City Observer - Volume 5 Issue 1

Volume 5 | Issue 1| June 2019
CITY OBSERVER
A BIANNUAL JOURNAL ON CITIES PUBLISHED BY URBAN DESIGN COLLECTIVE
BRANDING POWER AND PLACE THE RIVERFRONT

INSIDE POST-WAR BERLIN IDENTITY IN GLOBAL CITIES AND THE REST OF US
CITY OBSERVER
Volume 5 | Issue 1 | June 2019
Free Publication
City Observer is a biannual journal which

aims to create a conversation on cities
and to collaboratively interrogate our
urban world.
City Observer is published by the Urban
Design Collective.
Urban Design Collective (UDC) is a
collaborative platform for architects,
urban designers and planners to create
livable cities through participatory
planning.
www.urbandesigncollective.org
info@urbandesigncollective.org
EDITORIAL TEAM
Devangi Ramakrishnan
Neha Krishnan
Shruti Shankar
Sunjana Thirumala Sridhar
Vidhya Mohankumar
EDITORIAL SUPPORT
Katheeja Talha
COVER ILLUSTRATION
Neeti Sivakumar
LAYOUT DESIGN
Shruti Shankar
Vidhya Mohankumar
Copyrights of images lie with the person/party

mentioned in the image caption.
The opinions expressed in this journal are
those of the authors. They do not purport to
reflect the opinions or views of UDC or its
members.
This magazine cannot be republished or
reproduced without the permission of the
publisher.
TO CITIES AND PEOPLE
CONTENTS
66
Feature Article
THE
THRESHOLD OF
46 INAPPROPRIATE
8 TOUCH
Mobility and the
Feature Article Apoorva Deshpande
City
GOVERNING THE
SLOWING DOWN
DISPLACEMENT
IN A FAST PACED
OF INFORMAL
URBAN WORLD
SETTLEMENTS
THROUGH THE Anu Karippal
POLITICS OF
SECURITISATION
Mennat-Allah Yehia
Mourad
6
Editorial
Neha Krishnan
74
Learning from
Cities
10 URBAN DESIGN
LESSONS FROM
52 DELFT
City Trails
Bhavna Thyagarajan
THE
GASTRONOMICAL
32 CITY
Feature Article Ishleen Kaur
POWER AND
PLACE IDENTITY
IN GLOBAL CITIES
Tejashrii
Shankarraman
108
Art in the City
134
EMBRACING THE
CITY THROUGH Community
94 PUBLIC ART Engagement
Motion Captured A PEOPLE-
Priyanka Sacheti
CENTRIC
172
PEOPLE AT APPROACH TO Teaching Urban
THE HEART OF STREET MARKET Design
LONDON DESIGN MAPPING
Anish Deenadayalan QUALITY OF LIFE
Brinda Sastry
IN A PLANNED
NEIGHBOURHOOD
Devyani
Gangopadhyay &
Prathyusha Ravi
120
On Location
THE RIVERFRONT
AND THE REST OF
US
160
Shweta Sundar
Feature Article
BRANDING
POST-WAR BERLIN
Vidushi Agarwal 194
Closing Scene
Sarveswaran
Ganapathy
CITY OBSERVER
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EDITORIAL
How do we experience the world? 20 years and the amount of time spent on social media.
ago, the answer to that question would have Well yes, I’m doing laundry now, aren’t I?
been straightforward – through sight, hearing, I’m not beaming into the far distance on a
smell, and touch – things we are able to Uruguayan Salt Flat.
interact with directly. Today, it seems a bit
more complicated. We live in a world where the
Aside from personal experience, I find this
image is taken as fact and visuals are placed
reality-warping creep of the perfect visual most
above all else. Besides the more obvious ways
visible in the realm of art. An excellent podcast
in which this affects news (and propaganda),
on NPR titled ‘Art in the age of Instagram’
it has had a disorienting effect on how we as
examines this exact issue. Art in the context of
individuals, experience the world.
the gallery as well as public pieces, especially
installations, have become all about how good
I am speaking of the sort of ‘Instagram reality’ they look in pictures. The experience itself it
we live in today, that has taken over the seems is no longer the point of the installation.
personal lives of people in every age group. Yakoi Kusama for example, exploded into the
On the one hand, social media is a wonderful limelight in 2017 despite having been an artist
tool to share – I learn so much about my since the late 50s. Her work consists of brightly
friends and acquaintances, come across coloured, easy-to-photograph, interactive
interesting news and titbits, and stay in the installations that presented the perfect selfie
know about local events. On the other, I find opportunity. Social media presented the
myself spending half my time at a vacation perfect marketing tool; with a riot of colour and
or event trying to document said vacation. imagery enough to generate a buzz millions of
And of course, the FOMO – fear of missing dollars’ worth of marketing might not.
out – is all pervasive. I look through pictures
of acquaintances walking through salt flats in
As artists, architects and urban designers
Uruguay, and sigh as I stare at a pile of laundry
start to account for this phenomenon whilst
I put off for far too long. My current experience
designing, the nature of reality is beginning
does not warrant capturing.
to change to suit the image. Prismatica is a
wildly popular public installation, consisting
I wonder though, how much of their precious of a series of spinning, internally lit, 7-foot-tall
time at this exotic locale went into taking the prisms in public squares around the world,
picture. Experiences now seem to be designed debuting in Montreal and travelling to New York
less to be experienced, and more to fit neatly City and beyond. It is dare I say it – a bit dumb
inside a frame that may be used to sum up in real life. To travel a considerable distance
an encounter. There are of course, countless to watch these prisms is an underwhelming
articles and scientific studies that show a experience – you spin them, try to get a picture
positive correlation between dissatisfaction before they stop spinning, move out of other
CITY OBSERVER | June 2019

people’s shots, and leave in less than 10 ownership of all pictures taken in the Vessel
minutes. There isn’t much else to be done. until public backlash made them back down).
Large scale public spaces too are becoming I do understand the draw of the image. It is
selfie-ready as capitalism inevitably finds a way easy to believe (I saw it with my own eyes!),
to make use of free publicity. The Vessel, public easy to digest, and draws one’s attention away
space consisting of a rose gold ‘stairway to from all the craziness and uncertainty in the
nowhere’, is the centrepiece of the new multi- world for a brief minute. The general elections
in India, election season in the States with
million dollar development in Hudson Yards
the first ever Trump re-election rally in June,
in New York. Unkindly described by critics as
Brexit which still may or may not be happening;
a pretzel-shawarma hybrid, it stands proud in
pollution; war; political intrigue! All too much?
some of the most expensive real estate in the
Someone just posted a picture of rainbow bio-
world, screaming ‘2019’. It is very much of this
luminescent stingrays in Tuvalu. I’m going to go
time and place and is unapologetic about it.
look at that instead.
When it inevitably looks dated in 5 years, it will
have served its purpose – featuring in a million
selfies all over the world. (As if to illustrate Neha Krishnan
my point, Hudson Yards unilaterally declared On behalf of the Editorial Team
6 7
FEATURE ARTICLE
GOVERNING THE
DISPLACEMENT
OF INFORMAL
SETTLEMENTS
THROUGH THE
POLITICS OF
SECURITISATION
MENNAT-ALLAH YEHIA MOURAD

Al Asmarat development, Cairo. Image credit: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters; Source: https://
widerimage.reuters.com/story/egypt-builds-new-homes-to-replace-crumbling-slums
8 9
FEATURE ARTICLE
Cairo is a city in constant expansion, of their resettlement to social housing

creating a multitude of urban projects designed by the state. My
complexities among its different hypothesis is that NGOs are complicit in
actors and raising a plethora of
aiding the state apparatus in furthering
questions about how they affect the
its narrative of the necessity for
design of the city and shape the lives
resettlement, and so helping the state
of its citizens. In particular, I aim to
implement its neo-liberal 2050 urban
understand the involvement of non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) vision of transforming downtown historic
in the displacement of residents from Cairo into an investment and financial
informal settlements, and the impact hub.
Cairo’s urban extent in

1992
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
Cairo has expanded at an average annual increase rate of 3.2% between 1992 and
2013. Image source: Atlas of urban expansion http://www.atlasofurbanexpansion.org/

This essay is the result of two years discussions and conversations with the
of observational ethnography borne various stakeholders involved.
out of my engagement in NGO work,
participation in meetings that tackled
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
questions regarding interventions in both
HISTORY OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
Ezbet Khairallah, an informal settlement
AND SOCIAL HOUSING IN EGYPT
in central Cairo, and Al Asmarat, a social
housing project built on the city’s edge With the influx of rural migration
where residents from Ezbet Khairallah to Cairo in the mid-1970s, informal
and other informal areas are being settlements began to appear, housing
resettled, and finally through informal migrants and the urban working class
Cairo’s urban extent in

2013
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
10 11
FEATURE ARTICLE
alike [15]. Places like Ezbet Khairallah

began to take shape. The development
of informal areas caused conflicts
between the state and residents, who
have struggled to gain access to basic
services like water, electricity, and
gas. Land titles and deeds however,
have been elusive, inspite of residents
receiving a court sentence stating
that they had a right to own their
land through purchase from the local
governorate. The sentence has to this
day not been implemented [8].
The Egyptian state attempted to provide

a solution for the housing problem
through its Social Housing Project (SHP)
which was launched in the 1950s,
finding areas such as El Salam City and
the Othman Project for resettlement.
These were located on the peripheries
of Cairo thus failing to provide suitable
living conditions [20]. SHPs continue to
provide inadequate housing solutions,
as seen in their most recent attempts
in the Al Asmarat neighbourhood where Al Asmarat is a social housing
residents from Ezbet Khairallah, Al- development project built at a cost of
Doweiqa, and Maspero Triangle are over EGP (Egyptian Pounds) 2 billion,
being resettled. financed through the ‘Tahya Misr Fund’

Informal expansion along
the north and south axes
of the Ring Road. Image
source: Gouda, et al., 2016
Cairo skyline. Image: Luc Legay from Paris, France CC BY-SA 2.0; Source: https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0.
(translation: ‘Long Live Egypt’), created by the Egyptian State is to ‘eradicate

by the Sisi Regime in 2014, calling on unsafe slums by mid-2019’ [5] and
citizens to donate for the rebuilding of so be able to fulfil its Sustainable
Egypt [2]. One of the promises made Development Goals (SDGs).
12 13
FEATURE ARTICLE
Working in Al Asmarat has been seen Within this rhetoric, NGOs play the
as a golden opportunity by NGOs to role of habituating new residents of Al
improve their relationship with the Asmarat to ‘civilised’ life as interpreted
state and avail of larger funding and by them and state officials. The
commissions. The state on its part ‘civilised’ subject is a product of the
welcomed all contributors willing to imagination of the city and its subjects
further its project. This has been noted within a distinctly colonial imagination
by Ferguson, cited in Rahman (2006) of the modern subject, the worthiness
who observes how smaller NGOs of these subjects and their usage of city
change their goals in order to maximise spaces [11]. As the city is continuously
their funding [12]. This is evident in made and remade through large urban
the president’s praise of NGOs as he projects, subjects in turn are either
expressed his “appreciation for civil deemed fit to participate and partake
society organisations that effectively in these projects through disciplinary
contribute to social development measures or be rejected and resettled
and deliver better living conditions to on the city’s peripheries.
citizens” [9]. The rhetoric surrounding
Ezbet Khairallah (and other informal
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CENTRE
areas) and Al Asmarat has been as
OF CAIRO IF EVERYONE IS MOVING TO
follows:
ITS PERIPHERIES?
1. Informal areas are physically unsafe
In 2008 the Egyptian government began
and hotbeds of social ills.
advertising ‘Cairo 2050,’ its vision for
2. Residents of informal transforming the heart of Cairo, along
neighbourhoods should be grateful the line of other global mega-cities, into
for the amazing opportunity provided a financial and investment district of
by the state. business parks, luxury hotels, and office
3. People from informal areas need to towers, claiming a need to decrease
learn to be ‘better’ in order to be able congestion and mitigate environmental
to live in the formal and ‘civilised’ strain on it. This essentially meant
neighbourhood of Al Asmarat without that current residents of these areas,
ruining it. especially those living in informal

settlements, needed to be moved LEVEL 2: Areas where more than 50%
elsewhere [17], creating a residential of its buildings are either dilapidated
void in the centre. In the same year, or neglected. These too are usually
the Informal Settlements Development demolished and their residents
Fund (ISDF) was established. One of rehoused in the same area after it has
its tasks was to identify and categorise been properly developed or relocated.
unsafe areas in the centre based on four
criteria: LEVEL 3: Areas located adjacent
to health hazards - under overhead
LEVEL 1: Informal settlements transmission lines or adjacent to
threatened by natural elements — those factories. These undergo appropriate
located on flood water passageways redevelopment.
or under a mountain threatened by
imminent landslides. These are usually LEVEL 4: Areas with issues of tenure
demolished and residents relocated. security. These too are redeveloped by
local authorities as they see fit [20].
Facing page top - Foster + Partners winning (2015) masterplan proposal for the Maspero Triangle District in
downtown Cairo. Image credit: Foster+Partners. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/dec/23/
norman-fosters-cairo-redevelopment-has-locals-asking-where-do-we-fit-in
14 15
FEATURE ARTICLE

It is important to note that not only from the chaotic outside world, in stark
is the working class being moved to contrast to the habituation deemed
peripheries, but also the privileged and necessary for those moving from
wealthy classes are being sold lifestyles poorer neighbourhoods. A series of
in new satellite cities such as New advertisements for Mountain View gated
Cairo, 6th of October city, and most community show people turning into
prominently, the New Capital. angry green hulks from dealing with the
chaos of the city, and returning to their
These new cities are marketed as calm selves once within the confines of
sanctuaries for the already ‘civilised’ the development’s gates.
Vision for Cairo’s New Capital, located 45 kilometres to the east of the city. Image credit: Cube
Consultants/Urban Development Consortium. Source: https://placesjournal.org/article/the-anti-cairo/
Facing page top - View of government-demolished slum in the Maspero Triangle, 2018. Image
credit: Khaled Desouki/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images; Source: https://www.nytimes.
com/2018/11/05/opinion/cairo-heritage-development-maspero-.html
Facing page bottom - The privileged and wealthy classes are also being marketed lives in new
satellite cities such as New Cairo, 6th of October, and most prominently, the New Capital. Image
credit: AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty. Source: https://apimagesblog.com/blog/2018/11/16/with-new-
egypt-capital-being-built-what-becomes-of-cairo.
16 17
FEATURE ARTICLE
Screenshots of television advertisements (2015) for Mountain View gated community

depicting people turning into angry hulks in the chaotic city, being beckoned to escape
and ‘chill out’ at Mountain View. Source: https://youtu.be/eXXmvDcMT_E.

Although most advertising and WHAT IS THE SITUATION INSIDE AL
news cycles target the New Capital, ASMARAT NEIGHBOURHOOD?
the fervour of new cities and gated Al Asmarat is located on the eastern
communities has travelled to other periphery of Cairo and lies adjacent to
governorates such as New Dab’aa on Masaken Al-Zilzal neighbourhood which
Egypt’s northern coast, where once was built to house people affected
again the narrative of ‘uncivilised’ by a 1992 earthquake. Al Asmarat’s
Egyptians ruining the good work of development occurred under heightened
the state is being reiterated. In 2017, security through the presence of guards
the French Institute in Cairo held the at the gates [10]. The state aimed at
‘Making the Sustainable City’ conference achieving the resettlement in ‘record
where one of the speakers, involved in time’ [9], even while elements of
the development works for New Dab’aa everyday living were still missing. The
City, spoke proudly of the achievements space was barren with no commercial
of the government in creating such an services except those provided by
advanced city. Armed Forces and ministry outlets.
Inside an apartment at Al
Asmarat. Image credit: Ayat
Al-Tawy; Source: http://
english.ahram.org.eg/
News/292339.aspx
18 19
FEATURE ARTICLE
Children living in Al Asmarat. Image credit: Roger Anis; Source: https://madamasr.com/

en/2018/06/18/feature/politics/asmarat-the-states-model-housing-for-former-slum-residents/.
Residents were not allowed to bring in shops at home, setting up makeshift

furniture, appliances, or anything other markets, or using tuktuks.
than a suitcase of their clothes during
their resettlement [13]. Residents
To reach central Cairo, residents
of Al Asmarat were also not allowed
of Al Asmarat are dependent on
to operate commercial businesses
government buses available at the
within the compound, until the state
development’s gates. Movement within
uniformly painted all shops to give them
the development is restricted to buses
a ‘civilised’ look before ‘being ruined
or an informal network of private cars
by residents’ [10]. Although this level
owned by some residents. With the lack
of visible security has since waned,
of sufficient transport modes connecting
periodic raids continue to occur with the
the development to the rest of the city,
aim of maintaining rules of formality,
and within the compound itself, most
such as preventing people from opening

