The Social District | Integrated Greenfield Development

THE SOCIAL DISTRICT Greenfield development project, Rancharda, Ahmedabad

PROJECT REPORT

CEPT University | Master’s in Urban Design - Sem III

Mansi Sureka

Disclaimer

The information presented in this report has been generated by the author as a part of the Masterplan Studio in Masters in Urban Design at Fcaulty of Planning, CEPT University. Any omissions and errors are deeply regretted.

Acknowledgment I am grateful to CEPT University, Ahmedabad and Faculty of Planning for conducting an online Master Plan studio under Masters in Urban Design program, providing indepth understanding of greenfield development projects and complexities of Master Plan.

I would further like to express my gratitude towards Prof. Purvi Chhadva and Prof. Brijesh Bhatha who have constantly been active in imparting the best of their knowledge and skills. I am thankful to our Teaching Associate Sophiya Islam for constantly supporting and guiding me towards the best.

My heartiest gratitude to my family, friends and peer group for encouraging me to the best of my capabilities.

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The Social District

Studio Brief The studio focuses on preparing Master Plans for large green field developments in peri urban areas.To respond to the demand of expansion in the rapidly growing urban centres, governments facilitate such new developments through various development mechanisms. The studio operates within the existing development framework of the Integrated Township Policywhich is a typically developer driven activity and involves design on a large tract of land under single ownership.

The design of the project will involve preparing a three dimensional urban design master plan with strategies of street network and urban block, public open spaces, public amenities and infrastructure, integration of public transport systems, strategies for pedestrian and vehicular priority on streets, defining the building height and bulk, building uses and landscape strategy.

Students will be required to prepare an urban design master plan for these developments with an emphasis on creating liveable neighbourhoods that explore the ideas of future living through their designs. The design process will consistently retain its focus on how these ideas can be translated into reality. The studio outcome will also involve preparing effective representation graphics and persuasive communication strategy for the design project.

The Social District

Masterplan Studio Tutors: Prof. Brijesh Bhatha Prof. Purvi Chhadva Prof. Vipuja Parmar Prof. Tapan Shah

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CONTENTS Disclaimer Acknowledgement Studio Brief TContents

01

(05-14)

Introduction

02

(15-22)

Conceptual Framework

Site Context

The Social District

Case Study

Vision Objectives Strategies

03

The Social District

03

(23-30)

Design Framework

04

(31-46)

Masterplan

Understanding Neighborhoods

Where would people socialise?

Residential Block

Elements of masterplan

Mixed use Block

05

(47-50)

Conclusion The end note

Guidelines

The Social District

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01

05

INTRODUCTION

The Social District

Site Context Site & the city Connectivity Neighbourhood The site Site Potential & Challenges Case Study

The Social District

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SITE & THE CITY The site is located in the western fringes of Ahmedabad in the Rancharda village. The proximity to the SP Ring road, boosts the connectivity to the nearby satellite towns. The city observes a recent development trend of residential townships nearby, making the site feasible.

SITE CONTEXT The development of this greenfield site at Ahmedabad is promoted under the Gujarat Integrated Township Policy which is a developer driven mechanism and involves design on a large tract of land which is under single ownership.

Site Area: 350 Acres Distance from Airport: 25 km Distance from Railway: 22 km Landmark: Indus University Nearby Arterial road: SP Ring road

Satellite Imagery 05/19 07

The Social District

SITE CONTEXT

The Social District

SITE & THE CITY

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CONNECTIVITY

SITE CONTEXT

The site connects to the city centre with Shilaj road extending to Thaltej and Drive in roads. It is 5km away from the arterial SP Ring road for connectivity with the rest of the city. The public transit available nearby is the AMTS bus stop, 2 minutes away from the north western fringe of the site and the nearest metro station is about 20 mins away.

Landmark

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Public transit

Major roads

The Social District

NEIGHBOURHOOD

SITE CONTEXT

Increased job centers in the western part of the city has led to migration from the eastern side, increasing housing demands in the surrounding and vice-versa. The increased FSI along the road has lead to the construction of mid- rise housing.

