(re)consructing calcutta. a study describing uncontrolled urban development

(Re)Constructing Calcutta.A study describing uncontrolled urban development.

This Brochure presents the findings of the diploma thesis

submitted in January 2012 at the Faculty of Architecture at

University of Technology Graz:

Murnig, Boris: (Re)Constructing Calcutta. A study describing

uncontrolled urban development, Diploma Thesis at University of

Technology, Graz (Faculty of Architecture), Graz 2012

Supervisor: Gethmann, Daniel, Mag.art. Dr. phil. (Institute of

Architectural Theory, History of Art and Cultural Studies)

Project-Websitehttp://dl.dropbox.com/u/9557512/re-constructing_calcutta.html

Full Text, Germanhttp://issuu.com/bmurnig/docs/re-konstruktion_kalkutta

This is a record of a search. [...] It is felt to be more important to leave in apparent contradictions than to eliminate steps which are necessary to an understanding of the process and intentions of the whole.

„

“

Peter & Alison Smithson in “Urban Structuring”

(Re)Constructing Calcutta.A study describing uncontrolled urban development.

01: GENERAL / POSITION 02: RECONSTRUCTION / CASE STUDIES

03: CONSTRUCTION

pt. 01

POSITION

(Re)Constructing Calcutta is dedicated to describing and understanding the phenomenon of uncontrolled growth in large urban areas through a close study of India´s third-largest me-tropolis. Precedent research on Asian cities has shown the complex-ity and difficulty of understanding and determining the development of fast-growing cities. The uncon-trolled density and enlargement of these cities is a concern that archi-tecture has the ability to investigate.

The Generic City presents the final death of planning. Why? Not because it is not planned in fact. [...] its most dangerous and most exhilarating discovery is that planning makes no difference whatsoever. Buildings may be placed well [...] or badly [...]. They flourish/perish unpredictably.

„

“Rem Koolhaas in “Generic City”

personal needs and interestsspatial structure

(Loss of) Control: Influences and structural impacts.

Uncontrollability, however, should not be mis-

understood as a loss of control itself. Following

Koolhaas’ Generic City (Koolhaas 1995) the very

possibility of grasping the variety and multitude

of influences, although impossible, does not ne-

gate the ability to learn from and make predictions

of possibility for urban growth development. The

study focuses on the eastern fringe of Calcutta.

Traditionally being used for local food supply the

region had faced an increasing pressure of ur-

banisation since the early 1980s. The investigation

concentrates on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass

(EMB), which once had been conceptualised to re-

lieve the overcrowded inner-city streets.

But it had also made East-Calcutta accessible and

attractive for investors which lead to an automa-

tion of fast and fragmented urban development

even before its completion. In this context the re-

alisation of the EMB represents the beginning of

acrimonious controversies regarding social and

environmental responsibilities (concerning urban

growth influenced by neo-liberal interests). As a

result the ideological positions started polarising

and finally were reduced to either pro or contra.

Thus it became clear that it would be impossible to

work out acceptable and sustainable strategies for

both parties: contradictions should become a cen-

tral point in Calcutta´s urban future.

Against this background, the work is an attempt to describe different states of control (as well as loss of control). Rather than to follow formal approach-es it is the process of change which is put into focus of attention. Thus the research undertaken presents a differentiated approach to urbanisation by dealing with the dynamics of contradictory and individually set actions. I attempt to reconstruct lines of action and processes of urbanization through the use of a method which employs two differing perspectives linked via scale.

The System-Scale focuses on the locality, the situ-ation as a whole, and deals with the role of the in-dividual in the framework of a spatially-fragmented structure. In consequence infrastructure –linking two or more individuals – is put in the centre of attention.

The Element-Scale on the other hand focuses on the site by putting interaction between the actors and their physical environment centre stage. In contrast to System-Scale´s focus on connecting infrastructure it is isolation and segregation which dominate this view.

ELEMENT AELEMENT B

ELEMENT C

SYSTEM ASYSTEM B

SYSTEM C

Fractal organisation of System- & Element-scale.

The natural growth of the city under a tremendous population pressure had gradually changed the geographical form of the city. […] Ignoring the known disadvantages, where the guiding principle had been the proximity to the core city rather than the quality of land.

„

“Nitai Kundu in “Planning the Metropolis”

Kolkata´s urban expansion (from left to right):Greater Area of Calcutta, around 1900Calcutta Metropolitan Area, 1971Kolkata Metropolitan Area, 2001

pt. 02

RECONSTRUCTION

Using the two perspectives of Sys-tem and Element-Scale allows me to consider distributed and spon-taneously organised aspects as well as central and durable facets without compromising these two opposites: It is still a question of two poles which by provoking ten-sions ensure a continuous process of development.

