Study Of Open Spaces

STUDY OF OPEN SPACES AT URBAN LEVEL & ITS RELATED DESIGN CONSIDERATION

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atul soni

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WHAT IS OPEN SPACES? The widest meaning of the open spaces in residential areas is probably as the “ unbuilt volume of space within a given volume.” FUNCTIONS OF OPEN SPACES The functions of open spaces in residential areas can be usefully grouped into three categories. #utilitarian functions : These include environmental aspects like light & ventilation inside the built spaces, the provision of access to use area and the passive functions like parking, storage etc. #social functions : These include social interaction, recreation etc. #perceptual functions : These include aspects like aesthetic satisfaction, creating a distinct identity of a given residential areas, etc.

** CHOICE OF CASE-STUDIES**

• Ahmedabad is an important metropolitan centre in western India. It is divided in three distinct zone. 1.central zone 2.eastern zone 3.western zone. • The central zone comprises of the old city. having a personal report, with the places I selected old city of Ahmedabad for selection of case-studies. •Residential areas in this part are the traditional neighborhood locally known as “poles”. •Each pole has a well-defined boundary and an entrance gate. The houses are clustered around looped or dead-end streets and sub-streets. The land is used intensely with almost all plots fully covered without any margins. The houses are oriented towards internal private courtyard. The built form generates mostly positive open spaces. •In this research I focused on “scale of spaces” and “levels of interaction”. with different scale and location of open spaces, the definition of that open space will differ. •The architecture of Indian cities has an inward nature of place making because of that it presents an interwoven pattern of enclosed and open spaces.

* CRITERIA OF STUDY To study how different kinds of open to sky spaces are made. So as to understand how the characteristics of formality, degree of public ness & definition affect articulation of such places. * EVALUATION OF OPEN SPACES IN OLD CITY OF AHMEDABAD • Any evaluation of open spaces involves a consideration of the basic objectives which ultimately are related to the functions. • A planner or designer through his experience can generate many kind of open spaces. But the success of this kind of open spaces may be to satisfy the above functions. • The second important aspect is the minimization of use of land & finances. •CASE STUDIES The case studies are selected on the basis of their definitions. The • • • • • • •

cases are identified in following manner. Chowk – private space. Otla – private space. Khadki – private type of interaction at urban level. Choktha – semi-public type of interaction at urban level. Chakla – public interaction at urban level. Street bazaar – public interaction at urban level. Temple – religious institute.

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CHOWK

This is the central open to sky space. It is the main characteristic within the house of rich family. All the other functional spaces like ‘rasodu’, ‘paniyaru’, ‘pooja’ etc. are built around it, so all the activities take place around it. The ‘tanka’ was usually located below the floor level of chowk. It is becoming the main space for the social gathering. It is served as light well & ventilation shaft. Next to chowk, there is semi open passage around the chowk, known as ‘osri’. It becomes the transition space between the chowk & the built space.

chowk ordo

pursal

ordo osri otlo

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OTLA • • • • •

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It is the front most spatial element of house formed in a form of raised platform (plinth). It is the principle entry of ground floor from the public street. The level difference demarcates the boundary and also helps in attaining privacy. the otla is used mainly for sitting & doing interaction with neighbors. Otla has a colonnade, supporting upper floor extending outwards which provides shade & rain protection. It provides a transitional space between public space & private house.

•KHADKI

•The second band next to ‘otla’ is called ‘khadki’. Parking in khadki

•This place is in the inner part of a subordinate street. A narrow approach from street leads to the typical entrance gate of this place. •Organization of this place consists of squarish courtyard space in the middle, & on the two sides the dwelling units faces each other. One side is the entrance gate & the other side is the buildings of shorter span used for storage & stairs.

Wash area in khadki

Plan of khadki

Entrance gate of khadki

•It is the semi public space.

•Sunlight never enters in this space due to the height of the dwelling units which is more than the width of the central open space called ‘khadki’, so in summer this place is used for sleeping. • This space is used for parking. Separate wash area called ‘chokdi’ & ‘tanka’ for every dwelling unit are provided in this space. so interaction between neighbors is much more in this space.