Ezbet Khairallah is located in the heart of Cairo. Its residents benefit from proximity to the ring road, access to
a metro station (Al Zahraa), and also have their own network of microbuses and tuktuks. They also have easier
access to public hospitals. On the other hand, residents relocated to Al Asmarat live on the periphery of Cairo with
diminished access to public transport, and no access to makeshift transport options as it is frowned upon by the
State. Access to public services such as hospitals is harder from Al Asmarat. Image source: Google Earth.
Tuktuks are a preferred

mode of low cost transport
throughout Cairo, but the
State has banned their use
within Al Asmarat with the
aim of introducing what
they perceive as rules of
formality and ‘civilised’
behaviour. Image credit: Mai
Shaheen; Source: http://
NewsContentP/1/190561/
Egypt/From-taxis-to-tuktuks-
Cairos-most-popular-modes-
of.aspx
20 21
FEATURE ARTICLE
Movement in Al Asmarat is
limited to buses provided
by the State. Image credit:
Ayat Al-Tawy; Source: http://
News/292339.aspx.
people have lost access to the income THE WORK OF NGOS - SECURITISATION
generating opportunities that existed to AND SOCIAL CONTROL IN AL ASMARAT
them before relocation to Al Asmarat. Securitisation… is the spread of
techniques by a multiplicity of actors
No studies about the lifestyle and daily and agencies that are aimed at ‘making
requirements of residents of informal the future secure and certain’. It is a
settlements were carried out nor were spider’s web of prevention, inspection
these considerations taken into account and policing that has attached itself
during the design phase of Al Asmarat to the routines of urban life and social
or other similar social housing projects. interaction and that seeks to direct
NGOs were brought in to handle this conduct towards ends that enhance
transition — those being resettled public safety and commercial profit [14].
needed to be inured to their new
surroundings, without the disorderliness NGOs in Egypt have replaced the
of the past and reliance on makeshift state by offering the informal housing
solutions, and be made to fit into the populace basic services such as water,
state’s visualisation of ‘civilised space’. sanitation, education, and health

services. These communities in turn Dar Al-Orman Association, 57357
have come to expect these services from Hospital for Children’s Cancer, Ahl Masr
NGOs. In a community engagement Non-Profit Burn Hospital, and 500 500
meeting held at Ezbet Khairallah to Hospital for Cancer. It is evident from the
discuss the possibility of implementing examples cited, that there has been a
cultural and arts based activities, growing trend among NGOs to focus on
residents became agitated and the health related services and specialising
overwhelming refrain was that they were in a single disease or medical problem.
in need of basic infrastructure like good Civil society has thus become ‘de-
schools and hospitals. One resident said, radicalised,’ from being rights based
“Excuse my bluntness, to charity based [4], ‘the realm of
politics is reduced to sentimental
but it is like you are humanitarianism’[3]. NGOs become
going to someone who is accountable to their donors, whether
private entities or the state, rather than
hungry and thirsty and the communities they intend to assist.
telling him, let’s paint!” In her critique of NGOs, Das as cited in
Davis (2006) says, “Their constant effort
is to subvert, disinform, and de-idealise
The state has abdicated its responsibility
people so as to keep away from class
of improving living conditions of
struggles. They adopt and propagate
residents in informal settlements. NGOs
the practice of begging favours on
shoulder this burden, allocating funds
sympathetic and humane grounds
they have received to various projects.
rather than making the oppressed
Most NGOs work in a top down manner,
conscious of their rights. As a matter of
rarely conducting needs assessments
fact, these agencies and organisations
that are participatory in nature while
systematically intervene to oppose
designing their programs. No official
any protests by the people to express
data is available to determine the
their needs. Their effort is constantly to
distribution of funding among the
divert people’s attention from the larger
different NGOs. Yet, it is possible to
political evils of imperialism to merely
surmise some of the prominent actors,
local issues and so confuse people in
among them, Misr El Kheir Foundation,
22 23
FEATURE ARTICLE
differentiating enemies from friends” other commerce, leaving them entirely

[4]. dependent on the monthly state welfare
of 340EGP. After deducting the 300EGP
rent, they were left with only 40EGP to
This is especially apparent in the state’s
live on for the entire month [10].
efforts to quash any form of dissent in
general and in Al Asmarat in particular.
Residents of Al Asmarat relocated from Informal settlements and slum areas,
places like Ezbet Khairallah, Maspero where Al Asmarat residents originate
Triangle, Manshiyet Nasser, Duweiga, all from, are portrayed as hotbeds for
informal areas deemed hazardous, were crime, drug abuse and myriad other
given different arrangements based on social ills. In the imagination of state
the circumstances of their relocation. apparatuses and project enthusiasts,
Residents of Ezbet Khairallah for with proper planning and establishment
instance, were given usufruct contracts of controls, residents can be disciplined
but required to pay an additional into inhabiting their new spaces civilly.
300EGP as monthly rent. Some families Residents are expected to live in
organised protests, an action that houses designed for nuclear families
was met with fright techniques by the instead of their traditional arrangement
state, which issued eviction notices and of extended families. Residents of
arrested 12 residents for organising Al Asmarat are not allowed to have
and participating in illegal protests — tuktuks, as they did in Ezbet Khairallah
the 12 residents were sentenced to as tuktuks and their drivers are
two years in prison. Some residents considered social ills incompatible with
claimed that they were not aware the perceived ‘civilised’ narrative [13].
of having to pay rent and that state The state representative for Al Asmarat
employees demanded rent in backlog very diligently lists all violations by
as well as payment for gas services. The residents such as opening of grocery
main protest from residents was that shops inside houses, and gathering of
there were no opportunities for income women in the street which according
generation such as workshops or him creates a problem of garbage [13].

This continuous with a more general extension of
surveillance justified in the name of
narrative of the need for security” [18]. These sentiments are now
shedding of ‘uncivilised’ being echoed by the resettled residents
themselves, who are fearful that aspects
ways and habituation is of ‘slum life’ meaning informality will
supported by the media, reappear in Al Asmarat.
which often covers state

It is important to note here how the
sponsored visits to Al rhetoric surrounding Al Asmarat is
Asmarat. heavily monitored. Al Ahram, the
government owned daily newspaper,
published a story commenting on the
One of these was made by an Egyptian
negatives of Al Asmarat [1]. It covered
‘life coach expert’ from Canada who
issues concerning the residents,
expressed “her happiness and pride
including their economic hardships vis
in Asmarat, and the way of life in it,
a vis rent. A week later they published
similar to any compound in the new
another story where it was important
areas” [6]. A headline that caught
for them to state that for the sake
my attention in particular, was “What
of ‘objectivity,’ it was important that
have the new residents done to the
they also highlight the positives of Al
classy neighbourhood?”. The writer of
Asmarat [7].
this article wondered how the slum
mentality, that does not fit in with the
classy neighbourhood will be controlled THE ROLE OF NGOS IN AIDING THE
[13]. It is clear that the state has STATE’S NARRATIVE
increased its “securitisation of the city Before the 2011 uprising, a burgeoning
through a combination of warehousing number of NGOs operated in Egypt with
and habituation or ‘rehabilitation’ to no close supervision of the influx of
precarious low-wage labour combined money to them. With the uprising and
24 25
FEATURE ARTICLE
the fear of foreign actors meddling in implementing state sponsored initiatives

Egypt’s internal affairs, the Egyptian in a top-down rather than bottom-
State tightened controls over NGO up approach that takes into account
funding. NGOs receiving foreign funding the needs of the communities they
now require security clearance to serve. In most discussions with the Al
operate. The duration for clearance is a Asmarat community, residents mention
minimum of 3 months but often exceeds specifically their inability to maintain
this time. NGOs are deterred from the cost of living and their inability to
engaging in political activities except as find work. Yet the government intends
directed by the state, such as gathering to auction off the use of the commercial
people for voting. One example is what spaces and shops in Al Asmarat. The
happened during the latest referendum inherent problem in such action is that
on amendments to the constitution. it creates a power imbalance within the
An employee at an NGO operating in neighbourhood. Those with money will
Ezbet Khairallah informed me that they be able to enter the auction, while those
received direct orders to gather women without will continue to struggle for
beneficiaries and direct them to polling economic opportunities.
stations. Any meddling in political affairs
not sanctioned by the state could lead
NGOs defuse people’s demands
to serious repercussions in licensing, dry
in two ways. First, by shifting their
up their limited funding, and of course
priorities to non-political activities,
deprive NGOs from participating in large
missing possibilities such as political
state funded projects like Al Asmarat.
mobilisation that calls for government
accountability. Second, by framing
NGOs need to work within the state poverty as a deficiency in people rather
narrative, reiterating residents’ than in the socio-political climate, and
need for habituation, to continue offers welfare services that should be
receiving partnership in government provided by government. Poverty in this
commissioned projects. They end up way becomes depoliticised.

Another concern with NGOs is the saying that she was afraid that this
effects of fundraising on their decision proximity would eventually devalue her
making — such as the use of images own neighbourhood.
showcasing deprivation and poverty for
emotional effect. Beneficiaries are also
RESISTANCE TO DISPLACEMENT AND
required to constantly document their
THE GOVERNMENT’S RETALIATION
poverty in order to receive aid. Some
“The character of a centaur [is] liberal at
NGOs allow CSR departments within
the top and paternalistic at the bottom,
funding organisations to use what some
which presents a comely and caring
beneficiaries perceive as demeaning
visage toward the middle and upper
images for marketing efforts. These
classes and a fearsome and frowning
actions have caused many residents
mug toward the lower class” [18]
of Ezbet Khairallah for instance, to
feel ashamed and indignant at being
continuously framed as receivers Ezbet Khairallah’s history is problematic.
of charity, thus ‘othering’ them and The land is formally owned by the
‘confining them to their subjugation’ state and is subject to the Law on
[19]. Protection of Monuments No.117 of
1983 that under the decision No.158
of 1981 states that the area may
The ‘othering’ faced by those from
not be developed without referring to
informal areas affects them also
the Egyptian Tourism Authority as it
in their relocation. In a community
includes several monuments. The area
meeting at Al Asmarat that included
is also situated within the purview of
a local NGO, representatives from the
the Maadi Company for Development
local government, and an international
and Reconstruction pursuant to the
NGO, one attendee who resides in Al
Presidential Decree No.1420 of 1974
Moqattam neighbourhood situated 8
and Presidential Decree No.1187 of
kilometres away, showed her discontent
1972, to establish a residential city
in having Al Asmarat located close by,
26 27
FEATURE ARTICLE
View of Ezbet Khairallah. Image source: http://www.tadamun.co/

Children play among rubble in Ezbet Khairallah. Image source: http://saudigazette.
com.sa/article/562513/World/Mena/Could-Egypts-slums-be-replaced-by-safe-zones
28 29
FEATURE ARTICLE
on the land (The New Fustat City), a housing, and have offered multiple
plan that is being thwarted by current ways to realise this — land titling, rent
residents. Efforts have been made control, skills training programs and
through third party actors to map and employment opportunities, affordable
title land to residents and long-time childcare facilities, and providing much
squatters but have been blocked by needed primary infrastructure and
government due to their perception that services [21].
the poor should not own such highly
valuable land [16].
REFERENCES
[1] Abdel Shafey, M. (2019) Fights and Thievery,
CONCLUSION Some Negatives in Al Asmarat. Ahram Online.
This essay does not aim to romanticise [2] Al Masry Al Youm. (2018) Tahya Misr Fund
provides housing for 250,000 citizens. Al Masry
living conditions within informal
Al Youm. https://ww.egyptindependent.com/
settlements nor pretend that they are
tahya-misr-fund-provides-housing-for-250000-
without significant structural problems citizens-to-combat-slums/
that need attention and change. [3] Das, Veena. state, Citizenship, and the
However, it is noteworthy that these Urban Poor. (2011). Citizenship Studies.
settlements also have their merits. They [4] Davis, M. (2006) Planet of Slums.
mitigate the effects of ‘formalisation’ on [5] Egypt Today Staff. (2018).Egypt to be
residents, such as incurring the cost of Declared Slum Free Country by End of 2019.
utility bills and taxes without adequate Egypt Today. http://www.egypttoday.com/
sources of income, and the loss of social Article/2/61300/Egypt-to-be-declared-slum-
free-country-by-end-of
capital that is usually the character
of informal dwellings [21]. Informal [6] Hassan, A. (2019) Dalia El Shafei, Egyptian
Expert in human development in Canada, visits
housing has also been able to absorb
Asmarat. Al Youm El Sabe’. https://www.youm7.
the influx of local migrants and increase com/story/2019/4/8/
in population over the years [21].
[7] Helal, A. (2019). Some Negatives… the
Positives Exceed in Al Asmarat. (2019). Ahram
Online.
It has been noted by researchers
that it would be best to upgrade [8] ‘Izbit Khayrallah. (2013). Tadamun. http://
www.tadamun.co/?post_type=city&p=3495#.
neighbourhoods with informal
XM9-mfZuLmI

[9] Leila, R. (2016) Defusing the Social Bomb. in Egypt: Who Needs Registered Titles?
Al Ahram Weekly. http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/ Metropolitics. https://www.metropolitiques.
News/16494.aspx eu/Securing-Land-Tenure-in-Egypt-Who-Needs-
[10] Mohie, M. (2018). Asmarat: The Registered-Titles.html
state’s model housing for former ‘slum’ [17] Tarbush, N. (2012) ‘Cairo 2050: Urban
residents. Mada. https://madamasr.com/ Dream or Modernist Delusion?’ Journal of
en/2018/06/18/feature/politics/asmarat-the- International Affairs 65, no. 2: 171-86. https://
states-model-housing-for-former-slum-residents/ www.jstor.org/stable/24388230
[11] Mourad, M. (2015) Traversing the Urban [18] Wacquant, L. (2010) ‘Crafting the
as a Woman in Nasr City and Aswan. http://dar. Neoliberal state: Workfare, Prisonfare, and
aucegypt.edu/handle/10526/4479 Social Insecurity.’ Sociological Forum. 25, pp.
[12] Rahman, S. (2006). Development, 197-220
Democracy and the NGO Sector. Journal of [19] Walsh, S., Bond, P., Desai, A. and Walsh,
Developing Societies. 22, no. 2, pp. 451-473 S. (2008). ‘Uncomfortable Collaborations’:
[13] Sakr, H. (2018) Al Asmarat… What Did the Contesting Constructions of the ‘Poor’ in South
New Residents Do to the Classy Neighborhood? Africa. Review of African Political Economy,
Tahrir News. https://www.tahrirnews.com/ 35(116), pp.255-279.
Story/905571/[14] Schuilenberg, M. (2015) [20] Zaazaa, A. (2019). Gentrification and
The Securitization of Society: Crime, Risk, and forced urban modernization: Fears related
Social Order. to development trends in Cairo. Alternative
[15] Sims, D. (2013). The Arab Housing Policy Solutions. http://aps.aucegypt.edu/en/
Paradox. The Cairo Review of Global Affairs. commentary-post/forced-urban-modernization-
https://www.thecairoreview.com/essays/the- cairo/
arab-housing-paradox/ [21] Zayed, H. (2014) Mobilizing Dissent:
[16] Sims, D. (2016) Securing Land Tenure Community Organizing For Informal Housing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mennat-Allah Yehia Mourad achieved her MA (2015) in Gender and Women Studies with
a focus on gender and urban issues. After graduating, she worked with an NGO in Ezbet
Khairallah, and is now a Production Manager with a cultural centre located in the same
neighbourhood. Menna has taken a particular interest in urban issues pertaining to Cairo,
particularly those that touch on socio-economic dimensions from a rights-based perspective.
30 31
FEATURE ARTICLE
POWER
AND PLACE
IDENTITY
IN GLOBAL
CITIES
TEJASHRII SHANKARRAMAN

Coca Cola London Eye. © Mace Group 2019
32 33
FEATURE ARTICLE
With globalisation, cities across the world, regardless of

their geographic predisposition can now build using similar
materials, techniques and technology. This results in similar
looking, towering building edifices in ‘alpha cities’ across the
globe, from New York to London, Hong Kong, Singapore or
Dubai. Glass clad towers have become omnipresent in the
last few decades as cities continue to express their political
and economic foothold through their architecture, with each
building vying to be taller and/or more memorable than the
other.
In this global competition, skyscrapers are a particularly

attractive symbol for cities. Owing to their sheer size and
ability to accommodate large densities, they are a welcome
solution to rapidly growing cities. However, another reason
and an interesting use of these buildings lies in their height/
size being a potential for iconic, global representation and
an indication of the city’s power. “Every ambitious city wants
an architect to do for them what Jon Utzon’s Opera House
did for Sydney, and Frank Gehry and the Guggenheim did for
Bilbao.” [1] Central Business Districts of most cities rely on
‘Corporate Architecture’ to resound their global stature to the
world. This triggers a paradoxical question within the identity
crisis - when cities around the world begin to look alike, what
then, makes one stand out from the rest? Secondly, how does
a city of such global standing resonate with its own citizens?

