The Design Gesture

Category: Urban Design

  • An Extraordinary Tale of Two Cities: Paris Before and After Haussmann

    An Extraordinary Tale of Two Cities: Paris Before and After Haussmann

    One of the most important urban reform initiatives in history was the Haussmannization of Paris, also known as the Second Empire restoration of Paris. Prefect Georges-Eugene Haussmann was designated by Napoleon III to supervise the conclusion of this extensive urban planning project, which was carried out in the city of Paris between 1853 and 1870. The project’s goal was to update the city and make it more aesthetically pleasing, functional, and hygienic. This endeavour allowed the city to be transformed from a mediaeval maze of winding alleyways into the broad boulevards and public areas that are present today.

    The Haussmannization of Paris was a difficult project that involved redesigning the road network, setting up new sewage and water systems, and creating new parks and public spaces. This article will overview of the history of pre-Haussmannization Paris and need of the Haussmannization, as well as Haussmann’s Plan, the city’s transportation infrastructure, sewage system, and building facades, as well as the societal impacts and outcomes from Haussmannization.

    Introduction

    Paris’ renovation was one of Napoleon III’s primary concerns. He wanted to create a London with lots of open space. In addition, it came about as a result of the need for more efficient housing, wider streets to prevent riots, and sewer system building to stop the spread of illness. Baron von Haussmann, the Seine’s prefecture, was the author of Napoleon’s dreams. He constructed the wide avenues and stunning vistas that make up the Paris of today.

    Georges-Eugene Haussmann was given the job of leading the reconstruction of Paris by Napoleon III in 1853 with the goal of modernising the city and bringing it in accordance with Second Empire ideals. A huge budget and basically limitless power to seize land, demolish structures, and construct new public spaces and roads were given to Haussmann. He set out to create a brand-new modern metropolis that was more appealing, hygienic, and functional. Over the course of the next 17 years, Haussmann’s enormous urban renovation initiative would transform Paris into a modern city.

    Pre-Haussmannization Paris

    Pre-Haussmannization Paris
    Photographer Unknown

    Before the Haussmannization, the streets of Paris were a tangle of clogged, dirty, and disease-ridden places.  The small, winding lanes were not intended for the expanding population and were regularly clogged by vehicles and pedestrians. Parisians used the Seine River or the streets as waste dumps because of the city’s inadequate sewage infrastructure, which resulted in an offensive odour and the spread of diseases like cholera.

    The city was vulnerable to fires due to a lack of fire protection measures and the use of flammable materials during building. The city’s buildings were shoddily built and prone to crumbling, and its infrastructure was outdated. The city’s packed streets and subpar living conditions made it difficult for the government to maintain order, and riots and uprisings were frequent. Additionally lacking in public places, the city was dominated by crammed, decaying structures.

    Need of Haussmannization

    The city’s mounting issues in the middle of the 19th century were what led to the Haussmannization of Paris. In order to transform Paris into the modern metropolis we know today, the Haussmannization project was undertaken in the middle of the 19th century. Overall, Paris was in severe need of modernization and repair.

    Haussmann’s Plan

    Photographer Unknown | Source: https://www.pinterest.com

    A major renovation of the city took place as a result of Haussmann’s Plan. It aimed to create a city that was more sensible and efficient. The Paris plan of Haussmann was built on a few basic principles. He first intended to create a network of wide boulevards that would allow for more open traffic flow within the city. Additionally, he wished to swap out old, unhygienic buildings for more modern, attractive ones. In order to give the city’s buildings a more cohesive and organised appearance, he wanted new construction to be created in conformity with a set of universal architectural standards.

    In addition, he planned to build a large number of public areas, like parks and squares, to provide the populace of the city some much-needed space. New water supply and sewage infrastructure were planned as part of the concept.

    According to Haussmann’s plan, a large portion of the city would be expropriated and destroyed, particularly in the centre where congested traffic was caused by small streets and densely populated buildings. A network of broad, straight boulevards that cut through the city were constructed by Haussmann and his team of engineers, connecting significant sites and creating a more effective transit system.

    Road Network

    Photographer Unknown | Source: https://www.pariszigzag.fr

    The development of the new road system was one of the most important components of Paris’ Haussmannization. Engineers working for Haussmann created a network of wide, straight boulevards that sliced through the city, improving traffic flow and facilitating government law enforcement. The purpose of the newly constructed boulevards was to link the city’s important attractions and to create a more logical and practical city plan. Additionally, these new boulevards had streetlights, benches, and trees to improve the atmosphere for both automobiles and pedestrians.

    Sewage System

    The construction of a brand-new, state-of-the-art sewerage infrastructure was an essential part of Haussmannizing Paris. Inadequate and outdated wastewater infrastructure in the city contributed to unsanitary conditions and disease outbreaks. Haussmann’s plan called for the construction of a vast network of underground sewers to carry waste out of the city and deposit it elsewhere. This new system was put in place to replace the previous one, which used open gutters. The improved sewage system provided a great contribution to public health and cleanliness by decreasing the spread of disease in the city.

    Photographer Unknown | Source: https://www.wikimedia.com

    Building Façade

    Under Haussmann’s plan, the city’s structures were also supposed to have a more cohesive and structured appearance. It also required changing the exterior of the buildings. To do this, he created a set of architectural guidelines that new construction had to adhere to. Paris’s dilapidated buildings that flanked its twisting streets were demolished and changed with more aesthetically pleasant and hygienic ones.

    The new buildings constructed during the Haussmannization era were required to feature ornamental facades, balconies, and broad windows, primarily on the second level, and to be at least five storeys tall, with a constant height and style. A neoclassical façade was added to the newly restored city. Shops are located on the ground floor. The city’s regularity gave the impression that it was more appealing and well-organized.

    Photographer Unknown | Source: https://www.mymodernmet.com

    Social Impacts and Outcomes

    The Haussmannization, a profound social change in Paris, took place. Paris is now a modern, efficient, and clean metropolis thanks to the initiative. The city has a new, modern appearance thanks to the construction of a new road network and the modification of building exteriors. Thanks to the project’s new parks and public spaces, the city’s residents now have much-needed green space.

    Haussmann insisted he would not compromise in his convictions. He expelled the poor from the city by destroying the areas where they lived. The Haussmannization had various unfavourable effects as a result. Around 350,000 people were forced out of their homes as a result of the construction of the new boulevards and the destruction of the old structures, especially those who lived in slum regions. It became more difficult for certain people to purchase homes in the city due to the higher pricing of the new structures. The upper class also demanded nicer residences in the city’s heart.

    Conclusions

    In the middle of the 19th century, Paris underwent a huge urban change project known as the Haussmannization. The project’s goal was to build a city that was more contemporary, effective, and hygienic. According to Haussmann’s Plan, the road system had to be reorganised, a new sewage system had to be built, building facades had to be renovated, and new parks and public spaces had to be built. The initiative had important societal effects and results. The Haussmannization of Paris continues to be a crucial lesson in urban architecture and planning despite its numerous shortcomings.

    The project served as an example of how urban planning may be used to create aesthetically pleasing, functional cities that meet the needs of their residents. Additionally, it illustrated how crucial careful planning and collaboration between the public and private sectors are to accomplishing such goals. After undergoing the Haussmannization process, Paris emerged as a beautiful and useful metropolis that serves as a model for modern urban design and architecture.

    In conclusion, urban planning cannot be successful unless both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the city are developed. In addition to serving as a transit corridor, the road aids in bringing the public’s impression of the city together.

  • Garden City Movement: Ebenezer Howard’s Vision for Urban Utopia

    Garden City Movement: Ebenezer Howard’s Vision for Urban Utopia

    Introduction

    An Englishman, Ebenezer Howard’s utopian urban planning idea served as the foundation for the garden city movement. The best features of both urban and rural life are accessible in garden cities. The Industrial Revolution gave rise to Howard’s beliefs, which were partly a response to the plight of London’s workers. Urban planning standards of today have been significantly influenced by the garden city movement.  

    History of the Garden City Movement

    Firstly, the idea of the Garden City movement was presented in the year 1898 in the book, 

    To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform, and in the year 1902 it was republished with the name, Garden Cities of To-morrow. 

    Garden City Movement
    Image Source 

    According to Howard, creating town/country cities with extremely particular guidelines might result in the best living conditions for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds. During the Industrial Revolution, the places became overcrowded due to sudden urbanization which led to a housing crisis for people of different socioeconomic backgrounds. However, his theories drew inspiration from earlier utopian writings that praised the idea of a strictly controlled working class residing in idealized communities governed by powerful governmental institutions.

    However, religious and secular utopian communities both aimed to live their lives and build societies that came close to human perfection. Instead of reforming an existing social order, utopian organizations concentrated their efforts on the development of a new one that was perfected. This led to the basis of the Garden City movement. 

    Three Magnet 

    Urban slums, pollution, and the difficulty of visiting the countryside were some of the issues that prompted Howard to write during the Industrial Revolution. He spent a significant portion of his work arguing that cities, as they were then, could not last and would eventually have to be demolished. He was also aware of the financial issues faced by rural farmers, many of whom lived in poverty as a result of crop prices and weather conditions.

    According to Howard in his book, “town” and “country” are like magnets that pull people to them for various, sometimes conflicting reasons. He listed the advantages and disadvantages of both, comparing how the town offers “social opportunity” in exchange for “closing out of nature” while the country delivers “beauty of nature” but a “lack of society.” According to Howard, neither the city nor the country was ideal.

