical review:
In my view, one of the hidden bases of his laid-out concept is understood to be regionalism. An important factor of context, that is often missed out Even in today’s time, people provide similar design solutions to the same problem in different regions. It should be imperative to approach them in a unique manner A housing design located in the desert can no way be like one in a tropical zone Similarly, the local art, craft and skills of a region shall be reflected in its urban layouts with accommodation provided to encourage the same Garnier carefully studied these aspects and included a school of art and craft in his plan Opportunities for both sexes were equal, and provision was made for arbitration due to the absence of courts. These factors help us understand that he was a man who believed in equality and sensitivity to all This approach of working together as a unit is beneficiary even today and generates a sense of belonging amongst the masses. It is via these means that every individual could consider his role and perform his duties in an urban setup Only by active participation, can any development be a successful one
Fig 34: Hospital of the Grange, Lyons, France designed by Tony Garnier Image © Wikipedia Fig 35: The Halle, an arena in Lyon, France, was Originally a slaughterhouse, the building was renovated in 1987 and opened as a concert hall in 1988 Image © MangAllyPopAnother interesting factor in Garnier’s work was the selection of material He widely promoted the use of concrete in the understructure and reinforced concrete in the superstructures along with terrace gardens. The reinforced concrete is also seen in his design of the Railway station along with glazing Encouragement of this robust material during the 19th century helped him create buildings with greater strength and longevity. It is assumed that his choice of materials was mainly to add aesthetic value along with speedy construction On the contrary today, we are trying to find ecofriendly solutions for the replacement of concrete due to the harmful emissions it leads to. But possibly this solution for extensive road works and public amenities back then was needed As an urban planner in his concept, he not only lay the masterplan but was intricately involved in producing finite details that would uplift the standards of the township. For instance, in addition to the structural construction, he also paid attention to interior details, such as smoothly finished walls with curved edges. A few clever alterations such as laying straight rail lines against curved helped a speedy commute
Fig 36: Visionary view of the assembly building in the industrial city Image © (Wiebenson, 1982)
Tony Garnier: The Cite Industrielle
Conclusion:
Today, most urban planning projects are driven by economic aspects Planners and politicians themselves market new developments by means of their commercial growth and revenue generation We often neglect the most important factor of human well-being and social growth Factors such as community living, landscape, and sanitation are mere duplicates without much advancement and thought. Corruption is another aspect that has destroyed the visions of Urban planners such as Garnier The prime focus of any development lies in the profits it generates rather than the profit to society. It is appalling when in the name of development, only a few benefits and the larger section are neglected Open spaces today are given out to private developers in the name of progress and eventually, cities crave good quality public recreation. It would also be fair to say that his idea of a utopian society without law and order would be chaotic in present times Law is needed in order to regulate the principles laid out, what is possible is to limit the use of this law by creating a safe neighbourhood. Wide boulevards, pedestrian walkways, and excellent public amenities and services should form the basis of Urban planning principles Just like Garnier and his modernist approach were ahead of their time, we need to visualize the needs of tomorrow and lay out provisions to accommodate much more than actual
Both the 'Garden City' and the 'Industrial City' came into existence as a solution to the then-prevailing issues in society They both aimed at providing a solution to uplift the standard of living and achieve social equality for the people. Both urban planners focus on doing good for the people and run parallel in the main objective The Garden City revolve mainly around creating green, self-sustained societies while the latter aims on setting a strong industrial spine for the town thus generating employment On one hand, Howard conceptualised a town in a radial pattern whereas Garnier laid a grid pattern. Howard stressed that the actual placement and planning of such a town would be governed by its site As seen in Letchworth and Welwyn, they are not laid in a radial grid though reflect all the principles of Garden City strongly The main focus of Howard's concept was the central garden with the administrative and public amenities making it the focal point and further placing away other uses On contrary, Garnier worked on the segregation of activities and functions thus zoning things away from each other per usage and movement Another interesting aspect of Garnier's planning was the orientation of the residential blocks His emphasis on natural ventilation and sunlight is seen in his vision This depicts that he was concerned about the physical well-being of his inhabitants along with their mental health The garden city on other hand due to the concentric nature of planning does not elaborate on the orientation of buildings In my view, masterplans that are laid in a pattern or restricted by forms such as a circle, or hexagon often lack utilisation of the potential natural light and ventilation that they can receive In such a layout, few benefit while others may be at loss