Job centre

Developments

Rancharda

Plotted development, Shilaj

Bopal Shilaj rd township The Social District

Bopal

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THE SITE

SITE CONTEXT

The site is well connected with the immediate context and to the city through surface and unsurfaced road that are supported by the existing public transport infrastructure.

The slope of the land is toward the eastern side of the site. Although the site has negligible slope, major portion of the site are at lower elevation (+46m) acting as catchment areas.

Shilaj road

Dholka Bridge canal 11

The Social District

THE SITE

SITE CONTEXT

The site is in close proximity to institutional anchors and to existing residential development from which the proposed development can be benefitted with employment opportunity.

The proposed 40m Shilaj road and 90m canalfront highway are assets to the site and its neighbourhood.

Agricultural land Residential settlements Institution

Shilaj road, proposed 40m Canal road, proposed 90 m

SCALE COMPARISON

Context with respect to

Covers 120 Barcelona city blocks

Covers 110 Manhattan city blocks

Gandhinagar Sector

Block size : 133m x 133m

Âź of the Central Park

Block size: 0.75 km x 1 km The Social District

Block size : 100m x 70m 12

SITE POTENTIAL & CHALLENGES

SITE

Potential: Existing ecological features around the site have potential to bring in footfall, providing large scale public realm opportunities creating an interdependence between township, neighboring gamthal and city.

Potential: Existing topography guides the green space network.

Challenge: Availability of a single existing road for city level connectivity burdens the existing edge for entrances and city functions , demeriting the other parts.

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The Social District

CASE STUDY Moscow International Finance Centre, Moscow Russia Masterplan proposed by Sasaki in 2012, envisioned it to be a mixed-use district with 24 x 7 public open spaces. Th 314 ha site builds a strong narrative of the masterplan being dense, liveable and sustainable.

The key takeaway was its hierachy of open spaces and programmes. The cohesive system of gathering spaces and movement trails, does the place making for the district. Wherein, the large size of open space in the centre brought forth the concerns of the space getting used actively.

Neighbourhood Public Open Space Small scale parks and green corridor

Central Park Green spine accommodating city level recreational facilities, integrated with pedestrian network and storm water management

Pedestrian trail Pedestrian safe street alongside forest cover ring, dissecting the district centre

Square of finance A 24 X 7 active open public space for recreation, dining, shopping and transit facilities

The Social District

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02

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The Social District

Where do people live?

Vision Objectives Strategies

The Social District

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WHERE DO PEOPLE LIVE?

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The township would offer a quality life to the people of Ahmedabad, when it becomes a place they can associate themselves with.

Earlier, people lived in clusters or neighbourhoods that were closely knit, safe- as ground floors accomodated flexible use for different times of the day, low rise- enabling eyes on street. Briefly, these traditional neighbourhoods brought people together.

With time people began moving to modern neighbourhoods for better infrastructure and economic opportunities. Here the buildings went tall to accomodate demand and distant for privacy and security. These neighbourhoods swept people away from the ground, making the ground dead.

The transition from traditional to modern went bad in bringing people together. Hence, this township focuses on bringing people together in the lonely city life and named as-

Traditional neighbourhood: socially secured, lively, safe, human scale

Modern neighbourhood: socially isolated, disconnected

THE SOCIAL DISTRICT 17

The Social District

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

VISION

“A liveable urban environment, that bridges the gap

between traditional and modern neighbourhoods, encouraging diversity.�

liveable: by enriching life between buildings diversity: providing choices to live, work, commute and play to different user groups

The Social District

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OBJECTIVES

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The Social District would meet its vision of liveability and diversity byEnhancing opportunities of contact between people: the possibilities to see, hear and meet people actively and passively.

Human scale design

This is achieved design:

by intentions of making the

Human scale- builtform that are in reach of human sight, walkable on human foot enabling eyes on street and activation of ground floor.

