LEARNING FROM CITIES
4
FACE THE WATER EDGE
Waterfronts are excellent areas of activation in the public realm. If well treated, they become a source of wonderful urban experiences. The added micro climate, owing to the adjoining water body, makes the environment conducive for outdoor activities and recreation.
The pedestrianised edge serves multiple purposes. People come here to exercise, cycle, and relax by the lake on a bench. It also provides a comfortable space for group activities and weekend get togethers. Friends and families are always seen lounging on the grass in the parks or taking a late evening stroll.
The Necklace road of Hyderabad is popular for its esplanade that runs along the Hussain Sagar Lake. The esplanade offers a series of activity points in the form of restaurants and eating joints, pockets of green parks at regular intervals, benches and viewing points. People from all over the city flock here at all times of the day and night, thus keeping this zone alive and vibrant.
The esplanade integrates the waterfront with the urban fabric, and the Necklace road creates a buffer between the pedestrianised recreational space along the edge and the dense urban structures on the other side. It is always advisable for a city to face a waterfront. It provides visual relief, not only to the people at the water edge, but also to commuters passing by.
Meandering path abutting the Hussain Sagar Lake. Image credit: http://hyderabadadvisor.com/necklace-road/
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CITY OBSERVER | June 2016