Urbanization and Design

Mihir Bholey, PhD Assoc. Senior Faculty Interdisciplinary Design Studies

Outline of Discussion

Concept of Urban Demographic aspects of urban dwellings Concept of Urbanization: process, evolution and social design Understanding the design of urban ecosystem Urbanization: the socio-economic-cultural, spatial and design dimensions Urbanization in India: the factual position Urbanization and the challenges of design

Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design

Objective
This presentation makes an attempt to acquaint one with the concept and process of urbanization in the socio-economic-cultural, spatial, design and environmental context. Urbanization, though a global process, is happening at a much faster pace in the developing and densely populated nations of Asia and Africa than elsewhere. India and China, the two large emergent economies of the world are getting urbanized at

a pace much faster than envisaged. Urbanization of the present scale requires massive investment in
infrastructure, products, systems, communication which more often than not is found to be economically, environmentally, socially and culturally unsustainable. The divergent demands of quality of life and lifestyle go hand in hand with the process of urbanization. They are variously dealt with at the political,

planning, economic, demographic, social and cultural levels. The objective of this presentation at the
second level is also to analyze whether they require some intervention in terms of design. In other words, can designers deal with the issues of quality of life and lifestyle aspirations at the system design, product design and communication design levels? If so, how?

Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design

Teaching/Learning Method

Presentation and Discussion: the key concepts associated with urbanization viz. urban, suburban, urbanization, urbanism, rural-urban interface or rurbanism among others Case Study: of the established and emerging urban centres and analysis of the process of urbanization in their socio-economic, cultural and environmental context Assignment: Identifying areas of design intervention at the system design, product design and communication design level in the process of urbanization in order to make it sustainable in all respect Outcome: The course will help the students understand the process of urbanization in a much wider perspective and analyze it in terms of its socio-economic, spatial and environmental context among others. Looking at the complexity of the process of urbanization they will learn to meet the design challenges of urbanization at the system, product and communication levels. In other words, it will provide them the rationale of their design decisions.
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What is Urban?
Urban: Better understood by its characteristics
An area having higher density of population in comparison to its surrounding Relatively large, dense, and permanent settlement of heterogeneous individuals Large numbers of individual variability A virtual absence of intimate personal relation Human relations largely anonymous, superficial, and transitory
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 Density involves diversification and specialization A complex pattern of segregation, the predominance of formal social control and accentuated friction The economic nexus tries to displace personal relations, institutions cater to mass rather than individual requirements Individuals become effective only as they organize, not individually as much

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Urbanism
Urbanism characterizes the phenomenon of urbanization It means the pattern of behavior, relationships and modes of thought Urbanism is an ascribed lifestyle matching the distinctive socio-cultural space of the cities

Besides lifestyle, its also about the systems governing urban life, a distinct
cultural identity In Louis Wirths (1938) classic definition its a way of life From the design (architectural and spatial) perspective - the pursuit of creating, designing and reshaping the built habitat , neighborhoods, towns

and cities
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Urban: Administrative Definitions

India: Towns (places with municipal corporation, municipal area committee, town committee, notified area committee or cantonment board); also, all places having 5000 or more inhabitants, a density of not less than 1000 persons per square mile or 400 per sq km, pronounced

urban characteristics and at least three fourths of the adult male

population employed in pursuits other than agriculture

France: Communes containing an agglomeration of more than 2000 inhabitants living in contiguous houses or with not more than 200 metres

between houses, also communes of which the major portion of the

population is part of a multicommunal agglomeration of this nature
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Japan: City (shi) having 50000 or more inhabitants with 60 per cent or more of the houses located in the main built-up areas and 60 per cent or more of the

population (including their dependants) engaged in manufacturing, trade or

other urban type of business. Alternatively, a shi having urban facilities and conditions as defined by the prefectural order is considered as urban

South Africa: Places with some form of local authority

United States: Agglomerations of 2500 or more inhabitants, generally having

population densities of 1000 persons per square mile or more. Two types of urban areas: urbanized areas of 50000 or more inhabitants and urban clusters

of at least 2500 and less than 50000 inhabitants

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Urbanization: the Process

Broad View: the migration of population from the rural to the urban areas underscores process Demographic view of urbanization: A dynamic process contributed by interaction of two factors-

1. The rural-urban differential in Natural Increase* 2. Population movement from rural to urban areas through internal migration
*Natural Increase: the difference between fertility and mortality, both generally lower in urban as against the rural area

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Thus, urbanization is a process of human settlement Arising out of polarization of economic development in urban areas

Characterized by the rise in the proportion of the total population

of an urban-rural system that is urban

Also a socio-economic process leading to spatial growth for accommodating large population influx Urbanization promoted by: scale of production in manufacturing, technological developments in building and transport sectors and land becoming major urban capital
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The Urban Ecosystem

