M USI RIVE RF R ON T D E V E LOP M E N T

MORA PAVAN KALYAN

1 6 2 7 1 A A 0 2 4

GUIDE : HARISH VANGARA

COORDINATOR : KALPANA RAGHAVENDRA

“ As an architect you design for the present, with an
awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially
unknown.”

– Norman Foster
 C O N T E N T S

1 . I N T R O D U C T I O N 0 1
1.1 River - City Relationship
1.2 Riverfronts as a public space

2 . A B O U T H Y D E R A B A D 0 5
2.1 Geography and growth pattern
2.2 Demographics
2.3 Economy

3 . A B O U T M U S I R I V E R 0 9
3.1 History
3.2 River bed activities
3.3 Compositions of raw waste water in river musi
3.4 Physical Features of Musi River

4 . E A R L I E R S T U D I E S A N D P R O J E C T S 14
4.1 Sir Visvesvaraya report of 1930 on city
improvement scheme for Hyderabad city
4.2 Nandanvanam ( 2000 )

5 . S T A N D A R D S 1 7
5.1 Pedestrian circulation
5.2 Site Furniture 24

6 . D E S K T O P S T U D Y 3 5
6.1 Chicago Riverfront
6.2 Sabarmathi Riverfront 41

7 . S Y N A P S I S 4 5

1.INTRODUCTION
ABOUT RIVERFRONT

A riverfront is a region along a river. Often in larger cities that are traversed or bordered by
one or more rivers, the riverfront is lined with marinas, docks, cafes, museums, parks, or mi-
nor attractions. Today many riverfronts are a staple of modernism and city beautification.

River beautification is the process of making visual improvements to a town, city, or ur-
ban area. This most often involves planting trees, shrubbery, and other greenery, but frequent-
ly also includes adding decorative or historic-style street lights and other lighting and replac-
ing broken pavement, often with brick or other natural materials. Old-fashioned cobblestones
are sometimes used for crosswalks; they provide the additional benefit of slowing motorists.

Beautification projects are often undertaken by city councils to refurbish their downtown ar-
eas, in order to boost tourism or other commerce. Often, this is also spurred by broken side-
walks, which pose a safety hazard for pedestrians and potentially insurmountable obsta-
cles for wheelchair users. These projects are frequently part of other larger projects such as
construction, especially in conjunction with ones for transit, such as streets and roads and mass transit.


1.1 Ri v e r- C i t y R e l a t i o n s h i p

a.Suppliers of fresh water to the city

b.Carriers of rainwater and wastewater

c.Rivers are entry corridors of a city

d.Means of transportation of goods and people

e.Source of employment for people associated with water-related business activities like fishery.

f.Rivers are site for religious activities in many Indian cities. It becomes major source of income.

g.Rivers are also sometimes major tourist attraction and hence becomes an important source of income.

h.Rivers banks have also been sites where initial agricultural lands came up.

1.2 Ri v e r fro n t s a s a p u b l i c s p ace

Riverfronts help in connecting the people living in a city with its river. It is an interface between the
city and the river. The riverfront may or may not contribute to the identity of the city.. However, a good
riverfront development should integrate river with its city and make its people identify with the river.
Riverfronts are public space accessible by all. A public space is a gathering place which helps in promot-
ing social interaction and sense of community. There are minimum standards for a "good" public space
which may be relevant to riverfronts as well According to American Planning Association a good public
space should have the following characteristics:

a.It should promote human contact and social activities.

b.It is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for all users.

c.It has design and architectural features that are visually interesting.

d.It promotes community involvement.

e.It reflects the local culture or history.

f.It relates well to bordering uses.

g.It is well maintained.

h.Has a unique or special character.


“ When I’m working on a problem, I never think
about beauty. But when I’ve finished, if the solution is
not beautiful I know it’s wrong.”

– Buckminster Fuller
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
2.A B OU T HYDERABAD

Hyderabad was founded at the end of the 16th Century as the capital of the Golconda Kingdom. Under
the Golconda rulers, it grew from a small fortification on the southern banks of the Musi to a planned
city with iconic "Charminar" at its center. Subsumed for a period under the Mughal Empire, Hyderabad
emerged as an independent princely state in 1724. It remained semi-independent under Colonial rule,
governed indirectly by the British. The wealthy and powerful Nizams of Hyderabad, modernized the
city, adopting new methods of town planning and building public works, including lakes, reservoirs and
railroads. In 1948, the newly independent Indian state took control of the city. Hyderabad remained as
the capital of the linguistic state of Andhra Pradesh until 2014, when the state of Telangana was created.

Hyderabad is the capital of southern India's Telangana state. A major center for the technology indus-
try, it's home to many upscale restaurants and shops. Its historic sites include Golconda Fort, a former
diamond-trading center that was once the Qutb Shahi dynastic capital. The Charminar, a 16th-century
mosque whose 4 arches support towering minarets, is an old city landmark near the long-standing Laad
Bazaar.

