REVIVING THE EXISTINGCONDITION OF CITY CENTRE

BY
HARIS
(CMS ID 29818)

SUPERVISED BY
AR. BABAR AND AR. NAVEED UR REHMAN
(LECTURERS)
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

BALOCHISTAN UNIVERSITY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING &

MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE

DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
Dec 2019
BALOCHISTAN UNIVERSITY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING &
MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the work presented in this thesis book on ( Reviving the existing condition
of city centre “Meezan chowk”) is entirely written by Haris (Cms id 29818) himself under the
supervision of Ar. Naveed ur Rehman.

Project/Thesis supervisor

Ar.Naveed ur Rehman

Ar. Jalal Faisal

Chairmen
Department of Architecture
Buitems Quetta.

Date: 5-Dec-2019

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This thesis would not have been possible without the blessing of Almighty ALLAH. In this regard
guidance and support of several people has helped me to completely focus on thesis. It is with
immense gratitude that I acknowledge the numerous hours of support provided by my faculty
advisor, Ar Naveed ur Rehman he challenged my thinking and my abilities at every step of the
way,and his guidance improved the quality of my thesis.

A special thanks to all the faculty members of Departement of Architecture.

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 Table of Contents
Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................... 9
Brief Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 10
Theme of study.......................................................................................................................... 10
Importance ................................................................................................................................ 10
Problem identification............................................................................................................... 10
Building type.............................................................................................................................. 10
Scope ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Synopsis ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................. 12
Introduction............................................................................................................................... 13
Understanding Public Spaces .................................................................................................... 13
What is a Public Space? ............................................................................................................. 13
Defining Urban Squares ............................................................................................................ 14
Urban Space ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Public Space ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Urban Squares ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Urban Squares for Different Members of the Community ....................................................... 15
Importance of Urban Squares to the Community .................................................................... 15
History of Urban public squares ................................................................................................ 16
Physical Characteristics of Squares ........................................................................................... 17
Location............................................................................................................................................... 17
Form .................................................................................................................................................... 18
Size of a Square ................................................................................................................................... 20
Landscaping......................................................................................................................................... 20
Street furniture ................................................................................................................................... 20
Microclimate ....................................................................................................................................... 22
Lighting ................................................................................................................................................ 22

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 Visual Complexity of a Square: Visual and Aesthetic Elements .......................................................... 22
Functional Characteristics of Urban Squares ............................................................................ 22
Psychological Roles ............................................................................................................................. 23
Political Roles ...................................................................................................................................... 23
Access & Linkage ................................................................................................................................. 23
Economic Roles ................................................................................................................................... 23
Symbolic Roles .................................................................................................................................... 23
Social Characteristics of Squares............................................................................................... 24
Comfort ............................................................................................................................................... 24
Safety and Security ............................................................................................................................. 24
Relaxation ........................................................................................................................................... 24
Passive Engagement............................................................................................................................ 24
Active Engagement ............................................................................................................................. 24
Discovery ............................................................................................................................................. 25
Typology of Squares .................................................................................................................. 25
The enclosed square: .......................................................................................................................... 25
The dominated square: ....................................................................................................................... 25
The linked square: ............................................................................................................................... 25
The nuclear square: ............................................................................................................................ 25
The amorphous square: ...................................................................................................................... 25
Summary of Chapter ................................................................................................................. 26
Book: Image of the city by Kevin Lynch .................................................................................... 27
The image of the city........................................................................................................................... 27
Imageability......................................................................................................................................... 27
Legibility .............................................................................................................................................. 27
structure and identity ......................................................................................................................... 27
City image and its elements ................................................................................................................ 28
Colonial Buildings of Quetta city ............................................................................................... 31
Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................. 32
National Case study ................................................................................................................... 33
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 33

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 Description .......................................................................................................................................... 33
Liberty Today....................................................................................................................................... 33
Shifting Trends in Land Use................................................................................................................. 33
Site ...................................................................................................................................................... 34
Existing Land use ................................................................................................................................. 34
Reconstruction of Liberty Market ....................................................................................................... 36
Physical & Social Analysis (Natural/Built Environment) ..................................................................... 38
1st International Case study ...................................................................................................... 40
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 40
Description .......................................................................................................................................... 40
Scenario before Redevelopment ........................................................................................................ 40
Redevelopment ................................................................................................................................... 41
Design strategy.................................................................................................................................... 43
Impending supposition ....................................................................................................................... 44
2nd International Case study...................................................................................................... 45
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 45
Description .......................................................................................................................................... 45
A world exhibition at nørrebro ........................................................................................................... 45
Three zones, three colors – one neighbourhood................................................................................ 45

Chapter 4 ............................................................................................................. 50
Introduction............................................................................................................................... 51
Breif history ............................................................................................................................... 51
Geography ................................................................................................................................. 51
Site Selection Criteria ................................................................................................................ 51
Building Heights......................................................................................................................... 53
Major Buildings on Site ............................................................................................................. 53
Land use .................................................................................................................................... 54
Road network ............................................................................................................................ 54
Chapter 5 ............................................................................................................. 55
Site survey analysis.................................................................................................................... 56
commercial activities .......................................................................................................................... 56
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 User analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 57
Traffic survey analysis ......................................................................................................................... 58
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 59
Chapter 6 ............................................................................................................. 60
Design strategy .......................................................................................................................... 61
Policy ......................................................................................................................................... 61
Roads:.................................................................................................................................................. 61
Vender’s sgtratey: ............................................................................................................................... 61
Elevation strategy: .............................................................................................................................. 61
Urban park strategy: ........................................................................................................................... 61
Monument strategy: ........................................................................................................................... 61
PROPOSSED ELEVATIONS .......................................................................................................... 65
Views ......................................................................................................................................... 67
References ................................................................................................................................. 69

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 Chapter 1
Introduction

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Brief Introduction
According to the design brief the topic selection was the starting phase of thesis research keeping
in mind the problems of cities. I have come up with the problems of bazaars to be taken in consideration
while aiming to improve the livelihood of habitants. Examining the topic I have come to know that public
spaces play a vital role in the city centers in terms of cultural promotion , social life , historical
representation and livelihood of citizens.which was further patterned in the following factors.
At the beginning of the project, I used several pieces of literature, which include books and
articles, in order to express a clear notion of public spaces and urban squares, the importance of urban
squares in society and also influential features of public spaces.

Theme of study
Promoting the Cultural values of region
Enhancing the social lives of habitants

Importance
To improve livelihood
To create a space that supports business
To improve connectivity in the city centre
Cultural Promotion

Problem identification
Scarcity of recreational spaces
Vehicular and pedestrian conflict s
Congested pathway
Worse condition of existing city centre
Absence of sense of ownness

Building type
Public square

Scope
To enhance the environment of commercial hub
Improve the livelihood of the citizens

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Synopsis
City centres being a commercial hub of cities have been neglected for years which resulted in like a dumb
of leftover buildings , vehicular and pedestrian conflict with no parking facilities and absence of
recreational/entertainment spaces.

There is a need to revive the city centres to improve the connectivity and livelihood and to create a space
that supports business and culture, inorder to improve the environment of commercial zone and bring people
together.

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 Chapter 2
Literature Review

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Introduction
The effects of fast changing economic and social conditions have increasingly become significant
on how people use and shape their environments. The urban population has been dramatically increasing
worldwide and consequently physical structure of the cities changes constantly, mostly in negative ways.
As the population increases, the demand for infrastructure and facilities also increases.
One of the most important features of urban life today is complex social relationships. Part of the
relationships are in the work environment, but much of them take place in the form of social interaction in
the urban space concept. So, urban space plays an important role in the social
development of citizens. Social interactions are formed in these places. A social zone is defined and also
the mechanisms of collective life are experienced. Thus the absence of a suitable urban space can cause
social ills in cities.

Understanding Public Spaces

Studies have demonstrated that a decent quality open domain can be advantageous to local
economies, urge people to expend more time in shops and organizations, and raise house costs. Public
spaces are viewed as just on the grounds that everyone can utilize them: places that logically at any rate,
permit "community" to exist and prosper. Public space is “our open-air living room, our outdoor leisure
Centre” (Lipton, 2002, Foreword). How spaces are comprehended and utilized may likewise rely on upon
individual and gathering attributes. For instance, the sociology of childhood recognizes public spaces as
spots where children and youth can build a type of protection in their own particular places, far from the
familial control and observation of home.

What is a Public Space?