Compact streets & squares

Compact streets & squares- small size would let people see and recognise each other, enabling the very possibility of contact.

Integrated network of small sized open spacesto enable movement of people from for varied needs and functions.

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Integrated network of small scale open spaces The Social District

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

STRATEGIES

Creating ecological buffers near Dholka Canal and non perennial water body, and utilising water catchment areas as small scale green open spaces.

Laying primary roads parallel to public greens and integrating larger public realm and small scale public open spaces with pedestrian trails in east west direction.

The Social District

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STRATEGIES

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Spatial Zoning: Placing commercial zone and offices at the main access road, activating nodes and eastern public realm with mixed use zones, and integrating institutional zone within residential zones.

CONNECT- MEET- GATHER

Conceptual zoning: Creating gathering spaces at nodes with anchored neighbourhood level greens and enabling movement experience with gathering and playing opportunities

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MEET- GATHER

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03

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DESIGN FRAMEWORK

The Social District

Proposed Masterplan Where would people socialise?

Elements of Masterplan Movement Framework Open Space Framework Builtform

The Social District

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PROPOSED MASTERPLAN The proposed masterplan highlights the vision of Social District, an integration of open space network with pedestrian network that facililates movement and gathering of people in different scales of publicness. The masterplan showcases the self sufficiency of blocks, with neighbourhood open spaces and retail.

The public buildings sitting amidst the center of the site, gives an opportunity of a more inclusive public urban life. The nodes become the meeting points, supported with commercial uses.

The proposal intends to place making with improved liveability, social life and safety.

DESIGN FRAMEWORK Commercial edges to respond to potential and land value Canal Park alongside canal front as an ecological buffer and recreation spot Pedestrian boulevards running across site, connecting major public realms, flexible as play areas, gatherings, sit outs and movement Hospital and School centrally located, infusing daily social life around them Neighbourhood greens at low lying areas to capture rainwater and recreation space

Squares as Urban gathering plazasinward & outward at nodes with commercial uses and parks as anchors Affordable housing Luxury bungalows with canalside view Lake park as an ecological buffer and distict level green space with tranquil experience and recreation amenties

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The Social District

DESIGN FRAMEWORK

The Social District

PROPOSED MASTERPLAN

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WHERE WOULD PEOPLE SOCIALISE? The main intent of The Social District is to bring people together, by creating opportunities of active and passive contact. The masterplan serves the purpose by providing spaces with different scales of contact and diversity of programmes.

The programmes of socialising include: Private courtyards in between clusters of buildings for people residing in them exclusively, Neighbourhood greens in each block as catalysts to surrounding commerce, the urban gathering plazas celebrating public life anchored with mixed use retail, the Canalfront Park & Lake Park as district level public greens with recreational amenities and the Pedestrian boulevards which not just serve movement across site but enable through flexiblility as gathering, play and relaxing spaces.

DESIGN FRAMEWORK

Canal front & Lake park

Pedestrian boulevards

Private greens 27

Neighbourhood greens

Urban Gathering Plazas The Social District

MOVEMENT FRAMEWORK

ELEMENTS OF MASTERPLAN Vehicular roads road

14%

ondary

et

to Unali

oads

30m crossover 30m crossover road road

24mwide wide secondary 24m secondary

18mwide wide road 18m street

12m internal roadsroads 12m internal

to Palodiya road

Mixed used street network

Pedestrian trails

08%

estrian

strian

12 m wide pedestrian 12m wide pedestrian boulevard boulevards 6 m wide pedestrian 6m wide pedestrian paths paths

Pedestrian network

Public Transit AMTS Route AMTS Route E-rikshaw E-rickshaw 300 m diameter 300m diameter

r

The movement framework of the township promotes safe walkable environments and robust connectivity.

The integrated network of mixed use streets and pedestrian friendly streets, to Unali offer mobility, gathering and play oppotunities with tied open space network.

The mixed use streets divide the site into blocks of sizes 150m X 400m, having vehicular accessibility, whereas the pedestrian trails sundivide them into walkable blocks of sizes 150m X 75m respectively.