    Garden City Movement: Ebenezer Howard's Vision for Urban Utopia An Englishman, Ebenezer Howard's utopian urban planning idea served as the foundation for the garden city movement. The best features of both urban and rural life are accessible in garden cities. The Industrial Revolution gave rise to Howard's beliefs, which were partly a response to the plight of London's workers. Urban planning standards of today have been significantly influenced by the garden city movement.  
    Image Source

    Towns

    The options for jobs and good earnings, as well as the social opportunities, amusements, and well-lit streets, are what draw people to “Town Magnet.” It offered solitude from crowds, was closed off from nature, and provided time away from work. But it did so at the expense of slums, expensive drainage, cloudy skies, and bad air. Town life has both positive and negative aspects.

    Country

    ‘Country Magnet’s’ natural beauty, clean air, and healthfulness are its draws. It provided a meadow, inexpensive rents, pure air, and natural beauty but had low wages and inadequate drainage. The country is boring, lacks society, has low incomes, few amusements, and is generally in disrepair.

    Town – Country

    With the intention of combining the advantages of both, it gave the beauty of nature, social opportunity, easily accessible fields, inexpensive rent, good pay, and a field for enterprise. The ‘Town Country Magnet’ was offered as a town in the country with the amenities of natural beauty, fresh air, and healthfulness as part of its solution, which combined the benefits of town and country. Therefore, the benefits of both the town and the country are seeded to be free from each other’s drawbacks.

    Principles of Garden Cities 

    1. Cooperative land ownership ensures that the community, not just private individuals, benefits from an increase in land values.
    1. Large-scale planning: positive economic and social effects.
    1. Construction of compact communities with a balanced agricultural and industrial economy
    1. Using a nearby green belt to create a recreational farming area
    1. Urban Decentralisation

    Designing of Garden Cities 

    Howard made the decision to design highly structured, meticulously planned communities in order to offer the best living conditions for a variety of people. Because British landowners were free to use their property any way they pleased during Howard’s time, he planned to buy sizable tracts of land from aristocratic landowners and build garden cities on which 32,000 people would live in separate dwellings spread across 6,000 acres. 

    Garden City Movement: Ebenezer Howard's Vision for Urban Utopia An Englishman, Ebenezer Howard's utopian urban planning idea served as the foundation for the garden city movement. The best features of both urban and rural life are accessible in garden cities. The Industrial Revolution gave rise to Howard's beliefs, which were partly a response to the plight of London's workers. Urban planning standards of today have been significantly influenced by the garden city movement.  
    Image Source

    The following would be found in the garden cities, beginning in the center of the circle:

    • A large public garden among governmental structures like the town hall, lecture halls, theatres, and a hospital;
    • A massive passageway known as the “crystal palace,” where locals could peruse a covered market and take in a “winter garden;
    • 5,500 construction sites for single-family homes (some with “cooperative kitchens” and shared gardens);
    • Schools, churches, playgrounds, factories, farms, warehouses, and connection to train.
    Garden City Movement: Ebenezer Howard's Vision for Urban Utopia An Englishman, Ebenezer Howard's utopian urban planning idea served as the foundation for the garden city movement. The best features of both urban and rural life are accessible in garden cities. The Industrial Revolution gave rise to Howard's beliefs, which were partly a response to the plight of London's workers. Urban planning standards of today have been significantly influenced by the garden city movement.  
    Image Source

    In addition to planning the physical layout of his garden cities, Howard also developed a complex strategy for financing its development, maintaining its infrastructure, helping those in need, and ensuring the well-being of its inhabitants. In its ideal state, Garden City would develop into a network of smaller towns centered on a larger one.

    Components of Garden Cities 

    Planned Dispersal

    The planned movement of businesses and residents to communities that are large enough to offer the services, range of jobs, and degree of culture that a representative sample of modern society needs.

    Limited size of Town

    Limiting town growth will allow residents to live close to places of employment, retail establishments, community centers, and other residents, as well as open spaces.

    Amenities

    The internal structure of communities should be open enough to allow for individual gardens, enough room for schools and other essential facilities, as well as lovely parks and parkways.

    Relationship between town and country

    The town area should be established, with a sizable region around it set aside permanently for agriculture. This would guarantee that there will be a market and cultural hub nearby for farmers while giving town residents access to a rural setting.

    Controlled planning

    Pre-planning of the entire town’s infrastructure, including the road system and functional zoning; fixation of maximum densities; regulation of building quality and design while allowing for individual variability; skillful planting and landscape garden design.

    Neighbourhoods

    The town will be divided into wards, each of which will function somewhat as a social and developmental unit. Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City, both in Hertfordshire, England, are two garden cities that were constructed utilizing Howard’s garden city movement concept.

    Garden City Movement: Ebenezer Howard's Vision for Urban Utopia An Englishman, Ebenezer Howard's utopian urban planning idea served as the foundation for the garden city movement. The best features of both urban and rural life are accessible in garden cities. The Industrial Revolution gave rise to Howard's beliefs, which were partly a response to the plight of London's workers. Urban planning standards of today have been significantly influenced by the garden city movement.  
  • Streetscape: Some Spectacular Streets That Have Become A City’s Identity

    Streetscape: Some Spectacular Streets That Have Become A City’s Identity

    Streetscape Architecture is the city’s backbone. The streets are the finest area to stroll all day long if someone wants to learn about the culture of a city. Streets are an important part of a city’s civic life and overall town planning. As a result, streetscaping has become a decisive factor in a city’s development. The term “streetscape” is used to underline the significance of streets in a city. Any city’s streetscape depicts the natural constructed architecture of the street, which adds to the space’s experience quality.

    Streetscape as a term

    Is used to characterize the street’s built and natural fabric, and is regarded as the place’s design quality and visual effect.” This planning idea recognises that streets are public property on which everyone has an equal claim in social gatherings. Streetscape Architecture is an important aspect of the community realm since they aid in the definition of mobility. It also expresses a sense of community and possibility. 

    The way people perceive and interact with their neighbourhood and the built environment around them is significantly influenced by the streetscape. It can be inferred that streetscapes are an important part of a city’s aesthetic value, economic activity, health, and sustainability and that their aesthetics have a significant impact on public spaces where people interact.

    However, streetscapes are more than simply a tool for improving a person’s experience or a city’s road network; they also formulate a set of recommendations for building sustainable urban design principles and a city of the future. Our daily lives are shaped by the streets we walk, but they also have an impact on our collective national identities. On a smaller scale, the government has commissioned some of the world’s most beautiful and inventive streets, but residents have had significant participation.

    With diverse components such as bollards, street furniture, and lighting, streetscape architecture can also make a political statement and be the reason behind city development in India. Democratic characteristics such as non-hostile terrain components and open markets support a country’s radical identity and political position. Hong Kong’s streets, for instance, have changed dramatically in response to shifting political and social circumstances. Thousands of demonstrators recently tore up the grey metal railings that had been a common sight on Hong Kong’s streets to use as barricades.

    Apart from creating a more user-friendly street, Streetscape also contributes to the development of a sense of identity among its residents as well as a way of extending the country’s ideals. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s La Boca district. The picturesque Spanish street, with its many flowers and white-washed walls, is extremely distinctive of the region and embodies everything it is renowned and loved for. This community, which includes European immigrants who became dockworkers, reflects its main value creativity through its physical construction.

    Streetscape: An Identity of a City

    Identity is a psychological phrase that relates to one’s self-image, or the defining trait or attributes that determine one’s identity. The streets have the power to convey information about their surroundings and culture. It contains the city’s or people’s distinctive characteristics. We will remember the streets we passed through and the memories associated with them, no matter where we were or where we travelled years ago.

    Why should Architects Care?

    Capturing life in a city is crucial for architects and urban designers. Because public spaces are the lifeblood of every city, the designer cannot afford to ignore the image they project. Any streetscape design should include not just how to improve the aesthetics of the roadway but also how to make it more sustainable. Because the streets are public property, the users must have a sense of belonging there. 

    As a result, the term streetscape refers to an important urban design element that has the ability to transform a simple road into a bustling hub. When landscaping or renewing a roadway, take in mind the components that contribute to a healthier atmosphere.

    Some of the most Beautiful Streets in the Same World

    There are different types of streets. Take, for example, the bustling Caminito in Buenos Aires’ La Boca district, which serves as both a photo op and a reminder of how the city was developed in the nineteenth century. Streets, on the other hand, do not need to teach you about history or be painted in Technicolor to be charming. Some are known for their beautiful natural features, such as the cherry blossom tunnel in Bonn, Germany, which only appears for a few weeks each spring. The street architecture listed here is some of the world’s most beautiful.

    Moscow, Russia

    streetscape
    Source

    Along with Paris, Tokyo, New York, and London, Moscow is one of the world’s five most lit cities. In Moscow, the number of locations with architectural and aesthetic illumination has doubled in the last nine years, reaching over 2,000. 

    Local and tourists alike frequent five streets in the city centre: Nikolskaya, Bolshaya Dmitrovka, Kuznetsky Most, Stoleshnikov Pereulok, and Kamergersky Pereulok. They were decorated with LED garlands a few years ago that flickered with thousands of lights, providing a joyful mood despite the weather or seasonality. Experts inspect the light fixtures on all five streets every day, repairing what has to be fixed, replacing bulbs, and adjusting the garlands’ geometry.

    Nikolskaya Streetscape is home to the world’s longest LED garland, which spans about 92 kilometres of the starry sky and is practically within grasp. In 2017, the fixture was fitted. Nikolskaya became a mecca for football lovers from all over the world in 2018 when Moscow hosted the World Cup.

