Understanding context

ABSTRACT Any work in architecture, does not stand in isolation. It exists in a fabric of the neighborhood and the city, this fabric and its features can be physical or non-physical. A building exists in this context and responds to it. It may harmonize or stand out. So, to make more intelligent buildings one must understand the context before building.

KEYWORDS

UNDERSTANDING CONTEXT An Analysis of The Fabric Of A Neighborhood

Contextual Design, Contextualism, Attitude, Consideration, Concept and Ethics

Ali Hasan

Summer Architectural Tour-ll

TABLE OF CONTENTS AIM ............................................................................................................................................ 6 OBJECTIVES:............................................................................................................................ 6 METHODOLOGY:...................................................................................................................... 6 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 7 DEFINITION OF ‘CONTEXT’ IN ARCHITECTURE ............................................. 7 NEIGHBOURHOOD AND CONTEXT ................................................................10 NEIGHBOURHOOD ..........................................................................................11 REFRENCES .....................................................................................................14 INDORE ........................................................................................................................15 INDORE.............................................................................................................16 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................17 HISTORY ...........................................................................................................18 LOCATION ........................................................................................................19 MORPHOLOGY .................................................................................................20 GROWTH PATTERN .........................................................................................22 ROAD CONNECTIONS .....................................................................................23 GEOGRAPHY....................................................................................................24 CLIMATE STUDY ..............................................................................................25 SUN PATH DIAGRAM .......................................................................................27 WIND ROSE ......................................................................................................28 PSYCHROMETRIC CHART ..............................................................................28 DESIGN STRATEGIES......................................................................................29 FAUNA OF INDORE ........................................................................................30 FLORA OF INDORE ..........................................................................................30 ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING ..................................................................................32 APPROACH TO DESIGN ..................................................................................35 NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY .............................................................................37 MORPHOLOGY OF THE SETTLEMENT ..........................................................39 FIGURE GROUND ............................................................................................40 LAND USE PLAN (NOW)...................................................................................41 ROAD NETWORK .............................................................................................42 ROAD SECTIONS .............................................................................................43 1

STRUCTURE HEIGHT ......................................................................................44 SPATIAL PLANNING .........................................................................................45 SOCIO-ECO-CULTURAL ASPECTS .................................................................47 SOCIO-ECO-CULTURAL ASPECTS .................................................................48 STREET EDGE HIERARCHY ............................................................................49 LAYOUT AT DWELLING LEVEL .......................................................................50 OPEN SPACE TYPOLOGY ...............................................................................51 CUL DE SAC CLUSTER ....................................................................................52 SECTORAL GREENSPACE/ PATHWAY ..........................................................53 SERVICE PLOT .................................................................................................54 KIT OF ELEMENTS ...........................................................................................55 HOUSE EXTENSION CHOICES .......................................................................56 STAIRCASE OPTIONS......................................................................................57 PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT .........................................................................58 DWELLING LEVEL ............................................................................................60 TYP - B ..................................................................................................61 TYP - D ..................................................................................................63 TYP - E ..................................................................................................65 INFERENCES ....................................................................................................68 SAHARANPUR .............................................................................................................69 LOCATION ........................................................................................................70 KEY FEATURES OF CITY.................................................................................71 GEOGRAPHY....................................................................................................72 CLIMATE STUDY ..............................................................................................73 DESIGN STRATEGIES......................................................................................75 FLORA OF SAHARANPUR ...............................................................................76 FAUNA OF SAHARANPUR ...............................................................................76 MORPHOLOGY AND HISTORY ........................................................................77 MAJOR AREAS & ROAD CONNECTIONS........................................................78 NEIGHBOURHOOD IN CONTEXT OF THE CITY .............................................80 SETTLEMENT - RAJ VIHAR COLONY..............................................................81 LAND USE OF COLONY ...................................................................................82 SOCIO-ECONOMIC RATIO ...............................................................................84 2

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER ......................................................................85 DWELLING UNIT ...............................................................................................86 INFRASTRUCTURE ..........................................................................................88 ROADWAY ........................................................................................................91 NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY .............................................................................93 NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY .............................................................................94 NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY .............................................................................95 COURT ROAD MARKET NEIGHBOURHOOD ..................................................96 REFRENCES .....................................................................................................97 CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................................................98

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TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1 Sarafa Bazaar .............................................................................................................16 Figure 2 Rajvada Palace ...........................................................................................................16 FIGURE 3 STREETS OF RAJWADA MARKET OF INDORE....................................................18 FIGURE 4 GANDHI HALL, INDORE .........................................................................................18 FIGURE 5 RAJWADA PALACE, INDORE ................................................................................18 FIGURE 6 CHATRIS OF INDORE ............................................................................................18 Figure 7 : ROAD CONNECTIONS IN INDORE CITY ................................................................23 Figure 8 : ROAD CONNECTIONS TO AGRA, AHMEDABAD, ..................................................23 Figure 9 SUN CHART ...............................................................................................................26 Figure 10 TIMETABLE PLOT ....................................................................................................26 Figure 11 SUN PATH : Top View ..............................................................................................27 Figure 12 SUN PATH: Iso View ................................................................................................27 Figure 13 Mango .......................................................................................................................30 Figure 14 Karli...........................................................................................................................30 Figure 15 Pepal.........................................................................................................................30 Figure 16 Seemal......................................................................................................................30 Figure 17 Neem ........................................................................................................................30 Figure 18 Babool.......................................................................................................................30 Figure 19 CHITAL .....................................................................................................................30 Figure 20 NILGAI ......................................................................................................................30 Figure 21 RABBIT .....................................................................................................................30 Figure 22 BLACK BUCK ...........................................................................................................30 Figure 23 SAMBAR ...................................................................................................................30 Figure 24 LEOPARD .................................................................................................................30 FIGURE 25 TOP VIEW OF MODEL FOR THE TOWNSHIP .....................................................32 Figure 26 SITE ON INDORE MAP ............................................................................................32 Figure 27 ARANYA GROUP HOSUING ....................................................................................32 Figure 28 BUILDING CHARACTER ..........................................................................................32 Figure 29 When it was built Figure 30 Now...........................................................................33 Figure 31 SITE WITH RESPECT TO THE CITY .......................................................................34 Figure 32 Model houses completed in 1989 ..............................................................................34 Figure 33 Laying ground in 1983 ...............................................................................................34 Figure 34 Ariel view in 2020 ......................................................................................................34 Figure 35 Neighbourhood planning when it was conceived .......................................................36 Figure 36 YEAR 2000 ...............................................................................................................39 Figure 37 YEAR 2010 ...............................................................................................................39 Figure 38 YEAR 2018 ...............................................................................................................39 Figure 39 Distribution and Mixing of Various Income Groups ....................................................40 Figure 40 WOOD CARVING .....................................................................................................71 Figure 41 ORNAMENTED TEMPLES .......................................................................................71 Figure 42 Manngo Orchards .....................................................................................................71 Figure 43 PADDY FIELDS ........................................................................................................71 Figure 44 GHANTA GHAR - COLONIAL REMAINS ..................................................................71 4

