PARTICIPATORY

PLANNING ASSIGNMENT
ARKADIPTA BANERJEE
 • The city of Kochi in Kerala has varying hydrological systems, from estuaries
SCENARIO to creeks to rivers. The land coming directly into contact with these
hydrological systems are often low lying, marsh lands or flood plains which
has attracted a lot of habitation across the decade. 
 • These low lying areas which has attracted a lot of development, the various
ISSUE communities here (fishermen, farmers, construction labors, industry
workers, etc) has started facing a lot of habitation loss due to constant
flooding throughout the year. 
DESIGN SOLUTION ?  
Design solutions ranging from total These design solutions can only work if
ecological interventions (i.e. the people of these communities
Introduction of wetlands, mangrove accepts these. But the problem arises
parks, etc) to strengthening social when these set of solutions are
amenities centers ( schools, panchayats, presented to them in technical language,
churches, etc) and using them as refuge they are unable to engage themselves to
areas during storm surges.  it. 

Therefore there is a need of an alternative

way to convey the range of design solutions
which can help these communities survive
and come up with a resilient design
solution together. 
 MODEL BASED COMMUNITY
EXERCISE
STEP 1 – CHOOSING THE APPROPRIATE TYPOLOGY 

STEP 2 – TYING THE LACE​ STEP 3 – REAL TIME SIMULATION

​
STEP 1 – CHOOSING
THE APPROPRIATE
TYPOLOGY 

•The design strategies have

been made into three
dimensional models with the
least possible details Soft shorline - accesible Deployable wall
including walls, berms,
levees, block houses, stairs,
etc. with which they are
acquainted. 

Natural edge Stepped edge

 STEP 2 – TYING THE LACE
• After the community choses a set of design typologies, all the models are then tied together
using a string. Ultimately this results in a series of design moves that the community has chosen
for the locations where they are placed in a sequential manner.  
 STEP 3 – REAL TIME SIMULATION
• A sample scaled site model including a water body, land and habitation (buildings). After the set of sequential design moves have
been finalized by the community, it is then placed on this sample scaled site model. More water is poured in the water body and
finally it is seen if the design moves which they have chosen can stop their areas from flooding. If it does then they need to return to
step 1 again and repeat the same process.