    The fans were so taken with the magnificent installations that some of them snatched the LED bulbs as mementos while standing on each other’s shoulders. This, however, had no effect on the joyous mood because utility engineers and electricians quickly replaced the missing parts with new ones maintaining its streetscape architecture.

    Quebec City, Canada

    quebec
    Photo by AD

    Quebec City has a compelling case for being the most gorgeous city in Canada. It’s made much more difficult to defeat by streetscape like Rue du Petit Champlain. Unique boutiques and bistros line this quaint, European-inspired boulevard. During any season of the year, this picture-perfect location is very delightful.

    Recife, Brazil

    recife

    Recife is Brazil’s eastern edge major city, and the lovely Rua do Bom Jesus is located in one of the city’s easternmost areas. The vibrant street architecture is flanked with tall palm palms and is steeped in history. The Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue, erected in the 15th century, was the first synagogue built in the Americas. Visitors can still view the structure.

    Paris, France

    Paris

    Montmartre, in Paris, was home to some of the world’s most famous cultural figures around the turn of the century. Many renowned residents of this once-bohemian area were Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, and Amedeo Modigliani.

    While Montmartre retains its artist community character, fashionable boutiques have crept in, transforming it into one of Paris’ most beautiful neighbourhoods with the prettiest street architecture. The Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Rue des Saules, in particular, are a must-see location. The colourful structures and ivy-covered walls, which can be located right behind the gigantic landmark Sacré-Cur, are a photographer’s delight.

    Águeda, Portugal

    street architecture

    The Umbrella Sky Project in Gueda began in 2011 as part of the annual gitagueda Art Festival in Portugal. When the weather gets hot in the summer, a few of gueda’s small streets have colourful umbrella canopies that provide shade to the pedestrians below and a scenic streetscape.

    Pretoria, South Africa

    south africa
    Photo by AD

    If you’re thinking about visiting South Africa, late September to November is a good time to go. In South Africa, that’s when the wonderfully lovely jacaranda trees blossom. With purple branches draping over the streets, any drive or stroll around Pretoria (which, like Johannesburg, seems to have trees growing out of every corner) is sure to be unforgettable. Fun fact: Although the jacaranda is native to Brazil, the first one was grown in South Africa in the late 1800s.

    Kyoto, Japan

    japan

    Tetsugaku no michi is a 1.2-mile-long street in Kyoto, Japan. The cherry-tree-lined route winds alongside a waterway and past Ginkaku-ji temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tetsugaku no michi is best visited in April, when the road’s overhanging trees are in full bloom.

    York, England

    england

    Shambles, a streetscape in York, England, has been lined with buildings since the 14th century. The lovely timber-framed buildings sway and hang over the cobblestoned roadway below. 

    Cordoba, Spain

    cordoba

    Calleja de las Flores is a short streetscape that leads to a plaza in the Andalusian city of Cordoba. The lovely Spanish street is quite typical of the region with its abundant flowers and white-washed houses.

    Chefchaouen, Morocco

    Morocco

    A small city in northwest Morocco, Chefchaouen, is known for its various tones of blue. The city was founded in 1471 and was formerly used as a fortification for Spanish exiles. Many Jews moved to Chefchaouen over the years, carrying with them the ancient notion that wearing blue dye would remind people of God’s strength. Visitors should take a trip down Al Hassan Onsar, Rue Outiwi, and the narrow stairs leading up and down Rue Bin Souaki for the most realistic experience and a delightful Streetscape architecture view.

    Bonn, Germany

    germany

    The lovely tunnel produced by the trees surrounding Cherry Blossom Avenue in Bonn, Germany, attracts tourists and photographers for two to three weeks each spring. The trees make for a natural streetscape that looks breathtakingly beautiful.

    Lijiang, China

    china

    The 1,000-year-old Old Town in Lijiang, China, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its organised canals and walkways. For some of the more outstanding streetscape views, take a stroll down Qiyi Street Chongron Alley or Wuyi Street Wenzhi Alley.

    Istanbul, Turkey

    istanbul
    Photo by AD

    Balat, a Turkish bohemian village, is known for its tiny, sloped cobblestone lanes, the most famous of which is Kiremit Street architecture. It is surrounded by brightly painted homes and shops, which add to the neighborhood’s appeal. Balat, which was once the Jewish neighbourhood, today houses a mix of churches, mosques, and synagogues, all of which are interspersed among cafés and stores.

    Boston, Massachusetts

    boston

    Beacon Hill would be the most picturesque neighbourhood in Boston if there could only be one. Beacon Hill was founded in 1795 and is known for its steep, narrow alleys lined with classically American Federal–style (and a few Victorian) row buildings. Perhaps because it is a stylish representation of Colonial Boston, Acorn Street is one of the most photographed streetscapes in the city. It’s also only a few minutes’ walk from Boston’s gorgeous Public Garden.

    London, England

    england
    Pinterest

    London’s mile-long Portobello Streetscape was once merely a 19th-century rural path connecting the rich Portobello Farm with Kensal Green in the north and what is now the colourful district of Notting Hill in the south, before becoming one of the world’s most-visited street markets. However, in the second part of the 1800s, the road began to develop in reaction to the sweeping homes that were springing up all around it.

    In Conclusion

    The streets are a constant source of visual conversation, with a wide range of voices vying for our attention. However, the country is defined by all of these many voices. Streetscape components all play an important role in a country’s identity, both historically and in terms of its future vision.

  • Green Urbanism: Magnificent Cities For The Future

    Green Urbanism: Magnificent Cities For The Future

    The depletion of natural energy sources, city overpopulation, increased carbon footprint, physical, and biological pollution, as well as global warming, with all of its effects on the quality of life, are the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century. Large settlements, which are characterised by high population and development densities, will be most impacted in this regard; as a result, urban planners will need to reconsider their form and functions in order to meet the demands of a sustainable urban lifestyle.

    In our day-to-day life activities, a large amount of carbon dioxide is produced and released into the environment. These activities include eating, transportation, burning fuels and also most importantly, through industries. The construction industry has a significant impact. Despite the fact that the topic appears to us to be broad and nearly oblivious, the materials we choose and the manner you operate with them have an impact that we should consider.

    But what exactly do we mean when we talk about sustainable urban living in twenty-first-century cities? As the ultimate goal is to harmonise the interrelationships of the urban ecosystem. Sustainable urban living in the twenty-first century depends on sound urban planning, which gives contemporary urbanism a fresh conceptual perspective. The concept of “green urbanism” emerged in the 1990s and promotes compact, energy-efficient urban development, aims to transform existing city districts and regenerate the post-industrial centre of the city. Green urbanism is a conceptual framework for zero-emission and zero-waste urban design. It encourages the creation of urban areas that are both socially and environmentally sustainable.

    First Thing First, What is Green Urbanism?

    Green Urbanism
    Photographer Unknown

    The planning of public areas, structures, and infrastructure is known as urban design. According to one definition, green urbanism is the process of developing such communities that are healthy for both people and the environment. It is an effort to create environments, communities, and lifestyles that are more sustainable while using fewer resources overall. In order to develop eco-friendly communities that reduce waste and emissions, employ sustainable building materials, and support electrified transportation, green urbanism is a sustainable approach to urban planning. 

    Urban areas may provide the foundation for how environmentally conscious and sustainable city design can benefit the environment at the local, regional, and global levels. In addition to architects and urban designers, green urbanism involves the participation of landscape architects, engineers, urban planners, ecologists, transport planners, physicists, psychologists, sociologists, and other specialists. At every step of the city’s life cycle, green urbanism takes every effort to reduce the use of energy, water, and materials.

    History

    The book “How Green is Your City” can be used to provide a brief overview of the history of green urbanism in the United States. The idea began to take shape gradually in the late 1800s, when some major American towns adopted cutting-edge sanitary, sewage, and drinking water systems. Public parks and open spaces were gradually introduced in New York City. The US government provided its citizens with inexpensive homes post World War II.

    “Los Angeles: A History of the Future”, written by Paul Glover in 1892, is the first book to describe the thorough reconstruction of cities toward harmony with nature. European support for urban sustainability was never far behind.

    Following the Earth Summit in 1992, various concepts have been used to try to lessen urbanization’s negative effects on the environment and achieve sustainable development, including sustaining cities, sustainable urbanism, green cities, eco-towns, eco districts, and eco-cities, resulting in a more tranquil way of life. New technology applications are fundamentally possible in both sustainable and green cities.

    Urbanisation Impact on Environment

    urbanisation
    Photographer Unknown

    Urbanization and its effects on the environment have always gone hand in hand. Developing nations became more concerned about the effects of pollution and inadequate sanitation on public health throughout the 19th century.

    The relationships between cities and ecosystems were divided into three phases by planners. Early urbanisation (3000 BCE – 1800 BCE) features more effective farming methods. Energy consumption, notably the use of fossil fuels, expanded quickly during the second phase of urban industrialization (1800–1950 CE). With fast population increase and economic globalisation, the city-environment interaction has reached its third phase, or global interdependence, since the 1950s. Additionally, the scope of environmental issues spans local, regional, and global levels, with cities increasingly contributing to environmental harm on a worldwide scale.

    The number of people residing in towns and cities has increased dramatically since the 1960s. Due to the physical expansion of metropolitan centres, nearby ecosystems can rapidly become degraded.

    Climate change affecting urban sustainability are impacted in terms of rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns. Carbon dioxide and methane are the main greenhouse gases, and as the effects of climate change become more obvious, their high concentration in the atmosphere leads to a variety of problems, including air pollution and acid rain. Environmental calamities, including cyclones and storms, rising sea levels, unstable land, and shifts in biodiversity could also affect certain other cities. The entire scenario emphasised the urgent necessity to concentrate on re-establishing the urban ecosystem with special attention paid to human settlements.