Figure 45 JAMA MASJID - MUGHAL PAST ..............................................................................71 Figure 46 PSYCHROMETRIC CHART .....................................................................................74 Figure 47 Gulmohar ..................................................................................................................76 Figure 48 Koyal .........................................................................................................................76 Figure 49 Red Vented Bulbul ....................................................................................................76 Figure 50 Indian Palm Squirrel ..................................................................................................76 Figure 51 Eegret .......................................................................................................................76 Figure 52 House Gekho ............................................................................................................76 Figure 53 Nelgai........................................................................................................................76 Figure 54 Wheat .......................................................................................................................76 Figure 55 Basmati rice ..............................................................................................................76 Figure 56 Mango .......................................................................................................................76 Figure 57 Neem ........................................................................................................................76 Figure 58 Sheesham .................................................................................................................76 Figure 59 VIEW OF THE COLONY ...........................................................................................81 Figure 60 STAR PAPER MILL ..................................................................................................81 Figure 62 Shop inside the Colony .............................................................................................83 Figure 61 School .......................................................................................................................83 Figure 63 Low Income House ...................................................................................................83 Figure 64 High Income House...................................................................................................83 Figure 65 Mosque .....................................................................................................................83 Figure 66 Temple ......................................................................................................................83 FIGURE 67 JUXTAPOSITION OF CYLINDRICAL WITH HORIZONTAL FORM, ORNAMENTATION BY REPETION AND PROFILES ...............................................................86 Figure 68 RHYTHMIC HORIZONTAL LINES IN THE BOUNDARY WALL. ...............................86 FIGURE 69 TEMPLE FRONT FOR GRANDEUR, PROFILES FOR ORNAMENTATION. .........86 FIGURE 70 SIMILAR JUXTAPOSITION OF FORMS, USE OF GLASS, STONE TO ENHANCE FINISH CONTRASTING TO PLASTER. ...................................................................................86 Figure 71 ORNAMENTATION IN THE RAILING AND THE GATE. ...........................................86 Figure 72 HOUSES LEFT BARE. .............................................................................................86 FIGURE 73 MODEL HOUSES WHEN COLONY WAS PLANNED............................................87 Figure 74 HOUSES NOW .........................................................................................................88 FIGURE 75 SMALLER ROADS WITH SINGLE CULVERT CONNECTING HOUSE TO THE INTERNAL ROAD .....................................................................................................................92 FIGURE 76 ARTERIAL ROADSIDE BY SIDE OF RAILWAY TRACKS .....................................92 FIGURE 77 CEMENT TILED ROAD INSIDE COLONY.............................................................92 FIGURE 78 CONCRETE PAVED ROAD WITHIN COLONY .....................................................92

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AIM – To develop an understanding of the idea of contextualism by the study of neighbourhood.

OBJECTIVES: 

To define context in architecture and a neighbourhood and its features with respect to a building.



To understand and read an area of settlement through a detailed study of a larger area (the neighbourhood) around a building.



To recognise factors of neighbourhood and the city which affect morphology of an area as well as that of a built structure.

METHODOLOGY: This exploration is two fold, first comprises of a case study of a settlement and its impact on a building/s under the following heads:          

Location in the city and relationship with other cities, neighbourhoods.

Topography of the area.

Geography, Flora and Fauna.

The history of the City and the Neighbourhood.

Local Culture.

Architectural Style Weather and Microclimate.

National, Local policy and Political conditions.

The State of Economy.

Social and Cultural Aspects

The points mentioned above help to look at morphology of the built environment in relation to street layout (linkages), figure-ground of built fabric, open public spaces, landmarks, and further, relation to building form and inner spaces, external membrane, public to private space continuum and everyday life. Hence, an overall context-based response of the built form through lens of design approach, adaptation and aesthetics will emerge.

The second part of exploration is documentation of your own neighbourhood and household depending upon multiple factors observed from the secondary case study.

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INTRODUCTION DEFINITION OF ‘CONTEXT’ IN ARCHITECTURE One can say it refers to the surroundings of a building. More specifically it refers to all the circumstances in which it is built-in and the physical settings that form the landscape for a building. Context serves in fully understanding a building.

Here the circumstances can be Social, political, local cultural, economic environment, history, architectural style etc. and, Physical settings are Geography, Climate, Topography etc.

According to Gültekin Çizgen in his research paper on Rethinking The Role of Context and Contextualism in Architecture and Design, about the important role of context in the field of architecture. It is one of the rare architectural concepts involved in all of the three essential fields - architectural discourse, theory and architectural practice. The relationship between architecture and context has variety and different approaches.

While sometimes there is a rejection of the context or environment within which it is placed, other times there is an engagement with them to exist in a coherent fashion.

Occasionally there is a tendency to deplete the environment, while other times there appear approaches that try to add value to it. Contextual data are sometimes the essentials of design solution; while other times they can be seen as difficulties that can be easily disregarded.