In urban planning, public space has generally been characterized as “open space”, which means the streets,
parks and amusement regions, squares and other freely possessed and oversaw outside spaces, in contrast
with the private area of lodging and work (Tonnelat, 2010). Despite that, the late advancements of the types
of urban settlement and the increasing number and assortment of semi-open spaces oversaw by private-
open or totally private organizations addresses this thought acquired from a legitimate point of view.
Nowadays, public spaces should be understood as not quite the same as people in the general area of the
state and its subdivisions, but instead as a space available to the general population. The urban project thus
establishes a formal hierarchy between the avenues, boulevards, streets, alleyways, passages and squares
that constitute a basic vocabulary of urban design

Public squares are one of the significant public spaces in an urban environment. Urban squares are
open public spaces which reflect the cities’ identity and the communities’ cultural background. They are
where people of the community gather and “urban life” takes place since the ancient times. As the
fundamental component of the city structure, urban squares contribute to the image and prestige of the city.
According to Levy (2012), the main difference between a public park and a public square is that “on a
square, citizens are not connected to manifestations of nature, but to the heart of urban culture, history and
memory”. In the last few decades, many urban squares have lost their function and role due to the changes

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in use of public spaces. Hence, designing urban squares as both public and open spaces now require more
importance and attention.

Defining Urban Squares

Urban squares are also part of the public spaces; these spaces are a subset of a larger space
and more general which is known as urban space.

Urban Space

Many scholars have identified urban spaces with a number of different perspectives (Krier,
1979, p.15). Also having a physical approach of urban space, identifies space as the form (without
imposing aesthetic criteria). Subsequently, Krier characterizes urban space as the “external space”, “all
types of space between buildings in towns and other localities.”

Public Space
Public spaces are important components of daily lives. The public space concept covers an extensive variety
of roles and capacities in a variety of physical setting such as streets, squares, plazas, market places and
parks. This study aims to focus on the public urban spaces such as squares.

Urban Squares

Public Square plays a vital role in becoming a public space in the urban environment. A cities
identity and communities cultural background is reflected through urban squares. Urban squares reflect
the image and reputation of the city as it is among the basic components of the city structure. According
to Levy (2012), the main difference between a public park and a public square is that “on a square,
citizens are not connected to manifestations of nature, but to the heart of urban culture, history and
memory” (see Murat Z. Memluk 2013 ). According to Lynch, an urban square is the “activity focus” in
the centre of dense urban areas. He states that “. . . it will be paved, enclosed by high density structures, and
surrounded by streets, or in contact with them. It contains features meant to attract groups of people and to
facilitate meetings” (Lynch ). As a result, An urban square is one sort of urban open public space that
focuses on the public space system, providing a forum for interchange, both social and financial, and a
focus for civic pride and community expression.
Civic spaces, piazzas and town squares are among other names of urban square. The spaces form the
datum in the public space network, giving a platform for social and economic exchange and a
concentration for community pride and civic expression. The seriousness of the landscape expresses

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its significance and intensity of meaning. Its formality and urbanism is in contrast with parks and open
space, which are usually softer, bigger and less focused in the usage.
Active, full of people, safe and thrilling are among what attracts people to urban squares.
Around the globe, despite the differences in context and geography, there are common attributes that
each square carries about. A successful urban square is one that has easy access to it, can handle large
crowds and can support wide ranges of users in a comfortable and safe environment. Successful urban
squares are squares that people can walk in, stand in, sit in, perform in and to feel the presence of other
people participating. Giving people social experiences in the square determine its successfulness.

Urban Squares for Different Members of the Community

Families consist of a hierarchy of people differentiating from the age groups. The members generally
consist of four groups that are elderly, adult, youth, and children. Each and every group have their own
need in utilizing the public space within their group age. From the combination of various families
from different demographic background within a neighbourhood or residential areas creates a well
distributed community consisting of different types of members.
Community spaces are important places for the community to come together, but their functions vary.
Different group age plays different role in creating a functional space. For instance young people used
certain spaces to meet up with their close friends. Certain age groups find certain types of spaces more
significant to them. For teens, a modestly quite place, such as parks, suburban streets with appealing
shops where they comfortably can hang out. Adults, on the other hand, take notice in social roles
of busy streets and markets. Different experiences come from different attributes and how they
respond to the space, while some factors had a more up front influence on social interaction in
public spaces. (Dines and Cattell et al., 2006 ). From the perspective of youths, a general perception
of public space is that it is a place that promotes development. Social, physical and emotional processes
that occurs in the midst of adolescence, age 10 to 24 years old. This is the phase which young people
go through to acquire the interactional, cognitive and emotional skills and abilities required to go
through life. Public spaces can bring a new paradigm shift to further enhance positive youth
development especially in urban and sub urban areas where the houses are

Importance of Urban Squares to the Community

Urban squares not only give benefits to the social development of the community, but also in terms of
the economic, educational and sustainability of the community and it also has dramatically changed
the norm of public life in a community. The Internet has created virtual realities where people would
invest their time in rather than the real reality, which is just outside their houses. Real time social
relations are in need for community bonding and in creating a visible local and national identity. In
this discussion, urban public spaces are important for people to know one another. It is all about getting
people to know other people physically.
Besides the social aspect, urban open spaces also give vision to a city’s image and the overview of its
physical setting. In sustaining contemporary urban environment, decentralization and urban expansion
are major issues. The social and physical weaving of spaces are among the importance of urban squares
promising continuity and connection from one space, building, house, office, park, highway, mall,
school with one another.

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In being a significant open public space, urban square are the basis of a city’s element in manifesting
people friendly characteristics and liveability. Public life and social cohesion should be the main focus
in urban square design. Urban designers and planners must not forget the psychological aspects in the
design process rather than just focusing on the physical aspects. Both aspects can be successful if the
safety, comfort, engagement and satisfaction of users are provided.

History of Urban public squares

The first city formations appeared 6000 years ago and city squares were established at the crossroads of
important trade routes. A well-known earliest example of today’s public squares is Greek’s “Agora”.
Democracy played an important role in shaping Greek cities. The Agora was an open place in the city center
where political, social and economic activities took place. Greek agoras were public spaces for all kinds of
gatherings; such as political meetings, athletic and musical games, theatre performances and commercial
activities. The geometrical form of the agora was usually square or rectangle.

Agora of Priene (Aydın, Turkey)

Similarly, the Roman Forum was a large open space where people gather for political, economic and social
activities. According to Mumford (1961) the Roman forum was the combination of agora and acropolis
since it included more activities (such as shrines, temples, the hall of justice and the council houses) with
more formal order.

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 Population increase in urban areas continued during 20th century and cities become more and more
expanded, heterogeneous, and fragmented. Private automobile ownership showed a rapid increase and cities
become motor vehicle dominant environments. As a result pedestrian movement and freedom were limited.
In the second half of the 20th century, many urban squares turned into crossroads especially in developing
countries (Figure 5). New consumer habits and trends also caused decline in open public space use.
Shopping malls have become new leisure centers. At the end of the 20th century, following the spread of
internet use, virtual environments appeared as new “social platforms”.

Physical Characteristics of Squares

Make connection between people and environment is the main goal of designing urban space;
especially public space and this relationship is impacts directly by physical environment of public
open space, therefore, physical characteristics of square as an public open space must be accurately
evaluated ( Carmona et.al.,2003). Physical characteristics of urban square are location, form, size,
landscaping, site furniture, microclimate and lighting element.

Location
According to Carmona (2010) communicating people and development of cities are the philosophy
to establish a public place. In order to realize these spaces, we need to provide the access route as
simple as possible so people can attend thereon and contact together frequently. So apart from the
size of the square, the location and its centrality are the main participants to simplify the access.
Usually public places like squares are in high traffic path or located at crossing points of many
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roads. At present time, squares and their connectivity are the main tools, which provide integrity
throughout a city.
Consequently, selection of the best place to design a square is so important. Contemporarily, it is
so difficult to district a number of central places because of the large amount of such locations.
That is because the main points of a city have increased and are not limited. As time progresses,
central points in a city is increasing. One of the main reasons is that how people live. Unlike the
previous, the importance of religion and government as the focus points have decreased and new
centers are created. As a result, the locations where shopping centers are created have been
transformed. Working places can be the new centers which shopping malls are emerged beside.

Form
The very first issue about the physical existence of a particular space is its shape, morphology or
form. Built environment is experienced and perceived as a whole rather than with its singular parts,
yet however it is the singular attributes that constitute the whole structure; in this respect, Gestalt
psychologists states that order and coherence comes from the grouping and recognition of patterns,
and to make environments more coherent visually we use principles of organization or grouping
to create good form from the parts (Carmona et al., 2003, p.131).
The Figure 5 illustrates the formation of enclosure. The surrounding forms define the central form.
Although there are differences between a two-dimensional perception (from above) and a three-
dimensional perception (through walking in) of a plaza, if the enclosing forms are shaped in the
mutual agreement that a volume exists, then we sense the shape of the volume (Childs, 2004,
p.120).