Social Elements: Heterogeneous, Urbane, Identifiable Social Groups,
Distinct lifestyle, Extreme Poverty and Affluence

Economic Elements: Predominantly industrial, Production- ConsumptionDistribution orientation, Higher employment opportunity, Higher wages

Political Elements: Centre of power, Right consciousness, Class Conflict,

Colonization, Organized Social Groups, Unions, Guilds

Cultural & Design Elements: Distinct culture, Cultural Evolution, Material

and Immaterial Culture, Products, Systems, Aesthetics, Function, Lifestyle

Spatial Elements: Building, Architecture, Town planning, Monuments Demographic Elements: Population, Sex Ratio, Natural Increase
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Social Elements

Demographic

Elements

Economic Elements

The Urban Ecosystem

Spatial Elements Cultural & Design Elements
Conceptual Model: Dr. Mihir Bholey

Political Elements

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Social Elements
Heterogeneous Urbane Identifiable Social Groups Distinct lifestyle

Economic Elements
Predominantly industrial Production-

Political Elements
Centre of power Right consciousness Class Conflict Colonization Organized Social Groups Unions, Guilds

ConsumptionDistribution orientation Higher employment opportunity Higher wages

Extreme Poverty &

Affluence Urbanism

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Demographic Elements
Population Sex Ratio Natural Increase Rural Influx Floating and Migrating Population

Spatial Elements
Building
Architecture Town Planning Monuments Landscaping

Cultural & Design Elements

Material and Immaterial Culture Products Systems Aesthetics Function

Quality of Life
Lifestyle

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Urbanization: the Global and Indian Scenario

Urbanization a global reality, world population turning urban Rapid urbanization - a developing nation syndrome As against gradual urbanization of developed nations,

developing nations urbanized much faster

1970s - urbanization in the Republic of Korea: 40%

1990s -78%

(World Bank Research Observer Report 2002)

What US took 90 years to achieve, Korea achieved in 20 years and Brazil 30 years
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 Year 2007- 3.3 billion (330 crore) people or over 48% of humankind lived in urban settlements (World Urbanization Prospects, UN,
2007 Revision)

Year 2050 - 6.4 billion (640 crore) people would live in urban areas (World Urbanization Prospects, UN, 2007 Revision) Globally, the level of urbanization is expected to rise from 50% in 2008 to 70% in 2050 (World Urbanization Prospects, UN, 2007 Revision) By 2025 close to 2.5 billion Asians will turn city dwellers nearly 54% of world urban population

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World Population Rural-Urban Ratio-2007

Total World Population 2007 6.6 billion or 660 crore appx.

48% 52%

URBAN
Data Source: World Urbanization Prospects, UN, 2007 Revision

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Global Rise in Urbanization

80%
70%

60%
50%

70%

40%
30%

50%

20%
10% 0%

2008

2050
19

Data Source: World Urbanization Prospects, UN, 2007 Revision

Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design

Concentration of World Urban Population

China, India and US - 35%

Rest of the World 65%

India, China, US 35%

Data Source: World Urbanization Prospects, UN, 2007 Revision

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 Year 2007 - China, India and the United States of America accounted for 35% of the world urban population Year 2025-2050 China and India will account for 32% of global urban population

Year 2050 - China will have 1 billion or 100 crore and India 0.9 billion or 90 crore urban population China: Rate of Urbanization 41% present, 52% by 2015, 65% by 2030 (Source: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
India: Rate of Urbanization 29% till 2005 Year 2025 - India will add 215 million or 21.5 crore to its cities, will be 38% of the total population in 2025 (McKinsey Global Institute, April 2010)
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Rising Rate of Urbanization in China

Rate of Urbanization-China

70
60 50 40

65%

52%
41%

30
20 10 0

2010

2015

2030

Data Source: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 2009

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Rural-Urban Population in India - 2001

Total Population: 1027 million, Rural: 742 million, Urban: 285 million, 2001

28% 72%

Urban
Data Source: Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India

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Rising Rate of Urbanization in India

Rate of Urbanization-India
40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

38%

29%

2005

2025

Data Source: McKinsey Global Institute, April 2010

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Cities and Megacities

Size of population the basis of defining cities, varies country to country
Megacity: Urban agglomerations with at least 10 million (1 crore) inhabitants 19 megacities in the world (till 2007), likely to increase to 27 by 2025 Tokyo the biggest megacity of the world, population: 3.57 million (3.57 crore) expected to remain number one even in 2025
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 Out of the present 19 megacities 3 are Indian: Mumbai 19 million (1.9 crore), Delhi 15.9 million (1.59 crore) and Kolkata 14.8 million (1.48 crore) (upto 2010) By 2025 Mumbai and Delhi will rank number two and three in position with expected population of 26.4 and 22.5 million respectively

By 2025 out of 27 megacities, 16 will be Asian

USA will have only 2, New York and Los Angeles

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Good Urban Design should harmonize with nature. The question is can we design nature?