London seems to have found an answer of this power. What we see is a shift over
in iconography to both these questions time of this power from religion, to the
currently plaguing global cities. For Monarchy and now to finance. The shift
architecture in London particularly, there is such that one never really supersedes
is the added dimension of its historically the other just that the world’s perception
rich context. The city has been a seat of of “power” has changed, without
power for centuries and has constantly diminishing the importance of its
sought out an architectural expression precedents.
The Olympic Velodrome a.k.a The Pringle.© Anthony Palmer
34 35
FEATURE ARTICLE
It is possible that the long-standing form of the building lends itself to be a

British colloquialism led to the certain emblem for the city. Architecture
christening of the Elizabeth tower is tending towards a sculpted form that
(earlier the Clock Tower) as ‘Big Ben’, captivates the eye and there is a direct
and there are multiple theories of relation between this form and the
how the nickname came to be. The public’s acceptance to it.
result of this nickname however, was
unprecedented. It humanised a bell
In the private sector, the phenomenon
tower, converting simple stone and
of nicknames associated with distinct
mortar into the people’s tower watching
forms has snowballed into a marketing
over the city and telling time with its
tactic, a clever ruse for the developer
hourly rings. The tower became a part
to infuse meaning into “Corporate
of people’s lives, a part of the city and
Architecture”, which is otherwise a
pivotal to the identity of London, so
dull, straightforward spatial solution to
much that it features as the establishing
business expectations. It can be argued
shot of films set in London. [2]
that these are superficial gimmicks to
This trend has furthered with the make just another glass clad skyscraper
London Eye (Observation wheel) and seem enticing and do not address any
the Pringle (The Velodrome) amongst real concerns of a monotonous urban
others, with the Eye becoming a fabric or the climatic implications of
frequent appearance in pop culture of such building methods. Despite that, the
late. In the case of the Pringle, a cycling reason why this is becoming increasingly
centre for the 2012 Olympics, the popular in London’s urban scenario is its
name coined by Londoners came out relatability. Imagine walking along the
of a resemblance to the famous chips streets of your city and suddenly seeing
brand - an afterthought that inherently a monumental version of a toy from your
enhanced a sense of belonging to an childhood or a tool from your mother’s
already public space. What we can kitchen - there’s an instant, indisputable
understand from this is that the distinct connection like no other.
Facing page- Swiss Re Building better known as the Gherkin. Image Credit: Vidhya Mohankumar

36 37
FEATURE ARTICLE
In light of these developments, the appearance and mass communication.

architectural theory surrounding What counts today is as much the
buildings had to be recalibrated. appearance of an organisation - and
[3] It was not just about how space thus its credibility - as its performance.”
was organised but also the meaning While the striking form of the building
people associate to that space. The becomes an asset to the developer, for
phenomenon of corporate vanity is architects, can the entire premise of
seen as a symbolic asset. Per Olof Berg a project rely on its reducibility into a
goes on to elaborate - “Furthermore, the daily object? For Norman Foster, who
emphasis on corporate surfaces can has many silhouettes of the London
be seen as a purposeful adaptation to skyline to his credit, architecture has
postmodern society with its emphasis on always been driven by ideas greater
The ground plane of the Gherkin. Image Credit: Vidhya Mohankumar

than the Vitruvian triad. His work is they offer of St. Paul’s cathedral and
characterised by an artful integration of the Cheesegrater gets its form from
structure and services within the built, an attempt to prevent obscuring these
along with a poetic proclamation of views. Designed by Richard Rogers,
form and material unlike any other. The the design claims to make use of the
“Gherkin” (30, St. Mary Axe Building) is constraints to deliver an interesting icon,
a distinctive feat in its ability to have a which could otherwise easily become a
diagrid node system for the facade - a boring building.
result of Foster’s keen interest in viewing
structure as an equally integral part of
The “Walkie-Talkie” by Rafael
the ‘system’. The form in itself is derived
Viñoly makes clever use of planning
from prevailing wind conditions and is a
regulations to maximise ‘lettable’
result of multiple iterations. The internal
floor plates on the upper floors while
volumes are characterised by a series
simultaneously negotiating the form
of light tunnels shifted by 5’ with each
to give it the distinctive shape it has.
rising floor plate. This goes to show that
However, it seems that in the attempt
the internal volumes are as intentionally
to add to the London skyline, the
articulated as its exterior facade. Here,
curvaceous facade now reflects enough
the architect is akin to a juggler with
heat to melt cars on neighbouring roads.
multiple plates in the air - creating
interesting spaces within the volume,
making the entirety of the building At a height of 309.7 metres, The “Shard”
sculpturally interesting and reinventing by Renzo Piano is currently the tallest
the usage of ‘corporate’ materials like building in London. Situated right
glass and steel. near a transport hub, the height of the
building was justified as an opportunity
to provide adequate infrastructure
Another contemporary, the
near transport nodes for manageable
“Cheesegrater” (Leadenhall building)
growth of the city by providing for its
derives its form from constraints
commuters. It works as a mixed use
very specific to the site and the
facility, hosting hotels, workspaces and
City of London. The city’s towering
restaurants in its 72 habitable floors.
developments are governed by the views
Ironic as it is, the building gets its name
38 39
FEATURE ARTICLE
The ensemble comprising the Walkie Talkie, Cheesegrater and the Gherkin as seen from the
Shard. Image Credit: Vidhya Mohankumar

40 41
FEATURE ARTICLE
The Shard. Image Credit: Vidhya Mohankumar

42 43
FEATURE ARTICLE
from a statement made by English Beyond all these intentions, the fact that
Heritage, a charity that manages many these towers resemble familiar objects
historic monuments of the city. The establishes an immediate connection
organisation felt the design would ‘tear with urban citizens. However, while their
through historic London like a shard of unique forms tend to garner a lot of
glass’, which led to the building’s current attention both during construction and
name. [4] after, this in no way negates the flaws
of these buildings. They rely primarily
With investigation, it becomes clear on active climate control, glass boxes
that these buildings are a by-product are inherently inefficient in energy
of their limitations, aspirations and management and the excessive use of
intentions, which the architects used glass reflects heat into the immediate
to establish distinctive silhouettes as physical neighbourhood, increasing the
part of the skyline. There is also an heat island effect.
attempt to humanise these buildings
in multiple ways - public plazas are
articulated at their feet to withdraw While the skyline is
from the bulky mass of the tower into a
relatable scale. The Leadenhall building
constantly being dotted
uses its structural system as a means with uniquely shaped
to break down the scale of the entire
mass. Introduction of sky decks and
structures, a deeper
green pockets are attempts to integrate investigation into the
nature with the corporate environment,
an inherently challenging combination
buildings reveals that
for which an elegant solution is yet to be they are in no way
seen. These buildings go beyond their
form to try and initiate a dialogue with
exclusive in their intent.
their inhabitants. They are propagated

as the answer to a city REFERENCES
[1] Source: The Edifice Complex: How the Rich
previously weary to and Powerful Shape the World; Penguin, New
skyscrapers, owing to York; 2005; Deyan Sudjic

[2] Source: “Big Ben in Films and Popular
its unorganised and Culture”. The Daily Telegraph - https://www.
telegraph.co.uk/films/0/big-ben-films-popular-
unstructured skyline. culture/ Accessed on 6 May 2019.
[3] & [5] Source: The Politics of Design:
They are meant to be role models and to Architecture, Tall Buildings and the Skyline of
Central London; 2007; Igal Charney
exemplify what ‘good’ design meant. [5]
[4] Source: “History of the Shard, London
Whether they are indeed ‘good’ remains
Bridge”. Shardldn.com - https://www.shardldn.
debatable and subjective. Yet, the
com/construction-history-html/ Archived from
distinctly shaped glass clad towers are the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 9 May
here to stay for the immediate future, 2019.
with the available technology and means
to create a sustainable, meaningful
connection to the city at large.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Tejashrii Shankarraman is an architect by day and a writer by night. She has previously
worked with architectureRED and is currently getting ready to pursue a Master’s degree in
Architecture. For her, words are a means to clarify our thoughts and believes that our thoughts
need to be caught to become actionable. She’s also a recent poet, trying to rhyme her way
through life. You can find a collection of her thoughts caught on her blog at www.pensivepoint.
wordpress.com. When she’s not lost in the world of work or words, you can find her scrolling
through dog videos on the internet.
44 45
MOBILITY AND THE CITY
SLOWING
DOWN IN
A FAST
PACED
URBAN
WORLD
ANU KARIPPAL

In the fast-paced world of cities, we find walking before running a marathon
ourselves in constant motion, harbouring against life.
an unsatiated hurry to reach our next
destination. I experience the speed of
Walking has a unique effect on the
the city in its prime element when I
human brains. As one slows down, it
return to Bangalore from my hometown
entails longer time spent in seeing
in Kerala. A day in the small town of
people, remembering faces, exchanging
North Kerala starts serenely, with its
glances and sharing smiles – a
inhabitants taking their own sweet time
phenomenon which commuting through
to go about the day. When I step foot in
the city in a car doesn’t allow. Such
Bangalore, I feel, almost immediately,
interactions over a long period of time
that I have a heavy burden to catch up
instil a sense of bonding and community
with. I feel I was stuck in time during my
in a city, that otherwise can feel deeply
jaunt away from the city, and in coming
alienating.
back - the entire city has moved on. The
constant jostle, crossing of roads amidst
speeding cars has a way of making you Walking brings us closer to the secrets
feel that you are forever lagging. of the city. Cities are a labyrinthine,
much like the human mind. A car ride
will take you through the shortest main
Cities and their inherent modernity have
road and whatever one sees on the
provided for a variety of choices within
way will then define the perception and
our reach, but in providing a multitude
imagination of the city. However, the
of options, our angst has been inevitably
secrets lie in the labyrinthine, in the
heightened. In a relentlessly paced
secret alleys of the city that will unfold
world where we inhale anxiety with every
only through walking through narrow
breath, there is something to be said for
roads and slowing down.
pausing, slowing down, and consciously
46 47
I stopped ‘running’ and started walking a year and half ago. Amruthahalli, Bangalore.
Trees of Amruthahalli echo stories of construction and every possible waste

love and faith; of lovers who carved their adorn these trees.
names wishing for a forever but broke
each other’s heart. Trees are also where
A pervasive and integral element in the
the abandoned Gods are left to die, an
labyrinthine of streets are the numerous
easy resting spot for tainted Gods that
teashops, where neighbourhood uncles
aren’t aesthetically pleasing for houses
and aunties chat over a steaming cup
but cannot be thrown away lest they
of chai. At one such teashop, I had
curse the inhabitants. The narrative
ventured to try the famous Mangalore
of tree worship has made us exercise
bonda, but was hesitant thinking it
much authority and power over trees.
might taste bad. Sensing my reluctance,
And along with Gods, plastic, remains of
the shop owner offered me one to taste

without purchase. As capitalism spreads to taste for free. When did our lives turn
its wings and Westside charges 999 so monetized that we began thinking of
on a Bombay Paisley dress so we don’t everything in terms of personal profit?
take the one rupee back, here’s a man Have our brains become banks we
running a kiosk, happy to offer me food constantly overdraw from?
Trees and abandoned Gods.
48 49
Tea shop, Amruthahalli.
Woman drawing Kolam.
While I have seen kolams drawn by people? I see patience and detachment
women, when commuting in a vehicle in such practices; to dedicate oneself to
- looking at the intricate patterns being something, knowing well that it will be
drawn as you walk past it is a different smudged by cars, cows, rain and people.
experience. It made me think, why If not anything, Buddha resides in their
would the women pay so much attention minds and not under the peepal tree.
to such detailed drawing when they All the stories are interlaced together in
are to be tread over by cars, cows and a way which makes you feel part of the

community. An old man gives broken advising the customer, “I will give you
pieces of roti to dogs at 6.45 am every a whole strip if you ask, but stop your
day. Stray dogs bark at the sight of an medicine and start yoga to heal your
elite husky, almost seeming envious of sickness!”. “Next time uncle!” comes the
the husky’s grooming. A gang of uncles reply!
walk in unison, laughing and discussing
their mutual obsession with cholesterol,
All these little narratives merge to form
sugar and their even bigger collective
one’s emotional map of the city, only
fear - their wives forcing them on walks
to be brought out by walking. Gandhiji
to make them healthier. A middle-
advocated an important message
aged couple, stroll along the streets, I
imagine, attempting to compensating about time and patience through his
for all the lost time and lost love. use of the chakra, or spinning wheel.
Housewives squat on the roads, At the confluence of modernity and a
patiently and beautifully adorning their prolonged sense of urgency, one has to
entrances with intricate kolams. seek out the moments to slow down; to
watch the needle pass through the cloth,
one after the other.
Along another corner, a person is seen
consoling a migrant labourer from Nepal
who has hurt his leg, and deeply misses Enjoying time is something the world
his family. At the local medical store, the seems to forget, in our hurry to get
pharmacist uncle offers a strip of tablets somewhere and one way we can bring
even when known and local customers it back is to slow down... and enjoy the
have forgotten their wallet, while gently walk !
All images courtesy of the author.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anu Karippal is a researcher at ATREE, Bangalore. She did her Master’s in Development
from Azim Premji University and Bachelor’s in Political Science and Economics from St.
Stephen’s College. She is intrigued by anthropology studies and the mundane. She practices
photography, dance and writes poetry.
50 51
CITY TRAILS
THE
GASTRONOMICAL
CITY
Food for thought
ISHLEEN KAUR

What is it about food that lures
you out to markets, to streets, to
people, to the city? It is the sheer
temptation, the enticement of
senses, the energy and dynamics,
the urge to discover and
experience the city through its
foodscapes.
‘Food’ has multiple meanings for cities. It ranges

from being a fundamental right of urban masses, to
an overall system operating on different scales and
influencing trade, recreation, quality of life, economic
dynamics and localised and regional interdependencies.
Food has become more than a simple material product
- it is a factor that affects city form leading to urban-
rural intersections, economic vitality, cultural diversity
and richness in experience.
This article discusses the vital role food plays in

creating vibrant urban spaces, as defined by theorists
such as Jane Jacobs, Henri Lefebvre, Henry Shaftoe,
William Whyte and others. It examines the link between
52 53
CITY TRAILS
social space, physical space, and Indian cities, leading to de-localized and
food; and highlights the importance of highly industrialized food production,
food-centred urban spaces in creating and myriad choices available to all who
economically and socially sustainable can pay. While modern food systems
cities. The article uses examples from have brought in an economic revolution
Delhi and examines different typologies in the food market, it has also led
of food spaces that have either evolved to ‘fat cities’ and obesogenic urban
organically within the urban fabric over environments. Traditional food systems
the years or are emerging as segregated are prevalent at a small scale within the
areas of recreation. Food production and local boundaries of a city but form an
consumption have become an integral important part of a city’s cultural identity
part of the public realm and have the and branding. Both these systems
potential to become centrepieces of collectively account for the ‘experiential
place-making and neighbourhood economy of any city’.
regeneration. Considering the emerging
concepts of gastro-tourism and Gastronomy is defined
‘foodatainment’, the article touches as the elevation of
upon wider prospects of food-led
regeneration by scaling up through
food preparation to
food policies and devising innovative a complex sensory
ways of having food-centred spaces and
activities such as food festivals and food
experience that
walks. encompasses a
spectrum of ingredients,
EXPLORING THE ROLE OF
preparation techniques
GASTRONOMICAL QUARTERS IN
SHAPING URBAN SPACES and cooking styles.
Cities today show a mix of traditional
as well as modern food systems. With ‘Gastronomical quarters’ are a
the liberalization of the economy, many physical manifestation of this sensory
global franchises dot the food scene of experience. The laws that govern

the senses – ‘Gastronomy’ - in their distances, to car-dependent mall-based
physical form, govern the experience food consumption.
and perception of a city. The tangible
aspects of food systems and foodscapes
GASTRONOMICAL QUARTERS AS
are not only linked to the immediate
PHYSICAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL AND
physical space they occupy but can be
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
directly linked to the overall socio-spatial
CITY
activity in a city. These gastronomical
quarters can range from being walkable, Gastronomical quarters in cities
mixed-use markets to a neighbourhood demonstrate a range of social practices
hub with small blocks and permeable in which food plays a substantial part.
Gastronomical quarters in a city can be seen as
Vernacular tradition
and cultural identity A contributor in
regeneration or
An important element revitalization of any
Catalyst of place making forming urban space
for social a major part of sense of
Sensescapes forming
interactions place
a crucial part of
Experience economy of experience and
a city also contributing memories
in image building
54 55
CITY TRAILS
They form a central part of everyday place-promotion technique to foster

life with routine encounters and shared regeneration, with parts of cities sold
experiences of public spaces that on the basis of the food they offer,
include walking, browsing, shopping, especially in case of ethnic foods.
eating, talking, and tourist visits. These
food quarters become a place for
Gastronomy for ecological
interaction and thus urban social spaces
sustainability
by default rather than design.
Susan Parham in her book ‘Market
Place: Food Quarters, Design and
Gastronomy for place making and Urban Renewal in London’ says that
revitalization ‘predominant food distribution and
Not all details are tangible while consumption arrangements in urban
designing a public space. Some public areas, dominated by supermarkets, have
places fail to garner the anticipated a specific and largely negative influence
footfall even if well-designed – for on urban sustainability’. Sustainability
example by being uninteresting or is determined by the spatial form of the
devoid of place. Instead of abandoning food quarters. A compact, walkable,
or redeveloping these spaces, a sense of liveable food quarter will assist in
place can be brought back to them using mitigating some unsustainable effects
food as a tool and catalyst for urban of the way food relationships are played
revitalization. out in urban space.
Gastronomy for economic regeneration Gastronomical quarters for cognitive

The food sector is diverse, vibrant, and mapping of city
provides a rich range of employment Gastronomical quarters are elements of
opportunities and income generation. reminiscence because they form a part
Returns are so high that even vernacular of people’s social experiences in a city.
eateries have started developing as They are one of the most camouflaged
new spaces of commercial hospitality. elements yet have a large impact - this
‘Foodatainment’ is enlisted as a explains why famous anchor eateries

become landmarks in an area and form an experience economy becomes a
a memory of place. trademark of that place, and the city.
Now and again, foodscapes act as GASTRONOMICAL QUARTERS - A CASE

landmarks within landmarks. From OF DELHI
Karim’s at Jama Masjid to Kachori at
When it comes to food, Delhi is a
Hanuman Mandir, they have their own
share of visitors and a sturdy presence. melting pot of the culinary traditions of
They contribute towards an authentic generations of indigenous and foreign
experience with history not only in the cultures. Every area of the city boasts
backdrop, but also manifested through of foodscapes and food streets; alive
traditional cooking and eating. Such with people, vibrant with conversations,
The only signage leading to a famous food street in Old Delhi. Image credit: Author
56 57
CITY TRAILS
charging the atmosphere with rising the social spaces of markets, shops, and
aromas, and acting as a complete malls, to the productive spaces of the
sensory experience. If you start digging footpath, parks, and business districts.
into these foodscapes, you can truly Three typo-morphologies have emerged
experience the city’s past, present, and in Delhi - the historical foodscape
future through culinary escapades. of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, the
emerging culture of food malls such
These gastronomical townscapes have as Epicuria at Nehru Place and Satya
diverse urban form and morphology. Niketan, and a neighbourhood food
They range from public spaces of the street in one of the gentrified residential
street, square, and neighbourhoods to pockets of Delhi. These areas represent
An excerpt from Khushwant Singh’s writing displayed at Karim’s, Old Delhi. Image credit: Intekhab Alam.

a subset of the urban fabric which exists recent trend of using the sale and
in vast parts of Delhi. With a focus on consumption of food as a vehicle for
the gastronomic possibilities of these urban regeneration further enforces the
gastronomical quarters, it becomes benefits food brings to urban spaces. It
possible to observe the many roles food also suggests that food can be central
plays in urban life and the ways in which to revitalization strategy for derelict or
it has shapes the development of these disused districts.
people-centred, convivial urban spaces.
Considering economic realities, cultural
Besides its sociocultural, economic and
needs, and regeneration/revitalization
environmental implications on a city,
opportunities ultimately helps to shape
food quarters impact the urban form
a sustainable, economically viable and
and are impacted by it. They can be
socially inclusive urban response to
understood through four urban design
degenerating areas in Delhi.
and planning parameters, which are:
CONCLUSION: THE MAKING OR

