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NATIONAL KERALA

October 10, 2015

Updated: October 10, 2015 05:43 IST

Focus on urban open spaces

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VISHNU SANKAR
COMMENT PRINT T

inShare

Well-designed and managed public spaces are key to acitys growth,

says VISHNU SANKAR
Each year, the red letter day takes on a new theme chosen by the United Nations
based on current issues relevant to the Habitat Agenda. This years theme is
Public Spaces for all.
In connection with the World Habitat Day celebrations, Asset Homes organised
the second edition of their triannual lecture series on sustainable development in
the city.
Speaking on the topic The unbuilt defines the built, architect Madhav Joshi, said
that well-designed and managed public spaces were key assets for a citys
liveability and economy. Public spaces, often overlooked and undervalued, are the
backbone of cities. His talk covered the various dimensions of public spaces and
their role in shaping the built environment as well as the multiple perceptions of
open spaces, their symbolism and meaning.
Mr. Joshi said to Property Plus that in order to be prepared for the massive
phenomenon of urbanisation and shift in demographics happening in our
country, certain awareness programmes need to be taken up. The aim should be
to equip the right people so that, provisions for good living in urban spaces are
addressed at the right time.
Those who are at the helm of getting things done should be aware of what needs
to be implemented, what modifications are required in governance, what the
policies that need to be altered are, where they should be restrictive and where
they should be facilitative and so on.
They are supposed to be well informed about the experiences from other parts of
the world as well, said the architect. Officially designated by the United Nations
and celebrated on the first Monday of October since 1986, this year it is being
celebrated with a partnership between UN-Habitat and the HeforShe initiative
promoted by UN Women for Gender Equality to create gender-equal public
spaces for all.
Some of the major objectives other than raising awareness about the need for well
designed and managed public spaces and streets, include; developing processes
and tools to ensure that public spaces are conducive and safe for women and
children, older persons and persons with disabilities; enhancing community
cohesion and safety for all citizens through activity and events held in public
spaces and streets and contributing to a policy dialogue that focuses on the broad
range of issues related to integrating public spaces and streets into city planning.

On the occasion, the corporate social responsibility project of Asset Homes, in

association with SUT Hospital, Tree Dhan was launched by Raghuchandran
Nair, national vice-president, CREDAI by handing over a teak sapling to a girl
child.
According to Sunil Kumar, Managing Director of Asset Homes, as responsible
builders we are trying to think beyond the square feet and programmes like these
helps to spread the message that sustainable approach is indeed practical when it
comes to building urban living spaces.