Context is made up of many components. Some approaches aim to highlight the characteristics of the contextual components. Others ignore or exhibit the components in a superficial manner. From these differing attitudes, we are able to see the maturing through development of contextual design attitudes within the architectural field. The fact that context is found in the design of different components, that it gives direction to design and that it plays an important role in the formation of architecture is not a novel concept. There has been both conscious and subconscious awareness and experimentation of this even in architectural history and before the architectural profession became institutionalised. In this regard, architecture has been inevitably intertwined with contextual thinking.

The Architects Design Partnership (2007), defines context and its placement within architecture in the following way:

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The context is “the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood” (Oxford Dictionary of English). In the case of architecture “event, statement or idea” is building, and “circumstances” that surround it range from the social, political, cultural and economic environment which it is built, as well as the more obvious physical setting (p.97).

Similarly, Burden (2001) defines contextual design in his work “Illustrated dictionary of architecture” as: "...any doctrine emphasising the importance of the context in establishing the meaning of terms, such as the setting in to which a building is placed, its site, its natural environment or its neighbourhood" (Burden, 2001, p.87).

With the establishment of contextual thought as a solid concept, the important features of context became a fully-fledged notion through the term “contextualism”; the essence of which is explained by Burden (2001), refers to the term‟s application and location within architecture as: ... an approach to urban planning (1960-1970) that considers the city in its totality; the view that the experience of a city is greater than the sum of its parts. All architecture must fit into, respond to, and mediate its surroundings (Burden, 2001, p.87).

Architects Attitude Independent

towards

Context:

Empathetic,

Sympathetic

and

Under the “Certain Strategies and Contextual Fitting” heading, the study has highlighted and placed the numerous contextual approaches under categorised templates according to the strategies‟ form and its relationship with the environment.

However, all of these examples impose certain visual approaches; and it can be said that within their background they tend to ignore the designer’s attitudes and perspectives towards the environment.

Eliminating this deficiency within contextual design, Capon (1999) defines contextual approaches as empathy and sympathy. In a similar fashion, (Brent, 1980) also highlights the sympathetic attitude within design. The present study analyses the subject in a manner that incorporates the Independent attitude alongside empathetic and sympathetic approaches; and thus the examination of the matter within the scope of these three different approaches can be seen. A definition taken in this way will reflect the essence of contextual design in a more appropriate manner. Consequently, it will be noticed that strategies which guide the design with 8

certain pre-directing formations are incorrect and that, first and foremost, displaying an attitude towards context is a more correct approach to take. This is due to the fact that with the use of empathetic, sympathetic and Independent attitudes we can obtain results, in appropriate contexts, that can be described as positive and successful (fig 1,2,3,4 and 5) represent possible Infill design examples of various attitudes representing Empathetic, Sympathetic and Independent(from left to right).

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NEIGHBOURHOOD AND CONTEXT In Cities, a neighbourhood becomes the surrounding for an architectural project, a neighbourhood encompasses the site and neighbouring built structures. The neighbourhood becomes the context to which a particular site or project may relate to and connect to in some way. The buildings and structure that make up the neighbourhood do not exist in isolation but are conceived and designed in order to support and enhance their surroundings.

With the notion of context come connotations of existing fabric, the locality, tradition and the vernacular. By embedding the intentions of a design within the essence of its surroundings, a connection linking new and old can be made, creating or maintaining a metaphysical ‘place’. This place with other similar metaphysical places creates cities.           

Location in the city and relationship with other cities, neighbourhoods.

Topography of the area.

Geography, Flora and Fauna.

The history of the City and the Neighbourhood.

Local Culture.

Architectural Style Weather and Microclimate.

Infrastructure National, Local policy and Political conditions.

The State of Economy.

Social and Cultural Aspects

To Study the context, one can study the neighbourhood on the above mentioned parameters to create a clear picture of all the part takers that will affect a design of one unit in this neighbourhood.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD Neighborhoods are formed because people have needs. When they live at a place they inter mingle with society and fulfill their needs, This creates a neighborhood. It is created to serve the functions of the people living in the society.

In order to study a neighbourhood one needs to define it and also understand it’s functions, Factors which affect the formation of the neighbourhood and its growth.

In the Book the Urban Pattern by Arthur B. Gallion and Simon Eisener say that formation of Neighbourhood is not a social phenomenon, ie it is not a phenomenon which happens because of people influencing other peoples to group.

They put with the help of examples where the neighbourhood is a physical environment in which a mother knows that her child will have no traffic streets to cross on his way to school—a school that is within easy walking distance from home. It is an environment in which the housewife may have an easy walk to a shopping center where she may obtain the daily household goods, and employed persons may find convenient transportation to and from work. It is an environment in which a well-equipped playground is located near the home where the children may play in safety with their friends; the parents may not care to maintain intimate friendships with their neighbours but children are so inclined, and they need the facilities of recreation for the healthy development of their minds and spirit.

Neighbourhoods are formed because people have needs. When they live at a place they inter mingle with society and fulfill their needs, This creates a neighbourhood.

It is created to serve the functions of the people living in the society.

These functions are given by C. J. Bushnell as: maintenance, learning, control, and play. These can be studied and maped in the neighbourhood. This will give a picture of neighboring structures and hence, these structures will work as a context to a single building unit.

Perry described the neighbourhood unit as the populated area that would require and support an elementary school. The neighbourhood unit would occupy about 160 acres and have a shape in which any child will have to walk a distance of just onehalf mile to school. About 10 percent of the area would be allocated to recreation, and through-traffic arteries would be confined to the surrounding streets, internal streets being limited to service access for residents of the 11

neighbourhood. The unit would be served by shopping facilities, churches, a library, and a community center, the latter being located in conjunction with the school.

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD UNIT—CLARENCE STEIN'S CONCEPTION.

The above sketches show Clarence Stein's determinations of the proper design of the neighbourhood unit. In the upper-right diagram the elementary school is at the center of the unit and within a one-half-mile radius of all residents in the neighbourhood. A small shopping center for daily needs is located near the school.