1. Primary use
BREAKING OF ‘THE GASTRONOMICAL
Through evaluation of the three
CITY’
typologies of gastronomical quarters,
The urban design-based analysis above
it became clear that they can thrive
reveals that the different models of
in busy mixed-use market spaces as
gastronomic quarters are instrumental
well as spine streets in residential
in shaping of place, the neighbourhood
neighbourhoods. These quarters can
and the city. It also shows that the
also be planned and designed as food-
presence of food brings diversity and
only retail spaces.
activity to the spaces surrounding
2. Block sizes
them, whether these be public space or
controlled private enclaves. To ensure the walkability and
permeability of cities, these blocks must
be designed at a human scale. The
These quarters exhibit rich architectural
smaller city blocks become, the more
and urban design features that reinforce
opportunity there is to create active
their conviviality as food spaces. The
food streets and corners. E.g. Chandni
58 59
CITY TRAILS
The study looks at various food spaces some of which are a part of the rich
cultural setting of the city, some are designed as segregated domains, while
others have developed organically within the urban fabric. It analyses the spatial
and social attributes of these food-centric spaces in terms of how they shape and
influence those parts of the city.
Gastronomical
quarters
typology in
Delhi

SATYA NIKETAN
FOOD STREET
CHANDNI CHOWK
FOOD SCAPE
EPICURIA - NEHRU PLACE

FOOD MALL
60 61
CITY TRAILS
Ped Shed diagram of Chandni

Chowk showing landmark shops
easily accessed by walking. Image
credit: author

Chowk provides for small walkable
distances which make it sustainable and
accessible.
3. Mix of old and new
Within one city, there needs to be
a sufficient mixture of old and new.
Gastronomical quarters found in the
historic districts of a city offer dynamic
streets and diverse neighbourhoods for
food quarters to flourish. However, in
recent times, the expansion of fast food,
ready-meals, and car-dependant food
spaces including malls, road pantries,
and supermarkets are also dominating
the food scene.
4. Concentration of people and
activities
A high concentration of people is
needed not only to create as much
variety and diversity as possible, but also
to put eyes on the street and to create a
safe and ‘visibly lively public street life’.
Food attracts people, who in turn attract
more people – it thus creates more
opportunities for encounters, chance
meetings and acts as a social platform
for people to interact with each. As
William Whyte also points out in his
book ‘Social life of small urban spaces’
“If one needs to put a seed of activity in
a place, add food to it”.
62 63
CITY TRAILS
Gastronomical quarters of Delhi

Satya Niketan is a neighbourhood located next to the South Intensity and nature of development
Campus of Delhi University. With a large influx of students, • Mixed use gentrified neighbourhood
the area has transformed tremendously from a residential
pocket to a mixed use with a large number of students living • The lower floors mostly have small and affordable eating
on rent. The area has gentrified to cater to the incoming rental outlets with rental accommodation on upper floors.
accommodation demand. • A classic case of loft living with larger units on lower floors
divided into smaller units on upper floors.
Socio-cultural significance
• Caters largely to young population, with its affordable and Economic opportunities
easily accessible facilities. • There are opportunities for everyone, from informal vendors
• With the local population moving out to make space for the to small eating outlets, cafés and food chains to flourish.
incoming student population, the demography of the area is • Interdependencies among the bigger food units and smaller
relatively heterogeneous highlighted in the cosmopolitan food outlets, making co-existing profitable for everyone.
choices available.
Chandni Chowk area is the most earliest established of the sites Intensity and nature of development
functioning as a food quarter over a very long term, through a • Historic core.
complex set of interior, exterior and transitional spaces. It differs
from the simpler form of the food quarter which offers a simple • The area is predominantly fine grained with smaller block
sitting setup because here one sees fusion of food, old and sizes, scale, high density and active edges.
new, and amalgamation of many cultures, people and cuisines • Mixed use market typology.
together.
Economic opportunity
Socio-cultural significance
• Caters to diverse economic groups in terms of both food
Food-related land uses have been located in the area of Chandni production and consumption practises.
Chowk in Old Delhi since a very long period. There is a treasure
• Supports both big flagship food outlets, smaller shops and
of recipes right from the time of Sultans of Delhi to the end of the
informal street vendors.
great Mughal empire. Strong sense of place due to historic built
fabric. • A number of food outlets acting as anchor shops.
• Opportunity for gastro tourism.
Epicuria is an example of the emerging typology of food malls Intensity and nature of development
that have enormous amount of internalised diversity with only • The mall segregates itself from the commercial district and
one main primary use- food retail. The area surrounding the mall creates an island of activity and concentration.
is predominantly used for office and commercial activities, with a
metro station as the transport hub. • The surrounding district with monotonous streets with limite
activity.
• Situated right under the Nehru Place metro station, thus we
Socio-cultural significance connected to public transport and a district centre.
• Limited chances of interaction with surroundings.
• Homogeneity in terms of income groups it caters to. Economic opportunities
• Dining opportunities consist largely of ‘cosmopolitan’, ‘chain’ • Emerging ‘super block retail centre’ acts as a magnet for a
and ‘not very local’ certain economic classes and generation.
• International brands taking up food retail sector.
• It also acts as an employment creation sector.

REFERENCES
Urban form [1] Robert J. Harrington, ‘Defining

• Compact development with food quarters at walkable Gastronomic Identity: The Impact of
distances.
Environment and Culture on Prevailing
• A spine street acting as the people centred food hub.
Components, Texture and Flavors in Wine
• The urban form of Satya Niketan effectively supports the live-
work-recreation model at walkable distances. and Food’
Pros and cons

s • Higher densities of people, cycles and cars in the same spine
street leads to conflict in movement patters.
r • Haphazard development and encroachment of road space for
marketing.
• Inclusive to all economic groups.
Urban form
• High levels of permeability, legibility and walkability.
• Small blocks that give visual cues and help the walker to get
through from one place to another. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Human-scaled with active frontages housing a robust and Ishleen Kaur is a Research
diverse range of land uses, many related to food. Associate with National Institute
of Urban Affairs where she works
Pros and cons towards making cities people
• Inclusive- mixing of different economic groups, age groups friendly through urban design and
and genders. planning, particularly for children.
• Richness of experience.
She is a gold-medallist with a
Masters in Urban Regeneration
• Organized chaos. from Jamia Milia Islamia University,
• Pedestrian movement and spillover areas of food joints New Delhi and a Bachelors in
conflict with each other. Architecture. In the past, she has
• Dust and noise pollution from vehicles hinder interaction worked with the United Nations
possibilities. Development Program (UNDP)
in implementing the Pradhan
Urban form Mantri Awas Yojana; the Society
for Participatory Research in
• Segregated and privatised enclave. South East Asia (PRIA) creating
• Internalised flagship food courts, cafés and restaurant responsive cities; as an architect
ed clusters are present within the mall. in the Housing and Urban
• An inward facing, privately owned mall space with parking on poverty alleviation wing of Delhi
ell the exterior and pedestrian space within. Development Authority (DDA);
and has been an active volunteer
in Centre for Contemporary
Pros and cons
Urbanism(CCU) since 2015. Her
• Entertains a specific segment of people and creates food research interests include Urban
desert for others. policy implementation, urban
• Creates vitality inside a controlled consumer environment planning and design, people-friendly
ignoring the lack of quality urban space and city life cities, and livable cities. She is an
surrounding its bleak perimeter. avid traveler and foodie.
64 65
FEATURE ARTICLE
THE
THRESHOLD OF
INAPPROPRIATE
TOUCH
An indicator for quality of public space?
APOORVA DESHPANDE

What exactly is space?
Oxford dictionary defines it as: “A
continuous area or expanse which is
free, available, or unoccupied.”
The crucial words in this definition are

‘free’ and ‘available’. Space is perhaps
better defined by its lack thereof. In an
age of growing megalopolises, urban
sprawl has spread wider and is denser
than before. With an increasing number
of people coexisting side by side, we
are constantly struggling to carve out
a piece of space for ourselves. Space
takes on many roles in our lives. First
and foremost, it is a resource - to live
in, to work in, to house institutions in
etc. Secondly, as most resources, it is
a commodity, as demonstrated by the
real-estate market. Thirdly, space is also
a vehicle for legitimacy. Ownership i.e.
having an exclusive claim to a space,
right of occupation, right of access often
defines our status as legitimate citizens.
66 67
FEATURE ARTICLE
But all this is applicable to privately Mumbai as an example. The trains are
occupied space. There is also the realm often referred to as the arteries of the
of public space. city. They pump the city’s lifeblood, its
people and keep it alive. The trains,
Much of our lives are lived outside our along with the various sea-fronts and
homes, in schools, at work, in commute beaches are some of Mumbai’s most
etc. The space which we use as a frequented public spaces. Accessed
‘common space’, which is accessible to by one and all and running almost all
all, is the public space. Since medieval day long, a completely empty train is
times, city centres have been dense an urban legend in this city. According
hubs starved of space and today’s cities to the preparatory studies conducted
are no exception. Nowhere is it more by Municipal Corporation of Greater
apparent than in the domain of public Mumbai (MCGM) 7 million passengers
space. As the value of space as a travel by the local trains per day. During
commodity rises, the publicly available peak hours, on an average, each train
space shrinks. As more and more people carries approximately 4,500 passengers,
exhaust the limited capacity of our as opposed to the prescribed capacity of
public spaces, our experience of these 1,750 passengers. [1]
spaces also changes dramatically.
A local train coach can be a very
When you are living in a city like claustrophobic space. Carrying scores
Mumbai, you are constantly navigating more passengers than it should, at peak
scores of people. Every movement hours the coach can feel downright
becomes an exercise of dodging suffocating. During peak commute
and ducking as you steer yourself hours in the morning and evening, the
to your intended destination. In a allotted seating space for three people
city as congested as Mumbai, the is occupied by four. People are forced
encroachments are more than the mere to stand closely together in a way
physical ones. In a public space, your which usually ends up with someone
personal space is constantly encroached pressed up against you. With people
upon by lights, sounds, smell and even talking, hawkers selling their wares
touch. Take the famed local train of noisily, railway announcements blaring

68 69
FEATURE ARTICLE
through the cacophony, advertisements

and the noisy train itself, there is no
space for quiet. With such crowded
compartments, no visuals from outside
can be seen. In addition, a cacophony
of smells; of perfume, food, sweat etc.
constantly assault your senses. The lack
of space is viscerally felt by all of our
senses.
Similar scenarios can be seen in many

different places. A crowded Juhu beach
on a Sunday evening is hardly any
different. The procession for Ganesh
Visarjan is just as claustrophobic. In
different Indian cities, the context may
change but the situation remains the
same. The notion of personal space in a
public space might sound contradictory
at first. However, even in public space,
one is entitled to a safe environment
which is considerate of the sanctity of
our personal space.
The touch is one of our primary senses

and one which often conveys more
than the rest combined. What we see,
hear, smell or taste may not be as
it seems. However, one can seldom
misunderstand touch. Whether caring or
hateful, whether affectionate or angry;
the touch is mostly truthful. There is

very little room for lies and deceit. Even
as we learn to identify the emotions
behind various touches, we learn
about their appropriateness. While the
sights, sounds, smells or tastes can
be either pleasant or unpleasant; with
touch it’s a different story. The touch
is an intimate sense. Something we
touch is at least within an arm’s reach
and therefore far more intimate than
scenery we can see or music which
inadvertently floats through the window.
The touch is intimate for another reason.
Touch is an integral part of our closest
relations. Our most intense emotions
are expressed through touch. This very
sense is overloaded on a crowded
journey in a local train. With people
propped against you, pushing and
shoving to climb in or get down, all the
usual standards of personal space are
suspended. Usually such a touch, such
blatant encroachment on our personal
space would be deemed inappropriate.
However, as the resources of the city are
overburdened, this becomes a ‘normal
dystopia’. The threshold of inappropriate
touch is redefined.
How do we begin to define the standards

of quality public space then? What
guidelines or planning measures can
70 71
FEATURE ARTICLE
help alleviate such chaos? According to 2. Mode share of public transport (core)
the Livability Standards issued by India’s 3. Percentage of road network with
Ministry of Urban Development, the dedicated bicycle tracks (core)
criteria for public space are
4. Mode share of non-motorized
1. Per capita availability of Green Space transport (core)
(core)
5. Availability of paid parking spaces
2. Per capita availability of Public and (core)
Recreational Space (core) [2]
6. Percentage coverage of footpaths –
wider than 1.2m (core)
While these indexes measure the public 7. Availability of public transport
space quantitatively, it does nothing to (supporting)
measure such space qualitatively. All the
8. Percentage of interchanges with
allocated ‘Green Space’ or ‘Recreational
bicycle parking facilities (supporting)
space’ may not be accessible either. For
9. Availability of Passenger Information
example, in the scenario of Mumbai,
System (supporting)
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the
biggest green space available to its 10. Extent of signal synchronization
citizens. However, large areas of the (supporting)
park are not accessible to the public 11. Percentage of traffic intersections
as it is a protected forest. Similarly, with pedestrian crossing facilities
privately owned sports and recreational (supporting)
institutions often have restricted entry 12. Extent to which universal
and cannot be accessed by all the accessibility is incorporated in public
citizens. Thus, the accessible open space rights-of-way (supporting)
per capita might be drastically lesser
than these criteria suggest.
While these indicators place emphasis
on the mode share of public transport as
The criteria for public transport are a core indicator, it places the availability
numerous. They are as follows of public transport as a supporting
1. Geographical coverage of public indicator. Similar to the criteria for public
transport (core) space, the criteria for public transport

are purely quantitative. A method for a Despite such massive infrastructure
qualitative analysis is not included. upgrade, our experience of the public
realm hasn’t changed drastically.
The key idea for consideration is Perhaps the quantitative approach is

accessibility and quality of public space. at fault. Evaluating our public space in
In the last few years, Mumbai has terms of the user experience is the key
made attempts to resolve the problem to better public spaces. When we stop
of congestion by expanding the modes looking at cities as mere ‘engines of
of commute available to the citizens. economic growth’ and start looking at
Metro rail was introduced in the city and them as the crucible of human lives,
is currently under massive expansion. may be then we will have a public realm
Numerous pedestrian skywalks have where the threshold of invasion of
been constructed in the city. Along personal space is not ignored.
with the Western Express Highway (a
highway connecting the western suburbs
REFERENCES
to the island city) and Bandra – Worli
[1] Group SCE India, 2013, MCGM’s Preparatory
Sea Link, Eastern Express Highway,
Studies (Part 2A) for the Development Plan
Eastern Freeway, Jogeshwari Vikhroli
2014-2034
Link Road and Santacruz Chembur
[2] Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing
Link road were constructed. A coastal and Urban Development, Government of India,
highway is currently proposed and under 2017, Liveability Standards, accessed May
consideration. There are also proposals 17, 2019, http://smartcities.gov.in/upload/
for redevelopment of Dockland. uploadfiles/files/LiveabilityStandards.pdf
All image credits: Sameep Deshpande
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Apoorva Deshpande is an architect and a co-founder of the firm ‘Studio Gestalt’, based in
Pune and Mumbai. Their practice is oriented towards heritage conservation and research,
urban studies as well as commercial projects. Recently, she was part of the curatorial team for
a book called “Chronicles of the Raste Family of Mehunpura”. Previously she has worked with
different architectural firms in Mumbai. Her other interests include literature and Hindustani
classical music.
72 73
LEARNING FROM CITIES
10 URBAN
DESIGN
LESSONS
FROM
DELFT
BHAVNA THYAGARAJAN

Any mention of The Netherlands always evokes images of
Amsterdam, with its canals, bicycles and busy tourist streets.
But here we’re going to look at a smaller and lesser known
city in The Netherlands – Delft. There’s an old saying that
God made the world, but the Dutch made Holland. With its
narrow streets, canals, bridges, windmills and the famous
Delft blue pottery, Delft is quintessentially Holland. Steeped
in culture and history, Delft is a significant little city that
served as the unofficial capital of The Netherlands in 1581.
It is also one of the few cities that to date retains its old city
charm. Home to the world-renowned Technical University
of Delft AKA TU Delft, it plays host to plenty of international
students who bring bits of their home to add to its already
thriving and diverse culture.
Delft is a city that plays a balancing act between the new

and the old. It is a city that boasts of historic buildings dating
back in time but is also one where experiments with new
construction are plenty. It is a city teeming with life, of locals
and internationals and of the old and the young. It is a city of
contrasts.
Aerial View of the city of Delft. Image credit: Author
74 75
Listed here are 10 things that Delft as a city does differently to make things work
for it.
1 INNER-CITY BIODIVERSITY MATTERS
It comes as no surprise when we say soft edges and green roofs, and the City
that we are losing global biodiversity at takes great measures to introduce green
a fast rate. In the Netherlands alone, parks and open spaces throughout the
biodiversity dropped from about 40% city. The streets of the inner city of Delft
in 1990 to about 15% in 2000 [1]. But although narrow, are lined with trees
what is surprising is that there is more and flowers. This not only attracts many
nature and biodiversity in cities than birds, butterflies, bees and ducks, but
most people expect. As it turns out the also creates a vibrant street. The city of
highs and lows and crevices created Delft is also planned in such a way that it
in buildings, and variations in micro- is surrounded by two large-scale natural
climate due to the shadows of buildings landscapes that are multifunctional
provide the perfect opportunity for a and attract biodiversity. In the summer
variety of flora and fauna to flourish in months, bird nests and duck nests can
cities. be found in abundance lined along the
small spaces below bridges and in the
crevices of buildings. Although Delft
The Delft Municipality has taken
is moving in the right direction to bring
multiple measures to ensure the
more biodiversity to the city, there is
development of Delft as a green,
still a long way to go in bringing about
sustainable city with the objective to
a balanced ratio between the greenery
increase the biodiversity of the city. It is
and buildings and paving.
quite common in Delft to see canals with
Streets lined with trees and flowers. Image Credit: Sathya Ranjani Rangarajan.

76 77
Ducks create nests in the

corners of the canals. Image
credit: Marie Portfields.

