URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING: 11/8/14 and 13/8/14

I.Origin and evolution of human settlement

The nomadic life of humans of the prehistoric period created insecurity as the population

grew. The chief or head of each group feared other groups as everyone fought for the same

resources and hunting was not success every day. The logical human then formed groups and

each member was assigned each task. The success rate of hunting increased as they formed

larger groups. This formed the initial settlements where people came together for a co-

existence. But this was again a mobile life where groups moved together. Hunting consumed

all the time available and people didnt have time for anything beyond. Somebody then

noticed that the plants and trees follow a cycle and food gathering at these specific periods is

a possibility. Thus some kind of permanence emerged in settlements with less mobility.

Though some of the seeds of later urban life were already present in the paleolithic culture,

the soil to nourish them was lacking, Hunting and food gathering sustain less than ten people

per square mile; to be sure of a living man needed a wide range and great freedom of

movement. Until he learns to store he must live from day to day, keeping to small, mobile

groups, not heavily impeded by possessions, not tied to a fixed habitation. The process of

settlement, dietary regulation brought in systematic gathering and planting of the seeds from

certain grasses, the taming of other seed plants like beans. A permanent occupation,

prolonged enough to follow the whole cycle of growth led to identification of hard grains.

The production of hard gains that could be stored from year to year offered stability, since it

provided insurance against starvation. The ability to preserve food made it possible to

diversify into other activities. With the development of a diversified economy not totally

dependent upon food production, it became possible to attract people into a labour pool, thus

providing employment in a variety of forms. This in turn brought about the enlargement of

villages or hamlets into towns and cities, which operated on different political and economic

bases than had been in the simpler forms.

The word city implies a concentration of people in a given geographic area who support

themselves on a fairly permanent basis from economic activities of that area. Urban areas are

those locations where there is opportunity for a diversified living environment and diverse

lifestyles. Natural factors played an important part in the development and growth of urban

areas. The danger of fire and flood, extreme climatic conditions, the possibility of

earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, lack of natural resources and fertile soil- all influenced

decisions to settle or not in a given site. Urban areas seldom form where topography is steep.

Some cities locate at higher altitude, but with relatively gentle slope. Accessibility is another

important parameter. Most of the world cities can be found on or near major waterways- seas

and rivers. The village itself had brought a need for mutual responsibility and cooperation.

What distinguishes the early city from the primitive village is its higher degree of social and

political organisation. The more sophisticated social structure allows people to live together

in relative peace. Thus the transformation from village was not just mere change of scale;

rather it was a change of direction and purpose, manifested in a new type of organisation. The

first thing to mark the passage from village to city however was an increase in the built up

and population.

II. Relevance of study of settlements

Urban history has become an increasingly important subject. This is partly because,

throughout the urbanised world, ordinary people are becoming aware of the vital roles open

to them to play in the planning process, for which an appreciation of the past is a basic

starting point. As a technician in planning- an architect or a civil engineer, there is one more

necessity of studying urban history. If we want to lay new foundation for urban life, we must

understand the historic nature of the city, and distinguish between its original functions, those

that have emerged from it, and those that may still be called forth. Without a long running

start in history, we shall not have the momentum needed to take sufficiently bold leap into

future. With a study of our history we get a heightened consciousness of our past we get a

clearer insight into the decisions made long ago, which often still control us, we shall be able

to face the immediate decision that now confronts man and his cities.

III. Ancient City Town Planning- MESOPOTAMIA/ SUMERIA

Mesopotamian civilization was in the shores of Tigris and Euphrates river. Each city was

heavily fortified to resist siege of many enemies. The stately palace-temple dominated the

city, and the people lived in dual shadows of slavery and superstitious religion. Economic

hardship added to their burden. Every citizen in ancient Mesopotamia belonged to a particular

temple and its god, and did work for him; the basis of citizenship was this particular

affiliation.

UR CITY

The ancient city of Ur, known as home of Abraham occupies

two hundred and twenty acres. The City is located on the

shores of Euphrates river. Urs maximum population has been

24,000. The size of city was limited by the distance the

assembly drum could be heard. Hence it didnt go beyond

walking or hearing distance. Since religion dominated the

civilization, the planning efforts were also seen only for

religious respect.

Parameters affecting the planning of cities may be listed as geography and location,

religion, security, social and political organisation and mobility. These parameters affect

the plan of the city, streets, houses, public buildings and infrastructure. It is the

geography- plain land near to Euphrates river- that led to occupancy of this land. Religion

and security has exerted the most significance in Sumerian cities. Mesopotamia being an

immobile civilization, the fifth parameter has exerted little effect except that the cities have

organic growth pattern which is a result of a long duration of settlement

Plan Of The City

Ur was a walled city oval in shape. The north west of the city

occupied the temple and palace complex with its open spaces.