Different shapes of square

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For the perception of an implied figure, corners of the surrounding elements, buildings are critical
as illustrated in Figure 6 (Childs, 2004, p.120). Second group with elements having sharp corners
creates an image of a larger circle and square, however the first group fails to create such an image.

Corners impact on creating form

Hillier (1996 cited in Carmona et al, 2003,) with a distinct perspective argues that, sense of
enclosure should not necessarily be the primary concern of the contemporary public spaces;
according to him, the major point of users is integration (connectedness as Hillier calls), in this
respect, designers should focus on their movement patterns and create connected systems.
However, a degree of enclosure is needed regarding the form of a square since it creates a feeling
of security (Carmona et al., ) and according to some scholar’s people prefer a defined openness
(Nasar, 1998, cited in Carmona et al., ).
According to Kriers study there are three major shapes (squares, circles or triangles) that are to be
modified through angling, segmentation, addition, merging, overlapping and distortion; resulting
with regular or irregular forms which might be open (to the environment) or closed (by walls,
arcades, colonnades from the streets around).

Rob Krier‟s typology of urban squares. (Source: Krier, 1979,)

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As Shaftoe (2008, ) argues, curves and bends in public spaces offer intrigue and prospect of
something interesting round the corner. Similarly, a number of scholars see straight lines and
rectangular forms as unnatural and alien to human beings

Size of a Square
Size of a plaza depends on the context and the location that the square takes place. The dimensions
of plazas represent the character of the space whether it is friendly, cozy, intimate, political,
unfriendly etc Many scholars have made recommendations about the ideal dimensions of a plaza
(Lynch, 1971; Alexander, 1977; Gehl, 1987). Kevin Lynch suggests dimensions from 12 meters
(representing an intimate scale) to 24 meters (a pleasant human scale) along each side, and goes
up to 100 meters for large plazas (like the dimensions of successful historical enclosed squares
which is not over about 100 meters; medieval squares had average dimensions of 57x140 meters);
Jan Gehl (1987) introduces similar maximum dimensions of 70 to 100 meters. However the
squares exceeding the limits may be problematic.

Landscaping
Landscaping is a significant component of a successful square within its physical existence, which
contribute in ecological and psychological terms as well. Floors cape as Carmona et al. (2003,
p.159) call, is composed of hard pavement and soft landscaped areas.

Hard Landscaping: The character of a hard landscape is related with the material used for surfacing
andcladding such as brick, stone, marble, concrete etc. Creating a floor pattern have utilitarian
considerations as well as aesthetic concerns

Soft Landscaping: Soft landscaping covers natural elements such as plants, shrubs, trees, grass and
lawns. Planting is an advantageous action regarding its contributions to the success of a square
within psychological, well-being, aesthetic and practical aspects.
In practical terms planting offers a softer environment by covering the hard building
surfaces, limits the square space, introduces a human scale, aids the production of subspaces,
provides a continuity and integrity within the urban fabric, creates a more convenient
microclimate; and aesthetically adds a harmony and generates seasonally changing views and
vistas with the variety of vegetation taking place. (Shaftoe, 2008, p.112;
Another natural element, which is to exist in a square, is grass or a lawn area. Provision of grass
or lawn areas is also pointed out by Whyte (2009, p.123) as these areas offer an adaptable surface
for users where they can sit in numerous positions, sunbathe, have picnic, play games etc.
Moreover, lawn users can better observe the others in and around the square over slopes and hills.
We can divide a space into many parts and create new areas just by using of different colors. This
is a powerful tool, which can make an area as a focus point.

Street furniture
Mainly, a top site will show itself with planning of its furniture including Seats/benches, outdoor
luminaries, trash bins, direction signs, etc. we have to consider a large number of notes while
designing a site furniture. The quality of materials in order to be able to support bad conditions of
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weather would remain the site furniture unchanged. Over-utilization and jamming of furniture for
some areas of site might disorder the homogenous form of design. Single functionality in not
allowed. For instance, short walls and steps beside seats can be used as a place for seating and
resting. People like to contribute to design, so moveable chairs help them to select the best
themselves.
The visitors should be directed in a simple and not confusing manner at a public place. Aware
arrange of signs and lights can help a person to find his object area. A good design of lights can
supply relaxation or pretty scenes to visitors.

Seating: The most significant visual element that is to be provided in an urban square is the sitting
places. William Whytes (2009, p.110) pioneer study points out that the major factor designating
the success of a square is not the location or size but the amount of seatable space. As far as
squares, plazas are gathering, pausing and resting
places (apart from serving for the activities such as walking through). however there is a diversity
between users of a square in terms of where they would like to sit (such as on the edge looking
out, on the edge looking in, around square edges, on islands, or in secluded alcoves) (Marcus &
Francis, 1998, p.40). The right type of seating should be placed in the right place according to
those varying demands (in terms of both location and form of seating)

Figure: Variety of the sitting preferences (Source: adapted from Marcus & Francis, 1998, p.40.)

People generally prefer to sit „not too close to traffic and sidewalks and not too close to building
entries and mainly select the edge of the squares at first (Marcus & Francis, 1998, p.39). similarly
state that when a person looks for a place to sit down outdoors, he rarely chooses to sit exposed in
the middle of an open space – he usually looks for a tree to put his back against; a hallow in the
ground, a natural cleft which will partly enclose and shelter him.

Places to sit: Primary and secondary sitting places

Primary sitting places are provided formally in the squares like benches and chairs. Secondary
sitting places on the other hand, are provided informally in term of steps, ledges, building walls,
planter-bed edges, mounds of grass etc Such secondary sitting places contribute to the presentation
of a square by providing a balance in its empty look when there is a few people in the place; instead
of the look, which is intimidating and unwelcoming when the plaza is only composed of a row of
benches (Marcus &Francis, 1998, p.40). Most common sitting places are benches, steps and ledges
and table seating Benches may be designed either backed (with a backside protection) or backless.
21
The ones with protection in the backside may be convenient for the elderly (Shaftoe, 2008,p.94),
and on the other hand, the backless ones may contribute to the generation of social interactions
through social groupings and sight lines (Marcus & Francis, 1998,p.41). Other than steps, the
corners of pools and planter-bed edges are used for sitting as well.

The materials of the provided sitting places should also be responsive to the environmental
conditions. Wood is a soft, warm and thermally appropriate and smooth material; yet metal and
such other materials are harder and uncomfortable (Marcus & Francis, 1998, p.44; Childs, 2004,
p.158). However, concrete, tile and stone may also be used as a sitting place material, because it
can provide a warm seat on a cool evening or a cool seat on a warm morning (Childs, 2004, p.158).
Squares should provide spaces for leaning such as a piece of public art, plinth, bollards, parking
meters, lampposts or suitable walls.
To conclude, seating is probably the most significant component of a successful square; and in this
respect should be provided within various forms, styles and materials.

Microclimate
The fundamental aim of a successful square is to assure the comfort of its users; unless squares are
comfortable, they will not be preferred and used. Such climatic elements as sun, shade,
temperature, rain, snow, wind, and humidity affect the user’s feeling of comfort. shade may be
obtained through vegetation and surrounding buildings. Deciduous trees, in this respect, provide
an advantageous position both allowing light in winter when sheds its leaves and creating shade in
summer.
Wind is another climatic element. For the no humid (droughty) spaces, apart from arrangements
about wind and sun, use of water elements may be effective (Carmona et al., 2003, p.187). Such
climatic elements as wind and sun should be taken into account during the design processes, in
order to create usable and successful squares.

Lighting
Lighting is a significant physical element that influences the use and contributes to the success of
squares especially during nighttime. The lighting of a square should provide a sense of welcome
and should ensure safety and security.

Visual Complexity of a Square: Visual and Aesthetic Elements

According to many studies on visual complexity, visual and aesthetic elements (such as seating
and landscape elements) are significant components of a successful plaza in physical terms
(Marcus & Francis, 1998, p.25). Alexander et al. (1977) point out center and edge as the major
design foci in a public space

Functional Characteristics of Urban Squares

This prat of the study focuses on the roles and functions of contemporary urban squares. It gives
brief information about reasons of using a square and identifies the utilities that squares provide.
22
Urban squares have a variety of roles and functions since they are the essential forms of public
spaces that attract large number of people with a wide range of activities. Urban Square is a place
where people gather and fulfill their variety of social, cultural,political and economic needs. It is
a place where people have positive socialinteractions, meet each other, have lunch, hold a friendly
chat, watch the world go by, read something, rest for a while or shop around.