    Practical Concepts in Green Urbanism

    The most recent approaches to urban planning encourage creative ideas for the growth of cities around the world in the future. These theories are predicated on the idea that a city functions as a complex living organism. Sustainable Action Plans, which serve as a blueprint for sustainability, are becoming commonplace in many cities. Green urbanism has developed from theoretical frameworks to actualized action plans.

    As specialised literature promotes new urban concepts designed for this purpose, such as new urbanism, green urbanism, bio urbanism or organic urbanism, biophilic city, smart city, sustainable city, eco-city, and green city, there is a demand for an applicable method in the planning and management of a city.

    The growing necessity to incorporate sustainability in the field of urban planning gave rise to the idea of new urbanism concepts. By reducing the amount of material and energy used, this is a way to develop urban areas that are healthy for both the environment and the people who live in them. Designing sustainable cities, also known as eco-cities, means taking into account how they will affect the environment. This means reducing waste output, pollution, and the inputs of energy, water, and food. The principles of sustainable urban development are likewise comprised of these objectives.

    practical concept
    Photographer Unknown

    The maintenance of biotic processes in urban contexts and the preservation and increase of biodiversity are all made possible by the green infrastructure, which is a network of connected green spaces and hydrographic features. As a result, it encourages sustainability and an improvement in living quality.

    However, green infrastructure also need support mechanisms in terms of planning, just like all the other comparable urban components. Given that people are biological beings, green infrastructure is both human and environmental friendly.

    Key Factors in Green Cities

    The unique characteristics of green cities have an impact on their morphology and functionality, which in turn account for the distinctions between these communities and the “common” cities. The green spaces are one of the essential elements of urban infrastructures in general and of green cities in particular. By reducing pollution (including noise pollution), conserving water, preventing soil erosion, reducing the impact of bacteria on people and animals by cleaning the air, regulating the urban climate, and enhancing the quality of urban living psychologically, green spaces play a significant multifunctional role in enhancing the living environment.

    Blue-Green Corridors

    As part of the strategic spatial planning of urban environments, the blue-green corridors may be utilised as tools for integrating water surfaces and green spaces with the goal of managing flood risk and preserving the richness of fauna and flora. In order to safeguard the natural environment, many cities have green belts erected around them. They are also intended to ensure more spaces for leisure and recreation, limit their unchecked growth, and preserve the priceless historic landscapes.

    Urban Forest

    The urban forest is yet another crucial element of the green city. In general, it depicts the numerous types of tree vegetation that can be found in or around cities, from lone trees in private gardens to street-lining trees, from tiny groups of trees around homes to parklands and the last remaining pieces of natural forests. Apart from urban forests, which are often totally regulated by the government, urban agriculture is another eco-friendly, beneficial practise that has evolved in contemporary cities.

    Vernacular Construction

    Returning to traditional building methods, techniques, and materials is a more modern trend. The resulting structures, however, would be more at home in the suburbs than in the actual metropolis. An innovative system for assessing home customs that integrates energy efficiency with cultural and aesthetic principles. From the perspectives of building technology, energy consumption, moisture content, earthquake resilience, and durability, these structures are environmentally friendly.

    Eco-Friendly Walkways

    Eco-friendly sidewalks are a good alternative to concrete pavements since they have less of an impact on the trees and their root systems because they are more flexible. The modular paving technique for rubber sidewalks allows water to seep into the ground. Additionally, these walkways benefit from recycling used tyres. Natural stones (granite, limestone, basalt, cobblestones, etc.), which are more resistant to freezing and high pressures than concrete and asphalt, are used in another ecological improvement concept.

    Eco-Friendly Cities

    The growth of green urbanism and green city ideas has made it important to assess the green urbanism to major cities, which are struggling with critical issues relating to environmental quality and, indirectly, lifestyle quality. Cities all across the world are making dedicated efforts to lessen the production of carbon emissions. Three interconnected pillars support green urbanism: energy and materials, water and biodiversity, and urban design and mobility. Electric public transit, energy-efficient construction, and renewable energy sources are some of the essential components of ecologically friendly city planning. These include electrified public transportation for a net-zero future and intelligent public lighting.

    Copenhagen: The World’s First Carbon-Neutral Capital

    Denmark has rapidly developed into a humming metropolis of green energy and environmentally beneficial initiatives. By 2025, Copenhagen plans to become the first carbon-neutral capital in the world. Although most cities intend to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2050, Copenhagen is setting an example for other cities to follow by demonstrating how simple it is to go green without going bankrupt. The city is aiming to provide nonstop, all-electric public transportation in an effort to get more people to use it rather than drive their own cars. Copenhagen has 62 wind turbines with a combined output of up to 158 megawatts in order to significantly reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

    Singapore: City in a Garden

    Singapore has demonstrated to the rest of the world how green urbanism is possible in a densely populated city. The city is recognised for its capacity to infuse urban settings with greenery and wildlife. Singapore’s current motto, “Singapore – City in a Garden,” emphasises that the city places a high value on its natural surroundings. The city features a vast 180 kilometre park system with pathways and walks winding through parks, gardens, and other outdoor areas all around the city. With the help of its Skyrise Greenery project, which finances the construction of roof and vertical gardens, the city has strengthened its green urban framework.

    The use of renewable energy has increased all around the city. The city also boasts a model recycling programme, with practically all construction waste recovered and waste stream extraction reducing the amount of waste that ultimately ends up in landfills. Most of the city’s rain and storm water is collected and put to use. Singapore also boasts a highly regarded public transportation system, with most of it moving faster than traffic on important thoroughfares.

    singapore
    Photographer Unknown

    Conclusion

    Large cities are becoming increasingly crowded and urbanised, making it harder to control phenomena like chemical and biological pollution as well as the ongoing rise in building density and garbage production. According to current understanding, the green city concept unifies all theoretical aspects of future cities into one workable plan. In addition to the standard urban elements, the green city contains unique characteristics, such as areas that produce green and blue oxygen, landscaped and environmentally friendly buildings, eco-friendly cars, green energy, and sustainable waste management systems.

    The oxygenation and purification of urban air, the preservation and even expansion of biodiversity through fostering semi-natural habitats, and other advantages are just a few of the key advantages of green cities. If effectively maintained, green infrastructures could develop into popular tourist destinations, boosting the local economies. The main finding is that self-sustaining cities of the future can be ensured by green (infra) constructions.

  • Public Transportation System: Solution for the Urban Development in Ahemadabad

    Public Transportation System: Solution for the Urban Development in Ahemadabad

    Background

    Ahmedabad was founded in the 15th century and is the largest city in the state of Gujarat. It is located in the strategic Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), which offers great potential for investment, industrialization, and urban development. The Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) was established in 1947 as one of the first urban transport organizations in the country. In 2005, the AMTS bus fleet had been reduced to 521 buses and the daily number of passengers had been reduced to 390,000 and the total share of the public transportation system in Ahmedabad was 15%.

    The city is a vibrant business district and an emerging center for education, information technology, and the scientific industry. According to the 2011 census, it has 5.5 million inhabitants in the municipal limits and 6.3 million in the urban agglomeration.

    Public transportation system
    Revised Draft Development Plan: Ahemdabad Urban Development Plan

    With the decline in the number of public transportation passengers, the city experienced rapid growth in ownership of private vehicles, particularly two-wheelers. Rising gross domestic product (GDP), coupled with rapidly increasing vehicle ownership, prompted city authorities to explore ways to reverse the decline in the modal share of transit-oriented development in Ahmedabad.

    Given the growing dissatisfaction among commuters due to the low level of service and lack of comfort on AMTS buses, the authorities have introduced a high-quality transit-oriented development in Ahmedabad; as Janmarg BRTS; as part of the JnNURM program in 2005. The goal of BRTS was to create spaces on the streets for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vendors, and manage street parking.

    Janmarg- Bus Rapid Transit System

    Public Transport Proposal
    Public Transport Proposal

    The BRTS system in transit-oriented development in Ahmedabad is called Janmarg and is operated by Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL), a subsidiary of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The project was initially carried out in 2 phases and the execution of the third phase was subsequently approved in 2013.

    Phase 1 passed ran over a distance of 12.5 km, opened to the public in 2009. The second phase had to be completed in 2010 and covers 84 km with an additional 4 km of elevated corridors, but was not completed until 2014. The third phase is currently underway. Constant efforts have been made by Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd. to update the system and make it more efficient.

    BRTS and MRTS Corridor
    BRTS and MRTS Corridor

    AJL uses smart cards for tickets and the intelligent transport system; to improve customer convenience, speed, reliability, and security of the bus system. It is widely used in the areas of operational control, electronic fare registration, real-time passenger information systems, and traffic management (Center of Excellence in Urban Transportation, 2010) in the BRTS system. BRTS is designed to connect recreation zones, education zones, and other important areas along the corridors.

    The BRT network has also triggered the redevelopment of these areas with more built-up areas next to the corridors. The BRTS corridor impacts the city’s land use and housing policy, particularly in the context of the Development Plan. A new residential area with an emphasis on affordable housing has been proposed along the Sardar Patel bypass road.

    Components of Transit-oriented Development in Ahmedabad

    Public Transportation System

    Ahmedabad’s practice of local zoning through town planning has resulted in a fairly dense road network throughout the city.