Hyderabad is dynamic, culturally-diverse metropolis in Southern India, with a rich history and a prom-
ising future. The 400-year old city is the capital of the newly-formed state of Telangana, created in 2014
and a hub for India's bio-tech, pharmaceutical and information technology industries. Like many cities in
India, Hyderabad faces the challenges of rapid and unplanned urban growth, inadequate infrastructure,
socio-spatial inequality and environmental pollution. The Government of Telangana's project to revital-
ize the Musi River aims to address these challenges on multiple fronts, while also enhancing the city's
cultural resources and public spaces.


2.1 G e o g r a p h y a n d G ro w t h P at t ern s :

Hyderabad has grown along the banks of the River Musi, spreading north-
ward across the river in the post-independence period. The city is surround-
ed by an extended metropolitan region known as Greater Hyderabad. The
metro region is encircled by a high-speed expressway, the Outer Ring Road
(ORR).

2.2 De m o g r a p h i c s :

Hyd e r a b a d i s am ongst the fastest g r owing me tr opolita n r e-

g i o n s i n I n d i a , w ith a population of 9 .5 million. Thr e e - f our th
o f t h e m e t r o p opulation lives w ithin the c ity/ munic ipa l a r e a ,
al t h o u g h p o p u lation grow th is faster in the oute r r e gion of
Grea t e r H y d e r abad.

Hyd e r a b a d ' s p o pulation is linguistic a lly & c ultur a lly dive r se

and t h e c i t y ' s grow ing service economy a ttr a c ts high- skill
m i g r a n t s f r o m all over India.

Abo u t 3 0 p e r cent of the city' s popu la tion live s in slum se t-

t l eme n t s, w h i ch are distributed through the c ity. Re side nts
i n s l u m s h a v e insufficient access to ba sic inf r a str uc tur e , se r-
v i ce s a n d a m e n ities, from clean w ate r a nd sa nita tion to pa r ks
and o p e n sp a c e s.

2.3 E c o no my :

Hyderabad has a dynamic economy centered on services. It is a major hub

for bio-tech and IT in India, along with pharmaceuticals, chemicals, gems
& jewelry, textiles and trade. The thriving Telugu language film industry is
centered in Hyderabad.

While hi-tech industries dominate policy and media coverage, Hyderabad

has a large informal sector, which provides jobs and services for large num-
bers of the city's residents. The city's informal workers include street ven-
dors, waste pickers & recyclers, small-scale manufacturers & traders and

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

3.A B OU T MUS I RI VER

3 . 1 H i s to r y

When Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (fifth king of the Quli Qutb Shahi dynasty) decided to shift his capital
outside the Golconda Fort and founded Hyderabad in 1591, the location was strategically chosen - to
build a new city on the banks of the Musi river.

But in 1908, a heavy downpour resulted in Hyderabad witnessing devastating floods, killing thousands.
The incident prompted Osman Ali Khan (1911-1948)), the seventh and last Nizam of the erstwhile state
of Hyderabad, to construct the Osmansagar and Himayathsagar lakes in the first half of the 20th century,
about 30 km away from the city, to check water from flowing into the river.

While that solved the flooding problem, it killed the river. Today Musi has become an cesspool that flows
57km across Hyderabad today, something that Osman Ali Khan probably would have never envisaged.

Today, anyone visiting the old city and other areas like Golconda cannot miss the stench, with the city's
sewerage being pumped into the Musi, which is a tributary of the Krishna river, the fourth biggest in
India.

The Musi river gets its names from two streams namely Moosa and Esi which converge at the Tipu
Khan bridge in the Golconda area. The 57-km stretch begins from the Osmansagar and Hi-
mayathsagar lakes, cuts across Hyderabad at various places and ends near Gowrelli village in

The Musi River originates in the Anantagiri hills and flows into the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar res-
ervoirs, it consists of 2 rivulets Esi (8 kms) and Musa (13 kms) which then converge into Musi River
thus being the water sources for Hyderabad for over a century. The reservoirs were constructed in the
Nizam's reign after devastating floods in 1908. Land around the reservoirs is a Government protected
conservation area.

The Musi then flows eastward through Hyderabad, bifurcating the urban agglomeration. The old city lies
to the south of the river; while post-1960s urban development expanded to the north.

Within Hyderabad, the Musi runs nearly dry. The loss of water is likely to be caused due to the impound-
ing of river water in reservoirs and the degradation of catchment areas. Unchecked urban development
and construction over natural rainwater channels and water tanks have disrupted the drainage patterns
of the region. Untreated sewage as well as industrial effluents now flow into the river, which is severely
polluted. Hyderabad's major interstate bus terminus is located on a River island (see "Landmark Trans-
formation" site), on environmentally sensitive land.

There are several slum settlements along the Musi Riverbanks. The riverbed is used in places by local
communities for bathing, washing clothes, cultivation and grazing.

Downstream from Hyderabad city, the Musi River has 24 diversion weirs for irrigation, locally known
as kathwas. Irrigation and drinking water for villages downstream is heavily polluted with waste from
the city.

