International Conference on Urban Sustainability: Emerging Trends, Themes, Concepts and Practices

REDEFINING THE ROLE OF CIVIC NODES IN URBAN FABRIC IN THE

CONTEXT OF A CONTEMPORARY INDIAN CITY
Ar. Rikta Desai*
*Rikta Desai (Professor, Faculty of Architecture, SCET, Surat)

ABSTRACT: Qualitative civic open spaces are the most challenging issue of contemporary Indian cities. Though
being important identity of city’s daily collective lives, these are the most neglected and unattended spaces in our
urban centers. Requalification of those spaces is more important that are associative to human instinct of being a
part of larger community and offer immediate opportunity of participation into public realm. The aim of this
study is to define “node” as such potential urban space, to identify the issues obstructive to its performance and to
understand the scope of interventions for regain of its lost identity. The walled city area of Surat is considered as
a case.

I. INTRODUCTION II. "NODE" AS POTENTIAL URBAN SPACE

The image of any contemporary city is apparently
perceived as a highly dense built environment holding
complex interrelationships of people, activities and
movements. The interesting paradox here is that though
characterized by solid masses making a divergent
skyline, the city actually subsists more in the voids
between these solids where the activities and movement
of people actually occur. While making the city live,
vibrant and dynamic, these un-built spaces establish a
larger socio-communal system, where people get an
opportunity to participate into a community life. These
open spaces serve multiple purposes of utilitarian, socio-
communal and perceptual functions and portray the
public realm of the city, the backdrop against which the
daily collective life of a city unfolds. The scale of such
space may vary widely; ranging from a doorstep pause
point to street side eateries to a street itself to local
market squares to neighborhood parks to city scale
playgrounds. Amongst all of them, the most important is
the one that offers an opportunity for immediate
participation into community life, while serving multiple
functions of day to day life of an individual. Such spaces
are needed as a response to human instinct of being
socially connected and being a part of a larger
community. These are the lung spaces of the city, places
to pause during the activities of the day, places to meet,
interact and exchange and hence are essentially
important part of an urban fabric. Unfortunately, in the
cities of developing country like India, these are the most
neglected and unattended spaces. The objective of this
study is to understand the significance of such spaces for
the enhancement of quality of life, and to identify
various roles these spaces have to perform in the bustling
life of densely built modern metropolis, a city of Surat in
this case.
As one looks at the various kinds of urban spaces within a
city, it is important to recognize and study those that have
evolved through the time and existing in present context
as well. In other words, those spaces are interesting that
has witnessed socio-cultural, economic and technological
revolutions and participatory in growth and development
of the urban form. These are the spaces that are constantly
under the influences of the forces acting upon the society
and reflecting the metaphoric transformations with
changing time and traditions. In this study, “Node” has
been identified as such space. At a preliminary perception
these are the cross road junctions or square that display
trade, commerce and culture of a place or a settlement by
its scale, character and strategic location. The important
feature of nodes that distinguishes them from public
squares is their dual role in urban morphology. While
squares are predominantly “individualistic urban spaces”,
nodes are not so. Each node has its own identity as a
“place” and at the same, it is a part of a larger system of
movements along paths. The nodes can also be an
important element displaying historicity, depending upon
its evolution over a period of time and significance in
development of urban form. While serving as an open
space of associative scale, the nodes also have to
essentially offer an organized network of vehicular traffic,
adequate parking to access immediate land use and most
importantly; a safe and secure pedestrian movement, to
perform as a successful civic space, in the context of
present time.