Most residential streets are suggested as cul-de-sac or dead-end roads to eliminate through traffic, and park space flows through the neighbourhood. The upper-left diagram shows the grouping of three neighbourhood units served by a high school and one or two major commercial centers, the radius for walking distance to these facilities being one mile.

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CLARENCE A. PERRY'S PLAN.

Perry has given a physical form of the neighbourhood unit. It is substantially the same as in Stein's diagram but suggests that the maximum radius for walking is only one-quarter mile. Accepting the practice that was and still is prevalent, shopping areas are situated at intersecting traffic streets on the outside corners rather than at the center of the unit.

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REFRENCES Architects Design Partnership. (2007). Education and contextualism: Architects design partnership. London: Black Dog Publishing; First edition.

Burden, E. E., & Hill , M. (2001). illustrated dictionary of architecture .

Professional; 2 edition.

Capon, D. S.,(1999). “Architectural Theory – Volume 2: Le Corbusier`s Legacy” .

John Wiley & Sons URL 1: http://dornob.com/towering-townhouse-lofted-bedroom-rooftopgarden/?ref=search Benton McKaye, The New Exploration: A Philosophy of Regional Planning (New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1928).

Arthur Gallion, Siomon Eisner, The Urban Pattern ( CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 2017)

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INDORE

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INDORE Indore was founded in 1715 as a trade market on the Narmada River valley route by local landowners, who erected Indreshwar Temple (1741), from which the name Indore is derived. It became the capital of the Indore princely state of the Maratha Holkars, and it was the headquarters of the British Central India Agency and the summer capital of Madhya Bharat (1948–56) state before its incorporation into Madhya Pradesh. Krishnapura chhatris (cenotaphs) situated on the bank of the Khan River are dedicated to the Holkar rulers of the city.

Indore is the most-populous city in the state. It is the chief collecting and distributing centre for western Madhya Pradesh as well as a commercial and industrial centre. Major industries include the manufacture of textiles, tile, cement, chemicals, tents, furniture, and sporting goods; grain milling; and metalworking.

There are auto and cycle workshops and engineering works. Such traditional industries as pottery making and hand-loom weaving continue. The city is a major trunk road and rail junction and has an airport for domestic flights.

Figure 2 Rajvada Palace

Figure 1 Sarafa Bazaar

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BACKGROUND

Why Indore and Aranya Group Housing settlement?

We face Urban crisis ● Inequality in Housing ( no place for migrants, poor) ● Ratio of public to private space ( very few recreational/social space) ● Mismanagement of Urban resources ( traffic congestion/travel distances to workplace, market) ● Characterless buildings

Why Indore and Aranya Group Housing settlement?

This bustling commercial center of Madhya Pradesh was a princely state until 1947, under the Maratha Holkar Dynasty. Providing a cultural heritage to live up to. ● The heart of the city is the Lively Bazar. ●

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HISTORY

FIGURE 3 STREETS OF RAJWADA MARKET OF INDORE

FIGURE 5 RAJWADA PALACE, INDORE

FIGURE 6 CHATRIS OF INDORE

FIGURE 4 GANDHI HALL, INDORE

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LOCATION Indore is located in the western region of Madhya Pradesh Coordinates : 76o E, 23o N On the southern edge of the Malwa plateau, on the Saraswati and Khan rivers, which are tributaries of the Shipra River.

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MORPHOLOGY

20

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GROWTH PATTERN Growth drivers: â—? Due to urban sprawl, old town centre needed to be decentralized. â—? Expansion happened with govt projects and formation of new commercial centers.

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ROAD CONNECTIONS

Figure 7 : ROAD CONNECTIONS IN INDORE CITY

Figure 8 : ROAD CONNECTIONS TO AGRA, AHMEDABAD, MUMBAI, UJJAIN

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GEOGRAPHY

SARASWATI RIVER

KHAN RIVER

DR. AMBEDKAR NAGAR

VIDHAYA RANGE

NARMADA RIVER

SITE SARASWATI RIVER

KHAN RIVER

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CLIMATE STUDY

●

Temp Annual: 38 C - 8 C , May hottest month, Dec coolest month

●

Wind Velocity: 8m/s - 1.5m/s high wind velocities in May and August

●

Relative Humidity - March, April, May 20-60, jully, Aug 90%

●

Rainfall Avg. : 983 mm

●

Climate Type : Aw or As = Tropical Wet and Dry or Savanna climate; with the driest month having precipitation less than 60 mm (2.4 in).

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Figure 9 SUN CHART

INFERENCE: UNCOMFORTABLE SUN FROM 9 TO 5 IN HOT MONTHS

Figure 10 TIMETABLE PLOT

INFERENCE: UNCOMFORTABLE SUN FROM 9 TO 5 IN HOT MONTHS

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SUN PATH DIAGRAM

Figure 11 SUN PATH : Top View

Figure 12 SUN PATH: Iso View

INFERENCE: WINDOW OPENINGS IN NORTH SIDE, SOUTH EAST OPENING FOR SOLAR HEAT GAIN IN MORNING, NO WINDOWS ON SOUTH WEST END. 27

WIND ROSE

Inference: Windows opening on North east (larger) and South east (smaller) and no windows on west, North west, South west

PSYCHROMETRIC CHART

Inference :

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DESIGN STRATEGIES

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FAUNA OF INDORE

Figure 22 BLACK BUCK

Figure 23 SAMBAR

Figure 24 LEOPARD

Figure 21 RABBIT

Figure 20 NILGAI

Figure 19 CHITAL

FLORA OF INDORE

Figure 18 Babool

Figure 15 Pepal

Figure 17 Neem

Figure 13 Mango

Figure 16 Seemal

Figure 14 Karli

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ARANYA GROUP HOUSING

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ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING “They are not houses but homes where a happy community lives. That is what finally matters.”

Aranya Low Cost Housing accommodates over 80,000 individuals through a system of houses, courtyards and a labyrinth of internal pathways developed on 86 hectares of land.

