Urban Mini-Plaza

The art of creating and shaping cities and towns

Urban design involves the arrangement and design of buildings, public spaces, transport systems,
services, and amenities. It is the process of giving form, shape, and character to groups of
buildings, to whole neighborhoods, and the city.  It is a framework that orders the elements into a
network of streets, squares, and blocks.

Urban design blends architecture, landscape architecture, and city planning together to make
urban areas functional and attractive. It is about making connections between people and places,
movement and urban form, nature and the built fabric.

Urban design involves place-making - the creation of a setting that imparts a sense of place to an
area. This process is achieved by establishing identifiable neighborhoods, unique architecture,
aesthetically pleasing public places and vistas, identifiable landmarks and focal points, and a
human element established by compatible scales of development and ongoing public
stewardship. Other key elements of place making include: lively commercial centers, mixed-use
development with ground-floor retail uses, human-scale and context-sensitive design; safe and
attractive public areas; image-making; and decorative elements in the public realm.

The Art of making spaces

Great public spaces are the living room of the city - the place where people come together to
enjoy the city and each other.  Public spaces make high quality life in the city possible - they
form the stage and backdrop to the drama of life.  Public spaces range from grand central plazas
and squares, to small, local neighborhood parks. The combination of beautiful architecture with
great public space creates the most beautiful places to live - places that express a life of richness
and tradition, and act as a setting for life to happen. The urban lifestyle will be supported by the
addition of entertainment and cultural facilities including performing arts venues, galleries,
sports arenas, libraries and recreation, community centres and additional retail, restaurant and
entertainment venues

Problem :

The above literature is in the context of the design problem “DESIGNING A CITY CENTRE
IN THE CBD”. The urban mini plaza will consist of complex of buildings making an
environment of amalgamating formal and informal spaces, hard and soft spaces, public and
communal spaces in one complete built environment of a Plaza. First City Centre Bhopal’s first
integrated multi–utility facility that is located at the major CBD like mp nagar and new market.
There are several aspects to City Centre. Its inclusiveness for one. With no boundaries to
separate it from the street, it is open to everyone all income and age groups. The architecture of
the complex embodies the spirit of Bhopal and its vision for future. The design solution come up
as a landmark in the heart of Bhopal.
Site brief :
The site given will be taken as a empty site for city centre
Site 1 : Zone I MP Nagar
Site area; 77102 sqmt(approx)

Site 2 : GTB complex New Market

Site area; 55210 sqmt(approx)

Methodology
Documentation of existing site given for redevelopment and preparation of base maps as
discussed in studio. Preparing a concept plan for site development on the basis of documentation
as the requirements are concerned with respect to built up areas, FAR, land use breakup, traffic
and parking. Following list of items is to be documented and presented as fact sheets

a) Physiography and Land use

b) Detail percentage of Built up areas
b) Buildings and streetscapes
c) Landscaping
d) Traffic/ Car parking
e) Pedestrian movement
f) Skyline
g) Existing Signages

Context

The context information should include the following:

 Vision statement: one or two paragraphs that describe the vision you are trying to
achieve through the Concept Plan. This should be supplemented with photos of existing
conditions and illustrative sketches of the proposal.
 Site map: the purpose of this map is to locate the project and define its geographic scope
along with proposed list of requirements.
 Master Plan :
 Street design and street sections:
 Traffic movement and Parking plan:
 Design of Squares, nodes and parks:
 Building facades:
 Built enclosures:

The details of above can be further listed down as

Dimensioned Street Section of Proposal

Develop a scaled, dimensioned street section that defines the proposed street elements. This
section should be accompanied by a short description of the features that are proposed.

Detailed Evaluation of Traffic Operations

Describe the proposed operations of the street(s) for traffic. Include, at a minimum, the
following:

 One way or two way operations;

 Presence and configuration of parking;
 Sidewalk location and width;
 Presence of signals, regulatory signs or other roadway markings;

Dimensioned, Plan View Sketch of Proposal

Develop a plan view sketch of the proposed street right-of-way features. The Concept Plan
should define or illustrate all of the streetscape features proposed, as well as basic information
about traffic operations and typical travel behaviors on the street or streets.
  Curbline (including curb bulbs if proposed) or roadway edge;
 Parking, on-street location and configuration;
 Service access and delivery needs; and

Streetscape

 Sidewalks, walkways or other pedestrian space (location and dimensions);

 Bicycle parking;
 Paving material design;
 Trees and landscaping design, location and specimen type;
 Street furniture (e.g., benches, planters, waste receptacles), description and location;
 Weather protection (e.g., awnings);
 Signage, especially any non-standard or special signs;
 Public art or other unique features; and
 Transit stops or stations.

Utilities

 Lighting (roadway, pedestrian scaled or other);

 Utilities, type and location of water, power and drainage both above and below grade;
 Natural drainage proposals;

Urban Scale Blocks

 Rather than a large, monolithic, superblock development, the town center should be
divided into urban-scaled blocks surrounded by streets containing sidewalks lined with
street trees.
 Proximity of uses: Buildings should be grouped together in a compact form that allows
people to safely and conveniently walk between them.
 Over time, the town center should have a variety of public spaces, both “hardscape”
and“softscape” in nature, in order to provide pleasant places for people to linger, both
individually and collectively.

Expected Output

 Master plan sheets.

 Hierarchy of Street network and street sections.
 Detailed sketches of landscape and street furnitures.
 Parking plan and details of parking lots.
 Façade views.
 3d views of built and open spaces.
 Model .