2 ABUNDANT PUBLIC SPACES!
The moment one steps out of their skate parks, a dog park, gardens and
private space such as their home, work public squares. The City also utilizes the
place etc. they are immediately in the availability of large quantities of water
public realm. Considering that everyone, to create interesting places for people to
irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, hang out.
background or status use public spaces,
the design of these spaces must be
Creating inclusive public spaces is a
given importance. No place in Delft
challenging task, especially in a city
is more than a 10-minute walk from
with a large international population but
a park/playground or another form
Delft manages to do this effortlessly.
of public space. There are a variety of
It provides different kinds of spaces
public spaces that cater to the needs of
for different groups to gather and to
everyone, including dog owners. Delft
experience the public realm.
is a city that has plenty of parks and
Skate park in Delft. Image credit: Wikimedia.
78 79
3 UNINTERRUPTED PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE HAVEN
Delft is a city that gives great Apart from the cycling culture that is
importance to its pedestrian and bike famous throughout the Netherlands,
traffic. In 1979, Delft was the third city in Delft also has zones that are accessed
the Netherlands that decided to upgrade only by pedestrians. The inner-city
its existing bicycle infrastructure. The square is vehicle free and so are
plan that was developed then looked some of the streets. This encourages
at connecting all the missing links in people to come out, use their streets
the existing bicycle infrastructure to cut to play and sit out, and makes the city
down travel time and to make getting less congested with traffic. The city
from one point to another easier and infrastructure is planned in such a way
hassle free. Delft now boasts of 2 that you are not more than a 5-minute
tunnels accessible only by bikes, many walk from a public transport route
bridges built mainly for pedestrians and and are always near other essential
cyclists and uninterrupted bicycle paths amenities such as supermarkets,
throughout the city. pharmacies etc.
Uninterrupted bicycle paths. Image credit: Mindy on Tour

Newly constructed bicycle bridge. Image credit: Modacity life
80 81
4 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
Delft is a small city. It is one of those garden. ProefTuin, an experimental

cities where you bump into the same urban garden, was a crowd funded
people every day, ride the train with the initiative that was started in 2015.
same faces, and wave across the aisle
to your friend from the supermarket. But
Delft MaMa, an organization that was
it is also a city with a large international
started to help international women who
population, and many efforts have been
relocate settle in, brought these women
taken to foster a sense of community
together to help create a ceramic wall
within the people of Delft. Many of
mural in one of the parks of Delft. This
the small communities within the city
not only helped the women acclimatize
have taken the initiative to set up small
themselves to their new environment
community activities. The residents of
and bring in a sense of belonging, but it
Wippolder, a neighbourhood in the heart
was also a step towards beautifying the
of Delft have set up their own kitchen
city’s public space.
Ceramic wall mural by Women relocated to Delft from over the world. Image credit: Delft MaMa.

Delftse ProefTuin – A community kitchen garden. Image credit: Groenkracht.
5 STREET LIFE
Delft has a vibrant street life. The city New Years’ Eve and you’d see the whole
is designed to allow for the citizens city take to the roads with music and
to be comfortable enough to reclaim fanfare.
the streets. The fun and unique thing
about the people of Delft is they see
The city has done its share in
opportunity in everything. “No lawn
contributing towards this lively
space? Oh, that’s alright, I can set up
environment. They organize street
my barbecue by the road”. See a sunny
markets twice every week, with food,
spot by the road at the edge of a canal?
fresh produce, clothes and much
“Let’s bring out our fishing poles and
more. Most people do not realize the
foldable chairs”. The people of Delft take
importance of placing street furniture in
their public life so seriously that there
optimal spots. Delft has plenty of great
are multiple occasions throughout the
spots where you can catch the rays of
year where they make the streets into
sun, places to sit by the canal and some
a huge party. Visit Delft on Kings day or
even extending right into the canal.
82 83
Saturday antique street market. Image credit: https://www.fleamapket.com/listing/antiekmarkt-delft/
6 BALANCING HISTORY AND MODERNITY
The Delft city centre, for the most part, as not to disrupt architectural unity.
dates back to the 16th century. It is Parts of the old city wall have also
home to many beautiful buildings built been preserved and these now serve as
in the Renaissance style of architecture. excellent picnic spots.
The City of Delft has taken great
measures to preserve its inner city, with
The dilemma arises when new buildings
buildings that adhere to strict rules so
and structures are commissioned.

How can these buildings co-exist with fanfare. This building while embracing
the perfectly preserved buildings of all modern construction techniques and
historic Delft while also adding a touch material was also designed keeping
of modernity? In 2015, the new train in mind the character of Delft and the
station of Delft was inaugurated to much combination of past and future.
Aerial view of the New Delft train station. Image credit: https://www.bmiaa.com/delft-municipal-offices-and-train-
station-by-mecanoo/
Ceiling of The Delft train station with an old map of Delft. Image credit: https://www.archdaily.com/604109/
mecanoo-s-new-station-hall-in-delft-opens-to-the-public
84 85
7 LANDMARKS TO SET THE CITY APART
If you ever find yourself lost in the city of the old city gate that contribute towards
Delft, always find the large, tall, leaning this -- there are also newer sculptures
church tower. It helps you orient yourself. and urban art placed along the way that
According to Kevin Lynch, landmarks are become identifiable landmarks. You can
external points of orientation, usually direct someone to your house by saying
an easily identifiable physical object in “Find the blue heart and take a right turn
the urban landscape [2]. Delft is littered immediately after”. These landmarks
with many such objects and it becomes also help provide a specific character to
rather easy to orient yourself in the Delft and set it apart from the rest of the
urban landscape. It isn’t just the old many cities in The Netherlands.
heritage buildings like the old church or
The gates of the Old City walls of Delft. Image credit: https://www.klook.com/en-AU/activity/2812-grand-holland-tour-
amsterdam/

Continuous storefronts. Image credit : Claudio Papapietro for the Wall Street Journal
Iconic Blue Heart of Delft. Image Credit: https://catrionamhairidh.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/the-blue-heart-of-

delft/
86 87
8 USE WATER IN UNIQUE WAYS
The Netherlands is known for its The citizens of Delft are also known to
beautiful canals and its incredible water have a flair for adventure. Every year
management system. Delft, true to an obstacle race, also known as the
its character of being quintessentially Survival Strijd is organized and water
Holland is also a city with many canals plays a very important role in this
and lots of water. But what is not known obstacle course. You wade through
about Delft is that not only do they know water, run across wooden planks placed
how to manage water, but they also on water, climb up to a bridge from a
know how to design and use water in pond of water and much more!
creative ways.
Its great to see that the people of Delft

The canals of Delft are not just beautiful have not only learnt to live with water
to see from afar but are also beautiful to but have also embraced it and enjoy the
sail through. On any nice summer day, opportunities that their beautiful canals
the boat traffic is probably more than offer them.
the vehicular traffic. You will see many
families out on their boats enjoying
the sun out on the waters. What is
also popular in Delft is the water park
- this special design allows users to
experience all the joys of a playground
but in the water!
Facing page top: Survival Strijd. Image credit: Author
Facing page bottom: Stand Up paddle in the canals of inner-city Delft.

Image credits: https://shop.siem.nl/2016/06/friday-night-sup-night-24-juni-tweede-editie/

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9 THE CITY AND UNIVERSITY DYNAMICS
Delft is known for the presence of the relationships with the city at physical,
Technical University (TU). TU Delft has social, cultural and economic levels”
been an economic motor for the city [3]. The campus has been developed
in the past by attracting talent and in such a way that it integrates into the
generating thousands of jobs. The TU cityscape, and also matches in spatial
Delft Campus strategy represents the quality with the inner city of Delft.
argument that “today’s universities have The Campus is so well ingrained into
the opportunity to establish specific the fabric of the city that as a visitor
TU Delft Campus’
redesigned urban
landscape. Image credit:
Wikimedia Commons.

you would probably enter the campus urban landscape. This redevelopment is
without really realizing that you were. a step towards creating a living campus
The university is more an extension with a focus on creating high quality
of the city itself and aids in attracting public spaces. To further develop TU
knowledge workers and businesses to Delft into a living campus, the created
urban landscape must be supported
the city of Delft.
by other facilities such as restaurants,
shops, medical facilities etc. Sports
In fact, to further this cause, the TU Delft and culture could also be used more
campus was recently redesigned into an effective to help create more hot spots.
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10 DARE TO DREAM
Delft is a medium sized city in the These projects allow Delft to evolve and
western part of The Netherlands. A 16th take on a new role as its citizens and
century city, Delft is primarily known importance on the global stage are
for its typically Dutch canals in the old constantly shifting.
city centre, Its historic structures and
Delft blue pottery. But in recent years
The thing with cities and their design
Delft has begun to reinvent itself. The
is that they are living organisms and
city is trying to re-brand around 4 core
they keep twisting and turning into new
values: History, Innovation, Creativity
forms. It is always good to acknowledge
and Technology. It has undertaken some
the impermanence of our cities and to
extremely challenging projects including
allow for change. Dare to dream of a
the construction of its new railway
future for your city.
network that is completely underground.
Aerial view of new construction happening in Delft. Image credit: https://indebuurt.nl/delft/nieuws/er-komt-een-

gigantische-fontein-met-bronzen-beelden-in-de-spoorzone~56153/.

Delft is a city that is evolving, and while going through this
process it is also a city trying to keep in touch with his historic
roots. It is always important to reflect on the decisions in
the planning and design of the city that have been made.
A city that learns from its past only evolves into a much
better version of itself for the future. Delft is an intrinsically
complicated city with multiple different layers. It is a city that
has a lot to offer its visitors.
REFERENCES
[1] Halting Biodiversity Loss in The Netherlands, 2010, Prepared by
Netherlands Environment assessment agency
[2] Lynch, Kevin. 1960. The image of the city. Cambridge, Mass: MIT
Press
[3] Heurkens, Erwin & Daamen, Tom A. & den Heijer, Alexandra. 2015.
City Tour Delft: The Making of a Knowledge City.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bhavna Thyagarajan is an Architect & Landscape Architect with
a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a master’s degree in
Landscape Architecture from TU Delft, The Netherlands. Bhavna
has a keen interest in placemaking and people centered Urban
Design. She has worked in Placemaking Plus, Amsterdam, one of
the leading Placemaking firms in Europe. Bhavna loves exploring
cities and enjoys doing this by foot, hoping to experience the local
street life.
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MOTION CAPTURED
PEOPLE AT
THE HEART
OF LONDON
Exploring the city’s human-centered places
ANISH DEENADAYALAN

94 95
MOTION CAPTURED
London, the megacity that makes you feel like you are
meandering through a group of villages, charming and
endearing and yet it offers you the best of any metropolis.
This photo essay aims to showcase London’s human centred
streets and places that together make it a vibrant city. The
extensive and well designed pedestrian network encourages
its residents to pour out into the streets and traverse the
city by foot. The mélange of historic and modern buildings
provides great visual variety for passers-by while the green
urban punctures lend themselves to a plethora of outdoor
activities. The city consciously focuses on the creation of
people centric spaces in varying scales ranging from its
streets to its plazas, markets, docks and waterside bays. In
the age of alarming urbanization, London showcases the best
of development, design and quality of life that continues to
draw people to it.

96 97
MOTION CAPTURED

98 99
MOTION CAPTURED

100 101
MOTION CAPTURED

102 103
MOTION CAPTURED

104 105
MOTION CAPTURED

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Anish is an entrepreneur whose interests
lie in using technology to transform global
economies towards a sustainable future.
He co-founded Frilp.com, an online social
platform that was rated one of the top 25
hottest startups by CNBC in 2014. He
currently works at Freshworks, a Chennai
based company that acquired Frilp. Anish is
a photo enthusiast who uses photography
as a tool for exploring different ecosystems
both natural and man-made.
106 107
ART AND THE CITY
EMBRACING
THE CITY
THROUGH
PUBLIC ART
PRIYANKA SACHETI

108 109
ART AND THE CITY
The first time I realised the powerful role that public art can
play in a city was after moving to Pittsburgh, United States in
2013. Until then, having largely lived in Sultanate of Oman,
I had not encountered much public art of note and had not
thought much about the subject. However, after encountering
both small and large-scale examples of public urban art in
Pittsburgh, I found myself compelled to consider it from
both an aesthetic and functional perspective - and so began
documenting it. I had recently acquired my first smart phone
and was using it anyway to record this new chapter of my
life in a new city and country, the phone camera functioning
as a visual journal. I saw the taking of these pictures as my
personal way of engaging with a city that I was to live in for
the next year and half, helping make the alien familiar and
accessible.

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ART AND THE CITY
Pittsburgh’s public urban art was seeing two instances of large-scale

among the sights that I often found art in Pittsburgh’s city centre which
myself photographing. One of the first further made me think about the broad
examples I photographed was a silver- spectrum of public art in the city. The
stenciled turquoise wall located in my first of the works that I encountered
neighbourhood. I recall pausing in my were the acclaimed American sculptor,
walk to admire it, observing how it Louise Bourgeois’ large black stone eye
distinctly stood out on its own while sculptures, which served both as both
simultaneously infusing the street as visually arresting pieces as well as
with colour and character. Afterward, benches which people could sit upon in
wherever I went in Pittsburgh and a tree-covered square. The other work
elsewhere in the States, I began to keep incidentally faced the eye-sculptures:
an eye out for public art. Until then, if I it was a faux magnolia tree garden
had at all thought about public urban which had been constructed upon the
art, I had always perceived it as a form site of a former adult store. Given that
of vandalism, something subversive and it was magnolia season at the time
dangerously challenging the rules which when I found the work, I couldn’t stop
strictly kept a city in order. I then found photographing the interplay between
it interesting to discover that in many the faux and real, the lines between
instances the city municipality itself had them stunningly blurred. Encountering
commissioned examples of street art to these two examples of public art made
adorn the walls. I started to understand me appreciate how powerfully they
how various iterations of public art disrupted the visual urban monotony,
brought art out into the streets, rendering the urban space as a lively
liberating it from confines of white cube one fertile with possibilities, rather than
art gallery spaces and instead situating inert and dull.
it in the public realm where everybody
had the right to easily access and enjoy
My life journey saw me moving to India
it.
in 2014, where I was to call its capital,
New Delhi home for two years. One of
While striking wall murals dominated the reasons I had been able to both
the public artscape in Pittsburgh, I recall discover and appreciate the public art

in Pittsburgh had been because I was lanes and homes honeycombed with
able to freely walk around and engage hip boutiques, cafés, and stores. It also
with the city’s public space. However, significantly happened to be one of the
I found myself being much more first Delhi neighbourhoods in which
circumscribed and circumspect while St+art India Foundation conducted their
attempting to do the same in Delhi. first major street art intervention in early
It soon became apparent that Delhi’s 2014. The wall murals still appeared
public space was not designed to be almost new when I encountered them
walker-friendly, as physically exemplified in the autumn of 2014. Apart from
by the crumbling, almost non-existent expanding my knowledge about Indian
sidewalks. Even where the sidewalks and international street artists who had
did exist, I found myself relegated to participated in the project, I also enjoyed
the margins, allowing the men to pass witnessing the intersection of street art
by and dominate the already limited and Indian urban spaces. The latter’s
space. I no longer walked for pleasure, specific topography gave an entirely new
simply for the purpose of getting from visual and cultural context to the street
point A to B. Delhi’s infamous reputation art. Sometime later, I then visited Lodhi
for women’s safety meant that I was Colony, where once more its distinctive
even more reluctant to walk on my architecture and walls provided an
own after sunset, resulting in an overall incredible backdrop for bold, vibrant
dramatically reduced engagement with murals, the work seemingly organically
the city. emerging from the surfaces.
Yet, there existed islands of spaces I had visited Delhi many times before,
in the city that I realised I could both but I had never lived there until I arrived
enjoy walking in and interacting with, in 2014 – and whatever I experienced
simply for the sheer pleasure of it. while living there so far made me
Was it a coincidence then that both see it as a hostile space discouraging
these spaces happened to be street art participation. Discovering Shahpur Jat
clusters? A former village now part of and Lodhi Colony meant that I was not
Delhi’s sprawling urban conurbation, only discovering a refreshingly new facet
Shahpur Jat was a dizzying maze of of Delhi but also, more importantly, one
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ART AND THE CITY

which made me feel safe and included.
One of the fundamental reasons why
I felt the way I did in those areas, was
in part due to their residents and the
welcoming sense of ownership they
radiated regarding the space and
its art. By knowing that the space
was attracting people interested in
photographing and engaging with it, they
ensured that people felt comfortable
doing so without disturbing or subjecting
them to questioning, which could often
border on harassment. As a woman, it
was especially a relief to find myself in
such a space.
I have now been living in Bangalore

since 2017, where on the whole, I feel a
lot safer roaming around and engaging
with the city as compared to Delhi. Apart
from photographing its trees, markets,
and streets, I have found myself
also searching for its public art. For,
unlike Delhi, where I could find the art
concentrated in specific neighbourhoods
as well as dotting various locations in
the city, it has become more of a game
of hide and seek to locate the art in
Bangalore. I have accidentally stumbled
upon TONA’s art peeking at me from
rusting gates near the MG Road Metro
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ART AND THE CITY
Station on Church Street or on a wall

in Residency road. Leena Kejriwal’s
bold black stencils of a little girl as part
of her ‘Missing Girls’ project leap out
from the walls in stark and powerful
simplicity. ‘Mohan Kaun’ stenciled on
various walls across Bangalore was
part of an art collective’s intervention
to save from destruction a dilapidated
heritage building in the heart of old
Bangalore. Anpu Varkey’s giant bronzed
full moon graces the wall of a building
in my neighbourhood, thanks to a St+art
Foundation initiative in the city. Nidhin
Kundathil and Manoj Pandey’s unique
public art and literary initiative, StickLit
consists of posters featuring literary
quotes in various sites across the city.
As someone who has moved to three

different cities in the last six years, I
have realised that walking around and
exploring the city after arriving there
plays a significant role in influencing my
relationship with it. If I wish to make a
place home, I must accept and embrace
it for what it is – and for me, that
process entails making and encoding

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ART AND THE CITY
memories within the city space. My encounters with public

art in these three cities have therefore greatly impacted as
in how I relate and integrate within the city. It also powerfully
reinforces my right as a woman to freely access the city’s
public space, re-claiming it for my own.
All image courtesy of the author.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Priyanka Sacheti is a writer based in Bangalore, India. Having grown up in Oman and educated
in United Kingdom, her work has appeared in LitHub, Hyperallergic, Scroll, Art Slant, and
The Guardian and more. She is presently an editor at Mashallah News. Her literary work has
appeared in various literary journals and anthologies. She’s currently working on a poetry
collection. She tweets @priyankasacheti1 and explores her writing and photography on
Instagram at @anatlasofallthatisee.