Figure 26 SITE ON INDORE MAP

Figure 28 BUILDING CHARACTER

FIGURE 25 TOP VIEW OF MODEL FOR THE TOWNSHIP

Figure 27 ARANYA GROUP HOSUING

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Figure 29 When it was built

Figure 30 Now...

CHANGES IN THE SETTLEMENT CAN BE TRACKED.

BUILT WITH KEEPING THE PEOPLE IN MIND, SPACES FOR THEM AND FUTURE EXPANSION OF THESE SPACES. 33

Figure 31 SITE WITH RESPECT TO THE CITY

Model houses completed in 1989 Ariel view in 2020

Figure 33 Laying ground in 1983

Figure 32 Model houses completed in 1989

Figure 34 Ariel view in 2020

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APPROACH TO DESIGN

35

Figure 35 Neighbourhood planning when it was conceived

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NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AS OF NOW.

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INFERENCE: ● On a Macro-level ○ The neighbourhood is well connected to commercial and industrial center which are 5 km and 8 km away respectively, So people can work there, they can even go to the city center which is just 6 km away. ○ The settlement acts like a suburb to old town center, away from the hustle bustle of the city, but still high in density now.

Though the area is mainly residential settlement, with new towers and societies coming up to fill the needs of an urban sprawl. ● On a Micro-level ○ The Functions and their distribution has changed from what it was intended, it was conceived that in 1 min walking distance there will be work platforms which has changed now to shops, no squares are left at 2 min walking distance, though schools have been built that close. Industries have shifted from a 15 min walking distance to an industrial center 8 km away.

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MORPHOLOGY OF THE SETTLEMENT DRIVERS OF GROWTH:

Figure 36 YEAR 2000

●

Due to urban sprawl, the housing needs increased, decentralization of core took place. With shift of the commercial center, settlement started expanding like a suburb.

●

Govt driven projects expanded town outwards.

Then private sector housing expanded itself.

Figure 37 YEAR 2010

Figure 38 YEAR 2018

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FIGURE GROUND

Figure 39 Distribution and Mixing of Various Income Groups

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LAND USE PLAN (NOW)

41

ROAD NETWORK

42

ROAD SECTIONS

43

STRUCTURE HEIGHT

44

SPATIAL PLANNING

6500 HOUSES INTO 11 TYPOLOGIES WITH MIX LAND USE

CENTRAL SPINE OF COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL

SERVICES10 HOUSE - 1 INSPECTION CHAMBER 20 H - 1 SEPTIC TANK 3 RESERVOIRS - 2 SECTOR EACH COMMUNITY GREEN

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NODES AT COMMUNITY LEVEL ACT AS SOCIAL COLLECTORS WITH TEMPLES, SHOPS PLACED THERE. SPACES

STREETS WITNESS SOCIAL DOMESTIC, ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

STREET FACING OTLAS, BALCONIES, STAIRCASES ALLOW INTERACTION PRIVATE SPACE LIE TO THE REAR

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SOCIO-ECO-CULTURAL ASPECTS

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SOCIO-ECO-CULTURAL ASPECTS

The prayer spaces are observed to be located within the public nodes that, while being easily perceptible in nature, lend a stronger character to it, that connect the people. A third of the total population in the township The female members have same inclusive responsibility in handling businesses as the male members, and mostly work/ own in shops in the vicinity or use a section of their plot for commercial purposes.

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STREET EDGE HIERARCHY

THEN Street edge designed with Pedestrian walkway to make the entrance into the house gradual through the Plinth.

NOW Service plots and Pedestrian ways have been intruded into leaving streets out as spill out spaces.

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LAYOUT AT DWELLING LEVEL

THEN Depending on economic sufficiency and their family structure the architect gave the user independence to build on the plinth.

NOW Building typologies have expanded only vertically, adding floors incrementally as per requirement and taking up any space available.

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OPEN SPACE TYPOLOGY

THEN Ration shops located at public nodes -Nucleus of inter cluster synergy -Breaking monotony of linear streets -Sloping roofs eccentrically rendered NOW Nodes changed to parking lots Sloping roofs noticeable because of addition of other floors

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CUL DE SAC CLUSTER

THEN Cul-de-sacs designed to be private open spaces for the cluster with low floor height for sunlight to enter.

NOW These cul-de-sac areas have now become places for parking.

With the population influx, the vertical expansion of houses creates a stark contrast to what was intended.

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SECTORAL GREENSPACE/ PATHWAY

THEN Planned to divide sector into halves providing maximum permeability and increasing interaction.

NOW These zones have been barricaded with impervious thresholds; attempts have been made to provide pedestrian roads through them.

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SERVICE PLOT

THEN These plots were formulated in such a way that one could connect 18-20 toilets to one manhole.

These service plots were also planned to act as useful play spaces for children and carry out neighbourly interaction.

NOW The authorities went on to further reduce the service core area and now people have intruded into these plots by extending the staircases into the same or use the plot for parking for two and four wheelers.

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KIT OF ELEMENTS

Ar. Planner B.V. Doshi suggested the users with a kit of elements for designing their housing units which were to add aesthetic value to the street facade. These elements could be used by the user in different various permutation and combinations according to their choice.

Some of the elements provided by the architect included: 1) House extension choices 2) Railing variations 3) Staircase options 4) Openings 55

HOUSE EXTENSION CHOICES

Otla, balcony and chajjas were suggested to be used as house extension choices.

The otla and balconies were supposed to be intermediary spaces between the house and the street.

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STAIRCASE OPTIONS

Play a vital role in community interaction due to its placement along the external facade.

Variety in materials and its usage: -People drying clothes along the balustrades -Steps becoming a seating element for people to interact -Area below the staircase as storage External placement of the staircase is still an important social feature in community, promoting interaction.

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PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT

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Due to vertical incremental expansion of houses over time, the streets are now more shaded than before adding thermal comfort for pedestrians.

Though Poor conditions of footpaths reduce the frequency of pedestrian movement and thus makes the settlement less permeable

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DWELLING LEVEL

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TYP - B ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Ownership— Single family Access: Front and back entrance.