    Connectivity and Network Density

    Increase the width of the traffic-oriented zone to 400 m on each side of the BRT corridors and a 400 m radius around the metro stations to reflect this 5-minute walk to these public transports. This will allow more of the expected growth to occur in proximity to existing S-Bahn lines.

    TOZ Area Planning Distribution
    TOZ Area Planning Distribution

    Off street and on street parking

    Minimum parking requirements should be significantly lowered for all land uses in all traffic-oriented zones, not just commercial land uses along BRT corridors, in order to promote the use of public transportation. This provision will reduce urban development costs in transit areas.

    Detached parking lots, if created, should be located outside the 400m pedestrian buffer zone of public transport stops to reduce congestion and facilitate pedestrian access in these areas. Such off-street parking should be financed through private investment rather than government funding. The only exception to this rule is the creation of bicycle parking spaces within the transit zone. The total parking space in each area on the street, as well as off the street, should be limited to the carrying capacity of the street network.

    Factors of Public Transportation System

    Land use

    Integrated Landuse with Mass Transit
    Integrated Landuse with Mass Transit

    The core of the Ahmedabad metropolitan area is dominated by commercial areas, mixed land use, and large residential areas along the periphery. In the immediate vicinity of the residential areas within the boundary of the city administration, there are several properties under the industrial area.

    This urban settlement structure and workplace location have triggered a traffic pattern with regular movements in both directions, from the periphery to the city center and vice versa, throughout the day. Land use along the BRTS corridor has changed over time. The increase in a built-up area and urban skyline can be clearly seen along the BRTS corridor, as more “ground + 5” structures were built.

    Housing

    Approximately 13.5% of the total population of AMC lives in the slums of Ahmedabad. Although the number of slums decreased by 40% in 2014 compared to 2011 around 0.16 million households still live in the 961 slums of the city. In order to remedy this situation, AMC & AUDA have proposed the construction of affordable homes with an average constructed area of ​​between 30 and 60 m².

    AMC expanded the city limits due to land limitations and proposed resettlement areas along the periphery of the city. These areas were the zones of reception for urban development programs. The BRT has expanded the connection to these areas on the outskirts of the city, thus offering residents affordable means of transportation. In the future, integrating the transport network with these residential clusters is one of the fundamental goals of the development plan of Ahmedabad for 2021.

    Density

    Identified special zones along the BRTS and proposed metro corridors will have higher allowable FSIs. The different FSI in the city ranges from the highest value of 5.4 in CDB, 4.0 in transit corridors, and 1.8 (with FSI based on fares up to 2.25) in other parts of the city. It is proposed to implement a 4.0 FSI on a 41 km long route within TOZ.

    Diversity

    The distribution of land use within the impact zone remained flexible and is characterized by mixed uses. However, it is imperative that the areas marked under the zone of influence do not have separate land uses and unidirectional zones.

    Conclusion

    Schematic View near MRT station
    Schematic View near MRT station

    Before BRTS, AMTS had 7,500 passengers per day entering and exiting the corridor, which increased to 17,500 passengers per day in the first week of BRTS operations by adding 10,000 passengers per day (Center of Excellence in Urban Transportation, 2009). However, the ability of BRTS to bring about a radical shift from private to transit-oriented development is not yet evident. So far there has been a shift of around 8% to the public transportation system, mainly from two-wheelers. User experience suggests that the BRT system has not yet reached the outskirts and inner areas of the city.

    Currently, commuters in the city from outside the city limits can only use the BRT at certain stops in the BRT corridors. This has caused people to use private transportation, such as motorcycles and scooters, to enter the BRT corridors. The BRT system has yet to improve full traffic integration to provide end-to-end connectivity between work and home/origin. In addition, the proposal to expand the BRT to the eastern part of the city represents a challenge for the city authorities to ease and cope with the existing high density in the area.

  • Exclusive Projects of Saudi Arabia 

    Exclusive Projects of Saudi Arabia 

    An increase of bold megaprojects has already started transforming the kingdom’s urban landscape as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a hub of international design and architectural innovations. Saudi Arabia has been utilizing cutting-edge design and imaginative architecture to usher in a new era of progress and innovation, from futuristic AI-powered zero-gravity cities to monumental cultural centers, luxurious retreats amidst ancient archeological heritage sites, and expansive transportation systems.

    Under the regime of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, there are various projects led by world-renowned architectural firms in the country. Some of the known discussed projects are The Line, Neom, AIUIa and many more. Let us look at the details of some of these projects which costs billions of dollars to be in physical forms. 

    The Line- Saudi Arabia

    THE LINE is a ground-breaking vertical city concept that would house a car-free, linear urban development of 100% sustainable energy as part of the massive NEOM development. The city, which is barely 200 meters wide and 170 kilometers long, is being built in the north-western Tabuk region of the kingdom. It has a distinctive mirrored exterior.

    THE LINE will have a total capacity of 9 million people and be constructed on a 34 square kilometer area. This will result in a smaller infrastructure footprint and hitherto unheard-of efficiencies in city operations. Residents will be able to take advantage of the nearby natural beauty thanks to the optimum environment all year round. In addition to high-speed rail, which takes 20 minutes to travel from point A to point B, residents will have access to all daily necessities within a five-minute walk of their homes.

    Saudi Arabia
    Image Source

    This initiative, which strives to maintain natural landscapes, prioritizes walkability, sustainability, and technological integration in order to reduce infrastructure and establish communities that are focused on people’s well-being. Although one-fifth of NEOM’s infrastructure is already under construction, THE LINE is expected to be finished as soon as 2030.  

    AIUIa

    AIUIA, the heritage site is indeed a well-liked tourist destination with its intact tombs and sandstone outcrops. It will add to its tour destination with nine new hotels, including a boutique resort at Hegra, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

    Exclusive Projects of Saudi Arabia  An increase of bold megaprojects has already started transforming the kingdom's urban landscape as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a hub of international design and architectural innovations. Saudi Arabia has been utilizing cutting-edge design and imaginative architecture to usher in a new era of progress and innovation, from futuristic AI-powered zero-gravity cities to monumental cultural centers, luxurious retreats amidst ancient archeological heritage sites, and expansive transportation systems.
    Image Source
    AlUla
    Image Source

    However, it is expected that AlUla is anticipated to boost Saudi Arabia’s economy by roughly 120 billion riyals ($32 billion). According to the Royal Commission for AlUla, the region’s population will triple to 130,000 by 2035, adding around 38,000 new jobs.

    King Salman Park

    King Salman Park
    Image Source

    The new King Salman Park, the world’s largest urban park, was designed as a new green hub for Riyadh and spans 13.3 square kilometers (5 square miles) on the former site of the city’s airport. This unique urban environment includes a range of recreational, cultural, ecological, and sporting attractions.

    Omrania was chosen as the park’s primary design consultant after winning a competitive, limited international competition. The master plan proposes for brand-new mixed-use constructions to be built all around the main public open spaces, combining to create a vibrant and sustainable urban zone that represents the aspirations of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

    Omrania
    Image Source

    Omrania’s master planning and design concept, developed in conjunction with Henning Larsen, encourages the development of vibrant urban environments that constantly respond to the regional climate and culture.

    Walking and cycling are made possible year-round via a thermal comfort plan and climate-responsive urban architecture. The park’s terrain has the shape of a collection of branching “wadi” (dry riverbed) valleys that converge toward the site’s center. The park will take on a vibrant urban character thanks to well-placed cultural facilities and areas for family gatherings.

    Trojena

    A popular tourist destination in the mountains of Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk governorate is called Trojena. There will be year-round skiing, health and wellness retreats, shopping, dining, chalets, villas, and ultra-luxury hotels, among other things. Trojena, which is divided into six themed development areas, will provide year-round customized experiences centered around ecotourism principles, technology, and innovation in keeping with Saudi Arabia’s vision to protect its natural environment.

    Trojena
    Image Source

    With an area of about 60 square kilometers and a location 50 kilometers from the Gulf of Aqaba, Trojena enjoys a favorable location with elevations between 1,500 and 1,600 meters and winter temperatures below zero. The construction of Trojena is expected to be completed in 2026 and it will host the Asian Winter Games in 2029. 

    Oxagon: An Industrial Park 

    Industrial Park 
    Image Source

    As a part of Neom development, Oxagon is set to be port and logisctics hub making the world’s largest floating structure. Oxagon will be the port city in the Red Sea. The city is being served as a port and hub, an area powered by renewable energy that is a component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

    Oxagon
    Image Source

    The layout of the floating city, Oxagon will revolve around squares bordered by water and connected by narrow canals. A cruise terminal and an oceanic research facility will also be located there.

    Sindalah

    Sindalah
    Image Source

    Sindalah, an island as a part of Neom Development, marks the true meaning of luxury and exotic living. The island will set an exceptional experience for yachting, golf courses, allure restaurants, and luxury retailing, which the place is known for.

    The island is all set to have three luxury hotels with ultra-premium rooms and high-end rooms to give the tourists an exotic experience while in the Sindalah. 

    These various projects are worth billions and will be set open in the year 2024, to give the visitor an embarking experience and memories. The architecture sets an example for future infrastructure development with futuristic technology. The futuristic technologies are indeed enhancing the infrastructure and design of the present. 

  • Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact

    Introduction

    In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes’ transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger’s dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa’s groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis’ conceptualization of “ekistics,” each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let’s explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.

    Patrick Geddes- Planning Visionary

    planning
    01_Patrick Geddes

    Established by Patrick Geddes in 1925, the Geddes Plan for Tel Aviv is a noteworthy urban planning scheme that established the groundwork for the city’s growth. This planning primarily concerned an area in Tel Aviv known as the “Old North,” which is currently bounded by Ibn Gabirol Street to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

    Patrick Geddes had a distinct plan for his city.