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 International Conference on Urban Sustainability: Emerging Trends, Themes, Concepts and Practices
Fig:1 Fig.2
Fig.3 Fig. 4
Fig. 1,2,3,4: Relationship of People and nodes at
different scale and location
III. STUDY CONCERNS
In Western context, the concerns for “public realm” is
well addressed with changing context of time and
technology that effectively convey new meanings of
“civic space”, and the roads and nodes are well defined
for people as well as automobiles. Unfortunately, the
image of the urban space as a street or as a square or as a
node in any contemporary Indian city is a scene of big
disorder where the older “Chowk” has been taken over
by the encroachments, heterogeneous traffic, haphazard
parking, abandoned street edges, hoardings and
advertising elements and many more unpleasing
activities. Despite of holding a strong potential of
displaying socio-cultural or historical significance, the
identity of a space called "node" has been lost in the
traffic, noise and congestion of overcrowded and
overburdened urban roads. In other words, the nodes
have become mere traffic junctions in the rushing and
bustling metropolis; unorganized, insignificant and
unattended. Though strongly characterised by vibrant
commercial, recreational and socio-communal activities;
both formal and informal; these nodes of urban fabric are
hardly perceived as strong urban design elements,
representing poor attitude towards urban form. The
discrepancy between the various factors involved in the
making of cities has been one of the fundamental
reasons. On the other hand, its potential lies in the fact
that this urban space is still an activity hub, catering to
the rich and the poor, the old and the new equally. The
key issue here is structuring the same and thereby
making them a better place to experience. Hence the
design and performance of these spaces take on
significance, both in architectural terms and as an
expression of the combined aspirations of the people
who use them. The inquiry of this paper is to study
various aspects related to the performances of nodes in a
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typical Indian city, (Surat in this case) and to define their
roles responsive to contemporary context.
IV.THEORETICAL PREMISE: NODES AND
NODAL SYSTEMS
Nodes are generally perceived as junctions of roads, a
space that bifurcates as well connects paths leading to
different directions. In the context of urban morphology,
the term ‘node’ has been used differently in different
conditions. The studies of Kevin Lynch have given a
fundamental definition of nodes in the urban context.
“Nodes are strategic foci, into which the observer can
enter; typically either junctions of paths, or
concentrations of some characteristic. But although
conceptually they are small points, in the city image,
they may in reality be large squares, or somewhat
extended linear shapes, or even entire central districts,
when the city is being considered at a large enough
scale.” (Lynch, 1959, 73)
Interestingly, here, the scale and image of the space is
not specified. The node could be just a crossroad
junction or a small open space or a large relief area
within a dense urban setting. It may have a strong built
edges defined by historical monuments displaying city’s
past glory or may portray a very strong contemporary
image dominated by commercial activities. Thus, the
possibility of interpretation of this space is open, and one
could perceive it more relatively in the context of urban
form and its evolution pattern. Two important aspects
that remain fundamental to the understanding of nodes in
general are:
• The possibility of variation in the scale of the
space; and
• It being part of a larger system that holds other
nodes as well.
A. Character of Nodes
As an urban space, nodes are characterised by certain
qualities as described below:
Orientation: serve as reference point and guiding
element
Pause: momentary psychological perception or physical
stop for some time
Connection: links between various parts of the city
Association: relationship of an individual with the space
of public realm outside the personal space
Container: enclosure that allows various elements,
activities and movements to come together
Interaction: between people as well as between the city
and the citizens
These qualities are more experiential rather than
physical, and these experiences are dependent on the
overall urban environment. A well-organized urban
setting will enhance the experience whereas; its identity
is lost in a chaotic, haphazard and unplanned
International Conference on Urban Sustainability: Emerging Trends, Themes, Concepts and Practices
development. The fastest growing city of Surat in the
state of Gujarat has been identified as case study, in
order to understand the character and experience of civic
nodes in Contemporary Indian Context.
V.STUDY AREA BACKGROUND
Surat’s settlement pattern and morphology is an example
of medieval urbanization, with a strong impact of
different cultural interfaces and trade as a magnet of
growth. The unique feature about the built form
evolution of the walled city is its two concentric city
walls, suggesting two distinct periods of development
and a need for expansion at an early age. It also suggests
a need for double fortification as Surat was subjected to
constant attack from the enemy.
Fig. 5 Inner and outer wall with gates
Fig. 6 Inner and outer ring road at present
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The residential quarters, traditionally termed as “Chaklas”
and “Puras” grew within the area enclosed by these two
walls. Interestingly, both these walls were having 12
gates, through which entry to the city was defined. These
twelve gates were named after the major trade routes they
were facing, or the major city institutions to which they
were facing or were connected to. Majority of the
residential quarters were also known on the basis of these
gates and were given name of the gates. And in that sense,
these gates were actually the nodes, a referential points to
divide and connect the city as well as beholders of
movements and activities.Though these walls are almost
non-existent at present, its semi-circular plan orientation