Attention to detail was another aspect of Garnier's master plan. He was very well-detailed and laid out facilities such as a hospital, vocational school, and cemetery among others Most urban planners lay the vision for the prime uses but Garnier went to the extent of detailing secondary utilities essential for people at that time. Along with residential, industrial, and administrative, cultural and educational sectors were drawn light upon He introduced the use of materials such as concrete and further provided innovative structural details for many of his buildings In his architectural style, the long horizontal and vertical buildings were simplified thus to harmonise with nature. On the other hand in The Garden City, we do not see any form of such detailing or material references
Though Garnier and Howard both speak and provide solutions for expansion, the one laid by Howard had controlled population densities. He emphasised on repetition of cities along with separate administrative blocks and thus provided for a self-sustained plan His idea of repeating each pod and further connecting them may not seem viable in today's time and will need modifications Though each of his pods was enclosed within a green belt that could not be built upon, this does seem like a great idea As we all know any successful model often runs on supply being proportionate to demand Following this model, in the Industrial City vision, each function could expand individually into the green belts that separate them depending on the demand which seems more practical and possible to achieve This will also eliminate unnecessary duplication of amenities that were under-utilised. Though there is no provision for expansion of the city centre and its infrastructure if there is demand Howard's Garden city is the epitome of a Utopian society with the assumption of no crimes, and the need for the absence of law and order. Garnier's vision demonstrates the real as well as the ideal aspect of the utopian society Courts for arbitration were included, jails for prisoners were located and public services such as flour mills, bakeries, dairy, slaughterhouses and pharmaceutical products were placed under the jurisdiction of the administration. The long-term goal of both these concepts was the decentralisation of urban pockets and the uplifting of the then lives of people by providing them with a balance of leisure and employment opportunities The cities of Letchworth and Welwyn, England and the City of Lyon, France are live examples of these exemplary movements and set as precedents for society to further refine them and implement them in the present-day context to resolve the prevailing Urban issues
(Canniffe, n d )
Canniffe, E. (n.d.) Review: Garden Cities of To-morrow. Blogspot.com. [Online] [Accessed on 20 April 2022] http://lukebutcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-review-garden-cities-of-to-morrow.html.
(‘Don’t call them naff we need garden cities now more than ever ’ , n d ) Don’t call them naff we need garden cities now more than ever (n d ) Times (London, England: 1788)
Retrieved 22 November 2022, from https://www thetimes co uk/article/dont-call-them-naff-we-needgarden-cities-now-more-than-ever-q8lssvgcn
(England, 2016)
England, H (2016) A brief introduction to garden cities The Historic England Blog [Online] [Accessed on 04 April 2022] https://heritagecalling.com/2016/02/18/a-brief-introduction-to-garden-cities/.
(Howard, 1985)
Howard, E (1985) Garden cities of tomorrow Attic Press
(McFarland, 1914)
McFarland, J H (1914) The garden city: A study in the development of a modern town By C B Purdom 330 pages, with 4 colored pictures and 140 other illustrations London: J M Dent & Sons, Ltd New York: E P Dutton & Company National Municipal Review, 3(3), 646–646 https://doi org/10 1002/ncr 4110030329
(Moreira, 2021)
Moreira, S. (2021) What are garden cities? ArchDaily. [Online] [Accessed on 17 April 2022] https://www archdaily com/961275/what-are-garden-cities
(The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012)
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (2012) ‘garden city ’ Encyclopedia Britannica
(n d )
(N d ) Org uk Retrieved 22 November 2022, from https://historicengland org uk/imagesbooks/publications/english-garden-cities-introduction/english-garden-cities/
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The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (1998) ‘Cité Industrielle ’ Encyclopedia Britannica
(senacatal, 2016) senacatal (2016) Tony Garnier from an Industrial City Architect’s Journal [Online] [Accessed on 20 April 2022] https://senacatal wordpress com/2016/03/06/tony-garnier-from-an-industrial-city/ (Wiebenson, 1982) Wiebenson, D. (1982) Tony Garnier: The Cite Industrielle. New York, NY, USA: George Braziller.
‘People & Public Open Space' An analysis of the current POS in Mumbai and its future opportunities.