Services: Multiple attached toilets, kitchen and service duct provided.

Arrangement of spaces: Central living space connected on all sides to well-defined spaces such as bedrooms, kitchen, workspace, with staircase connecting to bedrooms on upper floor, with balcony and terrace.

Staircase placement: Staircase located in the internal core.

Edge condition: Gated boundary wall, formal porch provided.

Surfaces allowing light and ventilation: window openings on all four sides.

Landscape elements: Green space in front yard and terrace.

Parking: Covered and uncovered car parks are provided within the plot itself.

Morphology: Flat accessible roof; surfaces offset to provide porch for recreation on ground level.

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TYP - D ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Ownership: Each floor of the house owned by different families.

Immediate context: One shared wall with adjacent unit, rest are independent sides.

Access: Front and back entry.

Services: Attached toilets, kitchen and service duct provided.

Arrangement of spaces: living room detached by passages leading to bedrooms.

Kitchens located on rear end, separately for separate floors.

Staircase placement: internal staircase aligned with service core, and external staircase as well.

Edge condition: Gated compound wall in front.

Surfaces allowing light and ventilation: maximum number of openings on longer side,limited on northern and southern side.

Toilets and kitchen vented, depending on position.

Landscape elements: Planters placed on plot between boundary wall and structure.

Parking: Car park area provided.

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TYP - E ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Ownership: Multiple nuclei of joint family.

Immediate context: 2 adjacent shared walls, one opposite longer side attached to service courtyard shared by adjacent units.

Access: Main entrance and service entrance present.

Services: Attached toilets, kitchen, service plots provided.

Arrangement of spaces: linear arrangement of living-cum-resting space leading to kitchen, toilet and storage at rear end. Bedrooms on upper floor also function as workspace. Use of partitions is reduced.

Expansion: Vertical expansion.

Staircase placement: External, closed staircase.

Edge condition: Plinth extension connects to the street, non-gated.

Surfaces allowing light and ventilation: 2 surfaces, one facing the street and the other facing the service plot.

Landscape elements: Potted plants hanging from or placed in niches within the external staircases, balconies and otlas.

Parking: Not dedicated.

Morphology: Non-accessible flat roof.

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66

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INFERENCES 1.

RELATIONSHIP OF SETTLEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ITS FUNCTIONS AND DISTANCES SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE FOR THE SETTLERS.

2.

THE PROJECT FACILITATES QUALITATIVE FUNCTIONAL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ENHANCEMENT OF SOCIAL NETWORK.

3.

A SETTLEMENT NEEDS TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES IF IT LIES IN A TRADE HUB LIKE CONTEXT.

4.

A SETTLEMENT DOES NOT STAND ISOLATED, IT SHARES A DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

5.

A SETTLEMENT NEEDS TO RESPOND TO TIME AND NEEDS TO GIVE SPACE FOR GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION.

6.

ONE CAN START THINKING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE THE SETTLER TO MAKE A GOOD SETTLEMENT.

7. ONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WILL CHANGE, SOMETIMES EVEN FOR THE WORSE, FOR THAT SAFEGUARDS NEED TO TAKE PLACE, TO STOP THEM FROM DAMAGE. 8. ONE DOES NOT NEED JUST MONEY, ONE NEED DESIGN INNOVATION AND MANAGEMENT. 9. ONE NEEDS TO PREDICT THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE, FOR PEOPLE, OTHERWISE EXPANSION WILL HAPPEN HAPHAZARDLY

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SAHARANPUR

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LOCATION Saharanpur is a district on the western edge of Uttar Pradesh, bordering Dehradun.

It is surrounded by villages from all sides. It is declared as one amongst the Smart city initiative.

COORDINATES: TOTAL AREA: POPULATION:

29.9680° N, 77.5552° E 3860 SQ KM 3,466,382

ACCESS:

RAILWAY (3 HOURS 25 MIN) ROADWAY 200KM (4 HOURS) TO NEW DELHI AIRPORT IN DEHRADUN 90KM ( 15 HOURS) AWAY

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KEY FEATURES OF CITY

WOOD CARVING ORNAMENTED TEMPLES

Figure 41 ORNAMENTED TEMPLES

Figure 40 WOOD CARVING

Figure 42 Manngo Orchards

Figure 43 PADDY FIELDS

Figure 45 JAMA MASJID - MUGHAL PAST

Figure 44 GHANTA GHAR - COLONIAL REMAINS

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GEOGRAPHY Saharanpur is situated on the central alluvial upland of the district.This upland is a part of a vast seemingly featureless plain of northern India.In conformity with the general slope pattern of the region, the slope of the city is towards south.

The contour map presents some relatively sharp variations In the surface relief of Northern Parts.This is caused due to Paondhoi and Dhamola which traverse through the northern and northeastern parts respectively before their confluence in the central part of the city.

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CLIMATE STUDY

●

Temp Annual:40 - 0 C , June hottest month, Janc coldest month

●

Wind Velocity: 12m/s - 0m/s high wind velocities in March and May

●

Relative Humidity - Mar - June 20- 50%

●

Rainfall Avg. : 300 mm

●

Climate Type : According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as

Aug, Sept 75-90%

Csa- Hot-summer Mediterranean climate.