In general, similar to the overall public spaces, an urban square has physical, ecological,
psychological (including mental health and wellbeing), social (including learning experiences and
human communication), and political, economic and symbolic roles

Psychological Roles
squares assure social communication and greenery, which are indispensable elements for
psychological and mental health of human beings since they provide a relief, relaxation and
distress (Carr et al. 1992, cited in Akkar Ercan, 2007, p.117). As Shaftoe (2008, p.12) points out,
this is presumably why people go mad when held in solitary confinement and why this is used as
the cruelest form of punishment.

Political Roles
A square being a public space incorporates also political roles. It constitutes an effective medium
for political action (Tavakolian, 1990, p.16). Plazas, as gathering spaces available/accessible for
everyone and belonging to public, are locations of democracy.

Access & Linkage

Accessibility is another major point contributing to the success of a public space. Location of a
square directly influences the accessibility regarding whether it is located within a close distance
to main pedestrian and vehicular traffic routes and transportation nodes (referring to the
accessibility of the square by all means of transport (vehicular), but not being dominated by them)
(Shaf toe, 2008, p.140). Whyte (2009, p.129) introduces a visual accessibility concept apart from
physical accessibility for the catchment of people.

Economic Roles
There is such a strong bond between squares and commercial facilities. Although specific locations
in towns are provided for commercial activities to take place, this bond remained the same since
the squares are major people attractors and generating financial benefits.

Symbolic Roles
Symbolic roles associated with squares are common throughout the history. The symbolic meaning
dedicated to a place is the most significant element for its perception (Moughtin, 2003, p.88). The
concept of identity in this respect is directly related with symbolic roles of a plaza. According to
Lynch (1960, p.8) identity represents a particularity of an object in the whole context with the
meaning of individuality or oneness. The awareness of people about their surrounding
environments are strongly related with the architectural and urban forms and the meanings they
attribute to them. Therefore, squares can give identity to the places.

23
Social Characteristics of Squares

Sociability in square is based on peoples need to affiliate and interact with others. This affiliation
involves people participating in a supportive social system in order to acquire psychological
comfort (Lang 1994).sociability is also related to the public life a place, which will be discussed
further in this section. Squares should provide opportunities for people to interact and engage.
Public squares could enhance the people satisfaction, experience and enjoyment of outdoors setting
of a city. Comfort, safety and security, relaxation, passive and active engagement and discovery
are six main factors for social characteristic of squares (Carr, & Francis, 1992).

Comfort
Comfort appears as the primary concern of the successful squares regarding its effect on the use
of a place. Behavioral and psychological experience of comfort is realized through the provision
of microclimatic conditions physical elements

Safety and Security

safe and secure environment is generated through providing spaces with firstly minimized crime
opportunities and antisocial behavior; and on the other hand, providing maximized help options in
any safety threats (Shaftoe, 2008, p.60). Developing safety and security conditions results with the
increase in the comfort of the space; therefore in order to sustain the comfort regarding the safe
environment of a square various managerial (such as the use of a security personnel) and physical
design (providing visual access into the square) strategies may be adopted (Carr et al, 1992, p.97).

Relaxation
Relaxation is directly related with psychological comfort, yet it is a more developed state with the
body and mind at ease (Carr et al., 1992, p.98). Various studies show that individuals look for
physical settings particularly for relaxing and resting. However, relaxation does not need to be the
major concern of every public space design

Passive Engagement
Passive engagement with the environment, although it is related with creating relaxation up to a
degree, implies that the person takes place in the environment, but does not present an active role
(Carr et al., 1992, p.105). People-watching (observing others without eye contact) is the major type
of passive engagement that can be actualized commonly in public spaces; other means of passive
engagement are offeredalong fountains, views, public art and sitting, reading, observing
performers etc.

Active Engagement
In active engagement with the environment, there is a more physical and direct interaction among
users and place, and between users – within each other (Carr et al., 1992, p. 1992). Being among
other people in a public space provides chances of social interaction. Gehl (1987, p.18-19)
introduces a scale of contact forms ranging from passive contacts to chance contacts,
24
acquaintances, friends and close friendships; which is in other words, ranging from being alone to
being together . Other than, the satisfaction gained with passive engagement through people-
watching, one may prefer being together and want to create a more direct contact whether with
friends, family or strangers (Carr et al., 1992, p.119).

Discovery
Discovery is related with feelings of curiosity and excitement that will make people come to a
place; therefore it depends on variety and change in the organization of the space (Carmona et al.,
2003, p.168). There is also a kind of mystery in the place that stimulates the experience of
discovery (Carr et al., 1992, p.135). The setting of space may take a variety of forms according to
seasonal changes, management strategies, and animation such as concerts, art exhibitions, street
theatre, festivals, society events etc. (Carmona et al., 2003, p.168).

Typology of Squares

The enclosed square: is square closed by architectures on three sides, usually has a simple
geometrical volume such as square, rectangular, or circle.

Place des Vosges in Paris. (Source: Kangur&Traks, 2011)

The dominated square: is the square in front of or surrounded by some main constructed
structure, could be an architecture or a landscape architecture, for example a cathedral or a
sculpture.

Piazza San Marco Piazza in Venice. (Source: Kangur & Traks, 2011)

The linked square: means quite a complex shape of square that consists of several clearly defined
spaces, in other words, they can be seen as overlapping or interpenetrating subspaces, which form
the whole space. This kind of linked square can be found in many medieval towns.

The Imperial Fora in Rome. (Source: Kangur & Traks, 2011)

The nuclear square: is a definite spatial shape ordered space, for instance the traffic island where
several streets intersection. It is a kind of traffic square or a green island.

Piazza di SS. Giovanni e Paolo in Venice. (Source: Kangur & Traks., 2011)

The amorphous square: is the one has an irregular spatial shape instead of a simple geometrical
Volume.

Times Square became New York's agora. (Source: Kangur & Traks, 2011

25
Summary of Chapter

Public space is an important part of public realm. Public place is a place for walking, sitting,
relaxing and enjoying of urban space. Public spaces are related to all parts of natural environment
that people has free access which including streets, squares and parks. Characteristics of public
spaces are safety, comfort, aesthetic, meaning, control, publicness, natural system and economic
benefits these factors provided people primary in public spaces. Urban space is built space and
social spaces. Generally urban space including parks, streets and squares. One of most important
parts of urban spaces are squares. Urban Square is an urban form which providing livable and vital
space for people. Squares help to people for use the experience of other people also increase the
social interaction of people. Vitality in 24 hours of days is one of principle for successful square.
The firs example for square is Agora in Greek city. For renaissance period, Italian plaza is the best
example for square. Form, location and size, activates, landscaping, site furniture and focal point
elements are physical characteristics of square. Roles and functions of urban square are divided to
five categorize that are: physical roles, ecological roles, psychological roles, social roles and
economic roles, Urban Square can classified according many aspect such as main function, size,
style, shape or location. Public square according their form are classified in five categorize: enclose
square, dominated square, and linked square, nuclear square and the amorphous square. Physical
characteristic of square are: location, form, size, landscaping, street furniture, microclimate,
lighting, focal point elements and visual complexity. Functional of square divided five factors,
which are physiological role, political role, access and linkage, economic role and symbol role.
Social characteristic of square are comfort, safety and security, relaxation, passive engagement,
active engagement, discovery and joy.

26
Book: Image of the city by Kevin Lynch
This book which was based on the urban quality of a city was read to gain the better understanding
and knowledge about the city, its features ,elements and the overall impact of these factors over its
inhabitants.

Chapters
The image of the city
The city Is perceived like a piece of architecture, the city is a construction in space but one of vast scale –
a thing perceived over a long span of time .City design is therefore a temporal art. Nothing is experienced
by itself but always in relation to its surroundings. The meaning of past experience, Every citizen has had
long associations with some part of the city and this image is soaked in memories and meanings

Imageability
Our perception of the city is not sustained. The city is an object perceived by millions of people of widely
diverse class and character. It is also the product of many who are constantly modifying the structure for
reasons of their own: Such as traffic engineers , town planners , developers , industrialists , investors ,
residents

Legibility
The general outline of the city may be stable for some time BUT it is ever changing in detail . Lynch
concentrates on the visual quality of the city The apparent clarity or legibility of the cityscape . The ease
with which the city’s parts can be recognised And organised into a coherent pattern . In the process of
wayfinding, the strategic link is the environmental image of the exterior physical world that is held by an
individual

structure and identity

An environmental image has 3 components:
• identity – identification as an entity
• structure – spatial patterns of relationship
• meaning – practical or emotional
The 3 are not truly separable but Lynch concentrates on identity and structure as these are more easily
understood and more consistently interpreted whilst meaning is very complex and diverse. In any city there
seems to be an overlap of many individual images or public images which can be patterned together to
provide an understanding of the form and image of the city
Lynch proposes that the contents of the city image can be classified into 5 Types of element for purposes
of analysis: Paths, edges, districts, nodes, landmarks.