* CHOKTHA • • •

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Courtyard space at the junction of street is called ‘choktha’. This place highlights semi-public type of interaction at urban level. This place is at the meeting point of three subordinate streets, connecting main streets. Here also daily activities like parking, washing clothes, etc. take place on the side & occasional activities take place in the centre. Commercial activities take place in the approach from main street. The typical structure called ‘chabutaro’ placed in the centre of the ‘choktha’ is a focal point.

Dwelling units Dwelling units choktha

shops Dwelling units

•CHAKLA

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This place highlights public type of interaction at urban level. This place is at the junction of three main streets. Mainly commercial activities like provisional shop, barber shop, pan shop, cosmetic shop, etc. are present on periphery. Retail trading by hawkers [mainly fruits & vegetables] takes place in the centre. Constant movement of people gives higher public ness to this place. Public services like public toilets & public telephones are also provided in this area.

shops chakla shops shops

Public toilet

* TEMPLE

•This building is identified as institutional building for religious purpose. •This courtyard space is between two subordinate streets. •Here also the courtyard space is in the centre. The two entrances of the temple are placed on the either side of this courtyard. The main temple, the servant activities, dwellings for this servants etc. are situated around this open space. •Benches are provided for sitting. •Inside the main temple the open spaces are also provided. This space is used for storage. At the time of big functions this space is used as gathering space. •The chowk is also provided in the centre of the temple. The statue of God is placed in this chowk. People are standing in the chowk for darshan. •Dwelling units of pujaries are situated around this chowk.

* STREET BAZAAR

•when the commercial activities done on main street, the main street is called street bazaar.. •This place highlights public type of interaction at urban level. •The trade activities [mainly fruit & vegetable hawkers] are also done in street bazaar. Because of that the space becomes over burdened. •This space connects every small open spaces. •Most of the main entrances of poles opens on this main street.

Dwelling units shops

Street bazaar

Dwelling units

shops

* DESIGN SUGGESTIONS •

We have elaborately analyzed the existing open spaces in the pole structure of Ahmedabad. Now the main task is to extend this idea more fruitfully to the city area. • Let us discuss some of the more fruitful positive suggestions in this regard. • This can be categorized as 1. Inclusion of neighborhood interaction. -- Because it is the general tendency of all human beings to lie friendly with neighbors & to share their interests. 2. connection of between different levels of open spaces such as private to semi private to semi public to public. 3. Grating more green spaces around the dwelling units. -- we know the manifold importance of the green space which is very much necessary in this era of urbanization to list some of them, reduce pollution, clean environment, healthy atmosphere & so on. 4. central open court should be provided into the luxurious bungalows while semi private spaces should be provided in the center of high rise buildings.

• Now I would like to present my own design with a constructive faithful suggestions. • The city area can be broadly divided into three major zoneS 1. High rise building blocks. 2. central public utilization space. 3. Individual dwelling units.

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The central zone of the city is devoted to the public utilization space so that it can be accessed by both the residential zones.

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This central zone, on one side comprises of most essential public facilities like hospital, schools, colleges etc.

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While the other opposite side includes recreation units such as theatre, garden cum shopping mall, trade bazaar, etc.

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And the central area of the central zone includes amphitheatre, sports ground & garden.

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In the high rise buildings the semi private space can be used for making centers of interaction & vertical shaft for ventilation. where as in the individual dwelling units the central open court can be provided to serve this facility.

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In the high rise building zone & in the individual dwelling unit zone semi public space included in the centre of the zone which comprises of club house, swimming pool & small garden.

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The periphery of the city is covered with the green belt. It not only makes the area beautiful but it is advantageous from many point of view as discussed earlier.

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Lastly I would like to emphasize that there is very good connectivity between different open spaces which can be channelized as private or semi private to semi public to public space same as in the pole structure of Ahmedabad.