Abstract:
Cities in India have neglected open spaces due to a preoccupation with building residential and commercial real estate While shelter does remain the priority, we are drifting away from social spaces where people from all strata can participate The impact of this deflection is leading to grave physical and mental damage which is ignored In the absence of playgrounds, parks, and high streets people will remain inward-looking and find it difficult to interact in the coming times An important aspect of city life is the availability of open spaces Space is defined by people and their activities, often more powerfully than physical definitions alone Shared, social spaces emerge from places of interaction A city garden may be shared by all residents, a street crowded with vendors and commuters, or a courtyard among neighbours As part of the urban fabric, open spaces provide spaces for leisure, interaction, and, often, everyday transactions The foundation of urban liveability is open space, which is more than a place for recreation and the preservation of natural and cultural values I believe it is of utmost importance to analyse this important aspect of the urban core and provide necessary solutions for the betterment of public space design
Fig 1: A comparative diagram of Open space in major global cities Image ©Times of India (Rajadhyaksha, 2012)
Introduction:
Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, encompasses 604 sq km and is home to 20 6 million people according to the census 2021 (Mumbai population 2022, n d ) As per the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, creating "sustainable cities and communities" requires sufficient green open spaces As the city is expanding, its open spaces are shrinking There are merely 1 24 square metres of accessible open space per person in Mumbai, ahead only of Chennai at 0 81 square metres Comparatively, Delhi has 21 52 square metres of open space per citizen, while Bangalore has 17 32 square metres In comparison to Mumbai, other global megacities have more open space per capita than Mumbai, including London with 31 68 square metres, New York with 26 4 square metres, and Tokyo with 3 96 square metres (Udas, 2020) Unplanned urbanisation has only 2069 formal open spaces including games, playgrounds, recreational grounds, beaches and promenades within Mumbai, out of this, 501 are encroached upon These open spaces make up 3 3% of Mumbai's total area The international standard is 11 square metres per person (Das, 2013) Moreover, the current density of the city makes it impossible to build any large parks or centrally accessible public spaces In a democratic country like India, it is impossible to create a park the size of New York's central park without displacing more than 100,000 people This congestion thus demands an alternate strategy to create public space in cities like Mumbai, where larger solutions are difficult to achieve (Das, 2013)
To study and analyse the existing Public open space (POS) in Mumbai, India and further develop a framework to generate future strategies to increase the existing per-person open space ratio
To analyse the current POS in Mumbai and understand the challenges of the city that lead to the current insufficiency
To research guidelines laid for successful urban POS designs by planners globally in comparison to the existing ones in Mumbai
To study the existing proposals for POS laid by the governing body in the development plan 2034 and reflect upon its shortcomings
To explore the future potential in the city to increase the per-person open space ratio from 1 3 sq m per person to the standards laid by the UN (9 sq m /person)
What has led to the present abysmal state of the POS in the city? How can we uplift the existing design quality of POS along with the strategies to increase the open space ratio for the future?
udy of the current POS situation in analysing the present-day reality green open spaces Secondly, a unities by Urban planners based in help of global case studies, a be established to understand in value Public Open Spaces al experience in the city, strategies
A literature review is one of the foremost and most crucial steps in writing a dissertation The purpose of a literature review is to provide an overview of the existing literature in order to:
Research the chosen topic, including the sources used by others who have conducted similar studies
Research your specific research question to see if it has already been addressed
Determine what areas or perspectives have not been covered by others on your topic Identify and evaluate existing resources to help create a base
(‘LibGuides: Architecture: Literature reviews,’ 2016)
The literature review will assist me in considering the validity and scope of my research question such that I can add to the existing information with my experience Using it, I will be able to formulate and present strong arguments to justify the topic I have chosen for my research It will assist me to highlight shortcomings, and thus identify gaps in previous research An objective of the study is to collect enough national and international evidence on the social, economic, and environmental impact of the chosen topic, both positive and negative, to inform new designs to improve quality of life Exploring a broad topic such as Public Open Spaces in the city allows me to access numerous articles, research papers and books It forms my theoretical frame that further strengthens my research It was thus important for me to realise my area of focus and narrow it down to just the key literature There are several Key Urban planners who have spent years researching the city of Mumbai and understanding its urban fabric Some of the prominent names are Ar Rahul Mehrotra and Ar P K Das The intensive qualitative analysis of the city, its glorious past and the present scenario has always been the starting point for most research in Mumbai Public spaces in Mumbai go hand in hand with a prominent name- Architect P K Das I have been following his work over my architectural journey and have been thoroughly inspired by his precision and thrive for accurate survey and mapping During the initial discussion, Professor Eamonn introduced me to the journal of public spaces and since then I have been following the work of Luisa Bravo and her interesting view on public spaces Having been largely encouraged by their efforts, my initial literature review for my research work is as follows:
Journals & Research papers:
1 - (2016) Luisa Bravo and Mirko Guaralda
The Journal of Public Spaces
2 Mumbai's Open Spaces Maps & a preliminary listing document - (2011) P K Das & Associates
3 Open Mumbai- Re-envisioning the city & its open spaces - (2012) Mumbai Waterfront centre and P K Das & Associates
4 Formulating Open-Space Policies for India’s Cities: The Case of Mumbai - (2020) Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
Fig 3: Cover page: The Journal of Public spaces Vol 1 by Luisa Bravo
Source: (City Space Architecture, 2016)
Fig 4: Cover page: The Open Mumbai by P K Das
Source: (Das, 2013)
Fig 5: Cover page: TORF paper, Formulating openspace policies for India;s cities:The case of Mumbai Source: (Udas, 2020)
A critical aspect of my research is to understand Public open spaces, their definitions and various aspects As simple as it may sound, public space is truly a complex element as a variety of factors go into making it a successful one The Journal of Public Spaces thus helped me form a narrative in understanding the definition and ingredients of a POS (Public Open Space) This open-access journal by Luisa Bravo is entirely dedicated to studying various aspects of Public spaces set up in the European context Along with my personal passion for public spaces, It is this review that leads me to conclude on why POS are important to a democratic society The various positive impacts that the POS design generates on a community and its people are something unmeasurable. Along with physical and mental well-being, POS has the power to bring different states of society on a common platform where one can express and enjoy themselves After all happy people lead to a happy society
To further research the topic with a finer lens, choosing a suitable context was the key I believe and have concluded from my past work experience that every place is unique to its context and thus I choose Mumbai which is home POS in Mumbai and Ar P K Das goes hand in hand The chairperson of the Mumbai Waterfront centre, P K Das has intensively researched the open spaces in Mumbai over the years Mumbai’s open space mapping gives a visual indication of how much open space exists in the city Preparation and publication for the first time of such a comprehensive Open Spaces Map of Mumbai are drawn for the purpose of Re-Visioning Mumbai with open spaces as the basis for the city’s planning and development programmes In addition to collecting information from various sources, the survey also examined how these spaces are maintained and operated (Open Mumbai: Reenvisioning open spaces, n d ) The mapping method used by Das thoroughly analyse every open space in the city along with its shrinkage over the years Detail maps are laid out for every ward, demarcating areas and providing data supporting the same Analysis of these maps has helped me understand how over the years open spaces in the cities have depleted due to a lack of planning or encroachments Further, I aim to do a detailed study to reflect upon the data and use it as the formal base for my research
Along with understanding the current POS situation in Mumbai, Das has also produced a research paper on Open Mumbai where he re-envisions the city This review focuses on exploring inaccessible natural assets like mangroves, creeks, beaches, hills, forests, wetlands, ponds and lakes has potential opportunities to expand Public open spaces The latter step in analysing a problem is providing relevant solutions and strategies (Open Mumbai: Re-envisioning open spaces, n d ) This literature review will thus help me formalise a strategy for understanding the scope of expansion of POS in spite of the density
Lastly, according to me, every good literature review must include an understanding of policies and government initiatives The existing data and facts available with the municipal bodies, help to understand the ground reality. One such research is performed by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) The ORF has laid a detailed research paper on analysing the policies for Open spaces in Mumbai. All the data is evidently backed with sources available from the government bodies thus making it legit figures The urban development of every city can be understood and envisioned with the development plan it lays for the next 20-30 years The development plan for Mumbai (DCPR 2034) assists in analysing the approach by the urban planners in conjunction with the government and states what the future holds It studies the policies from the colonial era to the current development plan. The ORF lays out well, the progress and alterations in policies along with stating the reasons for its failures This will help me evaluate the gap in policy-making and onground situations.
Fig 6: Total provisions made for the gardens from 2018 to 20202 in Mumbai
Source: ORF (Udas, 2020)
Further to the literature review, a number of books on Public spaces will shape my research in understanding the importance of the existence of Public Spaces Every POS is driven by its people and context, thus reading about various cities, and the interrelation of POS and the city laid out the overall interest in the research topic. Unless one truly understands the need for a POS, it wouldn't be fair to analyse it further The following books were a great initial read to develop and work upon my interest in this particular research.