27
City image and its elements
"The City Image and its Elements" presents Lynch's best known concepts on how people perceive cities.
Lynch argues that people perceive cities as consisting of underlying city form elements such as "paths"
(along which people and goods flow), "edges" (which differentiate one part of the urban fabric from
another), "landmarks" (which stand out and help orient people), "districts" (perceived as physically or
culturally distinct even if their boundaries are fuzzy), and "nodes" where activities, and often paths, meet.
If urban designers understand how people perceive these elements and design to make cities more
imageable, Lynch argues, urban designers can create more psychologically satisfying urban environments.
The image of a given physical reality may occasionally shift its type with different conditions of viewing.
Thus an expressway may be a path for the driver, and edge for the pedestrian. Or a central area may be a
district when a city is organized on a medium scale, and a node when the entire metropolitan area is
considered.
All five elements of city discussed does not exist in isolation in the real case. Districts are structured with
nodes, defined by edges, penetrated by paths, and sprinkled with landmarks.

Paths
For most people interviewed, paths were the predominant city elements, although their importance varied
according to the degree of familiarity with the city. People with least knowledge of Boston tended to think
of the city in terms of topography, large regions, generalized characteristics, and broad directional
relationships. Subjects who knew the city better had usually mastered part of the path structure.

People are very sensitive so that they encounter the amount of activity done and sometimes they are guided
largely by following the main stream of traffic. E.x: Los Angeles' Broadway was recognized by its crowds
and its street cars.

Characteristic spatial qualities were able to strengthen the image of particular paths. In the simplest sense,
streets that suggest extremes of either width or narrowness attracted attention. Cambridge Street,
Commonwealth Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue are all well known in Boston, and all were singled out for
their great width. Spatial qualities of width and narrowness derived part of their importance from the
common association of main streets with width and side streets with narrowness, as narrowness is
reinforced by tall buildings and large crowds. on the other hand spatial façade characteristics were also
important for path identity. while details of planting seems to be unimportant but a great deal of planting
can reinforce a path image very effectively.

If the major paths lack identity they can be easily confused with each other , pushing the entire city image
in difficulty. Such as many of the paths in jersy city were difficult to find , both in reality and in memory.
Example of characteristics giving continuity to a path are the planting and facades along commonwealth
Avenue or the building type.

Now coming towards the third factor paths may not only be identifiable and continuous but have directional
quality as well. People think of path destinations and origin points. They like to know where path came
from and where they led. Paths with clear and strong origins and destinations has stronger identities. They
give the observer a sense of his direction whenever he crossed them.

One other common cause of misalignment to the rest of the city was the sharp separation of a path from
surrounding elements. Paths in the Boston Common, for example, caused much confusion: people were

28
uncertain which walkways to use in order to arrive at particular destinations outside the Common. Their
view of these outside destinations was blocked, and the paths of the Common failed to tie to outside paths.

Edges
Edges are the linear elements not considered as paths: they are usually, but not quite always, the
boundaries between two kinds of areas.
In Jersey City, the waterfront was also a strong edge, but a rather forbidding one. It was a no-man's
land, a region beyond the barbed wire. Edges, whether of railroads, topography, throughways, or
district boundaries, are a very typical feature of this environment and tend to fragment it.The
elevated railways of Jersey City and Boston are examples of what might be called overhead edges.

Districts
Districts are the relatively large city areas which the observer can mentally go inside of, and which have
some common character. Each part of Boston is different from the other. You can tell pretty much what
area you're in. Jersey City has its districts too, but they are primarily ethnic or class districts with little
physical distinction.

The physical characteristics that determine districts are thematic continuities which may consist of an
endless variety of components: texture, space, form, detail, symbol, building type, use, activity, inhabitants,
degree of maintenance, topography. In a closely built city such as Boston, homogeneities of façade.
material, modeling, ornament, color, skyline, especially fenestration(building openings) were all basic clues
in identifying major districts.

The Beacon Hill image, for example, included steep narrow streets; old brick row houses of intimate scale;
inset, highly maintained, white doorways; black trim; cobblestones and brick walks; quiet; and upper-class
pedestrians. The resulting thematic unit was distinctive by contrast to the rest of the city and could be
recognized immediately.

Nodes
Nodes are the strategic foci into which the observer can enter, typically either junctions of paths, or
concentrations of some characteristic. But although conceptually they are small points in the city image,
they may in reality be large squares, or somewhat extended linear shapes, or even entire central districts.
Indeed, when conceiving the environment at a national or international level, then the whole city itself may
become a node.

Landmarks
Landmarks are simple physical elements which may vary widely in scale. There seemed to be a tendency
for those more familiar with a city to rely increasingly on systems of landmarks for their guides. the key
physical characteristic of this class is singularity.

Landmarks become more easily identifiable, more likely to be chosen as significant, if they have a clear
form; if they contrast with their background; and if there is some prominence ( state of being important/
noticeable) of spatial location. Background contrast seems to be the principal factor. example the sold dome
of the state house. Contrast of sitting , age and scale makes a landmark a relatively well identified image.
Most of the boston distant landmarks , in fact were bottomless.

29
One of the major landmark is the gold dome of boston’s state house. Its unique shape and function , its
location at the hill crest and its exposure to the common, the visibility from long distances of its bright gold
dome, all make it a key sign for central boston. The Duomo of Florence is a prime example of a distant
landmark: visible from near and far, by day or night; unmistakable; dominant by size and contour; closely
related to the city's traditions; coincident with the religious and transit center.

These five elements are raw material of the environmental image of the city. A large street with its
ambiguous character of both edge and path may penetrate and thus expose a region to view, while at the
same time disrupting it. A landmark feature may be so alien to the character of a district as to dissolve the
regional continuity, or it may, on the other hand, stand in just the contrast that intensifies that continuity.

30
Colonial Buildings of Quetta city

Khojak Tunnel Quetta railway station quetta

st Lukes church Quetta Ziarat Residency Staff college Quetta

Post office Quetta Railway station Quetta Railway institute

Meezan chowk Quetta Staff colleg Quetta Town hall Quetta cant

District court and treasury Qta Jinnah road Quetta

31
 Chapter 3
Case Studies

32
National Case study
Liberty Market, Lahore
Introduction
The liberty market is the heart of the Gulberg area in Lahore. It is primarily a shopping area with specialized
section for Ladies clothes and another for house ware, functioning as half, half shopping mall in appearance
and layout. It has several conveniently located private services like banks, eaters, hotels.

Description
Liberty market is one of the most popular market in Lahore located on beside main boulevard Gulberg. The
liberty market is an all-time favorite place for shopping lovers. If you are going to Lahore you must visit
this market. In liberty market you can buy everything for men, women and kid. Find expensive watches,
toys, music, enjoy food and much more.
In 1950’s Gulberg was planned as a residential area for the elite. Agricultural land was purchased and the
scheme developed on it. The name (Gulberg) is a combination of Persian word “GUL” (Flower) and a
Punjabi inflection of Persian word “BAGH”, meaning an open park.
Gulberg was famous in the past for large gardens, hence the name, the area is known for its culture centrality
for the modern pro-establishment elites of Pakistan, as well as the presence of nearly all of Lahore and
Punjab’s prestigious nonmilitary families.
It is designed in five section mainly Gulberg 1-5, with 17 residential blocks ranging from A to Q. each
block was designed around designated open spaces. Some blocks were designed with plot size as big as one
acre (8 Canal) while those along the industrial area were as small as half a canal.
The liberty market was biggest of five markets designated for this area, the other being main market, Firdous
market, Ghalib market and mini market. These markets were designed to cater to the residents of this new
towns. Their layout, positioning and size in accordance with the population and its convenience. They were
supposed to be like neighborhood Bazars with parchoon shops locals call them, with liberty center for the
residing population.