demark the two major ring roads of present city form and
the areas and nodes between them are still known from
their original historical names.
The city’s transportation network is predominantly a ring
and radial pattern, as an attribute to these two walls, and
location of original gates have been now become busy
traffic junctions. The area of focus for this study is the
inner ring road, being a reference of historical inner wall
signifying city’s growth pattern and also the major
circulation artery of the city at present. This road connects
as well as separates the old and the new city. The area
along this road is mainly residential neighbourhoods with
number of formal and informal commercial activities,
along with some public institutions. “Gopi Talao”, the
historical lake and the only recreational place for the
walled city area is accessed through major two nodes,
namely, Navsari bazar and Golwadon this road. And
hence the stretch covering these two nodes, along with
two connecting nodes of Bhagal and Saiyedpura are being
identified for the detailed study and analysis. Study
findings in relation to specific parameter are explained
below:
Fig. 7. Navsaribazar Node
International Conference on Urban Sustainability: Emerging Trends, Themes, Concepts and Practices
Fig.8: Golwad Node
Study Findings:
Parameter
Location and Accessibility in
relation to city as well as
surrounding neighbourhoods
Land use
Activity generators
Traffic and movement
• Traffic Composition
• Traffic volume
• Traffic speed
• Traffic Management
• Pedestrian intensity
• Pedestrian movements:
• Pedestrian safety
• Pedestrian
infrastructure
Built form character
Perception in general
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Fig. 9: Bhagal Node Fig: 10: Saiyedpura Node
Findings
Location amongst dense residential fabric, accessible from multiple secondary roads
Residential, retail commercial, markets(Vegetable/meat/fish/grocery), public
amenities(Police station, hospital, community hall) religious institutions,
recreational (Gopi Talao)
Markets, street side eateries, retail shopping
 Heterogeneous: two wheelers, three wheelers (Auto rickshaws), four
wheelers
 high
 average
 uncontrolled and haphazard
 high
 haphazard
 highly unsafe
 no provision at all
Three to Four story high buildings, traditionally ornamented wooden/brick houses
with architecturally interesting facades:some in good condition while majority in
dilapidated, rest being renovated with mix character of old and new, lack of definite
character.
Overcrowded space with unpleasing surroundings yet dynamic and vibrant due to
multiple activities
International Conference on Urban Sustainability: Emerging Trends, Themes, Concepts and Practices
5.2Analysis on the basis of findings
Strengths
• Historical references attached to most of the
nodes existing on old city areas
• Location amidst dense residential
neighbourhood and accessible to all
• Strong linkages between the old and the new:
interwoven transportation network
• Mixed land use along the edges
• Surrounded by diverse range of activity
generators: shops, eateries, markets, public
transport that act as a positive contributors to
the efficiency and intensity of a civic space.
Opportunities
• A renewed public realm acting as a civic
space with retail-wholesale commercial,
leisure and community facilities, transforming
the space into economic, cultural, and
recreational heart of a city or an active hub of
immediate neighbourhoods.
• A potential to serve as a community centre
with organized activities and holding efficient
transportation network providing access to
employment, goods and services.
• Image maker for entire city or for a
neighbourhood, depending on scale.
• Well define pedestrian edges establishing
quality face to users.
VI. ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Study findings and analysis identifies multiple level
issues of traffic and transportation, unattended open
spaces, neglected pedestrian realm, activity
distribution and land use classification, slum
encroachment and illegal occupancy, environmental
quality, visual appeal and aesthetics, Issues of space
definition and loss of character. Considering the level
of complexity and approach required to each of the
abovementioned issues, the recommendations are
classified in three levels dealing with three
distinguish scales viz. city level, area level and place
level. This is in reference to the dual character of the
nodes i.e existence as an individual entity as well as a
part of a larger nodal system. Further, pertaining to
the type of issue, the recommendations have to
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Weakness
• Heterogeneous vehicular traffic
• Underutilized open spaces
• Unorganized and illegal market spaces
• Encroachments on road sides by vendors
• Scattered settlements/ slum encroachments on road
sides
• Derelict buildings, low quality built form
• Lack of comfortable permeability
• Poor attitude towards urban form
• Lack of policy framework and implement
mechanism.
• Haphazard surface parking effecting on road width.
• Insufficient road widths on some routes, Piecemeal
approach of road alignment
• Neglected public Realm
• Unsafe pedestrian environment
Threats
• Relieving the encroached land for the public purpose
from the existing users.
• Intervention in existing situation requiring a huge
support from public and stakeholders.
• Issues of Maintenance of renewed Public Realm.
consider managerial, aesthetical, perceptual and
functional aspects.
Level: 1: City Level
The major concern of Level: 1 intervention is to
achieve the city level benefits and to integrate the
proposals with the provisions made in the city
development plan. At this level, managerial and
administrative issues are to be addressed that include
strengthening and structuring of roads and road
network, enhancement of road infrastructure, traffic
control and management, relieving encroached lands,
with due concern to the existing pattern of movements
and activities, while imposing certain do’s and don’ts.
Level: 2: Area level interventions
The major concern of Level: 2 interventions is to
achieve the area level benefits by enhancing the
International Conference on Urban Sustainability: Emerging Trends, Themes, Concepts and Practices