The framework provides city level to Palodiya road connectivity through a 30m wide thoroughfare running north-south centrally, with other 24m wide roads running paralled to it.

The pedestrian framework majorly connects the east-west public realms, crossing through neighbourhoods, improving social character of the Social District.

Public transit network

The Social District

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OPEN SPACE FRAMEWORK The open space framework for the township is focused on creating a lot of small scale public spaces integrated with pedestrian network leading to larger public realm.

The small scale public open spaces enable people to be closer to each other, increasing opportunities to see, hear and meet. They comprise of- neighbourhood level greens matched with low level contours, urban plazas at nodes with mixed use commercial as anchor and pedestrian boulevards dissecting neighbourhoods and connecting larger public realm; enabling move-meet-play.

The large scale public open spaces are provided at eastern and western peripheries of the site adjacent to water bodies, acting as ecological buffers. They are highly accessible, as they come closer to neighbouring gamthals and existing university.

Furthermore, the private open spaces as courtyards between cluster of buildings are well connected to the pedestrian trails.

ELEMENTS OF MASTERPLAN

37 % Private Open Space 20 % Public Open Space

Public Open Spaces Township level greens Neighbourhood level greens Urban Plazas Pedestrian boulevards

Private Open Spaces Private Courtyards 29

The Social District

BUILTFORM

ELEMENTS OF MASTERPLAN

Built

Built, 21%

Open

Open, 79%

Built & Open

Residential Residential Institutional Residential Institutional Commercial Institutional Commercial Commercial Mixed use use Mixed residential residential Mixed use residential Mixed use use Mixed commercial commercial Mixed use commercial

Civil Civil Civil

Building use

Global FSI

1.4

G6+-8 8 Floors Floors G4+ 6 Floors Floors GUpto + 3 Floors 3 floors

The urban built character of the township is a response to the vision od The Social District, creating compact neighbourhoods, of human scale with increased visibility for safety, social security and enhanced liveability.

The built form around the nodes is an attempt to gather people with anchored uses. It changes as per functions, becoming inward and outward. The building clusters are oriented along pedestrian trails and mixed used streets for visibility and social interaction.

The building uses are proposed in ways to anchor the public open spaces near them. The instititional buildings are made a part of daily life interactions amidst the nodes and residential neighbourhoods.

The overall built form achieves a Global F.S.I. of 1.4, with tallest buildings along the periphery. The building heights proposed, are to remain connected with the ground activites and social interaction.

Building Heights The Social District

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04

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UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

Residential Block Mixed use Block Public Open Space Design Guidelines

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RESIDENTIAL BLOCK

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

Residential block has a block size of 430m X 320m, dissected by a 12m mixed use street, a pedestrian boulevard and several pedestrian trails decreasing the block size, making it walkable.

The peripheral 24m wide & 18m wide mixed use streets allow vehicular access, wherein the squares become gathering spaces with plazas and neighbourhood greens.

The pedestrian boulevard & trail give site level mobility to large scale public open spaces and connect neighbourhood open space.

Park

Entrance Park plaza

Average Parcel size: 200m X 150, Average FSI: 2.35

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The Social District

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS Gathering space

RESIDENTIAL BLOCK Urban Plaza

Pedestrian Boulevard

The Social District

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RESIDENTIAL BLOCK Pedestrian Boulevard alongside residential buildings is designed to cater diverse needs.

The space reintroduces the concept of street play, becomes a gathering space, relaxing space amidst the greens and shaded seatings.

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS Walk Meet Gather Play

Open space enabling play activity

Shaded seating space

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The Social District

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

RESIDENTIAL BLOCK Entrance into residential buildings from pedestrian trail, designed with shaded seating spaces, access for vendors. The space is created to enhance social interaction and security, giving opportunty to see and be seen by passingby people.