3.2 Ri v e r be d a c t i v i t i e s

The river survey reveals varied socio-cultural and economic activities in the vriverbed and also along the
river, there are as follow:

Graveyards, mosques and temples :

The riverbed and areas immediately adjacent to the river are interspersed with many small mosques
and temples, graveyards and burning Ghats in the riverbed and along the banks especially between the
stretch from puranapul to nayapul and around chaderghat bridge.

Dhobi Ghats :

Dhobi ghats are one of the economic activities utilizing the riverbed. This activity is spread all along the
stretch from bapughat to chaderghat bridge, due to easy accessibility to relatively clean water.


Plantations :

Portions of the riverbed and flood plains are also used for plantations. These plantations are mostly
seen around nayapul and chaderghat bridge and the stretch
From amberpet to nagole. The plantations mainly consist of coconuts, and bananas.

Soil characteristics :

The soil of river musi has been developed from alluvial materials deposited on the flood plains of the
rivers.

Physical properties :

The soil is ranging from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Clay loam in patches does exits. Due to pres-
ence of sufficient quantities of organic matter the soil structure is granular to sub-granular rocky. The
riverbed does not contain sand beds.

Chemical properties :

Analysis carried out by the office of the joint director of agriculture. Hyderabad on 40 soil samples
revealed the presence of soluble salts in the range of 0.15 to 1.5 milli Mhos/cm in about 92.5% of the
samples. It was further analyses from the soil tests that these soluble salts could be leached down by
flooding. The PH in 26 soil samples was recorded as neutral and in the remaining 14 it was recorded as
weakly alkaline.

Pit profile observation revealed that the sub- surface soil was mostly alkaline. The nitrogen and potas-
sium content of soil was found to be high. Nonetheless, the phosphorous content was low. In general
the fertility status of the soil could be rated as medium to high. The deficiencies could be rectified by
use if fertilizers. Presence of toxic elements, such as boron, lithium, cadmium, lead, fluorine, etc. is
also suspected downstream of the Hussain sagar overflow nala.

Environmental issues :

The main environmental concerns are river water pollution and ground water pollution. Organic waste,
pathogenic microorganisms, radioactivity, industrial activates, and organic and inorganic chemicals
pollute the river.


3.3 Co mpo s it i o n s o f r a w w a s te wat er in river m u si

Total solids : 1200 mg/l

Suspended solids 2500 mg/l

:
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) 30-200 mg/l
:
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) 300-500 mg/l
:
chlorides 1000 mg/l
:


3 . 4 Phy s i c a l F e a t u re s o f Mu si River

a.Length of the River From tipu khan bridge to 19.90 km

nagole bridge along the deepest level longitudi
nal section level

37.00m
b.Maximum Drop In the river from tipu khan
bridge to Nagole bridge.

1:601
c.Slope of the river puranapul to chaderghat
bridge.

d.Width (from top edge to top edge)

244m
Average
140m
Modal

e.Height of the north bank 6.25m

Average

f.Height of the south bank 1.7m

Min (747 downstream of Chaderghat bridge) 11.4m

Max (1696 m downstream of Attapur bridge) 6.5m

Average


4 . E AR L IE R S TUDI ES AND PRO J ECTS

4.1 Sir Visvesvaraya report of 1930 on city improvement scheme for Hyderabad
city

Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya is known for designing one of the best flood management systems of
his time. As an engineer, he was instrumental in the construction of dams, reservoirs and hydro-power
projects across the Deccan.

In Hyderabad, following a catastrophic flood in 1908, Sir Visvesvaraya’s services were requested by the
Nizam’s government in the construction of a flood protection system and a drainage system for the city.
Sir Visvesvaraya proposed the construction of storage reservoirs of adequate capacity above the city,
which proved effective in controlling future floods. In order to keep sewage from flowing into the river
and prevent mosquito breeding, he built a sewage farm and laid pipes to carry the city’s sewage there.

Our smart city planners need to take lessons from the work of this genius town-planner. Below are edited
excerpts from his autobiography: "Memoirs of my Working-Life".

The river Musi passes through the city of Hyderabad (Deccan) and divides it into two parts. On 28 Sep-
tember 1908, a cyclonic flood of unusual intensity passed through the middle of this city. The rainfall
recorded at Shamshabad, one of the principal rain-gauge stations in the catchment area, was 12.8 inches
in 24 hours and 18.90 inches in 48 hours. This fall resulted in the most destructive flood that had been
witnessed in Hyderabad City for over three-quarters of a century.

The northern bank of the river was on a lower level than the southern one. The river basin above the city
abounded in small tanks, there being 788 tanks in a basin of 860 square miles, roughly at the rate of one
tank for every square mile of catchment. The valley of the Musi River which caused this flood consisted
of two rainfall basins — the Musi proper with a catchment of 285 square miles and the Easi (Electronic
Access to Securities Information) with one of 525 square miles. From the levels marked by the flood it
was calculated that the discharge began with 1,10,000 cu. secs and rose to a maximum of 4,25,000 cu.
secs. In the valleys of these rivers every tank of any consequence gave way. In all 221 tanks are reported
to have breached, of which 182 were in the Easi (Electronic Access to Securities Information) catchment
and 39 in the Musi.