Books:
Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (1971) Jan Gehl
2. People Places: Design Guidelines for Urban Open Spaces. (1976) Claire Cooper Marcus & Carolyn Francis
3. Cities for People. (2010) Jan Gehl
Reading can only enhance the existing knowledge and is never exhausting With the course, beginning in Cities and Urbanism, I revisited some of the most thorough and well-written books. All of the above has helped me realise my natural inclination and passion for designing for people and the public good Understanding what some of the successful and globally acclaimed Public spaces are made up of, made me critical of the experience I had back home The narration of the books is well detailed and took me on a journey of experiencing the space without physically visiting them
The design guidelines laid in People Place state factors such as design quality, activeness, safety, and comfort to name a few, these may come across as obvious, but we often neglect a number of them when evaluating a good quality POS. For over forty years Jan Gehl has helped transform urban environments around the world based on his research into the ways people actually use or could use the spaces where they live and work. I realised simple solutions sometimes can lead to resolving major issues These books helped me open up my thoughts leading to critical reflection on the content that will help me further strengthen my research.
The main data collection methods used in this research study will be a literature review and survey analysis. Other methods such as Mapping, Case studies, and personal observations are also used as sub-methods to strengthen the argument
In addition to presenting research data, maps and mapping help highlight the extent of existing resources and highlight the discovery of new ones Though theories and philosophy are crucial to form a background, the study of maps and surveys by authorised bodies helps lay the ground reality, thus supporting the text By using qualitative map data, I can express the presence or absence of a subject on a map, This study will help me to develop and analyse a mapping of urban areas and change that integrates data on both urban structure development and open spaces First, as stated, accurate and comprehensive mapping of urban areas and change is crucial for, among other things, its natural resource management Second, there is a need to demonstrate the impact on the urban area and change studies of not complementing remotely-sensed data with on-the-ground data such as land surveys
There are various authentic survey maps available for the city of Mumbai They indicate the depletion of POS in the city evidently leading to an alarming situation This will strengthen the whole purpose of my research I aim to analyse why and how certain greens have disappeared and what leads to the constant prevalence of few
The main data collection methods used in this research study were a documentation review and a survey of changing urban land use. Case study findings can have implications both for theory development and theory testing For a more in-depth analysis and to place the research question in retrospect, the Case study method was implemented. In the case study, qualitative data is collected through surveys, observations, and primary and secondary sources analysis This method allows for a detailed, multifaceted examination of complex issues that arise in real-life settings In order to develop a thorough understanding of the case, the case study approach usually involves the collection of multiple sources of evidence, using a range of quantitative (e g questionnaires, audits and analysis of routinely collected data) and more commonly qualitative techniques (e.g. interviews, focus groups and observations) (Crowe et al , 2011) Case studies and precedents are one of the most interactive and exciting research methods for me. I aim at analysing some Global cities such as London, and New York that is on par with Mumbai and researches their POS status I will base the study on factors researched from my literature review and prepare a checklist to finally compare all and derive a conclusion. Mumbai is home; s a city that holds a special place in my life and has taught me a good deal for all these years. Having studied and practised architecture in the city, I have always been associated with the Urban design community I will approach my research paper not just as a designer but also as a user Over the years experiencing these spaces and making personal observations, have definitely given me a better insight I aim to base a foundation on this personal journey in my empirical work A few local case studies that I have used within Mumbai will help me study the existing successful POS that the people enjoy, further leading to similar opportunities other potential sites may reflect.
The best way to answer a research problem for any designer would be to provide a design solution. It is the most convenient and natural language that comes to me Solutions in the form of urban intervention that will aim at meeting my research objective. Following this, my research dissertation is an extension of my Studio B research In the studio, I analysed the local inhabitants of Mumbai with an in-depth understanding of their social background, income group, placement, needs, shortcomings and desires. Further, I proposed a public open space on the abandoned port land along the east coast of Mumbai My programme aims at providing an inclusive public space with strategies aimed at integrating people at a community level further developing a people's vision of an available parcel of land This piece of port land if utilised for public use can help decongest and increase the available open space for the city making it more breathable.
Conclusion:
With a combination of the above research methods and methodology, I hope to derive a holistic approach for my research based on thorough analysis. The combined methods will guide me in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand It will help me generate integrated, well-structured and ethical information Overlapping various methods will lead to clarity and reaching out to a wide range of information and will keep up the process exciting Analysis of Public Open Space is a vast topic to research, hence I will try to channelise my focus in a direction that will help me fill up the gaps found in the literature review and will lead my path to answer my research questions eventually
Abbreviations:
POS- Public Open Space sq m- Square metres
ORF- Observer Research Foundation
DCPR- Development control plan regulation
BMC- Brihanmumbai corporation
City Space Architecture (2022) The journal of public space The Journal of Public Space [Online] [Accessed on 3 July 2022] https://www journalpublicspace org/index php/jps/search/authors/view?