character of spatial distribution of land use and

activities. The concerns to be achieved here are to be in
response to the socio-communal needs of the
communities, while respecting local trade activities and
people’s desire for a civic space offering scope of
interaction and. participation. A safe pedestrian realm is
a prime demand to be addressed at this scale. e) Role as traffic and transportation
Level: 3: Place level intersections
The major concern of Level: 3interventions is to f) Role as physical identity of the city
establish a detailed physical design proposal and
guidelines for the specific nodes to achieve the (a) (b)
concerns of aesthetical and perceptual functions. Role (c)
of urban design is to be recognized here. The (d) (e)
intervention strategies should be focusing on the issues (f)
of space definition, character of space and needs of Fig.10: Graphical representation of
contemporary times, while retaining the identity as an various roles of nodes
active open space.
Thus, there are multiple and multilevel challenges that a
“Node” has to resolve so as to perform as a meaningful
and convivial urban space in Contemporary Indian
cities. A successful civic space has to serve the
purposes of utilitarian, socio-cultural and perceptual
functions. The role of urban design intervention is to be
recognized here to reorganize and restructure such Sensitive and sensible interventions at various levels,
spaces in order to achieve their potential i.e redefinition right from the vision for city development plan to area
of aesthetics, space and function. This will also demand development strategies to urban design guidelines for
a root level planning and development decisions that place making, can create new urban spaces that are
are responsive to past, present and future context of the contextual and sustainable. The study presents an
place, where role of qualitative public realm is well opportunity to re-establish an image of a potential urban
realized. space by defining their new roles in contemporary
context and thereby to address the issues of qualitative
VII. CONCLUSIONS civic spaces in urban centres of India.
Findings and observations from the case study
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International Conference on Urban Sustainability: Emerging Trends, Themes, Concepts and Practices

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