Animal shelter pods - Design prototypes and sketches.
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ON LOCATION
THE
RIVERFRONT
AND THE REST
OF US
SHWETA SUNDAR

Sabarmati riverfront near Sardar Bridge.
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The Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project (SRFDP)

in Ahmedabad, hailed by certain quarters as one of the
most successful and innovative urban design projects in
India, is widely propagated by the central government as
a model to be emulated. KPMG, the international financial
institution, included SRFDP in its list of ‘100 Most Innovative
Projects’ in the field of urban regeneration (2012) for making
liveable and sustainable cities. Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation (AMC) received the HUDCO National Award 2012
for innovative infrastructure development. Based on the
‘success’ of the Sabarmati model, state authorities across
the country are launching their own riverfront development
projects and, to the fear of many, attempting to replicate the
SRFDP archetype.
The Gomti in Lucknow, Yamuna in Delhi, Hindon in Noida,

Mula Mutha rivers in Pune, Brahmaputra in Guwahati,
Godavari in Nashik, Tunga in Shivamogga, Musi in
Hyderabad, Sarayu in Faizabad, and Mithi in Mumbai are
some examples out of several more on their way to becoming
a reality. Why this sudden feverish pitch with regard to
developing riverfronts?
Rivers flowed their undisturbed, natural courses before the

first human settlements emerged some 300,000 years
ago. As nomads settled on river banks to meet their water-
related needs, they were provided plentifully in a harmonious
relationship. But through centuries the self-sustaining and
self-cleaning nature of rivers was over-exploited by rapidly
evolving cities to discard their waste. Floodplains were slowly
engulfed and misused, both organically and by design. A
saturation point has been reached, and most urban rivers

in India are today described as ‘dirty water, and reclaiming land from the river
and derelict’. The current development bed to build roads and a range of create
trend seems to be emerging from high value residential and commercial
this fundamental switch in our real estate in the city centre. In reality,
relationship with the river, from that the Sabarmati riverfront presents a
of dependency to them becoming an worrying contradiction between the
inconvenient liability. Enter riverfront goals set at its inception and its current
development; a solution claiming ground reality, and has received a
to revitalise rivers, making them barrage of criticism with no dearth
’reusable’ by exploiting their economic of well-informed and well-researched
potential, using attractive phrases as articles and papers enumerating its
‘inclusive development,’ ‘connecting various shortcomings. Most urban
the river to the city and its people,’ and development projects in India are
‘environmental improvement,’ while such, a shimmering foreground with
failing to address the fundamental a well-disguised background story,
needs of the river itself. This holds true often marred with a wide range of
for many international examples as well. socio-economic, environmental, and
governance issues. Why then does the
SRFDP continue to be promoted as an
WHAT IS THE SABARMATI RIVERFRONT
ideal?
DEVELOPMENT MODEL?
The primary objectives of the Sabarmati
riverfront were ‘creating a public realm This is because the Sabarmati model is
along the river, cleaning the river, and more than just the design of a riverfront;
rehabilitating those affected by the a modus operandi has been deployed to
project’. The SRFDP model typifies the stress the dire need for such a project,
current trend of riverfront projects in make it acceptable by the public and
India, where ‘improving the river’ loosely hence smoothen its realisation. Some of
translates to concretising floodplains, the arguments proffered include:
installing sewer interceptors, artificial
replenishment by channeling water from 1. The general acceptance of the ‘death’
other river systems, erecting concrete of the Sabarmati River: The argument
embankments to ‘pinch’ and hold river
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ON LOCATION
provided here is that human activity canal waters. The Sabarmati within
for long polluted the river making it Ahmedabad is now a perennially
unusable and that the development stagnant lake. Streamlining the
project has managed to revitalise river’s width has reduced its carrying
the seasonal river by replenishing capacity and increased the city’s risk
it by diverting waters from the from flooding. Ultimately, this has
Narmada River Canal. In reality this led to low ground water recharge,
has caused drought-like situations a drop in the base flow of the river,
in many villages dependent on the decreased oxygen levels of the river

Sabarmati riverfront to an outsider and the actual state of the river. Image credit: Google Maps.
and finally, an obliteration of its touted as a pioneer by the central

aquatic life. government, other cities are in a
There is a thin line between exploiting hurry to climb aboard before this ship
the potential of a natural resource sails and citizens begin to rise up in
and abusing it. Development projects defiance against such projects and
in India almost always cross over to demand protection of their rivers.
the latter easily and without much 2. The Sabarmati model has managed
resistance. With Ahmedabad’s to turn the abuse of human rights
Sabarmati development model being into acceptable collateral damage:
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ON LOCATION
The national and international precedence to market and

recognition received by a project that private interests above all other
has managed to displace 120,000 stakeholders. The riverfront continues
families and rehabilitate only 10,000 to attract and entertain investment
suggests a general acceptance of from private players in attempts to
systematic discrimination against recover Rs. 1,200 crore of public
the urban poor for the cause of money spent on the project.
‘development’. 5. The SRFDP is a poster child for
3. Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) the currently trending ‘Smart City’
are now the preferred de facto vision of the central government.
mode for urban development: For its part, the government’s
SPVs are independent, private definition of Smart City is reflected
entities established to fulfil a in the abnormally clean and plastic
particular project, free from many visualisations of riverfront projects
of the bureaucratic and procedural across the country replete with
requirements that bind government intimidating skylines, improbable
bodies. Since ‘administrative delays’ greenery, and western landscapes,
such as public consultations and all of which hold great appeal to real
stakeholder approvals were obvious estate speculators.
concerns of the state government, a
SPV was established for the SRFDP to
The current central government has a
circumvent such formalities, leading
history of such notorious development
to reduced financial transparency and
projects like the Statue of Unity built
accountability of the project. Today,
on the Narmada River in Gujarat and
every riverfront development project
the Shivaji Statue planned off the coast
in the country is being spearheaded
of Mumbai. On the one hand are the
by a SPV.
numerous petitions by environmentalists
4. The SRFDP aims to showcase and activists to halt such projects due
itself as a self-financing model to their insensitivity to the urban poor
by proposing to sell 21% of the and the immense harm they cause to
reclaimed land, thus giving the environment, on the other hand is

Top - Amaravati Smart City. Image credit: asiangreenbuildings.com http://www.
asiagreenbuildings.com/10427/singapore-sustainable-master-plan-for-andhra-capital/
Bottom - Kahn’s riverfront development in Indore Smart City. Image credit: UNCRD
http://www.uncrd.or.jp/content/documents/6617MS-2-P4.pdf
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the combined force of political will, and PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

eagerness of the real estate and private
sector to tap into these sure-shot gold Location: Ahmedabad, India
mines. In these circumstances, it has Design & 1998- Present
been tough for the former to prevail. realization:
Client: Sabarmati Riverfront
Development
There is an obvious lack of awareness
Corporation Limited
among the general public about the Project team: HCP Design & Project
dark side of urban development. The Management Pvt. Ltd,
dearth of consultations and feedback Ahmedabad
from a range of stakeholders is primarily Programme: Parks, promenades,
due to the lack of political will, and streets, urban forest,
the advent of visual communication markets, sports areas,
has turned the meagre consultations housing, commercial
that have been held into monologues zones, cultural, trade
without a systematic and accessible and social amenities
feedback mechanism. Equating the Site area: 202.79 hectares
success of the SRFDP by the footfall Construction 1152 crore Rupees
it receives, and describing it through cost: (US$170 million) by
impossibly beautiful and romantic June 2014
imagery instead of facts, captivates the
masses to such an extent that the more of their city? People want open spaces
important aspects of the project are with natural elements such as water
conveniently left out of discussion. At bodies and trees, where they can come
the Dialogue on Urban Rivers conference together as community. It is the task of
held in April 2018 in Pune, the project the urban designer to interpret these
architect Dr. Bimal Patel justified the desires and create a holistic design that
realisation of the project by stating benefits the river as well as the people
‘this project happened because lakhs dependent on it, who often have little or
of people wanted it’. Who wouldn’t no idea of the toll of such development
want a beautiful riverfront view and an on the larger environment or those
evening walk along the river in the heart populations displaced by the project.

The Sabarmati riverfront development project - View towards Dudheshvar Bridge. Image credit: Vidhya Mohankumar
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ON LOCATION
MY RIVERFRONT AND I The river and I go way back. I cannot

Inspite of all of its failings, the vision imagine Ahmedabad without the
of the riverfront, during the day and Sabarmati riverfront, and only now
night, never fails to leave the visitor have I understood first-hand the impact
with a feeling of awe and wonder. To an urban design project can have on
the visitor, the Sabarmati riverfront is its user. I experience the riverfront on
the epitome of what an Indian city can my daily runs, before sunrise and after
aspire to achieve. I write this piece as sunset. The sunrise greets early morning
a daily user of the riverfront; I chose fitness enthusiasts who enjoy a peaceful
my current apartment in Ahmedabad walk by the river in either solitude or
because of its proximity to the riverfront. the company of their spouses. Students
Garbage accumulation at the Sabarmati riverfront. Image credit: Author

sneak in a few extra hours of study am conflicted by the vast expanses of
here before exams, others some time concrete radiating heat during peak
with friends before college or work. The summers, the lack of shaded spaces
riverfront is left alone during the peak and tree cover, and the stench rising
hours of the day, not due to a lack of from the stagnant river on non-windy
enthusiastic visitors, but because the days. Then again, these doubts are
its design is simply not conducive to swiftly replaced by, ‘at least, this is
sweltering Ahmedabad afternoons. better than no riverfront at all’.
Sundown brings families and the elderly
out to the riverfront promenades for
The vibrant character of this urban open
a post-dinner stroll before retiring for
space in the heart of the city is the main
the day. The riverfront has proven a
selling point of this project. However,
paradise for lovers, young and old, to
it would be irresponsible to base its
indulge in public displays of affection
success solely on use. Like most Indian
(except on Valentine’s Day when
cities, Ahmedabad too is starved for
they are chased away by the police).
open space. It is predicted that the city’s
Recreational activities like bicycle rides,
green cover will dip from the current
zip-lining across the river, and sampling
24% to just 3% by 2030.
the newly opened food outlets attract
Amdavadis from both sides of the river. Various studies
The riverfront is seemingly one of the
few places in the city where religious
reinforce the positive
tensions appear non-existent, an effects of nature on
important factor in a city whose history personal mental health
has been marred with multiple incidents
of religious violence. Regular public and psyche, and the
events organised at the riverfront parks Sabarmati Riverfront
utilise the ample open space generated
by the project. Yet to me, the essence of
Development project
the riverfront lies in the human activity provides large expanses
and interaction I witness along it on
an ordinary day. At the same time, I
of open space and
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ON LOCATION
water, and a range whole story; as it is the darker side of

development that demands greater
of popular outdoor attention, action, and the collective voice
activities bundled into of resistance.
one neat package for REFERENCES

consumption. 1. Bhatkal, Tanvi, William Avis, and Susan
Nicolai. 2015. “Towards a better life? A
cautionary tale of progress in Ahmedabad.”
But does this justify its numerous Development Progress.
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SRFDP will never be contested by Riverfront Project Has Transformed
citizens if they receive only the rosy Ahmedabad Into A Tourism Hub.”
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side of the picture. In fact, not a single
swarajyamag.com/infrastructure/
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be criticised nor deemed a failure if transformed-ahmedabad-into-a-tourism-hub
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transparent public consultation of be considered a model: Pune urban rivers
multiple design possibilities been held, dialogue told.” Counterview, 18 May.
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9. Mazoomdaar, Jay. 2014. “Cleaning up the
27. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/
Ganga, Yamuna: Why Modi must forget
pdf/10.1177/0956247815569128
Sabarmati model.” Firstpost, 9 June.
https://www.firstpost.com/politics/cleaning- 15. Pradhan, Amruta. 2014. “Do we really need
up-the-ganga-yamuna-why-modi-must-forget- Gujarat’s Sabarmati model?” Print.
sabarmati-model-1560939.html 16. Rao, Mohan S. 2012. “Sabarmati Riverfront
10. Mehta, Vanya. 2014. “The untold story Development- An Alternate Perspective.”
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sabarmati_riverfront.html need to know.” Ballorbox India, 26 April.
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much needs to change.” architexture.net. 18. The Wire. 2019. “Investigation shows
https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-166149 Sabarmati is brimming with stagnant water.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shweta Sundar is an architect with People in Centre, Ahmedabad. Her thematic areas of work
include post-disaster housing reconstruction and social housing for the urban poor. She is
an avid marathoner and cyclist. Shweta has an interest in equitable transport design and
planning for the daily cycle-commuting population and enthusiastically propagates cycling to
work. She firmly believes that urban development should be deeply rooted in the context and
its people. She may be contacted at shweta_sundar@hotmail.com
132 133
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
A PEOPLE-
CENTRIC
APPROACH
TO STREET
MARKET
DESIGN
A spatial infrastructure plan for
Gandhi Bazaar street market in
Bengaluru
BRINDA SASTRY

The ‘Spatial Infrastructure Plan for Gandhi Bazaar Main Road
and Street Market’ is a sub-component of the “Sustainable
Supply Chains for Perishables into Cities - Green Logistics
Project” commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in August 2017.
The project has two components i) the spatial plan and ii)
a market management strategy (yet to be completed). The
community engagement activities discussed here contributed
to the spatial plan recommendations over a period of fifteen
months.
GANDHI BAZAAR MAIN ROAD AND STREET MARKET – A

SHARED COMMONS
The Indian street market (bazaar) is not just a place for
buying and selling, but also a public space that assimilates
culture and traditions, and nurtures them over time. Here,
through casual interactions, shoppers and traders become
acquaintances and even forge long term social bonds. At
festival times, the market place is inundated with material
for worship and celebration, representing varied local
traditions and cultural practices, and attracting diverse
communities. As incubators of socio-cultural practices, Indian
markets are “shared commons.” They hold value beyond
the understanding of the market as infrastructure or as a
transactional space. This is what Gandhi Bazaar is today. A
bazaar, with a distinct social and cultural identity, that is, a
shared urban commons!
134 135
“A vibrant, public place, with distinct

social and cultural identity, Gandhi
Bazaar street market is a shared
urban commons for diverse user
groups. This character needs to
be enhanced in a sustainable and
inclusive way”

Gandhi Bazaar Main Road is located in In the supply chain of perishables into
the planned residential neighbourhood the city of Bengaluru, this market is a
of Basavanagudi, laid out in 1894 in significant link as it serves as a ‘point
South Bengaluru. It is lined with retail of sale’ of fresh produce, among many
shops, restaurants, banks, offices and others. Hence, as part of GIZ’s Green
other commercial uses, while the area Logistics Project, the Gandhi Bazaar
adjoining it is dotted with temples Main Road (and its street market) was
and cultural institutions, religious chosen as an ideal case to demonstrate
mutts, community halls, and several how a spatial infrastructure plan and
educational institutions. Historically, management strategy can strengthen
Basavanagudi was home to many and sustain the bazaar in the supply
artists, writers and politicians, and chain of perishables.
legendary personalities and Gandhi
Bazaar served as a meeting point them.
Here, informal vending of fruits, flowers, The historic informal
vegetables and other non-perishables street market on Gandhi
started about 80 years ago, and over
time it matured into a full-fledged street Bazaar Main Road plays
market, supporting both formal and a significant role as a
informal retail. Shops selling traditional
puja items, sarees and accessories for
“point of sale” in the
celebrating festivals are an attraction to networked relationships
people from all walks of life. It is a one-
of the green logistics
stop shopping place for all home needs.
As an active social place where several supply chain that
festivals and cultural events are staged, brings produce from
and many historic markers are present,
it is etched in the collective memory farms to consumers in
of old time residents of Bengaluru as Bengaluru.
a quintessentially traditional market.
136 137
The street houses the 75 year old iconic restaurant, Vidhyarthi Bhavan, which is
frequented by tourists and many eminent personalities from across the country.
THE DESIGN CHALLENGE and defines political loyalties. Distrust

Gandhi Bazaar is a natural market between the street vendors and local
for informal vending, and a source of authorities, fuelled by competing
political affiliations, and has nurtured
livelihood for almost 150 street vendors
a divisive environment. A complicit
on a regular basis and an additional 100
understanding and negotiation prevails
temporary vendors at times of religious
between street vendors, formal retailers,
festivals. Strong dependencies between
customers, and the policing authorities.
various actors, such as auto drivers,
Not registered formally, the street
regular patrons, formal retailers, and vendors pay bribes to police officials to
informal street vendors, create networks secure their spaces. In 2012, a drive to
which are long-term relationships. remove illegal encroachments affected
However, their spatial proximity gives their businesses and, though they have
rise to conflicts and competition, which returned, they have a constant fear of
creates opportunities for power brokers future eviction.

Many problems plague the users and street vendors; and unhygienic
of this street. The lack of proper conditions due to improper disposal of
infrastructure and amenities; abuse garbage, are some aspects that make
of the age old street trees; conflicts the shopping experience inconvenient
between pedestrians, vehicles, retailers, and unpleasant.
Poor infrastructure,
narrow footpaths and
garbage dumped in the
vicinity.
Vehicular traffic in
conflict with pedestrians
and street vending
activity.
138 139
A spatial design solution, along with safe, accessible, clean, green and
management strategies and capacity comfortable for all. The intent was to
building, is necessary to address the develop an urban design framework that
problems for all user groups. The is inclusive, gender sensitive, flexible,
challenge has been to understand the and anticipatory of future changes. The
dynamics of their social and spatial implementation of the Street Vendors
networks - the negotiations and shared (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation
values - and manage conflicts between of Street Vending) Act enacted by the
them in a sustainable and inclusive way. Parliament of India in 2014, is expected
to bring some degree of formalization in
managing the street vendors’ activities
AIM OF THE PROJECT
and providing secure tenure. This plan
The aim of the spatial infrastructure
was intended to demonstrate how other
plan for Gandhi Bazaar Main Road
markets can create similar frameworks
and the market was to enhance it as
suited to their unique context. The
a vibrant and inclusive social space,
project approach adopted was wholly
while making it financially viable,
people centric.