Works of sir Visvesvaraya in Hyderabad city

To advise and assist in the reconstruction of Hyderabad City;

To frame proposals for future protection of the city from floods; and

To prepare a complete scheme of drainage for the Hyderabad City and Chadarghat.


4 . 2 Na ndan v a n a m ( 2 0 0 0 )

K e y F e a t u re s

a.The stretch of musi dealt by the proposal was from puranapul to chaderghat bridge, a
length of 4 km.

b.Proposed redesign / broadening of 14 surrounding roads and 16 congested junctions.

c.Proposed localized STPS and rationalization of stormwater drains and use of public lands.

d.Proposed heritage and nature walk along with a suspension bridge across the river.

e.Proposed ritualization of burial Ghats / cremation Ghats and Dobhi Ghats.

f.The project is planned to be self financing through private sector partnership.

g.Rehabilitated about 1300 families from river banks to Nandanvanam colony.

4 . 3 Ar. H a f e e z c o n t r a c t o r p rop osal ( 2018 )

K e y F e a t u re s

a.Two stretches, heritage precinct from high court to Salar Jung museum, a length of 1.5 km and gar-
-den zone from amberpet to nagole ring road bridge, 2 km

b.The heritage precinct has three major components viz, commercial zone, cultural village and enter-
-tainment area.

c.Proposal rationalization of Burial Ghats / Cremation Ghats and Dobhi Ghats

d.The garden zone has IT parks, housing and commercial spaces.

e.The riverbed is redesigned, so as to gain space for commercial development thus changing the hydrau
lic properties of the river greatly.

f.Proposed an total 2000 acres of urban commercial development.


“A doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can
only advise his clients to plant vines.”

– Frank Lloyd Wright


5 . S TA N D A R D S

5.1 P e des trian Circulatio n

A. G e ne r a l

Pedestrian circulation systems fall into two broad categories :

(1) those where the basic structure of a system already exists and
(2) those where no circulation currently exists .

With existing systems, projects typically involve aesthetic enhancement of the system by provision of
various amenities improved views, conveniences, and imageability. This type of work involves improve-
ment of the “pedestrian experience” as much as it involves improvement of the functional aspects of the
system .

In the case of new systems, circulation must first be laid out according to proposed origin and destination
points and must have adequate width to accommodate expected loads of pedestrian traffic during peak
periods of use . Part of this process includes studying aesthetic aspects which will be carefully integrated
with the functional aspects of the proposed system .


B. Di me ns i o n a l C r i t e r i a
Human Dimensions and Activity.

Figure 1 illustrates approximate dimensions of human figures in various activity positions. Spatial
requirements differ in various regions and between different cultures as a function of accustomed densi-
ties of people, heritage, and social and environmental values .

Figure-1 Human dimensions in various activity positions


Forward Spatial Bubbles:

Forward spatial bubbles, as illustrated in Figure 1.1, refer to the extent of unobstructed forward vision
held to be psychologically comfortable for the average pedestrian under various circumstances . As
mentioned previously, the spatial requirements for psychological comfort will differ across regions and
cultures . This information is useful when calculating the amount of clear space necessary to accom-
modate expected numbers of people when the intent is to maintain a reasonable degree of psycholog-
ical comfort . Use of a mathematical formula to determine minimum walkway widths requires that a
decision be made on an acceptable spatial bubble for each walkway being considered .

F i g u r e - 1 . 1 Forward spatial bubbles.

C. Pa thway Wi d t h a n d S l o p e Crit eria

G e n e r a l C o n sid erations:

Wi d t h s o f p e destrian pathw ays va r y de pe nding on the pur pose a nd the e xistin g or

expected intensity of use. In general, a 600 mm (24 in) width for each pedestrian is necessary. which
suggests a minimum pathway width of 1 200 mm (4 ft) for public walkways. When pedestrian flows
are significant and greater precision required in the determination of walkway width, minimum accept-
able widths of a pathway can be calculated using the formula given below.

It is important to remember that pedestrians as a group typically do not use the entire width of most
walkways. The edge of a walkway adjacent to a curbed roadway (i.e., 750 mm (30 in) from the street
edge) is avoided by pedestrians, as is the edge of a walkway along a building facade (i.e.. 450 to 750
mm (18 to 30 in). These edges are used only under conditions of high pedestrian density. The presence
of street furniture and fea-tures such as tire hydrants, trees, parking meters, telephones. trash recepta-
cles. fountains, sculpture. and kiosks also reduces the effective width of a pathway.


Wal k w a y S l o pe C riteria:

Figure 1.2 provides longitudinal and cross-slope criteria for walkways under various circumstances
Longitudinal slope criteria are based on user abilities and design objectives, and cross-slope criteria are
based on the need for positive drainage, depending on paving material . Porous paving, for instance, does
not require as much of a cross-slope for drainage as a nonporous paving material .