Liberty Today
With the rapidly growing population of the city and horizontal expansion on all sides Gulberg, which was
once the outskirt of the city is now a central place. Its location and connectivity make it easily approachable
from most similar part of the city, the expansion of all its markets and the coming up of all eateries in the
area have made it into somewhat of a social and shopping centre for the upper and the middle classes of
most of the city area. Liberty has become a specialized market for ladies clothes having everything from
loose cloth, stitched clothing boutiques, as well as dyers, lace and button shops and tailors. This specific
attribute and the abundance of jeweler and children’s cloths shops have made it into a female dominated
market, and due to this the man gender is made to feel very uncomfortable in certain areas.

Shifting Trends in Land Use

Because of its central Location, outward expansion of its commercial areas and lack of Policy, there has
been a drastic change in the land use of this specific area of Gulberg, along most of the avenues, residential
plots have been converted into commercial property. Most parcels of land have now been broken down into
two or three or more sections. Some retain a residence at the back with offices or shops at the front while
other may have multiple office blocks or shops.

33
Other have been converted to multi story Plazas or mixed use buildings. Some have demolished the old
houses and built entirely new commercial structures on the site, declaring it as commercial, where as some
retain the original residence with its use changed to either commercial or private services resulting in gray
areas.

Site
Determining a boundary for the Meso site of this center was necessary in order for the project to have micro
context. Circulation patterns to and from the site were observed as well as area of similar activity.
Since Gulberg today is a result of a transformation from purely residential to mixed use area, tracing the
roots of this transformation and determining where it started and where it has reached now became the
criteria. A detail land use map was marked by going plot to plot and observing the activity and extend of
transformation happening in it. This determined the major access which have shape this transformation.
The one’s connecting to the micro site of the center became defining boundaries of its Meso site.
Existing Land use
Land use Square Feet Area %
Residential 2195218.3 (acre 50.39) 22 %
Commercial 1097609.15 (acre 25.19) 11.5 %
Private Sector 364526 (acre 8.36) 3.65 %
Office 324846 (acre 7.45) 3.25 %
Public Service 548163 (acre 12.58) 5.5 %
Abounded 227806 (acre 5.22) 2.3 %
Under Construction 447128 (acre 10.26) 4.5 %
Educational 864682 (acre 19.85) 8.6 %
Eating place 95860 (acre 2.20) 1%
Parking 471205 (acre 10.81) 4.7%
Green area 1556322 (acre 35.72) 16 %
Roads and Music 1735923 (acre 39.85) 17 %
Total Area 9978265 (acre 229) 100 %
Table Land Use

Land Use Plan

34
 • Residential
The residential area consist of 22% of total site. This include 201 privately owned single unit houses most
of which are double story. The residents are all from upper, middle or higher income groups and the only
lower people residing here are the private house hold staff who live on the premises of these houses or
commute from far lower income area.
• Commercial
Commercial building in this area mostly mid-rise ranging from three to eight floors. In horseshoe, alfatah
segment, dupatta bazar there are approximately 3000 individual shops or units ranging from shops with a
front of 50 to 100 feet to shops inside the buildings with as small as 5 feet.
• Private Sector
These include all privately owned service provider outlets including, petrol pumps, Banks, Banquet halls,
Hotels and other commercial activity apart from retail.
• Offices
Offices takes up only 3.25% of the land, however in most commercial building offices are located in the
upper floors.

• Public Services
This category includes the Christian hospital which is taking up most of the 5.5% and the police Station as
well as the Post office.
• Abandoned
This include the two historical cinemas of the city and some privately owned properties, some of which are
empty pelts and the other have their original old houses in a state of disrepair. A lot of the plots in this
category are owned by people who could not tolerate living in such chaos and have move to more friendly
locations but are still holding on their properties to cash in at the optimum value.
• Educational
There are currently 2 educational institutes in the site taking up almost 9% of the land.
• Parking
The 4.7% is only parking areas, in reality the entire open accessible space has become a parking lots so the
figure should actually read 4.7% + 7% = 11.7%.
• Green Areas
The figure of 16% is actually great. The problem is that most of it is due to the massive park in the center
has become a terrain vague. That it has be rendered completely useless since the majority of users of the
site don’t even remember it existence much less actually use it.
The green spaces a part from these are also in bad shape and disjointed from the public accept the two
middle of residential clusters, but even those are not designed to facilitate any activity or recreational
activity.
• Incoming Traffic
The data shown in table is for an approximation if the influx of different moods of transport and has been
counted at two main entrances into the block and averaged. Two different peak timings were observed and
the counts collected during them an average taken as a representative of that time period.
Mode of Transport Number/Time 1-3 pm Number/Time 7-9 pm
Car 100 255
Motor Bike 28 58
Cycle 5 11
Pedestrian Via Public Transport 9 33
Table Incoming peoples by different Transport.

Parking Place Number of Cars Number of Bikes

35
 Liberty Market Parking 800 400
Horseshoe 1100 200
Parking plaza 200 50
LDA Parking Plaza 300 200
Salt and Paper Parking 60 10
Dupatta Bazar Parking 50 30
Sun Fort Hotel Parking 50 -
Roads-around Commercial 1000 200
activity only
Table Parking Data

Reconstruction of Liberty Market

Liberty Market was reconstructed on March 2008. The Gulberg Town council has floated a tender for
services of an international standard architects and several engineering consultants to start the “Liberty
market Development Project”, with financial support from the Punjab government.
Town administration officials told daily times that purpose of the project was to repair Liberty market and
its surrounding area, which had deteriorated because of the countless unplanned commercial ventures.
In the plan it was proposed that the road from united Christian Hospital (UCH) to Qarshi Park (Liberty
Park) be closed to traffic. According to the plan, instead of carpeting the road, the town administration had
decide to tile it to make it clear that was not for traffic, and the area next to UCH would be made a Parking
lot.
Official said that the project would cost the town administration an estimated Rs 100 Million and financial
assistance would be sought from the provincial government.
Regarding MM Alam Road, officials said that the basic problem was the lack of proper sewerage system.
They said that although the district government was generating millions of rupees from the road by allowing
commercial activity, no attention was being paid to the problem, which caused a complete inundation of
the road every time it rained.
The parking lot would be able to accommodate more than 800 vehicles with solving the longstanding
parking issues, Pedestrian Street, dispensary and public toilets were also in the plan.

Liberty Market in 2000 23 2003 24 2006

36
 25 2009 26 2012 27 2015

Plan and Views of Liberty Market

Master Plan of Liberty Market

Pedestrian Lane 40’

Parking Lane 60’
Building Lane 100’

37
 Right of way

Legibility

(1) Path (1) Path

(2) Edge (3)Central park as Focal point

(4) Node (5) Landmark

Legibility of Liberty market

Physical & Social Analysis (Natural/Built Environment)

1 Visual Appropriateness of Liberty Market

There are also Different Heights of Building, Most of Buildings are Grd+4 and there is a reflection of
Harmony.
2 Diversity in Liberty Market

Diversity and variety of the functions in Liberty market, according to land use analysis are retails about
60%, leisure, 30% and offices in the first & upper floors about 10%.
3 Distinctiveness of Liberty Market

This parameter could be analyzed under urban identity factor, physical setting of the street such as buildings,
landscape, climate and aesthetic qualities or visual appropriateness which is faces some problems, After
physical setting there would be the function and activity of the street that encourages users to communicate
with environment and each other which is not occurring in this Market especially between people.
4 Richness

There is no such old structure which add richness in liberty or balconies or personalization which give the
richness to liberty market.
5 Robustness of Liberty market

38
This parameter was searched through land use analysis and observation in order to find multi-functional
spaces or flexible places which is facilitated for many activities or can serve to various types of users. This
quality could be found in Liberty market. Also, according to land use analysis each and every function
along this street only has one use but some time different activity can be seen in the form of car exhibitions
at parking space.

Car Exhibition

39
1st International Case study
Bhadra precinct ,Hyderabad India

Introduction
Bhadra precinct in Gujarat india is designed by architectural firm balkrishna doshi started in
2011 and completed in 2014. Funded by the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission), the project became the first of its kind as a redevelopment and Pedestrianization of a public
space in an Indian old city.

The project addresses a long forgotten issue in countries with rapid developing economies like India:
the concern to prioritize the revitalization of old cities instead of building and developing new and more
economically profitable areas. Being an intervention for everybody it does not revalue the land owned by the
rich, but instead will benefit directly to the diverse community of the inhabitants in the walled city.

Description
As a pioneer project in including the street vending activities in the design, exhaustive research on the informal
activities in the plaza has been undertaken: vending pattern, types and typologies of stalls, location, movement,
sizes and arrangement of hawkers have been documented in order to produce an inclusive and coherent
proposal for relocation of 600 street vendors, thus protecting the livelihood of economically weaker citizens. It
is a complex project that deals with multiple parameters and criteria ranging from public policy to design.