    Known for his contributions to Palestine—especially his partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem—Geddes put forth a creative idea for an urban planning project.

    Building a “conurbation,” or cohesive grouping of towns, cities, and villages that blended contemporary and traditional elements to create a well-balanced urban framework, was his aim.

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes' transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger's dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa's groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis' conceptualization of "ekistics," each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let's explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.
    02_Sir Patrick Geddes_©www.telegraphindia.com

    ​Geddes firmly believed that such spaces were not only important for the well-being of the residents but also more cost-effective to build and maintain than streets.

    Geddes’ planning for Tel Aviv aimed to ensure the coexistence of various architectural styles and structures, favouring freestanding buildings that could be developed incrementally.

    While the basic framework of Geddes’ planning remained intact, it underwent significant modifications before receiving official approval in 1938.

    In retrospect, areas of Tel Aviv that adhered to Geddes’ principles of freestanding buildings and gradual development have shaped the city’s present-day landscape, characterized by detached medium-sized buildings surrounded by green spaces.

    Otto H. Königsberger

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes' transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger's dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa's groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis' conceptualization of "ekistics," each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let's explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.
    03_Ottokoeningsberger_©transnationalarchitecture.group

    Otto H. Königsberger, a prominent German architect and urban development planner, made significant contributions to urban development in Africa, Asia, and Latin America during his career with the United Nations.

    Born in Berlin in 1908, Königsberger pursued his architectural education at the Technical University of Berlin, earning his degree in 1931. However, the rise of the Nazi Party compelled him to leave Germany, along with his uncle, renowned physicist Max Born. Königsberger later collaborated with Born on the illustration of “The Restless Universe,” a popular physics text published in 1935.

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes' transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger's dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa's groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis' conceptualization of "ekistics," each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let's explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.
    04_Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, housing minister Otto Königsberger, health minister Amrit Kaur_©thewire.in

    Notably, it was through Max Born’s connection with C. V. Raman that Königsberger found his way to India, where he was appointed as the chief architect and planner for Mysore State in 1939. His noteworthy architectural endeavors during this period included projects like the Indian Institute of Science, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the bus station, the Serum Institute, and Victory Hall (later renamed Town Hall) in Bangalore. He also contributed to the town planning of Bhubaneswar and Jamshedpur, following the visionary lead of J. R. D. Tata. After India gained independence, Königsberger assumed the role of director of housing for the Indian Ministry of Health from 1948 to 1951, focusing on resettling those displaced by partition.

    In 1953, Königsberger relocated to London, where he assumed the position of head of the Department of Development and Tropical Studies at the Architectural Association. This department would later evolve into the Development Planning Unit of University College, London. Königsberger served as a professor in this institution until his retirement in 1978.

    Königsberger was a firm advocate of adaptable urban planning for developing regions, emphasizing the involvement of local communities and the incorporation of local techniques. He rejected the notion of imposing rigid, Western-inspired master plans on these areas, favoring a more flexible approach he referred to as “Action Planning.” He played a pivotal role as a senior adviser to the United Nations Economic and Social Council from the 1950s and was instrumental in the establishment of Habitat International in 1976, which he also edited until 1978.

    Lucio Costa

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes' transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger's dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa's groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis' conceptualization of "ekistics," each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let's explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.
    05_Lucio Costa with Oscar Niemeyer_©architectuul.com

    Lúcio Costa, born Lúcio Marçal Ferreira Ribeiro Lima Costa on February 27, 1902, in Toulon, France, and passing away on June 13, 1998, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a celebrated Brazilian architect and urban planner best recognized for his outstanding contribution to the design of Brasília. Despite being of Brazilian descent, he spent his formative years in England and Switzerland before graduating as an architect from the National School of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro in 1924.

    Costa’s career trajectory saw an evolution from an eclectic architectural style to the adoption of Modernism in 1929. In 1930, he entered into a partnership with Gregori Warchavchik, a Russian-born Brazilian architect, and later assumed the role of Director of the National School of Fine Arts. His authoritative administration there faced opposition, leading to his eventual resignation. Some of his notable works include the Brazilian pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the Parque Guinle residential complex in Rio de Janeiro (1948), and the Pilot Plan of Brasília (1957), a groundbreaking project.

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes' transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger's dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa's groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis' conceptualization of "ekistics," each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let's explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.
    06_Lucio Costa_©Acervo Casa da Arquitectura

    Costa’s most iconic achievement is undoubtedly his urban planning for Brasília, chosen through an international competition in 1957. The city’s layout, called the “Plano Piloto,” forms an irregular cross shape, resembling an airplane or dragonfly. The city’s construction started in 1956, and it was inaugurated on April 21, 1960, becoming one of the most prominent examples of Modernism in urban planning.

    Brasília, though named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, has faced criticisms for its windswept, anti-pedestrian layout and insufficient street lighting.

    Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes' transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger's dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa's groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis' conceptualization of "ekistics," each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let's explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.
    07_Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis, 1913-1975_©arquitecturaviva.com

    Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis, often referred to as C. A. Doxiadis, was a notable Greek architect and urban planner, born on May 14, 1913, in Stanimaka, Bulgaria, and passed away on June 28, 1975, in Athens, Greece. He gained recognition as the lead architect and planner for Islamabad, Pakistan’s new capital city, in the 1960s.

    The term “ekistics,” coined by Doxiadis in 1942, emerged in response to the growing complexity of human settlements, which were evolving into large regional conglomerations and even global cities.

    Visionary Urban Planning: Notable Planners and Their Dynamic Impact In the realm of urban planning and architectural innovation, the legacies of Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis stand as testaments to their influential contributions. From Geddes' transformative urban planning for Tel Aviv to Königsberger's dynamic work in India and beyond, from Costa's groundbreaking design of Brasília to Doxiadis' conceptualization of "ekistics," each architect has left an indelible mark on the field. Let's explore a concise overview of their backgrounds.
    08_Doxiadis presenting his first ideas on the Master Plan of Islamabad_©www.greeknewsagenda.gr

    Doxiadis also introduced the concept of “entopia,” derived from the Greek words “έν” (meaning “in”) and “τόπος” (meaning “place”).

    In the 1960s and 1970s, Doxiadis was highly influential, addressing the U.S. After winning contracts during the Greek Junta, he was criticized by competitors and accused of being associated with the regime. His ambitious plans for Athens, such as an airport on the nearby Makronissos island, a bridge, a rail link, and a port at Lavrion, remained unrealized.

    The Delos Symposium was discontinued, and the World Society of Ekistics, which he founded, faded into obscurity.

    Conclusion

    The narratives of these innovative architects—Patrick Geddes, Otto H. Königsberger, Lúcio Costa, and Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis—intertwine, creating a mosaic of creativity, resilience, and enduring influence. Their steadfast dedication to rejuvenating urban spaces, embracing the unique flavors of each region, and fostering sustainable growth is beautifully evident in the cities and ideas they carefully crafted.

  • The Important Role of Architect in Slum Re-Development: Transforming Communities through Design

    The Important Role of Architect in Slum Re-Development: Transforming Communities through Design

    A group of people who have been granted the chance to reside in a city that is now experiencing a considerable amount of population increase are referred to as “slum” dwellers. The term “slum” refers to a group of people who live in an area where there is a significant amount of poverty. The essential infrastructure, such access to sanitary facilities, drinkable water, and acceptable housing, is typically lacking in these illegal settlements.

    Architects are essential to the reconstruction of slums in the aim of sustainable urban development, helping to create surroundings that are hospitable, inclusive, and dignified for residents. Their perspective is crucial for addressing the challenging issues involved in transforming these slum regions into thriving, livable communities. Their expertise in planning, design, and community engagement is essential for improving these disadvantaged communities.

    The complex role that architects play in the redevelopment of slums is examined in this article, with an emphasis on important projects and implementation strategies that can produce enduring change.

    Understanding the Context

    An architect working on the rehabilitation of a slum must first have a solid understanding of the unique challenges the community they are working with is facing. Research on the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to the growth and persistence of slums is required in order to achieve this.

    By talking to the people, conducting in-depth research, surveys, and interviews, working with sociologists, and getting input from urban planners, we may learn more about their wants, objectives, and problems on a daily basis. This knowledge forms the basis for developing solutions that truly meet the particular demands of the community.

    Planning and Design

    The planning and design stage can start once architects have a thorough understanding of the setting of the slum. The essential actions in this stage include the following:

    Infrastructure Planning

    Infrastructure Planning: Slum Re-Development
    Photographer Unknown

    The current infrastructure, which includes the sewage and water supply systems as well as the transportation network, is assessed by architects for its deficiencies. To address these issues, they formulate thorough strategies that take into account long-term solutions.

    Housing Design

    Architects develop creative, affordable housing plans that improve living conditions while making the best use of available space. Designs should allow for personalization and flexibility within the dwellings while taking into account the cultural and social dynamics of the neighbourhood.

    Community Spaces

    One of the main responsibilities of architects is to design public areas that promote social interaction, expand inclusivity, and enhance quality of life. These places include, among others, parks, community centres, schools, and hospitals. 

    Community Spaces
    Photographer Unknown

    Designing Livable Spaces

    The main difficulty for architects is to design living environments that meet not just the physical needs of residents but also their emotional, social, and psychological ones. They must consider factors like adequate ventilation, lighting, and space optimisation in order to increase quality of life. Additionally, architects should place a high premium on creating green spaces, community amenities, and multipurpose structures that promote social interaction and allow locals the ability to organise.