Inference : Uncomfortable Sun from March to June - Comfortable Sun from 11 - 2 from Dec to March

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Figure 46 PSYCHROMETRIC CHART

Inference : Uncomfortable Sun from March to June Comfortable Sun from 11 - 2 from Dec to March

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DESIGN STRATEGIES

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FLORA OF SAHARANPUR

Figure 58 Sheesham

Figure 56 Mango

Figure 57 Neem

Figure 47 Gulmohar

Figure 55 Basmati rice

Figure 54 Wheat

FAUNA OF SAHARANPUR

Figure 52 House Gekho

Figure 53 Nelgai

Figure 49 Red Vented Bulbul

Figure 48 Koyal

Figure 51 Eegret

Figure 50 Indian Palm Squirrel

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MORPHOLOGY AND HISTORY

Sufi Saint Shah Haroon Chishti on the banks of the Paondhoi River

Walled city with 4 gates

Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish (1211–36) Delhi Sultanate

Akbar (1542–1605) Mughal period

Raghunath Rao and Malharao Holkar Maratha ruler

Sah Ranveer Singh An Aggarwal Jain,A Mughal Treasurer

Bhuteshwar Temple and Bagh Eshwar Temple

British Empire

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MAJOR AREAS & ROAD CONNECTIONS

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79

NEIGHBOURHOOD IN CONTEXT OF THE CITY

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SETTLEMENT - RAJ VIHAR COLONY HISTORY OF COLONY

Figure 60 STAR PAPER MILL

Figure 59 VIEW OF THE COLONY

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LAND USE OF COLONY

TOTAL AREA: 11 Acre DEVELOPMENT TYPE: PLOTTED DEVELOPMENT TOTAL PLOTS: 105 COMMERCIAL LAND: 1. PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOLS - 2 2. FOREST ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 3. CAR WASH

AMENITIES: 1. PARK 2. WATER PUMP 3. SOCIAL SPACE

EMPTY PLOTS: 2

SHOPS: 2

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Figure 62 Shop inside the Colony

Figure 64 High Income House

Figure 66 Temple

Figure 61 School

Figure 63 Low Income House

Figure 65 Mosque

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC RATIO

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ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

ACCORDING TO ARCHITECTURAL THEORISTS AND MY OBSERVATIONS, I THINK THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE HERE IS PUNJABI BAROQUE.

AN ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER MORE TOWARDS PURITY WOULD LOOK BETTER AND STILL SERVE TO BE GRAND FOR EXPRESSION.

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LOW INCOME HOUSE CHARACHTER

Figure 68 RHYTHMIC HORIZONTAL LINES IN THE BOUNDARY WALL.

Figure 71 ORNAMENTATION IN THE RAILING AND THE GATE.

Figure 72 HOUSES LEFT BARE.

HIGH INCOME HOUSE CHARACHTER

FIGURE 67 JUXTAPOSITION OF CYLINDRICAL WITH HORIZONTAL FORM, ORNAMENTATION

BY REPETION AND PROFILES

FIGURE 70 SIMILAR JUXTAPOSITION OF FORMS, USE OF GLASS, STONE TO ENHANCE FINISH CONTRASTING TO PLASTER.

FIGURE 69 TEMPLE FRONT FOR GRANDEUR, 86 PROFILES FOR ORNAMENTATION.

DWELLING UNIT

FIGURE 73 MODEL HOUSES WHEN COLONY WAS PLANNED

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Figure 74 HOUSES NOW

INFRASTRUCTURE

WATER WATER FROM A COLONY MOTOR WHICH RUNS FOR 8 HOURS EVERYDAY CIRCULATED BY PIPELINE KEPT IN A STOREROOM IN THE PARK

CONS: NO SUSTAINABLE WATER SOURCE, BECAUSE THE WATER FROM NAGAR PALIKA DOES NOT FULFILL THE REQUIRED WATER NEEDS. NEED OF A SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT TO RECIRCULATE THE WATER WHICH CAN BE USED IN GARDENS AND FOR TOILETS. 88

ELECTRICITY POLES AND TOWERS RUNNING BESIDES THE ROAD AS WELL AS BESIDES HOUSES

CONS:

SUPPLY NEEDS TO BE UNDERGROUND FOR MAKING FOOTPATH AND FOR PREVENTING FALLING OF WIRES IN THE STORM. TOWERS CARRYING 11000 KW NEEDS TO BE SHIFTED ELSEWHERE.

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WASTE DISPOSAL BY VENDOR TO A MAIN BIGGER BIN AND TRANSPORTED FROM THERE TO A BIODEGRADING SITE WHERE IT IS MADE INTO MANURE.

CONS: INFORMAL DUMPING GROUND IN PARK WHICH NEEDS TO BE CLEANED AND DUSTBINS NEED TO BE PUT UP.

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ROADWAY

OBSERVATION: -

ROADSIDE SETBACK OCCUPIED ILLEGALLY BY MAKING A FENCE AND USING FOR GARDENS AND STAIRWAY ENTRY. NO ROADSIDE FOOTPATH SMALL ROAD WIDTH SO ONLY ONE CAR CAN MOVE AT A TIME. NO CYCLETRACK FOR CHILDREN CYCLING

INFERENCE -

ROADS NEED TO BE RECLAIMED AND ROAD WITH NEEDS AN INCREASE. NEED TO MAKE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE TRACK.

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FIGURE 78 CONCRETE PAVED ROAD WITHIN COLONY

FIGURE 77 CEMENT TILED ROAD INSIDE COLONY

FIGURE 76 ARTERIAL ROADSIDE BY SIDE OF RAILWAY TRACKS

FIGURE 75 SMALLER ROADS WITH SINGLE CULVERT CONNECTING HOUSE TO THE INTERNAL ROAD

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NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY

RAJ VIHAR - HIGH END NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH PLOTS COSTING 3700 Rs PER Sq M. HIMMAT NAGAR - LOW INCOME NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH PLOTS COSTING 16000 Rs PER Sq m.