The Social District

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MIXED USE BLOCK

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

The Mixed use block has a block size of 350m X 150m, dissected by a 12m mixed use street, a pedestrian boulevard and several pedestrian trails decreasing the block size, making it walkable. The mixed use neighbourhood shares a peripheral c site periphery connectivity. The urban gathering plazas, pedestrian boulevard become the gathering spaces in the block.

Internal Courtyard

Average Parcel size: 200m X 150, Average FSI: 2.35

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The Social District

Resid entra

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

dential ance plaza

Shaded Pedestrian Boulevard

The Social District

Rear side plaza

MIXED USE BLOCK Pedestrian Entrance Plaza

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MIXED USE BLOCK

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

Pedestrian Boulevard alongside mixed use buildings is designed to stop vehicle access with provision of ample shaded seating spaces and vending access.

Central shaded seating spaces

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Vending spaces

The Social District

STREETS

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

30 m wide thoroughfare

The 18m wide mixed use street is designed to accomodate ample resting areas alongside commercial and mixed buildings, and space for vendors. This street accumates people from all the pedestrian bouelvards and transfers them to the lake park

The Social District

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PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

The public open space designed isa square designed into an urban gathering space of the district. The intent is to bring together the four fragments of open space as one active public realm without hampering the movement at the junction.

The streets intersecting at the square (about 200m) are designed as shared streets to slow down the traffic and give people the priority and ease to cross the streets with. Vending platforms are provided near junction point to increase their visibility and invite people.

With shaded seatings around trees and seats facing towards and outwards the node the possibility of active and passive contact arises. In this space, people get to see other people, sit together and option to shop around from the surrounding retail stores.

View from the southern east public space quadrant looking towards the junction 41

The Social District

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS Seating spaces facing towards Raised platform for and outwards the node vending activites

The Social District

PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

Shaded seating spaces

Shared streets to slow down traffic at the node

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DESIGN GUIDELINES

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

Intent: to connect neighborhood open spaces, culminating into township level open space with a pedestrian experience that promotes social interaction Intent: to connect neighborhood open spaces, culminating

Intent: to activate ground floor with people and their activities, promoting social interaction

1. A minimum of 6 m wide pedestrian trail pass through allpedestrian the parcels thepass block, 1. shall A minimum of 6 m wide trail in shall through all the parcels in theneighbourhood block, connecting the neighbourhood connecting the level public level public open spaces. open spaces.

Commercial building- 7.5m 3. Ground floor use: Residential building- to be used for recreational purposes only

2. Setback:

into township level open space with a pedestrian experience Residential building- 6m | Pedestrian trail- 4.5m that promotes social interaction

Pedestria Built to line

Pedestrian trail Built to line

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The Social District

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS Intent: to activate nodes with mixed building use and gathering spaces 4. Chowks as active nodes: A minimum setback of 25m to be left from junction point to create a gathering space.

A minimum of 40% parcel area to be left as open space.

DESIGN GUIDELINES TYPOLOGIES: a. Outward: Permissible use: Mixed Front Open space- 30% of total open space

b. Inward: Permissible use: Commercial Front Open space- 70% of total open space

The Social District

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DESIGN GUIDELINES

UNDERSTANDING NEIGHBOURHOODS

Intent: to increase social security with eyes on street

Intent: to create mid block pedestrian visibility, access and connections

5. Orientation of buildings must be along the pedestrian streets to form enclosure.

6. Building clusters : Minimum of 30 % parcel area to be left as open space, of which 20% must abut the pedestrian trail for visual access.

30 % of the total open space must be reserved as soft scape

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The Social District

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05

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CONCLUSION

The Social District

Idea of Life

The Social District

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“THE SOCIAL DISTRICT intends to bring people together in the lonely city life.

The compact urban form of the township affects the social life of people, where they get opportunities to see, hear & interact. The streets and squares become the important social spaces that adapt the traditional character, as gathering spaces.

The social spaces and the urban form offer people more accessible, visible and social connectivity to the surroundings.

The idea of living in the township is a microscosm in itself creating assets in the form of social spaces, improving the liveability.

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