    Sustainable Approaches

    Sustainable Approaches
    Photographer Unknown

    The redevelopment of slums must be sustainable. By utilising eco-friendly design methods, architects may reduce their negative effects on the environment, improve energy efficiency, and construct infrastructure that will last longer. A primary goal for architects is the use of sustainable practises, such as eco-friendly building materials, energy-efficient designs, and renewable energy sources. By utilising environmentally friendly resources, such as renewable energy sources, rainwater harvesting systems, and sustainable building materials, the rebuilding project’s long-term profitability can be boosted. These initiatives decrease their detrimental effects on the environment and ensure the long-term viability of the areas that have undergone development.

    Inclusive Planning and Participation

    It is important to involve the slum dwellers in the development process. During the planning and design stages, architects ought to strongly promote community participation. This may be accomplished using workshops, consultations, and collaborative design techniques, which would guarantee that the solutions produced are driven by the needs and aspirations of the community.

    Implementation Schemes

    Architects are essential to ensuring that slum redevelopment plans are carried out. To ensure the efficient execution of the design concepts, this calls for collaboration and coordination with a variety of partners, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and contractors. In order to protect slum dwellers’ rights and give them access to essential services, architects should be proactive in advocating for legislative amendments and infrastructure improvements. Among the implementation strategies are:

    Collaboration with Authorities

    In order to traverse legal and regulatory frameworks and ensure adherence to zoning laws and building codes, architects collaborate closely with local governments. Additionally, they aid in obtaining the required licences and approvals for the rehabilitation project.

    Community Engagement

    Community Engagement
    Photographer Unknown

    In order to give slum residents a voice in design and decision-making, architects have extended conversations with them. This participatory method generates a sense of ownership, ensuring that the rehabilitation project is in line with the community’s expectations, and establishes a durable social fabric.

    Skill Development and Employment

    To offer skill development programmes for slum dwellers, architects can work with nonprofit organisations and vocational training facilities. By empowering the neighbourhood with construction-related skills, this creates employment prospects both during and after the redevelopment phase.

    Skill Development and Employment
    Photographer Unknown

    Phased Approach

    Slum redevelopment often calls for a staged approach because transferring the entire neighbourhood at once would not be feasible. A seamless transition is ensured while fewer interruptions to the people’s daily lives thanks to the engagement of architects in the design and implementation stages of the rebuilding process.

    Monitoring and Evaluation of the Slums

    Architects must continue to evaluate the effects of their solutions after a slum is completely redeveloped. This comprises assessing the effectiveness of the design solutions, locating any defects, and making any necessary adjustments to the strategy. Regular community participation ensures that the redevelopment will continue to be sensitive to the community’s evolving needs and makes it easier to identify areas for improvement.

    Conclusion

    In order to solve the numerous social, economic, and environmental problems that these marginalised people face, architects play a crucial role in the reconstruction of slums. They go beyond design and construction. Architects may empower slum inhabitants and give them the possibilities for a better quality of life through comprehending the context, conducting extensive research, sympathetic design, including planning with sustainable techniques in mind, and interacting with stakeholders.

    Through cooperation and community empowerment, they create the path for holistic and sustainable urban development that enhances the lives of slum dwellers, promotes social cohesion, and provides the foundation for a better future. Architects have the power to greatly enhance the lives of millions of people who reside in these disadvantaged areas by embracing their responsibilities as advocates and change makers.

  • Landscape Urbanism: A Fresh, New and Greener Approach

    Landscape Urbanism: A Fresh, New and Greener Approach

    Landscape urbanism is a concept of urban planning along with the landscape. It is the planning of cities, towns, or other urban areas not through infrastructure or built form but with the art of landscape. The term ‘landscape urbanism’ was first coined in the 1990s and since then it is evolving according to techniques and modern approaches.

    According to Sarah Kathleen Peck, she states, ‘Landscape urbanism is a mode of thinking about the design and functioning of cities that places landscape architecture as one of the first steps in urban development, rather than the last.’

    History of Landscape Urbanism

    The word landscape urbanism came into existence by Peter Connolly when he was exploring the field of landscape architecture, urban planning together with architecture in late 1980s, to reach new boundaries.

    Landscape Architecture

    Landscape architecture in the 1960s was based on designing public or private gardens and was considered the last step of architecture planning. But with the emergence of botanists, urban planners, and landscape planners, and their collaboration to create a bridge between urban planning and landscape to manage cities. These principles were mainly derived by Ian McHarg, Peter Connolly, and Charles Waldheim.

    Industrialization was the era in which planning and construction were at their worst phase i.e the dark age. Due to the rush of migrants from rural to urban, the planners realized that only construction of roads and buildings were not an effective way to develop a city where one can raise a family, this thought led to the initialization of new urbanism that is around ecology.

    Importance of Landscape Urbanism

    This concept of landscape urbanism inhibits not only the planning of the city but also works on technical management like water management, infrastructure, and biodiversity and moves a step towards sustainability.

    Landscape as Urbanism – A general theory a book by Charles Waldheim the author presents a clear picture on how to rethink and develop cities in collaboration with the landscape. Landscape as Urbanism examines works from around the world by designers ranging from Ludwig Hilberseimer, Andrea Branzi, and Frank Lloyd Wright to James Corner, Adriaan Geuze, and Michael Van Valkenburgh.

    Landscape urbanism

    Through various chapters, he tries to explain how the landscape has evolved from the renaissance to industrial cities and later to the early 20s with urban planning, and how the landscape plays a vital role to maintain the social and cultural order of the contemporary city.

    Important Ideas

    Some important ideas by James Corner in Terra Fluxus for the process of designing

    According to him, Landscape urbanism is the dissolution of two words, ‘landscape’ and ‘urbanism’. With this, he derived four themes-processes over time, the staging of surfaces, the operational or working method, and the imaginary.

    Process Over Time

    Which states that our life and future should grow considering the ecology and environment, therefore one should respect the surroundings while urban planning.

    Staging of Surface

    While city planning is due to a lack of horizontal space, the development is done vertically. But according to this theme, horizontal alignment should be considered rather than depending on vertical alignment.

    Working Method

    While designing an architect should adopt new technologies of the environment and move accordingly.

    Imaginary

    Limiting the new construction of traditional urban infrastructure and developing according to social and geographic conditions and opening scope for new imagination.

    Genesis

    Frank Lloyd Wright’s – Broadacre plan

    Frank Lloyd Wright's - Broadacre plan

    Urban Landscape Architecture

    Every city once was a swamp filled with landfills or nooks or corners which are unplanned. These parts of the city need to be planned and not just with infrastructure but with beautiful elements which can enhance and add value to the urban public space. Urban landscape planning is taking a piece of land big or small, corner or centre analyzing, evaluating it to make the place interesting and useful.

    Process for Planning

    • Assessment of the issues
    • Site survey
    • Site analysis
    • Plot plan
    • Site plan
    • Structure and utility blueprints

    Elements of Landscape Urbanism

    Today urban planning aims to develop cities in collaboration with natural surroundings. This is the requirement of the hour in the time of global change. Urban landscapes must be designed to meet the needs of today and the growth of tomorrow.

    Safety and transportation

    • Streets and sidewalks
    • Parking lots
    • Signs
    • Transportation infrastructure
    Transportation infrastructure

    Public Spaces

    • Site Amenities
    • Parking
    • Restrooms

    Cultural preservation

    • Public artwork
    • Historical monuments
    • Local colleges and universities

    Residential Living

    • Noise and safety
    • Commute
    • Proximity

    How to Merge Landscape and Urbanism

    Vegetation – Plantation and tall trees help to slow down stormwater and increase the groundwater, this, in turn, will prevent surface water runoff to drains where industrial pollutants are present which can be harmful to the cities growth. Also, the groundwater increase will help to provide effective water for usage for citizens. Tall trees will also provide shade in public areas and streets. The shade will therefore cool down the region both outside and inside creating a comfortable environment.

    Green belts- Green belts refer to preserved wildlife corridors, streams, parks, wetlands, coastal dunes, and other natural spaces in a city. This helps to preserve wildlife and create a safe way between wildlife and city dwellers. By preserving this wildlife and insects, urban landscaping can ensure that honeybees, birds, and other species continue to bring calmness to city dwellers.

    Park Pockets- after the covid times, planners need to ensure to create spaces with pockets for playing and breathing clean and purified air to stay fit. Small pockets and also individual gardens should become a necessity for better urban planning.

    Landscape and Urbanism
    Source

    Benefits of Urban Landscape

    Environmental benefits

    Climate Change

    Social Integration

    Physical and mental health

    Food security

    Historic Urban Landscape Project

    • This project is started jointly by UNESCO, Government of India and Madhya Pradesh to conserve the historical and cultural values. It is being initiated in the cities like Orcha and Gwalior.
    • These two cities were added in the list of UNESCOs world heritage cities under its urban landscape city programme in December 2020.
    • The expected changes under this project for Gwalior will be chemical treatment of Mansingh Palace, Gujri Mahal, Sahasrabahu temple and other heritage structures

    Bill and Melinda Foundation Campus

    Bill and Melinda foundation campus converted a 12-acre parking lot in Seattle into an ecological and social interaction hub. The foundation’s requirement was to help all lead healthy, productive lives. This project was designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Landscape Architecture. Over the years. The industrial activities contaminated the site with chemicals which led to the isolated site.