OBSERVATION: SHOPS AND STAFF FOR HIGH INCOME NEIGHBOURHOOD IS FULFILLED BY THE LOW-INCOME NEIGHBOURHOOD

INFERENCE: - THESE LOW-INCOME NEIGHBOURHOOD NEED TO BE WELL MAINTAINED -

AND PLANNED OR AT LEAST NEED TO BE CLEANED. PROPER SANITATION FACILITIES NEED TO BE PROVIDED.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY

INFERENCE -

SHOPS ARE IN THE WALKING DISTANCE BUT NEED PEDESTRIAN ACCESS SO FOOTPATH NEEDS PROVIDED FOR SAFE WALKING TO PROVIDE SAFETY FROM HEAVY TRAFFIC. BECAUSE OF DIRTY WATER IN DHAMOLA RIVER AND PAPER MILL EFFLUENTS, FOUL SMELLS COME AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE SKYLINE HAS BEEN DISTURBED BY THE RAILWAY YARD AND IT ALSO MAKES SOUNDS FROM THE HEAVY MACHINERY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SMALL HOSPITAL OF 25 BEDS.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDY

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COURT ROAD MARKET NEIGHBOURHOOD

EXISTING ROAD SECTION

PROPOSED VIEW OF THE ROAD

OBSERVATION: -

NO FOOTPATH ON A MARKET DISTRICT. SHOP FRONTAGE USED FOR PARKING AND NO SEPARATE PARKING SPACE NO CYCLETRACK FOR SCHOOL GOING STUDENTS.

INFERENCE -

ROADS NEED TO BE RECLAIMED AND USED FOR PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS AND SHOP FRONTAGE WITH SEATING SPACE. BENCHES NEED TO BE PUT FOR SHOPPERS TO SIT AND RELAX UNDER TREES SHADE. CYCLE TRACK NEEDS TO BE GIVEN. PARKING SPACE NEEDS TO BE GIVEN SEPARATELY.

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REFRENCES 1.https://issuu.com/saptarshi.mitra/docs/houses_of_traditional_kolkata__ unde 2.https://issuu.com/remicarreiro/docs/architecture___city_form_plx599_ 201 3.https://www.irjet.net/archives/V5/i12/IRJET-V5I1253.pdf 4.https://issuu.com/anshulchawda/docs/190821__xl_indore_city 5.http://www.natgeotraveller.in/food-guide-sarafa-bazaar-indoreslegendary-night-food-market/ 6.https://www.flickr.com/photos/36526739@N03/48748529782/sizes/m / 7.https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/revisit-aranya-lowcost-housing-indore-balkrishna-doshi/10044061.article 8.https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/aranya-low-costhousing_o 9.http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/23/2322_PART_ A_DCHB_INDORE.pdf 10.http://andrewmarsh.com/apps/staging/sunpath3d.html (sunpath) 11.The Architectureof Respecting Context and Surrounding Environment: Contextualism 12.https://docplayer.net/25080286-Aranya-township-indore.html 13https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-166248 14.https://archnet.org/sites/870 15.https://www.census2011.co.in/data/subdistrict/3543-indore-indoremadhya-pradesh.html 16.http://www.mpakvnindore.com/index.php?page=geography 17.http://14.139.13.47:8080/jspui/bitstream/10603/120618/5/introductio n.pdf 18.http://faunaofindia.nic.in/PDFVolumes/records/103/01-02/00170031.pdf

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CONCLUSION This study has helped formulate conclusive questions about Context, Neighborhood, and Role of these in architecture and Neighborhood planning.

1. What is Context?

One can say it refers to the surroundings of a building. More specifically it refers to all the circumstances in which it is built-in and the physical settings that form the landscape for a building. Context serves in fully understanding a building.

Here the circumstances can be Social, political, local, cultural, economic environment, history, architectural style etc. and, Physical settings are Geography, Climate, Topography etc.

2. What is Neighborhood?

Neighborhoods are formed because people have needs. When they live at a place, they inter mingle with society and fulfill their needs, This creates a neighborhood. It is created to serve the functions of the people living in the society.

These functions are given by C. J. Bushnell as: maintenance, learning, control, and play.

C A Perry described neighborhood with reference to Schools. It would be around 160 acres of land and a child would have to just walk 2.5km (30 min) to school. 10 percent area would be allocated to recreation. Traffic arteries limited to outside with internal roads for residents. Served by shopping facility, Temple, Community Centre, library.

3. What are drivers of Growth?

Extension of a city or a neighborhood takes place because of certain reasons these reasons are the drivers of growth, they can be govt. policies, urban sprawl.

These drivers of growth can even be seen with reference to setting up of different building typologies and infrastructure. 3 malls can not function in a vicinity of 2km.

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4. What do we need in a neighborhood, around it, and what we do not need as a user?

Core Infrastructures- Roads, Electricity, Water supply, Waste management and Sewage management.

Market, Schools, Religious places, Convention center, Hospital, Bank, Transportation ( Bus, Train, Metro), Stadium, Parks, Mall Around a neighborhood Factories, Corporate offices, Monuments 5. Concerns of Neighborhood and how to deal with them? 













How do we manage rich and poor symbiotically Keep them separate but connected, giving both parks, infrastructure if not of equal quality, at least giving it.

How to make more walkable and cyclable By creating cycle tracks and pathways, by making roads more pleasant, well light, with shade.

How to make neighborhood more green and breathable By introducing parks with trees, planting trees besides the road and creating buffer space between neighborhood clusters ( fringe areas) protected as in Garden city concept.

How to make neighborhood zero effluent neighborhood By managing waste water in STP and not planning factories near residences, by managing waste and making waste to manure cycles and reusing of scrap.

How to make them disaster mitigated Introducing shelter for floods, earthquake, empty spaces for people group, reusing buildings for disaster mitigation ( multiple use of the same structure ) How to manage food requirements like poultry and milk etc.

Keeping a distance between residential and these areas and creating a barrier to separate them yet keep them connected.

How will you keep track of future needs of growth, changes due to technology, at dwelling and Neighborhood level?

By planning while thinking of future needs, like Aranya group housing had 1 story houses, so there children can build on top, verandah where they can set up shops etc. By having clear knowledge of peoples needs, there predicted needs, changes possible ( setting up of trade corridors etc )

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6. How neighborhood affects architecture?

A building should respond to its surroundings, it can be Empathetic, Sympathetic, Independent. To make this happen one must understand the architectural character of the city as well as the neighborhood. What are its elements, variations in those elements, there history and morphology. Design and Planning will also have to respond to the needs of the people, Infrastructure available, resources that can be manipulated and things that are needed. Design will in the end be part of the fabric of the neighborhood, this can be understood by the building facades and then the Skyline.

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