Scenario before Redevelopment

In 2009, the scenario was of a plaza whose original outline could still be traced, but that had been greatly
encroached upon and suffered from intense traffic congestion, no pedestrian demarcation, unorganized
informal activities, unutilized open spaces, haphazard parking, as well as noise and air pollution.

city of Ahmedabad –currently pending for recognition as World Heritage City status- was given a hope to
reflect on this project as a model example for redeveloping other public spaces.

Urban park of Bhadra percinct

40
Redevelopment

The basic principles of the masterplan for redevelopment of Bhadra Precinct were to make the historic core a
walkable precinct, develop pedestrian plazas, promote the use of public transport, develop large parks, conserve
the heritage monuments and make this place a true city centre of Ahmedabad.
The redevelopment plan focuses on very basic aspects of the city to be considered in details; traffic congestion,
no pedestrian demarcation, dense built fabric, unorganised informal activities, scarcity of open spaces, noise
and air pollution.

List of interventions at Bhadra Square

41
 Density distribution
Along with the pedestrianization of the plaza, public access to the Bhadra site by pedestrian friendly lanes as
well as enhancing the connection accross the Sabarmati River through a pedestrian bridge have been proposed.
The project also includes the conservation and adaptative reuse of the Bhadra Fort by the Archeological Survey
of India and the Redevelopment of the Lal Darwaza Bus Terminus in close proximity to the Plaza. The up
gradation of the Bus Terminus also provides an opportunity to meet the parking requirements within the
congested walled city.

Before 2012 and after the 2014 redevelopment plan.

42
Design strategy

The design allows the informal and formal activities occur while maintaining the quality and character of a vast
public space with leisure zones with trees and shade, fountains and seating areas. Some of the other issues the
project addresses are the up gradation of physical elements such as signage, lighting, landscaping and street
furniture. Designed portal columns, arranged along the market space demarcate the commercial activity. These
vertical elements will guide the new location of the stalls and the zones for street vendors, as well as provide
light and structure for the awnings required in monsoon or summer seasons.

43
Impending supposition

Over the time the revitalization of the area will flourish into the consequent up-gradation of the existing
buildings in the surroundings. Given the guidelines for an elevation treatment, many of their upper floors
abandoned and underused will convert into prosperous restaurants, offices or shops.

The impact will spread gradually along the axis of the Plaza into the bazaar street that connects to Manek
Chowk (an open space that hosts commercial and leisure activities) towards the east, and Sabarmati river
towards the west. The city of Ahmedabad –currently pending for recognition as World Heritage City status-
will reflect on this project as a model example for redeveloping other public spaces.

44
2nd International Case study
Super kilen Square , Copenhagen, Denmark

Introduction
Super kilen is a half mile long square designed by BIG Architects in year 2014. Which covers
an area of 30 square metre. An urban space wedging through one of the most ethnically diverse and
socially challenged neighborhoods in Denmark. It has one overarching idea that it is conceived as a
giant exhibition of urban best practice.

Description
a sort of collection of global found objects that come from 60 different nationalities of the people
inhabiting the area surrounding it. Ranging from exercise gear from muscle beach LA to sewage drains
from Israel, palm trees from China and neon signs from Qatar and Russia. Each object is accompanied
by a small stainless plate inlaid in the ground describing the object, what it is and where it is from – in
Danish and in the language(s) of its origin. A sort of surrealist collection of global urban diversity that
in fact reflects the true nature of the local neighborhood – rather than perpetuating a petrified image of
homogenous Denmark.
Superkilen is the result of the creative collaboration between BIG, Topotek1 and SUPERFLEX, which
constitutes a rare fusion of architecture, landscape architecture and art - from early concept to
construction stage.

A world exhibition at nørrebro

Superkilen is a park that supports diversity. It is a world exhibition of furniture and everyday objects
from all over the world, including benches, lampposts, trash cans and plants – requisites that every
contemporary park should include and that the future visitors of the park have helped to select.
Superkilen reattributes motifs from garden history. In the garden, the translocation of an ideal, the
reproduction of another place, such as a far off landscape, is a common theme through time. As the
Chinese reference the mountain ranges with the miniature rocks, the Japanese the ocean with their
rippled gravel, or how the Greek ruins are showcased as replicas in the English gardens. Superkilen is
a contemporary, urban version of a universal garden.

Three zones, three colors – one neighbourhood

The conceptual starting point is a division of Superkilen into three zones and colors – green, black and
red. The different surfaces and colors are integrated to form new, dynamic surroundings for the
everyday objects. The desire for more nature is met through a significant increase of vegetation and
plants throughout the whole neighborhood arranged as small islands of diverse tree sorts, blossom
periods, colors - and origin matching the one of surrounding everyday objects.

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Market/culture/sport – the red square
As an extension of the sports and cultural activities at the Norrebrohall, the Red Square is conceived as
an urban extension of the internal life of the hall. A range of recreational offers and the large central
square allows the local residents to meet each other through physical activity and games. The colored
surface is integrated both in terms of colors and material with the Nørrebrohall and its new main
entrance, where the surface merges inside and outside in the new foyer. The red square is defined by a
street in each end and building and fences along the sides. The edge is moving in and out - and tied the
area together by connecting the surrounding given lines and edges in the big red pattern. A big red
carped stretched out between all sides of the square.

Master plan of the Square

• Fitness area, Thai boxing, playground (slide from Chernobyl, Iraqi swings, Indian climbing
playground), Sound system from Jamaica, a stencil of Salvador Allende, plenty of benches (from
Brazil, classic UK cast Iron litter bins, Iran and Switzerland), bike stands and a parking area.
• Only red trees except the existing ones.
• Basket ball next to parking.

Urban living room – the black square

Mimers Plads is the heart of the Superkilen Masterplan. This is where the locals meet around the
Moroccan fountain, the Turkish bench, under the Japanese cherry-trees as the extension of the
area’s patio. In weekdays, permanent tables, benches and grill facilities serve as an urban living
room for backgammon, chess players etc. The bike traffic is moved to the East side of the Square by
partly solving the problem of height differences towards Midgaardsgade and enable a bike ramp
between Hotherplads and the intersecting bike path connection. Towards North is a hill facing south
with a view to the square and its activity.

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 The black square the black square the green square

The square can be spotted by the big, dentist neon sign from Doha, Qatar. Brazilian bar chairs under
the Chinese palm trees, Japanese octopus playground next to the long row of Bulgarian picnic tables
and Argentinean BBQ’s, Belgian benches around the cherry trees, UV (black light) light highlighting
all white from the American shower lamp, Norwegian bike rack with a bike pump, Liberian cedar trees.

Sport/play – the green park

The activities of the Green Park with its soft hills and surfaces appeals to children, young people and
families. A green landscape and a playground where families with children can meet for picnics,
sunbathing and breaks in the grass, but also hockey tournaments, badminton games and workout
between the hills.

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Views of the square

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Sixty elements of different countries

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 Chapter 4
Site analysis

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Introduction
Quetta is the provincial capital of Baluchistan, Pakistan and 9th largest city of Pakistan. The city is
known as the fruit garden of Pakistan, due to the numerous fruit orchards in and around it, and the large
variety of fruits and dry fruits produced there. The city was also known as Little Paris in the past due to
its beauty and geographical location.
Total Area 2,656 km2
Total population 2.4 million
Elevation 1,680 m (5,510 ft)

Breif history
In 1876 Quetta was occupied by the British and subsequently incorporated into British India. In 1856,
British General John Jacob had urged his government to occupy Quetta given its strategic position on
the western frontier. British Troops constructed the infrastructure for their establishment. By the time
of the earthquake on 31 May 1935, Quetta had developed into a bustling city with a number of
multistorey buildings and so was known as "Little London". The epicenter of the earthquake was close
to the city and destroyed most of the city's infrastructure, killing an estimated 40,000 people.

Geography
The city of Quetta comprises approximately 2,653 km2 and consists of series of valleys which act as a
natural fort surrounded on all sides by a number of imposing hills named Chiltan, Takatoo, Murdar and
Zarghun.

Site Selection Criteria

Due to the strategic location and being a city centre for almost hundreds years the site Meezan chowk
was selected. Because the site itself was recently evacuated as a mutton market was destroyed by the
government having a wide area which was fulfilling the requirement of urban design. As an area of
almost 1.7 Acre is not easily available in commercial zone.