LONGITUDINAL SLOPE
0 TO 3% SLOPES PREFERRED
5% SLOPES MXIMUM
5 TO 10% SLOPES POSSIBLE IF
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS PERMIT
5 TO 8% SLOPES ARE CONSIDERED
RAMPS

PATHWAY WIDTH

CROSS- SLOPE

1% CROSS-SLOPE MINIMUM
(DEPENDING ON MATERIAL)
2% CROSS-SLOPE TYPICAL
3% CROSS-SLOPE MAXIMUM

F i g u r e - 1 . 2 Wa lkwa y Slope Cr ite r ia


D . Sta i r wa y s

Widths:

Minimum width for public stairways should be 1 500 mm (60

in). Minimum width for private staiways should be 1 050 mm
(42 in).

Tread-Riser Ratios:

Tread-riser ratios are always held constant within any particu-

lar stairway or set of stairways, for ease of ascent or descent,
and for safety reasons. On rare occasions riser heights in stair-
ways will vary (e.g.,
stairways built obliquely into a slope), but these are hazard-
ous and should be avoided whenever possible. On very gentle
slopes of 0.5 to 2.0 percent, a stairway can be built to slope
with the grade rather than remain level, in order to keep the
bottom riser at a constant dimension. In addition, or as an al-
ternative, the bottom of stairway grade (B.S.) can be warped to
maintain a constant along the edge of the bottom tread.

Occasionally, tread widths also vary for aesthetic reasons and

this is generally found to be acceptable as long as it is under-
stood that ascending or descending such stairways, typically
referred to as terraced plazas, is often cumbersome. This is
generally acceptable because terraced plazas are typically used
as informal gathering places rather than purely utilitarian tran-
sitional spaces.

In dimensionally unconstrained situa-tions, employing a

tread-riser ratio is up to the discretion of the designer. Choice
of a ratio will depend on the desired appearance and kines-
thetic experience. In dimensionally constrained situations (i.e.,
where the elevations of both the top and the bottom of a stair-
way, or a set of stairways, are given) an appropriate tread-riser
ratio has to be determined that will allow a given number of
steps (including landings if necessary) to “fit” into the space.
Figure 1.3 is a quick-reference chart of typical tread-riser
ratios for outdoor stairways. As an alternative to tread-riser
charts, the following formula is commonly used to determine
acceptable tread-riser ratios for outdoor stairways, especially
when fractions of an inch are involved.

2R + T = 650 to 675 mm (26 to 27 in)

where R = riser T = tread

F i g u r e - 1 . 3 Quic k r e f e r e nc e c h a r t


Additional Considerations:

1. Outdoor stairways should be made easier to ascend and descend than interior stairways. People tend
to move at greater rates outdoors than they do indoors.

2. Inherent to a particular tread-riser ratio is the ease at which the stairway can be ascended or descend-
ed, and consequently, the sense of rhythm to be experienced by the pedestrian. Ideally, the aesthetic
character of a stairway should be congruent with the character of the environment in which the stair-
way is a part.

3. Single steps in a walkway are very dangerous and should never be specified. At least two steps,
but preferably three, should be specified, and their presence should be announced conspicuously with
railings, plantings, or lighting.

4. Risers for outdoor stairways should be a minimum of 115 mm (4.5 in) and a maximum of 150 mm
(6 in). Under utilitarian circumstances a 175 (7 in) riser may be considered.

5. Treads should be pitched downgrade 2 percent for drainage.

Nosing and Shadow Line Profiles: Shadow lines are often included in steps for aesthetic reasons, used
mainly to give a “refined” look to a stairway. They can, however, be hazardous if large enough to catch
the toes of pedestrians. Nosings can also catch toes unless they are rounded.

Figure1.4 shows various nosing and shadow line profiles, some of which are potentially hazardous and
therefore not recommended, particularly in public areas.

Height between Landings:

Height between stairway landings is an important criterion for psychological reasons as well as for
reasons of human endurance. Although many building codes state maximum heights of 3 600 mm (12
ft), lesser heights are recommended.

F i g u r e - 1 . 4 Typical n osing a nd sha dow line pr of ile s .


E . Ram p s

Wi d t h s:

Ramp widths are determined according to the type and intensity of use. One-way travel requires a
minimum width of 900 mm (3 ft) clear, whereas two-way travel requires a clear minimum width
of 1 500 mm (5 ft) (Figure 1.5 ). If turns occur at landings, adequate space for maneuvering wheel-
chairs must be provided. (Refer to the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines
(ADAAG) for a comprehensive compilation of dimensional criteria and to state and local codes.)

Slope Criteria:

Ramp slopes should be no greater than 1:12 or 8.33 percent. Curb cuts are an exception, 1:8 or 12
percent being acceptable if the running distance is less than 900 mm (3 ft).

