This exploration is in reference to the concept of Integrated Place-making, that was brought up in: https://www.the-urban-anecdotes.com/post/p-1-integrated-place-making
Introduction:
The holistic theme of Integrated Place-making was to creatively use existing land areas in a city that are not particularly usable and functionally transform them to capture land and area value. It is a micro scale, remedial development approach such that each strategy incrementally contribute to a region-wide, connective & utilitarian transformation.
Application:
The concept was applied to a precinct in Parel, Mumbai. Additionally, an overview of its relevance & applicability to the entire city was also provided.
Site Introduction
Parel offers a rare chance for scientific urban renewal in the City- Correa Committee Report
Site Overview
The built fabric of the site is in gradual transition, as are the wards (administrative divisions) of the city. The site is an amalgamation of traditional built fabric, weaved in with the newly developed plots.
The transformation is captured through the precinct landscape and street experience
The older fabric includes remnants of industrial architecture such as the mills; residential architecture including the chawls, gaothans (urban villages), and suburban housing from the 50s town planning scheme; institutional buildings including health, education, and planning. This also includes the street networks that contribute to everyday activities such as groceries vendors, bakeries, flowers, spice, & clothes markets. These streets transform seasonally to cater to festivals, especially Ganesh Chaturthi.
Unique Features: L: An agricultural land, R: A cess building carving out a busy market street
Cess Buildings are older architecture forms of regional character, that are now considered as the city's heritage. The older fabric consisted varied land uses, distinct built form characters, utilities and movement forms. It is necessary to study these features to keep consistency with its uniqueness in the transforming process.
Due to a site-specific approach towards new built forms, the interactive functions of the streets are becoming purely for automobile utility. These developments are enclosed physically. Some of these have also reclaimed the spaces reserved for public use. The new developments are privately controlled.
Spatial Manifestation: L: Informal Activities taking up Pedestrian Pavement, R: Automobile centric street
Accessibility Map
A plot-wise transformation is observed, in terms of accessibility. The restricted plots are physically bound and mostly follow site specific approach of development. This halts any spillover along the street segments and the streets lose their functional utility as a space of exchange.
Process
The connectedness and permeability of urban layouts are claimed to determine the nature and extent of routes between and through spaces which in turn has an influence on how lively and well-used a space is (Cowan, 1997)
Intervention
The placemaking followed two approaches:
At macro/ precinct level which allowed creation and integration of new networks and systems
At micro/plot & intra plot level which allowed plot specific and shared utilities between plots.
Creative Transformation Achieved on Site
Intended Physical Transformation of the Precinct
Accessibility - Opening up the Urban Fabric & Sharing Pedestrian Mobility
Capturing the Functional & Utilitarian Value of Land
Enhancing delineated area's utilitarian specificity
New forms of public interaction. Some examples include using urban parks with recreation & agricultural functions, shared spaces for play, opportunities for sheltered and paced pedestrian movement, and multi-modal transit zones.
The placemaking method is applicable specifically in the context of Mumbai. The city's underlying development patterns were identified and modified to create albeit micro-scale, a city wide impact.
Integrated Placemaking in the context of Parel and its impact through Mumbai
There are few factors governing the land development and its impact is visible throughout the city. This includes, the city government's development plan (currently DCPR 2034), and its concurrent building form regulations. Additionally, many developments in the city are undertaken by private developers. This placemaking approach sought to synergize the potential of the underlying transformative processes of Mumbai to create an open, easily adaptive and integrated city, especially in terms of accessibility.
Design Toolkit in collaboration with Integrated Placemaking
The toolkit provides a design mechanism to contribute towards Integrated Placemaking. It allows flexibility through specific guidelines which allows the urban fabric easily mould into the specificity of the area in which it is applied.
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