KEY ASPECTS OF ARRIVING AT THE DESIGN SCENARIOS
1 Site documentation
Street level plan depicting existing physical infrastructure, street activities,
traffic and transport, public amenities, safety, hygiene, and street landscape
in Gandhi Bazaar. Documentation and analysis were conducted to determine
factors to be considered for the spatial reorganization.
2 Profiling stakeholders for • Elected representatives -

disseminating information Corporators, members of the
Various stakeholders of the street Parliament, Legislative Assembly
market were listed out as: and Legislative Council
Secondary stakeholders
Primary stakeholders
• Pourakarmikas/ street cleaners
• Street vendors
• Transport/ delivery persons/
• Shopkeepers, property owners,
labourers
business renters, employees
• Storage facility providers
• Consumers - residents, shoppers,
visitors, tourists, senior citizens, • Auto/ cab drivers
children, women • Rag pickers
• Local government officials and • Street beggars

contractors • Other support service providers
140 141
3 Disseminating information
To create an approachable
environment for
participation an inclusive
planning format was
adopted where universal
accessibility was key.
Leaflets announcing
the event in English and
Kannada, registration
form, and colour coded
name tags with project
logo.

4 Soliciting feedback on issues, opportunities and ideas
Via 3 public workshops involving (1) street vendors and shop keepers, (2)
residents and (3) shop owners; key officials participated in discussing issues
and concerns involving the possible development.
142 143
CONSULTATIONS WITH OTHER practice ideas for traffic movement,

AGENCIES parking and pedestrianization.
Meetings with officials from the local Representatives of local NGOs were
public agencies including transportation, invited under the Chair of the DULT
electricity, water and sanitation, traffic Commissioner to discuss possible
police, horticulture, urban land and approaches to the spatial plan for
transport, solid waste management, and Gandhi Bazaar. Discussions with the
health were conducted to discuss future local Corporator, MLA, MLC and RWA
proposals and issues affecting Gandhi representatives also helped provide
Bazaar Main Road. An international inputs into what could be improved in
transport consultant shared best the street.

OUTCOMES LEADING TO DESIGN of the place contributed to the people’s
IMPERATIVES shared values, while several issues had
In attempting to provide better to be addressed. It was understood
infrastructure facilities and amenities, that attempts to formalize any practice
achieve socio-economic inclusivity, should not compromise on these values
and introduce sustainable practices and should strengthen the adaptability
in Gandhi Bazaar, it was essential and imageability of the place. This
to determine components that were understanding led to the formulation of
negotiable and non-negotiable and a set of design imperatives that would
those that could afford formalization. guide both spatial and non-spatial
The public comments and the studies design decisions and management
of the place reinforced the stance that practices.
the diversity, informality, and historicity
Strengths, opportunities, threats and issues.

Facing page - A collaborative approach for an inclusive design.
144 145
Values and assets of Gandhi Bazaar.
Process for determining design imperatives.

PROPOSING THREE DESIGN recital, and a Kannada folk rock music
SCENARIOS AND CHOOSING A concert were integrated into the two day
PREFERRED SCENARIO agenda to generate interest and attract
A two-day Open House event and people. Also, the intent was to re-create
exhibition was conducted at Tagore an ambience that was reminiscent
Park in Gandhi Bazaar in March 2018 of the old times when Gandhi Bazaar
to display and discuss the proposed was a venue for many cultural events,
scenarios, and to solicit public inputs frequented by legendary personalities
to arrive at a preferred scenario. in literature and the arts. About 400
Announcements for the event were people attended the event over the two
made through press media, social days. The event was presided by the
media and email groups at a city level. Municipal Corporation’s South Zone
Cultural activities such as a street play, Joint Commissioner and President of the
a heritage and food walk, a tree walk, a local Traders Association, among other
talk on the history of the place, a violin dignitaries.
Newspaper announcement for the Open House and Exhibition event.
146 147
Participants filled a questionnaire design scenarios. Hence, a separate

designed to evaluate the scenarios workshop was proposed to continue the
based on the design imperatives discussions. Feedback and approval
outlined earlier. For those who were on the design proposals were sought
unable to read could mark their
from key non-government players
preference on “before and after” visuals
and government officials, and other
illustrating each proposed scenario by
concerned agencies to collaboratively
placing a sticker dot against it. People
arrive at design decisions that would
also wrote their comments on a panel
displayed at the end of the exhibition. benefit the local users. Specifically,
The street vendor community did not discussions took place with the Traffic
fill the feedback forms as they were Police officials on the possibilities of
unsure on the consequences of the pedestrianization of Gandhi Bazaar.
Music performance at the open house event.

Participants view displays at the Open House and exhibition event in Tagore Park.
148 149
Among the three scenarios presented

Scenario 01 – Full Pedestrianization was
favoured by 46 % of the participants in
the workshop, the Split pedestrianization
(Scenario 03) ranked next and the one-
way traffic proposal (Scenario 02) was
the least favoured with a vote share of
21%. A few participants (8%) also felt
that the existing conditions were good
enough and no major changes were
required in the street design.
FORMING THE VISION, URBAN DESIGN

STRATEGY AND RECOMMENDED
PEDESTRIANISATION PLAN
The design team refined the preferred
scenario to develop a concept plan to
pedestrianize Gandhi Bazaar Main Road,
accompanied by a vision and an urban
design strategy. Representatives of the
Street Vendors Federation organized
two meetings with the street vendors.
Intense discussions took place, leading
to arguments, as two factions of vendors
were unable to reach a consensus on a Subsequently, an immersion visit
preferred proposal. Besides, the retailers to Imphal in Manipur to study the
who joined these discussions also management practices at Ima Kiethel,
opposed the proposed pedestrianization a 500 year old market exclusively
plan, arguing that restricting vehicular managed by women was organized by
movement would hinder their business. GIZ. Five representatives of the street

vendor community participated in this they united formally, they would not
and their interactions with local officials be able to lobby with the concerned
and street vendor leaders provided authorities for their rights. They
an understanding of the workings of shared their experience with the other
a pedestrian friendly public market. street vendors on their return. At two
A bigger learning was that unless consequent meetings, in an attempt
150 151
to build consensus, the team made owners, however, still had concerns
every effort to draw and illustrate the that it would affect their business.
pedestrianization plan so that the trade- Subsequently, about 150 street vendors
offs were clear. Images of best practices united to unanimously sign a petition to
of pedestrianized retail streets were also form an association, which they have yet
shared. to formally register.
After much deliberation, a majority The recommended plan, with detailed

of the street vendors’ groups and design drawings, was prepared to
their representatives agreed to the demonstrate the implementation of the
pedestrianisation proposal with the proposed urban design strategy and
condition that adequate parking would the pedestrianization of Gandhi Bazaar
be provided at the street intersections, Main Road and street market after
where feasible, so that access to their consideration of the street vendors and
stalls was not hampered. A few retail retail owners.
Street vendors of Gandhi Bazaar interact with leaders of the vendors association of
Ima Kiethel market in Imphal, Manipur.

Recommended design for Gandhi Bazaar street.
152 153
IMPLEMENTATION MODALITIES,
DESIGN GUIDELINES, AND NEXT STEPS
A detailed project report with costs
for implementation and a Terms of
Reference document was prepared
as an end product of this project.
Short term, medium term, and long-
term actions were proposed for plan
implementation, which include building
partnerships with the local groups to
implement inclusive management
practices for the street market.
The Commissioner of DULT organized

meetings with the Bengaluru City
Commissioner, the Additional Chief
Secretary of the Urban Development
Department of Government of
Karnataka, and the Traffic Police to
discuss the Recommended Plan and
the report. The Commissioner also
participated in a walk through the street
market and interacted with the retailers,
street vendors and the consultant
team to assess the implications of
pedestrianization.
The design team also coordinated with

Environment Support Group (ESG) to
prepare the management strategy.
Saahas, a non-profit organization,
Recommended plan for Gandhi Bazaar street.

Discussions at the public consultation on market management strategies
worked with the street vendors to build Vendors policy. Design guidelines were
awareness and instituted a mechanism formulated to implement the urban
of segregating waste. They provided design strategy.
waste bins to the street vendors and
also organized a medical camp.
LESSONS FOR FUTURE ACTION
The spatial infrastructure plan
A public consultation was organized in for the design of Gandhi Bazaar,
November 2018 to discuss the market present opportunities to realize the
management strategy for Gandhi Bazaar larger goals of a city’s Master Plan
and to understand the implications of through a strategic framework. They
the recommended design and the Street demonstrate how social and political
154 155
Before and after visualization of design recommendations at Gandhi Circle
A sample illustration of design guidelines for implementing the recommended plan

inclusion processes can facilitate underprivileged groups. The exposure
democratic governance at the micro- trips to Imphal’s Ima Kiethel
level. This project has shown that public market helped build confidence and
involvement conducted at each stage encouraged self-organization and
of the project can influence and shape cooperative action among the Gandhi
the outcomes to give us implementable Bazaar street vendors who were
design solutions. However, it has politically divided at one time.
also thrown light on some limitations. 3. Small actions, particularly those
Changes in the government, both where the primary stakeholder is
political and bureaucratic, have stalled involved, help in quick wins. They
the implementation of this project. also instil a sense of ownership in
The following are some learnings that the proposed activity. This was seen
may provide useful directions for future in the efforts by Saahas to hold a
action. medical camp and engage street
1. In engaging with a diverse set of vendors in waste segregation.
users, trade-offs for each group 4. Collaborations with various groups
involved must be well articulated so such as the government bodies,
that the buy-in for the recommended private sector, non-government
proposal is secure. The display, and voluntary groups, and private
videos, images, sketches and models property owners help in realizing
helped the various stakeholders to collective action.
engage with the project proposals
5. Political buy-in can be garnered
and understand the advantages and
through transparency in process
drawbacks. Varied tools such as
and consistent involvement of
feedback forms, discussion sessions,
local leaders. However, when
and one-to-one interactions were
political leadership changes, the
crucial in enabling the stakeholders
commitment of the local community
to make informed decisions.
and stakeholders is the only fall-back
2. To ensure deliberative engagement option that can help support the
of the stakeholders and to build project. In the case of Gandhi Bazaar,
consensus, capacity building is the residents were proactive, and
important, especially, among they helped to propagate the idea of
156 157
pedestrianization.
6. Projects of this nature are good opportunities for new
models of design governance where self-organisation
and tactile design solutions, such as open street day or
a cultural event, can bring better outcomes and impact
on ground, reducing reliance on top-down governance
structures.
REFERENCE:
mayaPRAXIS and Brinda Sastry, Detailed Project Report for the Spatial
Design of Gandhi Bazaar Street Market and Gandhi Bazaar Main Road
- Green Logistics Project, Volumes 1 to 5, Version 1.1 [Unpublished
Reports]. Bengaluru: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH; 2019.
CLIENTS:
The Government of Karnataka’s Directorate of Urban Land Transport
(DULT) and Department of Horticulture (DoH), and the Bruhat Bengaluru
Mahanagara Palike (BBMP henceforth called City Corporation),
Bengaluru.

SPATIAL PLAN CONSULTANTS:
Collaboration of teams led by Vijay Narnapatti, principal architect at
mayaPRAXIS; Brinda Sastry, urban designer; and Rathnakar Reddy, civil
engineer at Infra Support Engineering Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
OTHER COLLABORATORS:
Leo Saldanha and his team from Environment Support Group (ESG)
who led the market management strategy; Saahas, a non-government
organization who worked on solid waste management; members
of various Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), street vendors’
associations, and business / traders associations; and other non-
government actors.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The public participatory process could not have taken place without the
efforts of Dimple Mittal, (Architect and Partner at mayaPRAXIS); Anirudh
Govind (architect); Aarti Chanodia (urban designer); Pooja Mukundhan
(urban designer); Shreya Arora (architect); Swetha Rao Dhananka and
Mallesha K.R. (Sociologists from ESG); Vinay Sreenivasa and Lekha
K.G. (Alternative Law Forum) who represented the Federation of Street
Vendors Union in Bengaluru District; Lavanya (Infra Support Engineering
Consultants Pvt. Ltd.); Nagakarthik (videographer); volunteers from
Dayanand Sagar College of Architecture and BGS School of Architecture,
Bengaluru; team members from DULT and GIZ; government officers
from various departments; and ward and assembly level elected
representatives, among many others.
All images, maps and drawings are courtesy the spatial plan consultants and
partners.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brinda Sastry, the project team leader, is a practicing urban designer and planner, and adjunct
faculty at the RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru.
158 159
FEATURE ARTICLE
BRANDING
POST-WAR
BERLIN
What Berlin has done to make itself
attractive to key stakeholders
VIDUSHI AGARWAL

Berlin Wall
Image credit: Tony Webster on Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/
wiki/File:Berlin_Wall_(15305565944).jpg ) used under CCBY 2.0
160 161
FEATURE ARTICLE
“Why has so much organized effort been put into the

representation, visualisation, communication and marketing
of urban change in post-Wall Berlin?” [1]
To understand the marketing of Berlin, it is necessary to

investigate the consequences of the city’s history on its
present. Also important is an understanding of the methods
adopted to overcome those consequences, and the factors
that had to be considered along way. While the fall of the
Berlin Wall was an important historical event, the overall
history of the city has also been turbulent. Berlin has gone
from being completely destroyed after World War II, to the
division of the city and the country, the building of the Wall
that separated east from west and finally the fall of the Wall
and the unification of the two halves of the city.
A reconstruction of the collective identity of Berlin’s citizens

was one of the most integral consequences and challenges
of the post-Wall Berlin -- the conversion into a capitalist city
from a socialist city and the unification of the broken city
into a unified capital were another. The negative image of
the city had to be broken down and converted into a new and
positive one. There was a search for attractiveness on global
stage for Berlin [1]. Establishing the city as the capital of the
country and stabilising its status nationally and globally was
very important, which meant that the city had to be made
desirable for investors, visitors, as well as inhabitants.
The above factors lead to the need for the representation,

visualisation, communication and marketing of Berlin, also
known as the place marketing of the city.

PLACE MARKETING Place marketing practices, through their
Place marketing is one of those adopted framing of the city’s past, their staging
methods to overcome the consequences of the present and their projected
and challenges posed by the unification visualizations of particular urban futures,
play a role in the construction process of
of the city.
collective identity and memory [1].
‘Place marketing refers In Berlin, the terms used by public

to the various ways officials, place marketing professionals
and the media after 1989 were
in which public and Stadtmarketing or Hauptstadtmarketing,
private agencies – local i.e. (capital) city marketing [1].
authorities and local

EFFORTS MADE BY BERLIN FOR
entrepreneurs, often ENTERPRISES, TOURISTS AND
working collaboratively INHABITANTS
For Enterprises
– strive to ‘sell’ the
The arrival of investors, especially
image of a particular foreign investors has always been
geographically-defined planned for in Berlin since the fall of
the Wall. Due to de-industrialisation,
place, usually a town unemployment and limited public
or city, so as to make it finance, there was an economic crisis
and it was critical to attract major
attractive to economic investors, to improve the economic
enterprises, to tourists health of the city [2]. Berlin had to
be showcased in a positive light
and even to inhabitants highlighting the success stories of earlier
of that place’ [1]. investments, and this is where the role
162 163
FEATURE ARTICLE
of visualisation, communication and Although there was an approach

marketing or simply Place Marketing to develop a sustainable and
came into play. As said by Le Galès, environmentally sensitive city, at the
2002, p. 202 cited in Colomb, 2012 same time, a great deal of importance
place marketing also can be called a was also given to economic growth,
part of the capitalist urbanisation in resulting in the creation of big investor
many places and such is the case of attractions like Potsdamer Platz and
Berlin. Processes such as globalisation reshaping of Alexanderplatz and
combined with industrialisation further Friedrichstraße. Presently, large foreign
aggravated the need for place marketing investments have occupied almost all of
by increasing the economic competition the prime locations in the city.
between cities at a global level.

Potsdamer Platz is one the most place has also been attractive to visitors
significant examples. It was a former because of the selection of the famous
square and a conflicted legal case since architects — Renzo Piano, Richard
1990. Now it has several landmark Rogers, Rafael Moneo, Helmut Jahn,
buildings and is a huge success story to create some iconic structures. This
with a mix of uses, but the decision selection and their association have
for the construction on the site was helped build the image of the place
primarily done to attract foreign and resulted in the creation of modern,
investors like Sony. Potsdamer Platz aesthetic and iconic landmarks for the
has become a symbol for New Berlin, area [Figure 1].
which was the primary motive behind
its establishment. Furthermore, the
Figure 1: Iconic structures at Potsdamer Platz

Image credit: Author, 2017
164 165
FEATURE ARTICLE
Figure 2: City Models Exhibition. Image credit: Author, 2017
Berlin City Models is another initiative For Tourists

launched by the Senate Department To attract tourists to the city, Berlin had
for Urban Development and Housing, to adopt urban tourism in combination
a permanent exhibition showcasing with marketing strategies. There have
the physical city models of Berlin in been a number of ways in which tourists
different scales across different time or visitors have been attracted to the city
periods [Figure 2]. The exhibition is through visualisation, communication
housed in a former office, which is now and marketing of urban change,
a listed building helping in its image whether it included learning about the
making. Through ‘What does Berlin city’s historical past, witnessing the
look like today, and what might it look remains of it’s historical past, looking at
like tomorrow?’ [4], investors with an the city’s on-going developments or even
interest in specific locations in the in some ways getting an opportunity to
city could understand the site and its witness the desired future of the city.
surrounding context, not only of the past The Berlin Wall was one of the biggest
but more importantly, of the future, attractions in the divided city and that
giving them a sense of security over is why even after the fall of the Wall, it
their investments.