Distance between Landings:

Landings should be provided within every 9 000 mm (30 ft) or less of ramp length (Figure 1.5 ).

F i g u r e - 1 . 5 D im ensiona l c r ite r ia f or two- wa y ha ndic a p r a mp


5.2 Si te Fur n i t u re

A.G e n e r a l

lements placed in a landscape or streetscape for comfort, convenience, information, circulation control,
protection, and user enjoyment are collectively referred to as site furniture . Benches, bollards, signage,
lighting, tree grates, and utility boxes are but a few examples . Their design and placement require care-
ful consideration, involving several factors, each of which is described in this section

B.D e si g n c o n s iderations

S el e c t i o n P ro c ess

Figure 2 illustrates how site furniture and features can be selected by careful evaluation of stated site
objectives and use criteria .

These objectives and needs are matched

with a range of alternatives, such as
whether to select the elements from ex-
isting ready-made sources, make modi-
fications to such manufactured designs,
or develop a new design

Key factors in the process of either se-

lecting ready-made or custom design-
ing elements are :
(1) availability of each unit,
(2) maintenance requirements,
(3) initial and lifetime costs, and
(4) whether the solution will be con-
sistent with the overall design of the F i g u r e - 2 Se le c tion pr oc e ss dia gr a m.
project .

Desi g n El e m e n ts

The categories of design elements ,ummarized in Figures 2.1 through 2.2 illustrate a range of designs,
materials, and uses of site furniture for various purposes . These figures show basic components of each
element, along with generic examples .

Diagrams and notes illustrating site concepts are included to further aid the designer. Appropriateness is
the key to the siting and design of these elements. Only after careful inventory and evaluation of these
critical design objectives and criteria can proper concepts and solutions for placement and design be
made for these elements .


Figure-2.1 Seating.


 F i g u r e - 2 . 2 S h e l t e r.


Figure-2.3 Convenience elements
.

 Figure-2.4 Information.


Figure-2.5 Lighting.


 Figure-2.6 Traffic control and protection.

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F i g u r e - 2 . 7 U t i l i t i e s v.

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 Figure-2.8 Special features.

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“Architecture is really about well-being. I think that
people want to feel good in a space… On the one hand
it’s about shelter, but it’s also about pleasure.”

– Zaha Hadid

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“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for
design.”

– Charles Eames

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6.DESKTOP STUDY

6 . 1 CH I CA G O R I V E R F R O NT

Chicago is the third most populous city in United States. It is located in north eastern Illinois on the
south western shores of Lake Michigan. The city lies along the three freshwater sources: Lake Mich-
igan and two rivers: the Chicago River and the Calumet River. The world-class city is known for its
architecture. cuisine and leading cultural institutions.

‘Chicago also has a reputation as one of the friendliest and most walk able cities in the U.S., with a
breath taking lakefront that’s so close to all the action.’

The city’s history and economy is closely linked to the Lake. The Chicago river handled the cargo . the
Lake now handles the huge freighters. The lake also affects the micro-climate of the place by making
the local area warmer during winters and cooler during the summers.

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The Chicago river wasn’t as clean as it looks today. It was seen as a dump yard in the Early 20th century.
The sewage system at that time was very primitive. The waste was directly discharged into either Lake
Michigan or the river which flowed into the lake. According to the Chicago River website, the carcasses
discharged into river released methane gas and produced foul smelling bubbles. This killed the vegeta-
tion and small animals living along the river. People got diseased with cholera, typhoid fever and dysen-
tery. The situation of the river was appalling and it needed to be addressed immediately.

In 1887, the govemment decided to reverse the flow of river with the help of engineers. They built Chi-
cago Sanitary and Ship canal to reverse the flow of river from eastwards to westwards. The human and
industrial waste was carried from Lake Michigan to Mississippi river through Des Plaines and Illinois
rivers.ln 1909 , the government started a beautification drive. It re-claimed the lake front for public and
created parks and playground for the citizens.

Daniel Burnham proposed the straitening of river channel and was publically approved. A new channel
was dug in and the river was straightened According to the Chicago Public Library. the revenue of the
adjacent property increased which invited people to the river front.

In 1998. the water quality of the Chicago river was declared to be fair(City search website, 2000).The
new, clean river invited prospective neighbors to invest in land adjacent to the river.

The North branch has about 8 parks along its branch which gives it suburban feels.
The Main branch runs along through the heart of the city and it provides space for recreational activities.
The location of the Riverwalk and its linkage with the other places in the city makes it more accessible.
There are spaces along the river for walking dining and interacting with people which makes it alive both
during day and night time. Water taxis and city tour boats increases tourist activity. Apartments and lofts
have been added so that the residents can enjoy the view.

A part of riverfront near Centennial Fountain was developed by a private firm Lohan Associates. The
area developed with mixed land-use consisting of hotels. apartments and commercial space together. It
contains major public spaces like River Esplanade, Major Ogden park, Major Ogden Slip Promenade
and the Centennial Fountain.
The points that were kept in mind which developing this space were:

• Creating well articulated space consisting of mixed land use along with parks
• Addressing the River, Ogden slip and the Lake.
• Strong emphasis on quality, functionality and sense of place.