firstName=Luisa&middleName=&lastName=Bravo&affiliation=City%20Space%20Architecture&country=IT
(City Space Architecture, 2022) (Crowe et al , 2011)
Crowe, S , Cresswell, K , Robertson, A , Huby, G , Avery, A and Sheikh, A (2011) ‘The case study approach ’ BMC medical research methodology, 11(1) p 100
(Das, 2013) (Gehl, 2008)
Das, P K (2013) Open Mumbai: Re-envisioning the city and Its Open Spaces – The Nature of Cities [Online] [Accessed on 24 August 2022] https://www thenatureofcities com/2013/08/18/open-mumbai-re-envisioning-the-city-and-itsopen-spaces/
Gehl, J (2008) Life between buildings: Using public space 6th ed , Danish Architectural Press
(Gehl, 2010)
Gehl, J (2010) Cities for People Washington, D C , DC, USA: Island Press
(‘LibGuides: Architecture: Literature reviews,’ 2016)
‘LibGuides: Architecture: Literature reviews’ (2016)
(Marines, 2012)
Marines, A (2012) ‘Library guides: Write a Literature Review: Home ’
(Mumbai population 2022, n d )
Mumbai population 2022 (n d ) Worldpopulationreview com [Online] [Accessed on 9 June 2022] https://worldpopulationreview com/world-cities/mumbai-population
(Municipal corporation of greater Mumbai, 2018) (Pires, 2021)
Municipal corporation of greater Mumbai (2018) Gov in [Online] [Accessed on 21 August 2022] https://www mcgm gov in/irj/go/km/docs/documents/EODB/Construction%20Permit/Related%20Circulars/DCPR%202034%20and%20Notification pdf
Pires, S (2021) Stroll through the fascinating design history of NYC’s iconic Central Park My Modern Met [Online] [Accessed on 3 July 2022] https://mymodernmet.com/nyc-central-park/.
(Rajadhyaksha, 2012) (Udas, 2020)
Rajadhyaksha, M. (2012) You have just 1.1 square metres of open space. Times Of India. [Online] [Accessed on 19 April 2022] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/you-have-just-1-1-square-metres-of-openspace/articleshow/13585198.cms.
Udas, S. (2020) Formulating open-space policies for India’s cities: The case of Mumbai. Orfonline.org. [Online] [Accessed on 28 August 2022] https://www orfonline org/research/formulating-open-space-policies-for-indias-cities-the-case-ofmumbai-65007/
Symposium Group Report
Design of Public spaces that create equitable places. Team 10
Team Members:
Martin Munhuwaani Chinyowa - Team leader
Heena Jameel Ahmed Shaikh - Outreach
Rahul Sushant Sawant - Outreach
Subham Banerjee - Moderator
Hangfan Li - Writer
Yuhang Mao - Photography
Zhisheng Xi - Timetable and plans
Xiaoyu Sun - Marketing Boxuan Zhao - Marketing
Rahul Outreach
Heena Outreach
Subham Moderator
Martin Leader Yuhang Marketing
Zhisheng Timetable Xiaoyu Marketing Boxuan Marketing
Hangfan Writer
'We believe in the Design of Public spaces that create equitable places through robust engagement and a contextual approach.'
Every city, ideally, should be an urbanisation that values the diversity of experience in all elements of city life To ensure peaceful coexistence, collective places should honour all nationalities in each community by valuing their traditions, respecting all genders, and providing accessibility An equal city is one where humans can coexist with their natural environment as well as their social variety With science and technology advancing and the economy of the 21st century booming, it is our collective duty to change in order to shatter social taboos and create a society that values everyone equally
The MA Architecture and Urbanism students hosted the conference EQUAL CITY: COLLECTIVE COEXISTENCE to talk about and look at how different stakeholders may embrace policies and design to achieve parity through architectural means The purpose of the theme was to investigate the level of equality in the modern urban environment as well as how those involved in architecture and urbanism may maintain equality through legislation, policy, and design Equal(c)ity: Collective Co-existence symposium presented how within the field of architecture and urbanism, equality be ensured through legislation, policy, and design as well as the extent to which equality is present in the urban environment in today’s time The speakers were professionals from a variety of specialist backgrounds, each bringing their own expertise on a range of sub-topics with the theme of Equal City
A key aspect of the Equal city concept is the integration and planning of its public spaces. It is the people that can turn a passive space into an active one through community use Public space is an expression of equity, as it is a concrete manifestation of the principle of fairness. At the same time, it is an important place for the exchange of material, energy and information between humans and nature, and an important expression of the city's image, known as the city's "living room" and "window".
