HYDERABAD IDENTITYTheory, analysis and future development of the spatial characterMaster thesis | Sabrina Krank

PROJECT

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK & METHOD

ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND SCENARIOS OF HYDERABAD

Future development scenario

cultural landscape

market politics

building and spatial types

culture

Timeframe and location

On the theoretic-methodical level, Mehrotra’s model for analysing identity via the lecture of a cultural landscape (Mehrotra, R. 2004) is expanded for the fi eld study in Hyderabad. Following the idea of the anthropologist Hannerz (Hannerz, U. 2004), the parameters market, politics, way of life and movements are identifi ed as critical dimensions for the investigation of a culture. In the frame of the cultural landscape types in the form of edifi cial objects or spatial structures can be identifi ed and analysed as representatives of the landscape.

Hyderabad, a city branded by the present boom of the information technology, is one of the fast-growing hot spots in India. In connection with its enormous growth it has been a subject of profound changes for some years. In the context of the research project SHAKTI (Sustainable Holistic Approach & Know-How Tailored to India) that addresses the sustainable development of the mega-city on an interdisciplinary basis, the master thesis HYDERABAD IDENTITY deals with the spatial character of the city. The topic is therefore situated in the contextual and aesthetic fi eld of sustainability. The three-month master project included a three-week stay in India and has been elaborated on the basis of literature research, expert interviews, graphic analysis and fi eld explorations.

In search of solutions for the needs of sustainable construction, the cultural and physical context plays a distinctive role. In the case of Hyderabad, the rapid development stresses the importance of the question of spatial identity for the process of urban planning. The knowledge of the local identity is a precondition for sustainable architectonic and urban solutions instead of a shallow ‘facelift’.

type I

public space: streets

type II

other public space

type III

landmark

old streetstraffi c routes, market places

and living spaces

The cultural landscape dating back to the time of monarchies is the identity of historic structures. It is established around three centres in the city: The Muslim old town, the British settlement and the power centre of the 19th century.

The identity of modern structures is located both on the outskirts of Hyderabad and in the centre around the lake Hussain Sagar. It began with the foundation of the State Andhra Pradesh in 1956 and has been subject of drastic changes since the 1990s.

Spread all over the city, the cluster of informal identity is diffi cult to locate. Further research would be necessary for a better understanding of the acting culture and the accordant building types.

Scenarios for the future development of the identity of historic structures span from a future museum character to a consolidation of Muslim identity to a further internationalization of the spatial character, depending on the specifi c identity centre.

The identity of modern structures radiates on the other identities and will expand spatially with the growth of the megacity. It is internationally oriented and may shift from a simple copy of Western lifestyles to a new Indian identity.

CHALLENGE

QUESTIONS

OBJECTIVE

How does the spatial character of Hyderabad look like? How to analyse the identity of a city? How will the spatial character of the mega-city develop in the future? The goal is to create an interdisciplinary theoretic and methodical framework within which it is possible to analyse spatial identity in the context of urban planning. Based on this, the key elements of Hyderabad have to be identifi ed and analysed within the scope of the urban cultural landscape. In the third step, scenarios for the future identity, which can serve as a compass for the direction of the development of Hyderabad, should be shown.

Identity = cultural landscape

Three cultural landscapes

Hyderabad

way of life movements

identity of historic structures

markethandicraft and

traditional bazars

politicstourism and road widening program

present culture

way of lifetraditional muslim and hindu lifestyle

nomovements religious buildings

temples, mosques and churches

palacesfragmentary, dilapidated or

restored landmarks

Future development scenario

Timeframe and location

Future development scenario ?

Timeframe and location

modern streetswide traffi c routes

identity of modern structures

marketconglomerats and

land dealing

politicsdevelopment-

oriented

present culture

way of lifeinternational-

oriented middleclass

movementsdemonstrations Hussain Sagar

middleclass leisure areashopping malls

expression of the modern Indian revolution

identity of informal structures

marketsignifi cant contribution

to formal market

politicsno implementation

building and spatial types

present culture

?way of life

improvisation no

movements

Prof. Alex Wall | Institute for Urban and Regional Planning | University of Karlsruhe, GermanyPeter Gotsch | Lab for Planning in a Global Context | Institute for Urban and Regional Planning | University of Karlsruhe, GermanyDr.-Ing. Bärbel Schwaiger | European Institute for Energy Research | University of Karlsruhe, GermanyProf. Dr.-Ing. Holger Wallbaum | Chair of Sustainable Construction | ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Sabrina Krank Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 15 8093 Zurich, Switzerland eMail: sabrina.krank@ibb.baug.ethz.chSHAKTI-Project http://www.shakti.uni-karlsruhe.de/

? ?

Centres of identity of historic structures in Hyderabad

Location of identity of modern structures

Assumed location of slums

3 IDENTITY OF INFORMAL STRUCTURES

2 IDENTITY OF MODERN STRUCTURES

1 IDENTITY OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES

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References: [1] Hannerz, U. (2004): Scenarios for peripheral cultures. In: King, A. D.: Spaces of Global Cultures: Architecture, Urbanism, Identity. Architext Series, London. [2] Mehrotra, R.; Shetty, P.; Gupte, R. (2004): Architecture and contemporary Indian identity (Research Paper). Internet: www.architecture-identity.de (25.01.2007)