SWOT

Strength
accessible
presence of large vacant spaces
Weaknesses
heavy traffic
lack of pedestrianization
pollution
lack of development
Oportunities
potential to depict the culture
potential of development of landmark
potential for impacting city;s image
Threats
terrorist activities
outlawed building

Analysis is done in 1000 square feet diameter of Meezan chowk.

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 Views of the site

Vendors on the site

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Building Heights

Higher than 35 feet

Higher than 20 feet
Higher than 12 feet

Major Buildings on Site

• Baldia plaza
• Meezan market
• Qudoosi store
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Land use

Patterned commercial zone

Un-patterned commercial zone

Residential zone

Road network

Primary roads Secondary roads

Tertiary roads Nodes

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 Chapter 5
Survey Analysis

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 Public survey was conducted in the site permises to identify the needs and wants of various
social groups, what places they prefer to visit with families and friends. Then what places in the city
peoples avoid and the reason for avoiding them. Then according to peoples what facilities are lacking
on the site and what more facilities should the bazar offer. The answer to all these questions would help
to draw conclusions about the unfulfilled needs of the people and how those needs can be fulfilled in
the project site. Furthermore the commercial activities on the site were taken under observation such as
venders and shoops typologies to get better understanding of the user needs.

Site survey analysis

7%
AGE GROUP GENDER LOCAL/TOURIST
S
10 8 23%
24
77% 93%
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MALE FEMALE LOCAL TOURISTS

18-

commercial activities
Shops
Tea powder shops
Blanket shops
Chicken meat shops
Offices
Departmental stores
Restaurants
Hotels
Foot wear shops
Garment shops
Vendors
There are almost 87 venders on the site selling different things such as.
Fruit sellers 25
Food stalls 18
Garments stalls 12
Jewellery venders 15

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Eggs stalls 4
Newspaper venders 7
Plant venders 6
Labours 15-20

User analysis

FREE TIME SPENDING SAFETY CHART

0%
CHART
10%
11%
31%
59%

89%

YES NO POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT

CONSIDERATION OF SORT OF
SPENDING TIME CHART TRANSPORTATION
4%
11%
31% 37%
32%
57%

SHOPPING
JUST WALKING THROUGH
28%
MEETING FRIENDS Own car Rickshaw Bike Other

PARKING FACILITY CHART ACTIVITIES

4% ON THE SITE
0%
17%
27%

56% 96%
Poor Fair Good Excellent Commercial Social

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Traffic survey analysis

SHARA E LIAQUAT ALAMDAR ROAD

AVERAGE TRAFFIC FLOW AVERAGE TRAFFIC FLOW
1000 1200
900 1000
800
700 800
600 600
500 400
400
300 200
200 0
100 10am 1pm to 4pm to 7pm to
0 to 1pm 4pm 7pm 10pm
10am 1pm to 4pm to 7pm to
to 1pm 4pm 7pm 10pm per min 23 19 14 7
per min 18 15 14 9 per 15 min 92 76 56 28
per 15 min 72 60 56 36 perhour 368 304 224 112
perhour 288 240 224 144 per 3 hour 1104 912 672 336
per 3 hour 864 720 672 432 stay 220 180 128 73
stay 150 138 127 82 per min per 15 min perhour
per min per 15 min perhour per 3 hour stay per 3 hour stay

CIRCULAR ROAD JINNAH ROAD

AVERAGE TRAFFIC FLOW AVERAGE TRAFFIC FLOW
140 1400
120 1200
100 1000
80 800
60 600
40 400
20 200
0 0
10am 1pm to 4pm to 7pm to 10am 1pm to 4pm to 7pm to
to 1pm 4pm 7pm 10pm to 1pm 4pm 7pm 10pm
per min 3 4 2 1 per min 27 23 25 18
per 15 min 8 11 7 2 per 15 min 108 92 100 72
perhour 24 44 28 6 perhour 432 368 400 288
per 3 hour 72 132 84 18 per 3 hour 1300 1100 1200 865
stay 14 26 16 2 stay 26 22 24 16

per min per 15 min perhour per min per 15 min perhour
per 3 hour stay per 3 hour stay

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 TOWARDS KASI ROAD AVERAGE PARKING ON
AVERAGE TRAFFIC FLOW SITE
300
250 800
200 700
150 600
100
50 500
0 400
10am 1pm to 4pm to 7pm to
to 1pm 4pm 7pm 10pm 300
per min 6 3 5 3 200
100
per 15 min 21 12 16 12
0
perhour 84 48 64 48 cars bikes
per 3 hour 250 145 192 148 1 to half hour 670 730
stay 50 28 38 28 2 to 3 hour 150 450
whole day 230 320
per min per 15 min perhour
per 3 hour stay 1 to half hour 2 to 3 hour whole day

Conclusion
Survey was conduct to know what kind of space city habitants want for shopping, spending time and
how they experience the bazar what are their thoughts about an Urban square and what kind of facilities
they want during shopping and gathering. And what are the negative aspects of bazar which a citizen
want to escape and which things can add to give comfort to users?
The result is to design an urban space where peoples have nearby shops, separate pedestrian walkway,
Legibility and Recreational hub where they can eat, shop and have fun during spending time in bazar.

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Chapter 6
Design

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Design strategy
my vision Is to create a space to maintain the commercial spaces and provide a recreational space to
entertain the residents of the city that improves peoples perception and enhance public experience and
the inhabitants could affiliate with the space and its surrounding to own their city. Following are the
goals inorder to achieve the success of this square.

• Provision of appealing living, working and playing environment

• Encourage people to have healthy lifestyle and well-being through active and passive pastime
(leisure), in a type of organized activities, walking and social interaction.
• Destination for visitors and tourists
• High quality public space attracts trade and investment
• Commitment to scene and visual convenience
• Opportunity for informal learning
• Central location for events and activities
• Opportunity for community preservation and participation, increased public awareness and
upgrading.
Policy

Roads: policy to pedestrianize the whole area inorder to create a more vacant space for the design. The
roads are provided under passes.

Vender’s sgtratey: providing a legal space to vendors on meezan chowk. With maximum resistance
from the climatic condition and wide open façade of the vendors shop,

Elevation strategy: to provoke the affiliation and to pursue sense of ownness of the city the elevations
were designed on colonial architecture. Which will develop the character of the historical site. The
elevations of existing buildings were modified

Urban park strategy: urban park is designed keeping in mind the cultural background of the city as
well as the modern luxuries. On the other hand active and passive engagement, formal and informal
sitting spaces are introduced. Which can resist the harsh climatic conditions of city

Monument strategy: A monument is designed as a landmark for the city with the context of fusing
the colonial, barohi and tent architecture of quetta city.

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SITE PLAN

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 legends

1: pathways
2: underpass
3: kiosks
4: verandas
5: proposed shops
6: monument
7: seating spaces
8: kids play area
9: fountain
10: glass room

LAYOUT PLAN

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 FOOD VENDER PLAN VENDOR PLAN

SECTION VENDOR SHOP UNDERPASS ROUTE PLAN

PROPOSSED ELEVATIONS

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 SIDE ELEVATION BALDIA PLAZA

FRONT ELEVATION BALDIA PLAZA

FRONT ELEVATION QUDOOSI MARKET

FRONT ELEVATION MEEZAN MARKET

SIDE ELEVATION MEEZAN MARKET

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Views

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68
References

http://brgov.com/dept/planning/design/pdf/urbandesignhandbook.pdf
Urbandesignhandbook
2012-nacto-urban-street-design-guide
CompStManual
Urban Street (Istiklal) book
Kevin_Lynch-_The_Image_of_The_City Book
http://www.streetsblog.org/
http://bostoncompletestreets.org/
http://velvetandvino.com/
Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets
www.colourbox.com
Time-Saver Standards for Urban Design
http://www.ierek.com/news/index.php/2018/08/08/climate-change-issues-solutions/

https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=yC2cBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=reconstructio
n+of+lijnbaan+street&source=bl&ots=kKiBYV_6Xq&sig=6qyzLULMyN7qP1fPnSpRSBS-
ras&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj16LjN6J_dAhVElCwKHZ7jA0IQ6AEwCnoECAMQAQ#v=onepage
&q=reconstruction%20of%20lijnbaan%20street&f=false

http://www.archinomy.com/forum/students-corridor/937/all-possible-topics-for-architectural-
thesis

https://www.scribd.com/document/92721123/b-Architecture-Thesis-List

http://www.pbscensus.gov.pk/content/population-census-0

https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Urban_Square

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/search?key=urban%20squares for urban books sign in

http://www.urbansquares.com/

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