In general, a "public place for all" is meant to be an inclusive urban space It implies that everyone should feel welcomed, included, and free from discrimination when in a public area. However, concerns have been expressed that open and uncontrolled public spaces, sites of ‘unpredictable encounter’, have been increasingly privatised and made subject to controls and surveillance. Since not everyone benefits from and experiences public places in the same ways due to differences in design, inclusiveness in public spaces is becoming challenging to accomplish Furthermore, the increasingly diversified and globalising metropolitan population makes inclusiveness a complicated societal issue.
The success of a particular public space is not exclusively dependent on the architect, urban designer, or town planner; it also depends on people adopting, utilising, and administering the area — people make places, more than places make people. Contrary to conventional assumptions, public space in neighbourhoods, towns and cities is not in decline but is instead expanding This has widened the gap and has resulted in the marginalisation of vulnerable groups in the urban development process This is why it is so important to ensure that our public spaces are inclusive for all because everyone should have equitable access to utilise the free valuable resources provided by public spaces playing an essential role in shaping up what we call an ‘EQUAL CITY’
Public space defines inclusiveness and equity, as it is a concrete manifestation of the principle of fairness The design of public space, therefore, has a significant impact on enhancing urban equality Citizen participation in all aspects of public space, such as planning, design, resourcing, maintenance and enjoyment make way for successful thriving spaces. Along with the same, a contextual depiction and analysis give every space its unique character
Our team focused on community engagement in public spaces as an integral element of the symposium theme ‘Equal City’. We started looking for designers with similar backgrounds and with a range of shortlisted speakers, Holly Lewis stood out Holly is the co-founder of the London-based practice ‘We Made That’, founded in 2006 Her ideology aims at creating equitable places through incisive research and impactful projects. Her work focuses mainly on community participation and engagement as critical components of successful design. She works exclusively for the public sector and charities and is committed to delivering public good A key focus of hers is providing holistic intelligence, creating healthy, fair, and well-designed built environments, as well as bringing value and life to them Through direct involvement with communities, she believes in revitalising declining high streets, making them more congenial for people instead of speeding machines, and generally stimulating communities In addition, she is enthusiastic about projects pertaining to public spaces, cultural infrastructure, healthy neighbourhoods, industry and workspaces, public engagement and placemaking
Our speaker Holly Lewis on Symposium day
Holly Lewis uses her experiences in ‘Equitable centres- High Street thinking “to demonstrate how vacancy rates in high streets have increased as a result of wider trends such as changing social habits, evolving jobs, adaptation to climate change and the evolving consumer economy This has created opportunities for resilient independent businesses whilst the chain stores suffered thereby reducing the gentrification of the town centres Key to the resilience of independent businesses is the appreciation of social value drivers such as opportunities for local suppliers, a wider range of businesses and services, face-to-face contact, trust and money, convenience and choice, adaptability, transit and connectivity to public life, cultural footholds, nightlife activities, religion and spirituality and safety among others
Holly Lewis uses a contextual research approach by engaging the community and industry experts to formulate different strategies in high street improvement interventions for different town centres.
The design team engages the community and industry experts to set out a contextual vision to guide the Town centre’s evolution The Folkstone Town centre Place plan uses mission-driven strategies aimed at celebrating what is great, creating a town centre for the future, creating a place for all voices, moving sustainably and having access to opportunity. It addresses key areas such as improved animated public spaces whilst also acknowledging the history and culture of the area
The second was the use of adaptive strategies. An example of Burnt Oak Town centre whose strategy was aimed at enhancing community assets by improving their identity and accessibility The architects worked with the community stakeholders and provided a guide for future improvements which celebrate its unique character, improve the public environment of the town centre and make it a pleasant place to visit and dwell for both the residents and the businesses
One of the series of “hot spot” high street interventions
The population of Burnt Oak has experienced substantial increase in diversity over the past decade.
The third strategy is the ‘meanwhile use ” aimed at giving small enterprises and communities lowrisk, but high-profile spaces to engage in business or socially beneficial community work on a temporary basis until the building or land can be brought back to commercial uses. These strategies are key to creating inclusive and diverse local business opportunities towards the goal of creating an equal(c)ity.