Residential quarters were towards the south east of the city. The

constant warfare between the cities was the reason why wall was

a serious installation. In addition to security, wall served a

purpose of clear boundary of life between the urban and the rural

parts. Ur practiced polytheism and religion was the sustenance of

the city. Ziggurat was the religious centre. Little town planning

existed in the city, and that was for the Ziggurat and its allied

forms.

Streets

The streets in Ur had a three level hierarchy- the

processional way, major streets and passageways. The

processional way was the street leading to Ziggurat. Major

streets connected residential centres to processional way

and passage ways are alleys connecting houses. Other than

on the sacred way leading to ziggurat, there was no

regulation on encroachment. This has generated lean-tos were food and other goods were

sold to encroached into the road.

Houses and infrastructure

The Houses in Ur had highly civilised room arrangement which

represent the result of long evolutionary process but were grouped

together in layouts which have grown out of the conditions of the

primitive village and are not laid out on any system of town planning.

Streets that led to the processional way terminated in a block of

residential units, with narrow alleys continuing from that point. The

development of courtyard housing in response to an assumed need for

domestic privacy in densely built up urban conditions, where the

narrow streets would have been noisy. In addition inward looking

houses of Mesopotamia, Indus valley and Greece and warmer part of

Roman Empire encouraged natural air convection giving cooler

internal conditions. The houses in Ur are found to be of 20 % area,

which gave density of from 120 to 200 people per acre, a density

excess of what s hygienically desirable. Sanitation systems were poor

with waste dumping on streets. Other than the open spaces were the

major street ends, the city didnt have any public open spaces. Despite their meandering

and seemingly illogical route structures, these town plans nevertheless clearly conform to

some indefinable natural pattern.

Some other Mesopotamian cities are Babylon, Jerusalem, Uruk and Jericho.

Civilization Sumerian/ Meso Indus valley Egyptian Greek Roman

CITY FOCUS Please Gods , war

among cities

After death,

pyramid,

less

investment

in living

Free living Invasion and

conquest

Geography River valley River valley,

Urban-rural

divide

Mountainous

, Compact

urban form,

stairs

No role,

forced cities

Religion Planning only for

it, Ziggurat,

planned sacred

way

Temples are

only

permanent

construction

Away from

city, grand

temples

Gods were

respected but

not feared

Political

system and

religion stood

equal

Security Threat from other

cities, High walls

and trenches

No threat of

invasion,

very

powerful,

Wall is

afterthought

Wall began

the city

Social and

Political Org

A ruler existed,

but not clear

monarchy,

Similar scale

buildings

Pharaoh was

common

mans

purpose of

living, large

differential

in common

man and

noble

dwelling

Govt of law

determined

by people,

Agora (5%

city area)

Lose

administrative

organization,

Emperor, ,

Noble,

Working class

and slaves

Mobility Immobile

population,

organic

development

Mobile,

Unplanned

grid iron

system for

easy

execution

Immobile,

investment

in city

Immobile,

investment in

city

JAIPUR

Location

The city was established in 1729 by Maharaja Jai Singh as the new capital of Kachwaha

dynasty. The city planned in the gridiron pattern was built with extraordinary foresight and

futuristic planning and is probably the only 18th century walled city in India that can still

cater to the present day pressures of vehicular traffic on roads. It included innovative

concepts in traditional planning guidelines along with an appropriate adaptation of the terrain

itself. The site for Jaipur was identified in straight line

alignment to Amber fort and the Mughal centre- Delhi.

The southern limit of the city was set by the East- West

road between other Mughal centres- Ajmer and Agra. The

layout of the city of Jaipur wonderfully links the concept

of a Shastric city with the practicalities of the chosen site.

First, the straight line of the ridge suggested itself as the

route for one of the main east-west thorough fares and

building a road along its crest makes best possible use of

the topography for the purpose of drainage. What

followed then was to regularize the Amber-Sanganer road

as a north-south route at right angles to it. So by extending the N- S road as far as possible

southwards gives the first fixed dimension, the length of a side of a square and so establishes

the size of the unit or module of the city. A road cutting the plain from N to S linking Amber,

the capital to Sanganer, the principal trading town, and this road had to be preserved and

controlled and therefore had to

fall within the citys boundaries.

A second road ran E to W

between the Mughal cities of

Agra and Ajmer and placing the

new city on this already

established communication line

would help secure its economic

success. However since this was an imperial road that could not be encroached on, thus the

city had to be contained to the north of this line.

Plan of the city

The town of Jaipur

is built in the form

of a 9 parts. Nine

signifies the 9

planets of the

ancient astrological

zodiac. Even the

commercial shops

are designed in multiples of nine (27), having one

cross street for a planet. After the slightly

inclined orientation of the city and the city limits,

the division of the city area into 9 equal parts was

done. The ridge in the North West was not

permitting the city to be built in that location and

the city as whole could not be shifted downwards

as the Ajmer Agra road could not be

encroached. Hence one part of the city among the

nine parts was taken to the South East corner.

The two central units were combined as palace

complex to show the significance of palace and

to abide by the nine units number, the third

central part was divided into two. (see fig). Major

factors are also considered are - Contour and topography, Storm water drainage, Climate,

Hydrology and soil. Sun path and wind direction are also given utmost importance.

