Course Introduction : Background: Today, most Indian cities are growing rapidly in terms of population and as a consequence expanding physically. Vast lands on the fringes of these cities are under substantial pressure of development. While there is a valid debate on questions such as how much land is enough for a city? and how dense should a city be?, it is also true that there cannot be a single correct answer as it depends on specific parameters such as the economic opportunities, infrastructure capacity, efficient design etc. Cities prepare Development Plans which provide a vision for the next 10-20 years. These plans provide direction for expansion, broad land use, city level street network etc. The newer land being opened for development is predominantly in private ownership. To serve the new development newer infrastructure such as roads and amenities are required. This requires some form of land readjustment to bring sufficient land in public domain. Different states in India have adopted different mechanisms of land readjustment over a period of time and some are perceived to be more transparent and more equitable than the others. Considering the fact that in spite of these processes in place, most of our city expansions today lack distinct character seem incongruent and uncoordinated. This is partially because the planning and design process has been carried out as a two dimensional arithmetic driven process, in most cases devoid of aspects of safety, livability, efficiency, character etc. It is time to assess and explore most appropriate methods and processes integrating all the strengths of planning and urban design professions to ensure better cities. With a lot of focus on improving cities from citizens & governments, our cities are going to need innovation in planning and design of our cities. At this stage, our planning and design professionals need to be prepared to actively respond to these aspirations of the people and actively aid in creating more and better livable cities in India. Learning Objectives: Creating better and livable areas while working in a multidisciplinary environment which includes planning and urban design students who will work as a team to effectively provide an integrated direction to our growing cities Exploring processes to achieve its urban character, street patterns, open spaces networks built form Exploring ways to accommodate desired population densities , create economic opportunities, ensure social equity and provide appropriate infrastructure to achieve the vision Understanding & exploring mechanisms of land readjustment for a more equitable distribution of costs and benefits Prepare development regulations to achieve the desired urban environment Preparing a Master Plan document including implementation strategies Methodology: This multidisciplinary studio between urban planning and urban design students will require students to work together in teams to carry out all tasks of the project through the semester. The semester will be structured into four quarters each with its conclusion at the end of the quarter. The methodology will cover the following. Draw references from the existing built morphology & typology for the new extensions in todays context. Evaluate the environmental condition & context of the site with respect to new development. Carry out primary and secondary information collection in the form of surveys, documentation, mapping, site analysis etc. Develop a broad structure plan for the site to accommodate development. Prepare a complete design proposal for the area including principles of site planning, natural features and environment, density pattern Prepare implementation strategies for the proposal Weekly Plan : Week 1 : Studio Introduction, Preliminary project area visit & context study Week 2 : Case Study of examples of existing urban models Week 3 : Identification of opportunities & constraints for the project area Week 4 : Contextualizing the project area with respect to the City, study of growth and development potential of the area in the context Week 5 :
Week 6 : Prepare concepts for the development of the area Week 7 : Program formulation considering: 1. Existing features, 2. growth potential, 3. Population & Built density, 4. Street Network , 5. Land use, 6. Economic development potential, 7. open space, 8. Infrastructure , 9. Public amenities Week 8 : Preparation of Concept Plan for the area Week 9 : 1. Land readjustment considering the concept plan and land requirements for street network, infrastructure, amenities etc., 2. Imagining the built form, 3. Streets network and public places design, 4. Development and Building regulations Week 10 : 1. Land readjustment considering the concept plan and land requirements for street network, infrastructure, amenities etc., 2. Imagining the built form, 3. Streets network and public places design, 4. Development and building regulations Week 11 : 1. Land readjustment considering the concept plan and land requirements for street network, infrastructure, amenities etc., 2. Imaginin g the built form, 3. Streets network and public places design, 4. Development and Building regulations Week 12 : Draft Plan & report review, Presentation Prep Week 13 : Draft Schematic plan and design: Prepare area & value statement for land readjustment considering revenue requirements for the development, Implementation mechanisms and strategies Week 14 : Draft Schematic plan and design: Prepare area & value statement for land readjustment considering revenue requirements for the development, Implementation mechanisms and strategies Week 15 : Draft Schematic plan and design: Prepare area & value statement for land readjustment considering revenue requirements for the development, Implementation mechanisms and strategies Week 16 : Presentation prep & Mock Juries References/Reading : 1. House, 1961 2. Jacobs, Allan B. Great Streets. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1993 3. Lynch, Kevin. The Image of the City. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1980 4. Larice, Michael, and Elizabeth Macdonald, eds. 2007. The Urban Design Reader. 5. Gujarat Town Planning & Urban Development Act, 1976 6. Draft Development Regulations for Ahmedabad CBD Local Area Plan 7. Gurumukhi, K.T.; Land Pooling Technique : A tool for plan implementation - An Indian experience 8. Shanti Swaroop Singh; Form-Based Codes: An Alternative Method for Development Regulation 9. Ballaney, Shirley; The Town Planning Mechanism in Gujarat, India 10. Chiaravalli, Lna; Exploring alternatives to land acquisition; Center for Public Policy Research Evaluation Method : Presentation 1 - 10% Presentation 2 - 20% Presentation 3 - 25%, Final Jury 30%, Final Report 10% Attendance - 5%