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The Main branch is being further developed by the government. It is trying to revitalize the river walk
for improved connectivity and usability. Their goal is to create a continuous path along the rivers edge
which is about one mile from Lake Michigan to Lake street It envisions a number of new functions along
the river which will transform experience.

The waterfront development authority is trying to transform a apart of Chicago real estate which has
underutilized for a long time. The path continuously changes in shape and forms and provides opportu-
nity to have multiple connections with the river. Each block between two bridges takes a different based
typology. The different spaces include :

The Marina Plaza: This includes restaurants with outdoor seating providing view of the river. It also
includes passing barges. water taxis and sightseeing boats.

The Cove: This provides physical connections with the water through recreation.

The River Theatre: This is composed of landscape staircase with trees which offers seating space pedes-
trian connectivity with the water edge

The Water Plaza: A water feature offers an opportunity for children and families to engage with water at
the rivers edge.

The Jetty: It contains a series of piers and floating wetlands which provides opportunity for interacting
leaning about the ecology of the river. It also includes opportunities for fishing.

The Boardwalk: An accessible walkway and new marine edge create continuous access to Lake Street
and sets the scene for future development in this critical space at the confluence.

The river walk contains unique features like :

Centennial Fountain: West of rivers mouth sits the centennial fountain which shoats a powerful arc of
water every hour for 10 minutes.

• Chicago Rising from the Lake: Its is a permanently installed relief sculpture along the river walk Which
commemorates Chicago’s contribution in the industry and commerce.

• Bridge House: It is another feature which sits on the river walk and runs free exhibit showcasing history
of the river.

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The following are the principles were achieved which make this riverfront successful:

• To improve the quality of the lake water.

• To make the Lake front an active public space
• To improve connections with the neighborhood commercial and residential district to improve acces-
sibility.
• To improve lakefront trial system.
• To make this space the identity of the city.
• To improve vertical connections to the lake front.
• To ensure mixed- use development of the edges.
• To improve livability and connectivity of the city.
• Improve water transportation.

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SAB ARM AT I R I V E R F R O NT DEVELOP MENT

Sabarmati River originates from Aravalli hills in Rajasthan and flows down to Gujrat to meet Arabian
Sea at Bay of Khambhat. It has a total length of 371km. The river is the lifeline of Ahmedabad and
gained recognition when Mahatma Gandhi set up his ashram on its bank in 1917. The famous Dandi
march that roused the entire nation for freedom also led from the banks of Sabarmati. However, like
other rivers. the rivers situation deteriorated.

Sabarmati riverfront development completed in 2012.The major steps that were taken in the redevelop-
ment project were(Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited & AMC):

• Rehabilitation of slum dwellers : There were about 12000 houses on both the banks of the river which
nearly occupied 20 percent of the riverbank area. These people have been allotted house for resettlement
with each house having 26.77 sqm of carpet area. Playing area was provided for kids. Unlike other slum
rehabilitation projects, these resettlement areas were very much in the prime locations of the city. The
houses were in the name of women as it was a step to empower women through the rehabilitation project.

• Sunday market or the Gujarat bazaar was redeveloped: The bazaar provided livelihood to 20000 low
income residents. These were basically trades of with women comprised about 40 percent and half of
them were Dais. The area was unhygienic and was prone to flooding during monsoons. Now it has be-
come the first well developed informal market in India. Pucca platforms are laid which provide space
for 1600 vendors to do their business. The area is landscaped with 200 street lights and about 800 trees.
Basic amenities like food court, toilets, drinking water and seating area has been provided

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• The Dhobi Ghats : The riverbank was a site of about 172 Dhobis who used both the banks for washing
activities. The eastern river bank near Vasna Barrage was developed as the new dhobi ghat consisting of
7 blocks. Each bock has 24 units. The ghat is equipped with well developed water supply and drainage
system. Areas have been provided for drying washed dothes. Parking facility and adequate lighting is
provided. Compound wall is constructed which provides security to washmen’s stuff.

• Site for hosting events : An area of about 60,000 sqm, between Sardar bridge and Ellis bridge on the
west bank is designated for hosting mega events like Kite festival, marathons, cydothon and Gharib
Kalyan Mela

• Increasing Urban Forest cover. Natural forestry is being developed with different plant species over an
area of 1 lack sq. m between Vasna Barrage and Ambedkar Bridge. This zone would provides citizens an
opportunity to escape the city life and meditate in the vast green space.

• Sewage System: An interceptor sewage system was constructed on either banks of the river which di-
verted the sever to the treatment plants.
• The water quality has improved drastically which led to drastic improvement in the ecology of the site.