    The transformation was done to the streets which developed into furnished sidewalks with amenities and elements. Inside, there is a space for global meetups and a passage. The center has a tree-covered plaza and the local ground has meadow-like drifts of grass. Rainwater harvesting is also present to make the landscape more green

    Bill and Melinda Foundation Campus
    Bill and Melinda Foundation Campus
    Source

    Place Making

    Placemaking is a multi-disciplinary process that uses an urban planning approach to plan and design public places with the aim to promote people’s health and well-being. This can be a private, government, or community initiative to utilize urban spaces and bring them to the maximum benefit of the citizens.

    Place making
    Photo by Gunnar Ridderström on Unsplash
    Place making

    75 Hours- Placemaking Marathon

    Placemaking marathon is an initiative under the Smart Cities Mission which promotes cities to develop one or more public spaces within 75 hours.

    The three key principles for making a placemaking project impactful are:

    Light, quick, and cheap transformation– while keeping citizens at the heart

    Build for the citizens and by the citizens to co-create a brave and bigger future together

    Anchor with events that educate citizens and celebrate our public spaces.

    Pahari Bus Stand at Chetak Circle, Udaipur

    The street chosen for placemaking as it plays an important role in connecting many important landmarks, the site acts as an unauthorized parking space.

    • The major development which happened is the planning of dedicated zones for street vendors and parking.
    • For pedestrian safety traffic calming elements were introduced
    • For social interaction , interactive zones are created.
    Pahari Bus Stand at Chetak Circle, Udaipur
    Before
    Pahari Bus Stand at Chetak Circle, Udaipur
    After

    Conclusion

    Similarly, many other projects are started by the government for effective urban development, the most famous is the smart city initiative which is in process in many cities. With a smart city mission aiming for a digitally forward city simultaneously working towards a greener world.

  • Designing Walkable Cities that Thrive: Best Pedestrian-Friendly Urban Design Strategies

    Designing Walkable Cities that Thrive: Best Pedestrian-Friendly Urban Design Strategies

    Introduction

    In the present-day world of urbanization, the position of metropolis design in shaping the lives of its residents cannot be overlooked. Walkable cities with walking play an important role in urban dеsign bеcausе it improves thе quality of life, rеducеs traffic congеstion, and incrеasеs thе ovеrall opеnnеss of sociеty. Bеing part of a pеdеstrian-friеndly city rеquirеs that thеy dеvеlop a comprеhеnsivе plan that focusеs on pеdеstrians and fully rеcognizеs thеir nееds, safеty and comfort. 

    Pedestrian-Friendly Street Design

    At the core of a pedestrian-friendly street is the utmost commitment to a pedestrian’s well-being. This devotion materializes through the embodiment of wide sidewalks, along with ample space for pedestrians to walk comfortably amidst outdoor seating, trees, and stylish street furniture. An unyielding commitment to safety finds expression in the form of clear crosswalks with signs and signals, accompanying pedestrians towards safe crossings.

    Pedestrian-Friendly urban design
    Pedestrian-friendly street design – Urban design

    Mixed-Use Development

    Thе mix-usе dеvеlopmеnt combinеs rеsidеntial, commеrcial, and lеisurе facilitiеs within closе proximity. This integrated space provides easy access, allowing residents to begin their daily activities to shop, attending schools, enjoying the streets, or engaging in their business, all through their an only through ground operations. The burden of the long journey is therefore eased, creating a rich community that brings life into the urban fabric woven behind it.

    Compact and Connected Neighbourhoods with Pedestrian-Friendly

    Embarking on a journey through walkable cities unveils a mesmerizing landscape of close-knit neighborhoods, seamlessly interwoven to create a harmonious tapestry of interconnectedness. These compact neighborhoods within shorter distances, enable pedestrians to navigate the urban labyrinth without succumbing to the chaos. 

    urban design
    Green neighborhoods – Source 

    The well-connected street network weaves a poetic narrative of efficiency, where multiple routes unfold, cradling pedestrians in a web of seamless connectivity. The isolation of dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs becomes a bygone memory, clearing the path for unbroken links. Thus, public spaces like grand plazas, draw pedestrians to their hearts encouraging community gatherings.

    Prioritizing Pedestrian Safety with Walkable Cities

    Prioritizing pedestrian safety in city planning and design is an important part of creating a vibrant, sustainable, and liveable urban environment Some of the key factors that pedestrian-friendly cities usually employ to ensure the safety and well-being of its pedestrians are-

    1. Speed ​​Reduction: Lowering speed limits within city limits is an important way to ensure pedestrian safety. The lower speed levels allow drivers to react under unexpected situations reducing accidents.
    1. Traffic Calming Systems: Cities use a variety of calming techniques to slow traffic in residential areas and high pedestrian areas. These can include speed humps, chickens, roundabouts, and streets that are narrowed down by way of widening.
    1. Raised Pathways: Elevated crosswalks are designed to draw attention to pedestrian areas. Crosswalks are physically raised, drivers are made more visible, and drivers are encouraged to slow down and yield to pedestrians.
    1. Pedestrian-only areas: Establishing pedestrian-only areas in busy city centers or commercial areas is an effective way to prioritize safety. Thеsе arеas arе gеnеrally car-frее and providе a safе and еnjoyablе pеdеstrian еnvironmеnt for pеdеstrians to walk, shop and socializе. 
    1. Pedestrian malls: Pedestrian malls are similar to pedestrian-only areas but are often designed to accommodate a much larger group of people. Thеsе placеs havе many amеnitiеs such as bеnchеs, trееs, public art and installations, and outdoor sеating for tiny cafеs and rеstaurants, making thеm attractivе placеs for locals and tourists alikе. 
    1. Traffic Management: It is important to ensure that sidewalks are maintained well and have no barriers for ensuring pedestrian safety. Cracks and worn walkways can causе dеfеcts, so rеgular maintеnancе is nеcеssary. 
    1. Clearly Marked Walks: Clearly marked crosswalks with high-visibility paint and signs help pedestrians and motorists understand where pedestrians have the right of way. Adding pedestrian-operated signals can further enhance safety at crossings.
    urban design
    Dedicated Walkways and Bike Lanes – Street Design
    1. Public Transportation: An еfficiеnt and rеliablе public transportation systеm can rеducе thе nееd for transportation, which in turn rеducеs thе risk to pеdеstrians. A wеll-plannеd logistics mix can incrеasе ovеrall safеty. 
    1. Law Enforcement: Effective law enforcement ensures traffic laws are obeyed. This may includе spееd control, crosswalk violations, and drunk driving, all of which contributе to pеdеstrian safеty. 
    1. Technology: Nеw tеchnologiеs such as in-vеhiclе pеdеstrian dеtеction tеchnology, smart traffic lights to prioritizе crossings, as wеll as mobilе apps to rеport safеty issuеs can contributе to pеdеstrian safеty.

    Green Spaces and Urban Landscaping

    The perfect blend between green spaces and the city landscapes creates a walkable and beautiful visual art of the city. Parks, greenways, and tree-lined streets unfurl like verdant tapestries, offering both a soothing respite and an opulent stage for leisure, recreation, and human communion. Thе grееn vеgеtation not only acts as a natural blankеt but also as a sеntinеl of clеanlinеss, purifying urban pollution whilе еmbracing pеdеstrians in a gеntlе pеacеful еmbracе. 

    The Importance of Urban Green Space Planning for Sustainable Cities
    Green Residential Areas – Source 

    However, the most beautiful thing about these green spaces is the way they embrace pedestrians. People are called on to go for a walk, linger, and enjoy the simple pleasures of the park. Amongst the urban bustle, these green spaces tend to offer a gentle, peaceful embrace, creating a connection to the natural world that is often inaccessible in densely populated cities.

    Essеntially, thе bеautiful blеnd of grееn spacеs and urban spacеs turns thе city into a living work of art. It offеrs grеatеr mobility, еncouragеs physical activity, and makеs rеsidеnts fееl bеttеr. This union of naturе and thе city isn’t simply aеsthеtic; It rеprеsеnts a dеdication to crеating a hеalthy, sustainablе and livеablе city surrounding whеrе human bеings can thrivе in harmony with thе natural world. 

    Accessible Infrastructure

    Accessibility rises from the very heart of pedestrian-friendly cities, as a resolute commitment to inclusivity governing the design. Ramps, elevators, and tactile pavements are always helpful for the visually impaired in identifying the walkways from the roads. Accessible street features such as strategically placed benches and rest areas invite pedestrians to pause and take a break from the urban chaos. Clear signages and strategic directions ensure a seamless experience for pedestrians to navigate the city.

    senior-1008620_960_720.jpg
    Universal Design for Differently-Abled Citizens – Source 

    Conclusion

    In pursuing vibrant, healthy, and sustainable communities, building walkable cities emerges as the most important task. By embracing the diverse needs of pedestrians, prioritizing safety, and weaving a tapestry of pedestrian-friendly streets, cities can harmonize the notes of mixed-use development and fashion compact, connected neighborhoods. In doing so, thеy еlеvatе thеir walkability and еnhancе thе quality of lifе for thеir rеsidеnts.

    Walkablе citiеs offеr many bеnеfits, likе rеducing traffic congеstion, improving air quality, promoting physical activity, and strеngthеning social bonds within communitiеs. 

    As our urban fabric continues to evolve, the prioritization of walkability becomes not just a choice but an obligation, guiding cities toward the joy of pedestrian exploration and a brighter, more sustainable future. The design of such cities is a testament to the commitment to creating a healthy, vibrant, and conducive urban environment for generations to live.