In conclusion, our group's core ideas revolve around 'public space'. Based on it, our speaker Holly Lewis used 'Equitable centres- High Street thinking' to develop the discussion She emphasised the importance of taking into account historical, economic, social, climatic and traffic factors in order to develop a policy on high street improvement based on the context of the city centre. This is a more scientific approach to urban design, not one that follows the laws of design, but rather one that is tailored to the local context and the design approach and improvement policy.
A city that values diverse cultures respects people from all backgrounds and helps the weaker is one that is equal. Sharing resources, facilities, and materials in a fair way that benefits everyone is essential; this goes beyond simple human interaction We must coexist well with the surrounding ecosystems and other living things in addition to embracing our individual individuality The Equal City symposium helped us reflect upon how equality can be achieved in the real world through the precedents discussed by the guest speakers and also enlightened us on ways we can contribute to achieving an Equal City. We hope to look forward to one such Society in near future and as urban planners wish to contribute to the making of Equal Cities
“When you hand good people possibility, they do great things ” – Biz Stone
Symposium Individual Report Design of Public spaces that create equitable places.
Role: Outreach representative
The symposium was a great learning experience as it was a collaborative effort by all MA students for the very first time It all began as brainstorming in groups and arriving at various sub-topics In the 1st session, my group members began sharing their studio interests and surprisingly most of them had an inclination toward public space design and a contextual design approach It was certain that our team would hence further develop on discussing the importance of people and context in public spaces Any settlement gains its individual characteristic primarily by two key components Firstly its people and secondly its context in terms of geography, history, policies, demographics and urban fabric In my view, the theme 'Equal(c)ity- Collective Co-existence' thus majorly reflects equality in the society pertaining to its people and provisions made for them People make spaces thrive with their interaction, activities and gatherings in every urban setup The interchange between people and places thus leads to the creation of a democratic and equitable society Community participation is essential to generate fair and positive decision-making by understanding their interests and concerns It is based on the principle that the quality of the built environment is better with active participation rather than passive users And as the term suggests, public spaces can be successfully designed when the element of public participation is involved to drive them Today, where socialising is indeed a routine activity, it is imperative to be sensitive towards designing public spaces Public engagement thus tends to create memorable experiences and inclusive cities that the users enjoy It is such spaces that provide people with relief, a healthy environment, recreation, gatherings during events and celebrations, community upliftment and a connection with nature After all, happy and healthy people lead to a happier and healthier society
context
design
people
Another important aspect of the public design is to understand and respect its context We often see that places lose their individual identity and are simply following the leads of few global precedents It is thus essential to study and understand the uniqueness, needs, and constraints of every place and provide a design solution pertaining to it A contextually aware public space will thus blend more seamlessly with its people We see developed countries working on uplifting the aesthetic value of public spaces whereas few developing nations are striving to meet the bare minimum
If only as designers we learn to respect the various contextual factors, it will lead to inclusive designs that relate to all, feel secure and make its users comfortable An equal city could thus be achieved by beginning to provide for its people
After identifying the theme and sub-topic, I was given the role of outreach representative along with teammate Rahul My key role involved finding a suitable speaker and further communicating with them My work began from day one, as shortlisting and finalising the speakers was one of the initial steps of the symposium I have always been interested in looking out for firms that resonate with my passion for good public space design and thus this role was exciting On day 1 with other team representatives, I drafted an email template that would be sent out to potential speakers I began my search by looking at firms that closely worked in the public sector and especially valued the public engagement process To my surprise, there were quite a few studios that worked on a similar genre as our sub-topic and I shortlisted 6 planners/ studios in agreement with the team After several unsuccessful attempts, I finally received a positive reply from Holly - 'We Made That' Her work with charitable organisations and public participatory projects was just the perfect balance for our topic I further coordinated with her to understand her availability and expertise and constantly shared all relevant information with the timetable team to provide her with a post-lunch slot as preferred Further information such as the speaker bio and portrait needed for the handout was organised Once the marketing details were out, I corresponded the information with Holly and informed her about the event details The fellow outreach team members often exchanged information and advice on the group which helped us when in doubt Once the speaker was finalised, I began participating in marketing handouts with constant review, proofreading and providing comments to the team representative On the day of the event, I received Holly on behalf of the team Post a successful symposium I sent out a feedback email to share the views of fellow students on her presentation The entire journey was a great learning curve in understanding the efforts that go into such events I am certain if marketed better and used new strategies, we could reach out to a lot more students and make it a grand event each coming year
Holly Lewis presenting at the symposium
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