• Creating community space : The disconnect between people and the river was removed and the river-
front development connected them by means of 36 Ghats constructed along the river banks. The river
plays a major role in almost all the religious groups in Ahmedabad. For the last 120 years there has been
a tradition that the Mahant of Jagannath temple along with a group carries a kalash on his elephants and
after the rituals performed by Pandits, the holy water is back to the temple before the Rathyatra begins.
The Jains perform Pama( releasing fast through a ritual) in large groups at the riverfront.

• The Promenade: Riverbanks were developed with diaphragm walls and retaining walls to prevent soil
erosion and protect the city from flooding. Also , continuous promenade on either side allows smooth
pedestrian and cycle movements. By making this continuous promenade, the riverbank will no more
have private ownership of any part of the riverbank The whole stretch is open to public.

• Public Gardens : 27 percent of the total area is covered with parks and gardens. There are three gardens
in all one of which would be the flower garden near the event area spreading over an area of 40.000 sq.
m.

• Water based recreational activities have developed: Boating facility is available at a number of spots on
both the banks of the river. The government is planning to incorporate activities like Sabarmati Darshan
and water based sports in the near future.

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Amphitheaters Small Amphitheaters :

Small amphitheaters, usually designed for campgrounds, consist of seats, a small stage or podium, night-
time lighting, and sometimes a public-address system and provision for showing slides and films . There
should also be ramps and associated special design facilities for those who are handicapped . Where
possible, the amphitheater should be built into a naturally existing or graded bowl and should face away
from late afternoon sun. In addition, the following design guidelines can be used:

1 . Aisles should be at least 1 500 mm (5 ft) wide, with a maximum space of 9 000 mm (30 ft) between
aisles .
2. The backstage area can be enclosed, and where needed it can be used to set up and store slide and film
equipment for rear-projection screens .
3 . The platform is usually about 450 mm (18 in) off the ground and a minimum of 11 .6 m2 (125 ft2 )
in size .
4. Angle varies to as wide as 120 degrees, but more often ranges between 60 and 90 degrees .

Major Outdoor Theaters :

Major outdoor theaters are usually characterized by professional theater lighting, curtains, orchestra
facilities, and elaborate sound systems . Some have wooden or metal seats with backs . The seating area
may be concrete, with step lights . Ticket sales areas, restrooms, backstage areas, concession areas, and
adequate parking are all necessary. These facilities pose many more complex design, construction, and
operations issues than the basic interpretive or small amphitheaters . Persons interested in facilities of this
magnitude should consult the appropriate major reference books and visit and study successful projects
. In the United States the following are considered good examples : Wolf Trap Farm Park Amphitheater
(Vienna, Virginia), Starlight Theater (Kansas City, Missouri), Concord Pavilion (Concord, California),
Hollywood Bowl (Hollywood, California), and Red Rock Amphitheater (Denver, Colorado) .

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“One of the great beauties of architecture is that each
time, it is like life starting all over again.”

– Renzo Piano

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7. SYNAPSIS

Aim

•The present study is carried out to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the existing conditions
of river musi and to prepare plan for the development of the study area with a focus of its surround-
ings.

Objectives

To study the existing condition and ill-effects of the pollution on the river.
Comprehensive listing and analyses of earlier projects successes and failures.
Comparative study of similar case studies from across India.
To prepare a plan for the development of the study area with a focus on its surroundings.
To safe guard the river from pollution.
To study the existing activities.
To study and improve the urban environment issues by upgrading the existing conditions of sewerage
system, landscape development, walkways along musi

S c o p e a n d L imitation s

There is vast scope of study of musi area being located in the core area with merely a matter of irregu-
lar growth, un-hygienic activities and pollution due to un-controlled, un-authorized sewerage lines.

The main study is to develop the metropolitan precinct, between Muslim jung bridge to Salar jung
bridge stretch of 1.5 kms

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1.To study the exiting con-
dition and ill-effects of the
pollution on the river.
Locational importance.
Activities of people.
Pollution status.
Effects on the surrounding.
Data Collection
Analysis
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Methodology
2.To study the exiting con- 3.To prepare a plan for the
dition and ill-effects of the development of the study
pollution on the river. area with a focus on its sur-
rounding.
Locational importance.
Delineation of the study area.
Activities of people.
To study the existing land
Pollution status. uses.
Effects on the surrounding. To study the existing activities.
Literature study :
Case study :
Study the existing conditions on
Data Collection
ill-effects.
Sabarmati Riverfront De-
velopment ,Ahmadabad
Study the previous and present
projects relating to musi river.
Proposals
While designing a good public space, the following questions should be answered in
order to meet the minimum standards:

What are the landscape features of the space and how can they contribute to the essence of the place.
In our case how can the river and the adjacent biome(if exists) contribute to the special nature of the
place?

How is the space accessible by people? Is it pedestrian friendly or is accessed by transit,bicycles or

other means? Does the space welcome people the physically disabled?

How does the space facilitate multiple activities?

How does it contribute to the surrounding community?

Does it provide visual experiences and vistas?

What makes this place extra-ordinary and memorable?

My work is not about “form follows function”, but “form

follows beauty” or, even better, “form follows feminine”.

– Oscar Niemeyer

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