Streets

A hierarchy of three orders is found in streets of Jaipur. First order street defines the sector

size; second order street defines the neighborhood or block. Regulations of the street pattern

as grid iron and width uniformities were exerted only in the first and second order streets.

Only main roads, major public spaces are controlled. Interior of sector offers enough

flexibility to individual with freedom to

express with moderate control.Gridiron

system is used for road network for

procession paths, which is relevant today

for vehicular traffic. Further in present

system of hierarchy of roads problems

related to traffic are minimal. Internal road

network have hierarchy in terms of access

and privacy, hence at the same time safe

neighborhood is created. All the streets

have certain character that creates every street identifiable.

Arcades

Since walking was the main mode of transportation, arcades as rest places for sitting was

built in frontage to the major streets. The distance between the nodes of the second order

roads was 800 m, which is easily walk able distance. The major streets created natural

shading by facades and first floor projections beyond the ground floor (see fig).

Land Use

The main land uses are residential, commercial and institutional. The first order streets

housed commercial and institutional buildings. Institutions were places at points so that two

access roads are available to the

building. The first order streets acted

as bazaar roads. The intersection of

two bazaar roads created chaupats-

gathering place in city.

Amenities and houses

Amenities are provided with respect to king and upper class instead of common man.

Amenities are provided on main road, within 5 minute walking distance. Placement of

amenities was done with respect to function, use and traffic. Further juxtaposition has created

distinct nodes and activity landmarks, which ultimately has created defined path. Thus

socially interactive spaces are created by design, built form definition, open space pattern and

road pattern. Houses are in form of courtyard houses in case of the middle and upper class

and clustered housing with common courtyard in the case of poor. Arid region temperature

and hot winds are kept away with this kind of arrangement.

Built form and plot

Jaipur is an example of dictatorial planning and design. Plots are always kept in proportion

with respect to hierarchy of roads. It has

achieved a regular size and shape of plot

followed by uniform built form; hence plot

size and shape, location gives coherence.

Subdivision of subplots with control on size

and shape is required. The structure of city is

dense yet porous in nature. Compact built

form with plot edge-to-edge construction with

courtyard is logical in hot climate. Pattern is

formed when all the sectors come together.

Further there is coherence between different

sectors having enough variety. There are

binding elements like road pattern, road

hierarchy, built form and open space system.

These strong elements create a whole. Open spaces are distributed, located, allocated as per,

Hierarchy, User group, serving area, Sense of enclosure.

GANDHINAGAR

Location

Situated along the Sabarmati river, the eastern limits to the city was set by the river and the

city plan incorporates the curvilinear flow of the river in one edge of the city.

City Development

Gandhi nagar was master planned in 1966 as the

capital city for state of Gujarat. The new city

would be the administrative centre for the state.

Initially the planning of city was taken up by

Louis Khan, but later some differences between

the development authority and the planner

terminated the execution and the responsibility

of planning was handed over to H K Mewada

and P M Apte. The city was planned for a

population under 1,50,000. The salient features

of the city may be specified as

1. Capital complex and public buildings

2. Population under 20,000

3. Drainage, electric supply, water supply and sanitation of city

4. Light industries on north of the city.

5. Roads, parks and playgrounds.

Streets

The main pattern of roads were to be grid iron, except that the road along the river was to

follow the natural feature forming a crescent, thus breaking the monotony of the state road

while linking the capital complex , governors house etc. Roads are designed not to run

parallel to the boundaries of the capital but 30 degrees north west- south east and 60 degrees

north east- south west t protect motorists from direct glare of the afternoon sun. There is the

three order hierarchy to the road system and it is

strictly enforced. Main roads of 100 m width run a

few in no. in the city. Peripheral roads are sector

boundaries and have width of 65 m. Inner roads are

45 m in wide.

Land use and city structure

The grid iron roads formed 33 sectors stretched

around the central govt. complex. The concept of

planning in Gandhinagar is similar as Chandigarh.

As the figure depicts certain sectors are reserved for

institutional and commercial uses. Each sector is a

neighbourhood unit or called a residential unit is planned in such a way that each zone is self

contained residential unit with a hopping strip and

community centre, a medical clinic, school etc. All these are

located within the limits of distributor roads so that the

pedestrian would not have to cross the road to reach the

neighbourhood community centres. Similar to Corbusier

planning within sector, careful planning of streets are done

(see fig on left); but the housing element planning observed

in Chandigarh does not surface in Gandhinagar. Also, large

open spaces in all sectors, pedestrian ways throughout the

city through green areas as in Chandigarh is absent in

Gandhinagar. Total grid- iron like pattern gave rise to

rectangular open spaces within the city. An open space

distribution of 2 hac/ 1000 inhabitants is observed.

The plan of city also provided for light industries to

minimize pollution from manufacturing and residential sectors in industrial estates so that

worker would have short commutes.