Figure 3: East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall
166 167
FEATURE ARTICLE
has still been used as a major attraction not just tours and visits – they were
in various ways. For example, sections combined with cultural events
of the wall are showcased right outside throughout. Then in 1999, another,
the entrance to Potsdamer Platz plaza bigger program called ‘Berlin Open City’
[Figure 4]. was launched, in which the whole city
was open for exhibition along specific
routes and showcased all major urban
The Wall sections also form an element
developments in the city.
of advertising —aimed at invoking
curiosity in tourists and emphasising
For Inhabitants
both the geographic and historic
importance of the place. The East Side It is important to realise that the much
Gallery of the Berlin wall is another talked-about construction site tourism
example, the longest retained section of has been beneficial for visitors but also
the wall that currently remains [Figure for residents, as opening the building
3]. It is the largest open-air gallery in sites to the public has allowed the local
the world and has paintings on it by population to glimpse behind the fences
renowned artists from all over the world, of otherwise enclosed areas. It could
making it the biggest attraction in the be argued that this has contributed to
city and proving it to be another success improving the legibility of an area under
in the place marketing of the city. transformation and making residents
feel less estranged by the massive urban
Programs such as ‘Showplace Berlin’
redevelopment projects taking place
were launched in 1996, which
in their city [2]. Also, the Showplace
transformed construction sites into
Berlin experience may have given some
tourist destinations through guided
Berliners ‘a sense of control over the
tours and visits. Eventually this went
rapidly changing political, economic,
onto become a huge landmark in
social, and material contexts of the city’
Berlin’s marketing. ‘Info-Box’ was one
[1].
such initiative which was launched near
the site of Potsdamer Platz, becoming
a huge success and giving rise to a The use of culture and media — music,
new concept called ‘Construction Site theatre, performing art, literature in all
Tourism’. These programs included aspects has been a major factor as well.

Figure 4: Retained section of the Berlin Wall
Figure 5: Gleisdreieckpark
168 169
FEATURE ARTICLE
Figure 6: Schönefelder Südgelände. Image credit: Author, 2017
These help to build a certain image of The city has also marketed itself to
the city as mentioned above and also be a model of sustainability for its
enable residents to relate better to their residents. Restoring former brownfield
city and urban spaces. and industrial sites into urban green
spaces has been successfully taking
place. Gleisdreieckpark [Figure 5] and
Another major example, which has
Schönefelder Südgelände [Figure 6]
helped in the social integration of the
which have been built on old railway
inhabitants is the establishment of
sites, the former being enclosed by
memorials at important historic sites.
housing on both sides, provide a mix of
A good example is the Memorial to the
uses and amenities to serve a variety of
Murdered Jews of Europe that navigates
people.
the city’s difficult past with sensitivity
and makes it relevant and important to
the city’s present.

CONCLUSION economy [5] and re-brand itself as a
The fall of the Berlin Wall lead to global city attractive to investors, visitors
economic and political changes that and residents alike.
not only made it critical to attract
new investment, but also raised the REFERENCES
importance of reshaping the city’s [1] Colomb, C. (2012) Staging the New Berlin:
cultural and social identity for residents Place Marketing and the Politics of Urban
and visitors to remain attracted and Reinvention Post-1989. Routledge, London.
attached to the city. [2] Häussermann, H. and Colomb, C. (2003)
The New Berlin: Marketing the City of Dreams, in
Cities and Visitors: Regulating People, Markets,
Although the methods used to achieve and City Space, 200-218, Blackwell Publishing
these goals in Berlin were inspired by Ltd, Oxford, UK.
marketing techniques from across the [3] Colomb, C. (2015). DIY urbanism’ in Berlin:
world, the strategies adopted responded Dilemmas and conflicts in the mobilization
to very Berlin-specific issues. All efforts of ‘temporary uses’ of urban space in local
economic development, pp. 1-31.
into marketing in the city originated
from its history and responded [4] The Senate Department for Urban
Development and Housing, n.d. ‘City
specifically to its desired future.
Models of Berlin’. Available at: http://
www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/
Berlin thus used place marketing stadtmodelle/en/ausstellung.shtml, (Accessed:
December 4, 2018)
strategically, to incorporate the
[5] Scott, Allen. (1997). The Cultural Economy
symbolism of its past into the quality
of Cities. International Journal of Urban and
of place and products of its cultural
Regional Research.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vidushi Agarwal is an architect and urban designer with recent work experience as an urban
design consultant. She qualified as an architect in India and graduated with a master’s
degree in urban design and international planning from The University of Manchester, United
Kingdom. She is an urban enthusiast who enjoys researching and writing about places,
cities and buildings. Her main areas of interest are urban regeneration, sustainable urban
development and heritage conservation. In addition to working as a designer, she aims to be a
part of major urban research projects in the future.
170 171
TEACHING URBAN DESIGN
MAPPING
QUALITY OF LIFE
IN A PLANNED
NEIGHBOURHOOD
The case of K K Nagar, Chennai
DEVYANI GANGOPADHAYAY AND PRATHYUSHA RAVI

The 4th year Urban Design Studio at SRM SEAD, Chennai, conducted
in the first half of 2018, attempted to measure the quality of life for
residents within two planned neighbourhoods - KK Nagar and partly
Ashok Nagar, both located in south-western Chennai. While previous
studios focused on the ‘unplanned’ city - where issues of traffic, noise
pollution, pedestrianisation and others, were examined and solved.
In the absence of fundamental urban infrastructure, studio projects
strived at arriving towards urban design solutions that provided these
local constraints. As a counterpoint, our studio chose to experience
and study the performance of planned neighbourhood within the
larger context of an organically evolved city.
Students conducted surveys among residents of KK Nagar and Ashok

Nagar on:
• Residents’ perception of their neighbourhood and sense of
belonging
• Levels of comfort, safety, and satisfaction
• Physical qualities of their neighbourhood
This study helped students understand residents aspirations, needs

and wants, and the characteristics that create a distinct identity for
these neighbourhoods in the urban fabric.
172 173
SETTING THE CONTEXT- MODERNIST

NEIGHBOURHOODS
In newly independent and democratic
India, the Central Public Works
Department (CPWD) was entrusted
with planning and building new
neighbourhoods across Indian cities. The
CPWD was beholden to the influential
urban design and architectural
precedents set by Edward Lutyens,
Herbert Baker, and most importantly
Le Corbusier - and Clarence Perry’s
concept of the ‘neighbourhood unit’
informed the design planning of many
modernist neighbourhoods schemes
that were built during this period. The
CPWD built several housing societies for
government employees in Delhi where
flat sizes corresponded to the ranks of
officers. A typical neighbourhood would
consist of “a school at the centre of the
development, a market in the corner.
The blocks of housing are organised
around large open areas that served as
parks and for parking cars.” [1]
In the case of KK Nagar, prospective

residents were not predetermined; their
backgrounds - caste, class, occupations,
were diverse. Hence CPWD planners
might have been heedful of equity and
democracy in their design schemes.

Context mapping. Image credit: Batch of 2014, SRM SEAD
174 175
Parks were allocated in the geometric 300 x 300m, systematically lined

centre of every neighbourhood to with avenue trees. The studio surveys
encourage congregation and mingling - confirmed that this scale has enabled
an evidently modern expression. Parks residents - men, women, and children,
were a foreign idea to traditional Indian to explore and understand the extents of
neighbourhoods and came with the their neighbourhood intimately.
English sensibilities of social life, before
eventually becoming an urban fixture of
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
post-colonial Indian cities.
The neighbourhood is made up of 5161
plots. Students prepared a structured
KK NAGAR - ORIGIN AND PLANNING questionnaire and conducted on site
Planned neighbourhoods were initiated interviews of 500 residents. Responses
in the 1970s by then Chief Minister of were recorded on Google forms to
Tamil Nadu, late Kalaignar Karunanidhi. enable students to enable quantification
Under the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and tabulation. The maps presented
(TNHB) several eponymously named illustrate the responses of residents
KK Nagar(s) were built in cities such as from their respective sectors. The
Madurai, Trichy and Chennai, of which students were able to collect such
the latter is popularly considered the a large number of interviews since
most successful. Land parcels within the streets were filled with people
these areas were sold as plots while during most times of the day and were
apartment buildings were developed quite willing to spend a few minutes
by the state housing board. These large answering questions. Almost all those
scale neighbourhood developments of interviewed were pedestrians, providing
TNHB with full infrastructure acted as some important clues regarding the
a catalyst for private developments for quality of life in the neighbourhood.
residential use around [2].
SURVEY RESULTS
KK Nagar is a primarily residential area Making and forming a community
planned on a gridiron street network to
Older residents of the area regarded
create twelve squarish sectors of roughly
their neighbours as family, and looked

Students with the children
of the neighbourhood.
Image credit: Batch of
2014, SRM SEAD
out for and helped each other in the travel outside KK Nagar in groups.”
early days when there were hardly Interviews suggest that successive
any houses and population sparse. KS generations of families that have lived in
Rajalakshmi, aged 86, recalls that, “In KK Nagar from its inception continue to
earlier days, auto rickshaw drivers would be close friends even though they may
hardly be willing to drop us to KK Nagar no longer reside in the area. Despite the
because it was considered too far and densification of the neighbourhood, new
they might not get a customer to ride residents have found ways to become a
back to the city. So, we would always part of the community. Newer residents
176 177
have chosen the move to KK Nagar

primarily due to availability of quality
schools, parks, and streets. Schools in
the area insist that their students reside
within a 2 kilometre radius, and most
children of the neighbourhood walk or
cycle. Making friends and acquaintances
here seems easier as one tends to be a
part of smaller social circles.
Social infrastructure
The TNHB planners of KK Nagar were
clearly influenced by the international
planning ideologies and neighbourhood
planning principles of Clarence Perry
and Clarence Stein. Further, within India
they had the precedence of projects
built in Delhi by the CPWD. Except for
the provision of markets, the planners
contextualised the key features of the
neighbourhood - parks, playgrounds,
schools, and income-based housing.
Parks were considered a fashionable

urban feature back in the day. KK Nagar
has an admirable network of parks,
each serving a special purpose within
the neighbourhood. “When we moved
to KK Nagar from Mylapore, I used to
take my kids to the park here as they
missed visiting the beach,” says 78

People Survey. Image credit: Batch of 2014, SRM SEAD
178 179
year old Natarajan. The sector parks

provide excellent community spaces,
and play a key role in the social life of
residents even today. The largest, Sivan
Park, attracts residents from not only all
the sectors but also from surrounding
areas. It is regarded as an important
landmark in the locality and 40% of
the respondents associated KK Nagar
with it. “Summer vacations were spent
playing cricket in the sector park. We
could walk into any of the houses around
to be served water while playing,” says
35 year old Siddharth, a former resident,
highlighting the how the parks form a
significant part of the public imagination
of the area.
Another aspect that contributes to the

success of this neighbourhood is the
presence of well-established schools.
There are about 60 nursery, primary,
and secondary schools in the area.
These are supplemented by a network
of ancillary services such as daycare
centres, fine art schools, tuition centres
and coaching classes. As a result,
summer camps, stationery shops and
eateries have mushroomed. Hundreds
of teachers and schoolchildren can
be seen walking or cycling together in
groups to reach their schools. Students

Drawing showing the network of parks. Image credit: Batch of 2014, SRM SEAD
180 181
in school uniforms are commonly

spotted loitering in the evenings outside
neighbourhood bakeries or printing
shops. Surveys showed that 19% of the
respondents associated KK Nagar with
quality schooling, and 45% respondents
claimed that they moved to the area due
the proximity between home and school.
Further, the availability and easy

accessibility to public transport facilities
has proven to be advantageous to the
neighbourhood. Even its interior areas
are well connected by a public bus
network. Water supply and sewerage
systems have been able to cope with the
increase in the number of residents over
the years. The area also has an efficient
solid waste management system where
segregation of waste is carried both at
household and neighbourhood levels.
Sense of community
With the surge in social media, inter-
personal relationships are increasingly
being made in virtual worlds rather than
in the real world. Such social behaviour
impacts physical and mental health, and
open, common areas in both residential
and commercial neighbourhoods play
a crucial role in personal well-being.

Drawing tabulating the sense of community among 330 respondents from different
sectors. Image credit: Batch of 2014, SRM SEAD
182 183
Through their survey, students tested

the effectiveness of the provision of an
extensive park infrastructure in the study
area. The surveys revealed that 59%
of respondents interacted effortlessly
with each other on a daily basis, and
some multiple times a day. 24%
respondents interacted informally with
their neighbours every other day, while
only 17% interacted less frequently.
Residents maintained intimate social
relationships. For instance, 54% of
elderly respondents claimed that they
felt free to pluck flowers from their
neighbour’s gardens, 61% respondents
said that they would readily encourage
their children to eat at or spend time in
their neighbour’s homes, 58% said that
they would drop their work to help their
neighbours in case of an emergency.
This strong social bond among residents
is a positive indication and most likely
the result of effective planning for
sufficient formal and informal spaces
for gathering and interaction within KK
Nagar.
Sense of belonging
Living cities are where people are able
to have rich, interactive experiences,
that create a treasure of memories,

Drawing tabulating the sense of belonging among 330 respondents from different
sectors. Image credit: Batch of 2014, SRM SEAD
184 185
and help develop a sense of identity

and belonging to place [3]. Sense of
identity is developed by association with
the physical form of a neighbourhood
while a sense of belonging comes from
developing social relationships with
fellow residents. This creation of identity
and ownership may even result in
community participation in maintaining
an amicable environment by residents
themselves. The students’ survey found
that 30% respondents associated
themselves with the entire KK Nagar
area, 25% felt they could identify with
their own sector, 12% with their own
street, and 12% with their own house -
indicating that the imagined territory of
belongingness of the residents clearly
extends beyond the bound of their house
or street.
Housing scenario today

About 75% of the built-up form in the
survey area comprises of residential
buildings. The physical surveys revealed Housing board Wall to wall
four distinct housing typologies. 3% houses
23%
1. Massing housing developed by TNHB,
of which only 3% remains in its
original form
Apartments
2. Privately developed individual homes 39% Individual
houses
3. Wall-to-wall housing blocks and
35%

Drawing showing housing typologies prevalent in the survey area.
Image credit: Batch of 2014, SRM SEAD.
186 187
Housing typologies prevalent in the survey area. Image credit: Batch of 2014, SRM SEAD.
4. Apartments blocks built by private, on the peripheries of the neighbourhood.

real estate developers, make up 39% The original parks remain untouched,
of the residential built form. and given the reduction in setbacks
and open areas within plots, residents
It is evident that the neighbourhood are ever more dependent on them for
has densified over time. 23% of the leisure and fitness.
buildings in the area were built in the
last 10 years. The new buildings are
The TNHB developed housing was
taller, and have narrower setbacks and
allotted according to buyer’s income
smaller gardens compared to the older
(classified as lower, middle, and
houses. The number of individual houses
has also decreased, as apartment living high income groups). This approach
has become preferred. Some plots have allowed for residents from all socio-
changed their land use from residential economic backgrounds to inhabit the
to mixed-residential use, while others neighbourhood and partake of its public
from residential to commercial mostly amenities and social infrastructure.

Satisfaction levels of residents to these satisfaction levels. The
The study assumed that satisfaction physical dimensions (300x300m)
levels of residents and users of of each sector provides an optimum
the neighbourhood establishes the scale for pedestrian movement, and
success or failure of its design and hence enables residents to explore and
planning. 80% respondents claimed experience their own and surrounding
that they were very satisfied with their sectors. Almost all residents were
neighbourhood and that KK Nagar had thoroughly familiar with the ‘plan’ of
all the amenities required in a good the neighbourhood shown to them
residential area. Interestingly, 46% and were able to navigate through it
respondents claimed that they were easily. A well-designed hierarchy of
satisfied to the extent that they did road widths - primary roads with broad
not want any further physical change widths are retained at the peripheries
in their neighbourhood. The students while streets towards the centres of the
further probed into the physical and sectors have narrower widths. This has
infrastructure aspects that contributed helped maintain privacy for residents
188 189

Drawing tabulating
level of community
participation among
330 respondents from
different sectors.
Image credit: Batch of
2014, SRM SEAD
190 191
while making the inner streets more

socially active. Children were found
to be playing freely on most inner
sector streets. Recently, the primary
roads were equipped with three meter
wide pedestrian pathways and bicycle
tracks. Avenue trees were planted on
either side of the road at the onset of
the project. Even today most streets in
the locality are extremely well shaded
and comfortable to use during hot
afternoons.
CONCLUSION
The results of the physical surveys and

interviews conducted by the students
concluded that simple and adequate
social and environmental infrastructure
can go a long way in inculcating a sense
of community and belonging and in turn
a high level of satisfaction of life among
inhabitants of a planned neighbourhood.
Measuring KK Nagar and Ashok Nagar

through the eyes of residents provided
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
the students a unique understanding
Devyani Gangopadhayay is an Architect
what parameters make an urban area with undergraduate degree from Bengal
Engineering College, Kolkata, and a post
successful. graduate degree in Planning from Anna
University, Chennai. She completed her
Doctoral Research from CEPT University,
Ahmedabad. Devyani is an academician
REFERENCE:
with keen interest in urban development.
[1] A Concise History of Modern Architecture in She continues her research by exploring
the urban forms and patterns, urban
India, 2002, Jon Lang interventions and their impact on social
[2] Chennai Metropolitan Development life of the people. She has published
a number of research papers. As an
Authority, 2015; Volume 3, Chapter 1 academician her interests include Urban
[3] Life Between Buildings, 1971, Jan Gehl Design, Sustainable Urban and Rural
Development, Design Pedagogy. she can
be reached at gdevyani00@yahoo.co.in
Prathyusha Ravi is a young researcher

enthusiastic about cities, people and
culture. She received the Sahapedia-
UNESCO Fellowship for documenting the
making of Tanjore Dolls. She obtained
the INTACH Research Scholarship to
study the Sthapatis and Shilpis of
Chettinad. Prathyusha completed her
under graduate studies in architecture
from Anna University and finished her post
graduation in Architectural and Settlement
Conservation from CEPT University.
She has written papers on heritage
conservation, indigenous knowledge
systems and urban studies. She is
currently trying to find a balance between
her academic pursuits and architectural
practice.
192 193
CLOSING SCENE
IMAGE CREDIT: SARVESWARAN GANAPATHY
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Volume 5 | Issue 1| June 2019

BRANDING POWER AND PLACE THE RIVERFRONT

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