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The Divergent Indian Urban Landscape

Rural-urban coexistence a discernible characteristic of urbanization in India Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 28

Urbanization of poverty - an inevitable socio-economic process following the growth of cities Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 29

The distinction between socializing, recreation and business becoming fuzzy. Urbanization commodifies everything also creates new visual-material culture Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 30

Designed Urbanization

Designed urbanization is utopian and predefines social needs and aspirations Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 31

Organic Urbanization

Gradual rise in economic necessities and lack of planning enforcement lead to organic urbanization Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 32

Floating/Migrating Urban Population

Floating urban population often comprises of rural influx, though adds to urban economy, but also puts pressure on urban infrastructure Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 33

The Challenge of Urban Regeneration

Unchecked urbanization causing both social and ecological decay, call for immediate intervention for urban regeneration Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 34

Threatening Environmental Degradation

Resource, planning and technology deficit making urbanization environmentally unsustainable. Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 35

Urban Transportation

Means of transportation also indicates the gap between urban poor and affluent . But such means of transportation coexist with the high-tech regardless. Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 36

Rapid Transportation

Cities articulate their infrastructural needs with the demographic, social and economic changes, replace the old systems and reinvent the new. Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 37

The megacity infrastructure is often a mix of need and urban aspiration. Also essential for the sustenance and growth of new economic model. Mihir Bholey - Urbanization & Design 38

Urbanization in India: An Overview

The Geographical Area of India: 3,287,590 sq. km.
7th largest in terms of area, represents 2.2% of the total land area of the planet (9,31,810,17 sq. km.) 2nd largest in terms of population, total population: 1162.3 million or 116 crore appx. In 2010 (Source: National Commission on Population, GOI)

Density of population: 360.34 persons per sq. km.

(source: http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/populations/ctypopls.htm)

285 million (28,5 crore) urban population lives in 4378 cities Cities classified from Class 1 6 in terms of population
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No. of Class 1,2,3 Cities in India vis a vis Total No. of Cities

393
Class-1 city 1,00,000 and above
Total No. of Cities: 4378

Class 2 city 50, 000 - 99, 999 401 Class 3 city 20, 000 - 49, 999

1,151

Data Source: Ministry of Urban Development, GOI, 2001

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Emerging Infrastructural Requirements of Indian Cities

2/3 of Indias GDP and 90% of government revenue are generated by even less than 1/3 of Indias urban population living in big and megacities In 2006 urban India required investment of Rs. 28,035/ crore on sanitation, water supply and roads (The India Infrastructure Report of 1996) Cities having 100,000 or more population would require investment of Rs. 207,000/ crore on urban transportation alone by 2030

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 Indias urban spending markedly low in comparison to China and UK Indias per capita spending including capital and operational expenditure - $50, China - $362 and UK - $1772 India requires investment of 1.2 trillion by 2030 in urban infrastructure (McKinsey Global 2010) Equivalent to per capita average annual spending of appx. $250

37.2% Indian population is BPL (Tendulkar Committee Report 2009)

41.6% Indians earn below $1.25/day and 75.6% below $2/ day (World
Bank 2008 Report based on 2005 data)

Is spending of $250 on urban infra viable?

42

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Design Interventions in Urbanization

Communication

Level

Scope of Design Intervention in Urbanization

System Level

Product Level
43

Mihir Bholey Design A Model for Design Intervention inUrbanization Urbanization: & Dr. Mihir Bholey, Jan. 2011

System Level Approach Identifying the urban environment in which system has to work Developing interface between product, user and solution Connecting systems and subsystems of urbanization

Communication Level Approach Content design for heterogeneous populace

Product Level Approach Mass product Customized products

Integration of message, manner, medium

Information signage, essential & emergency services communication Community connect & social awareness

Aspirational products
Sustainable products Product for people with special needs

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Summing Up
Urbanization is a social evolution changes human beings from being part of small community to large associations Characterized by the growth in demography, economy, density, settlement and above all- Urbanism

Spearheaded largely by the economic factors followed by social imperative

of cohabitation for security and growth A social evolution from simplicity to complexity in terms of demography, socio-cultural heterogeneity, lifestyle, economy and infrastructure The challenges of the emerging urbanization are infrastructural,

environmental (social and natural), sustainability, system and design

Design solution needed at the system, product and communication levels
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