By intending to render an interpretation rather than to only work out a fact-based reconstruction argumentations and conclusions always will be influenced by spontaneous and subjective impacts. Hence the study reflects the moment at which the research had been undertaken by being influenced by current discussions, problems and scarcities. Thereby it is revealed that the research-method uses the same strategy it actually is trying to un-derstand. The intention to reconstruct lines of action therefore can be best understood as estab-lishing different types of interpretations for discov-ered phenomenons and situations.

In this manner urban activity is defined as a way of participating in disorderly urban growth pro-cesses. In contrary to my analytical interpretations forms of urban activism (Urban Think Tank 2005) found in East-Calcutta can be described as spa-tial interpretations which show off in apparently disordered and uncontrolled processes of urban change. Any subsequent forms of urban develop-ment are detected and assessed with reference to the collected data. The intention is to reveal and to characterise systematically applied practices of exertion of influence.

Calcutta´s administration has always refused to work out and execute general regulatories on ur-ban expansion which could have become a legal framework for future development. Clarity and

design principles such as master plans in this context have been almost completely replaced. System-Scale in this context views infrastructural interventions as the base of spatial change and urban expansion. In this way it seems to be much easier and more subtle to control and influence urban changes: even if it is not possible to actively participate in urbanisation itself (realisation of projects) structural impacts are becoming even bigger by consciously setting long-term impacts.

In this manner infrastructural interventions repre-sent a powerful tool to initiate and promote frag-mented and disordered urban growth on the one hand while on the other hand never run the risk of getting beyond control itself. What happens is a consciously set state of uncontrollability!

Effects of such a loss of control can be recognised for example in individual adaptations of rules and restrictions. The lack of objectivity makes it hard to compare different intentions or even clearly name general benefits of single projects. Hence such projects can no longer be regulated within a devel-opment process as a whole and subsequently can neither be legitimised through generally accepted guidelines. In practice this aspect less concerns legal matters than the question of responsibility and commitment towards society and environ-ment which have to be legitimised. This debate can also be found in the context of contemporary

urban studies such as the so-called informality discourse. By definition it is distinguished between “fixed order” (formal) and “the term which op-poses the formal”: informality, development which “certainly did not occur according to standard rules” (Urban Think Tank 2005). Problems within the use of these attributes arise due to the dis-crepancy between the alleged objectification (dis-tinction in terms of opposites: either / or) and the practice-related subjective perception of the cir-cumstances. It quickly becomes clear that a differ-entiation in practice is hardly objectively possible, which further means that such attributes can be exploited to some extent by deliberately using and employing them in order to gain influence within developmental processes.

The actual problem here can less be seen in the lack of objectivity than in the specific and system-atic application of such classifications. Gener-ally spoken they lead to further marginalisation of those who already cannot participate in the “modern” development rather than to visualise their needs and provide support to them. While the discussion on informality on a theoretical level is largely conducted on moral considerations in practical terms an increasing selective application of these terms is recognised. Against this back-ground it seems to be more appropriate to speak of informalisation, a tool to actively participate in

uncontrolled urbanization, than to differentiate be-tween “formal” and “informal”. Informality perma-nently visualises the discrepancy of using subjec-tive categorizations. In other words it represents a subtle way of legitimation rather than a spatial capturable typology.

Thus informalisation as a tool does not necessar-ily describe the consciously executed division into “informal” and “formal” but the opportunity to do so if felt necessary. It creates uncertainty for some while others are invited to profit from these uncer-tain conditions.

It is generally noticed that conventional planning strategies in such situations become less impor-tant due to the dynamics of autonomous and self-contained development processes. This tendency can be observed especially in East-Calcutta where master plans, spatial concepts, and regulations obviously suffer the loss of influence which at some points barely exists any more. On this basis the last part of the work intends to question and rethink planning strategies and aims for a new way of describing urban development. In doing so the question which is felt to be most important deals with the practical advantages of a strategy based on the loss of controllability. This leads to the construction of a describing model which opens up the opportunity to acquire internal con-flicts and ambivalences to operate methodically.

SHOPPING

HIGH

LOW LOW

HIGH

BUS

SHOPPINGJOB

BUS

SHOPPINGJOB

SCH

OO

L

MED

. SU

P.LEISURE

SOCIAL SETTINGS

HIERARCHY OF TRANSPORTATION: DIFFERENT DISTANCES CAN BE BRIDGED

car driven by chauffeur

global region city district

car / motorcycle

benefit from infrastructural development & improvements

dependence on close

immediate environment

bus / train / tram bike / by foot

SENSITIVITY FOR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY

DEPENDENCE ON IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY

DIVERSE STRUCTURE

SHOPPING

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SHOPPINGJOB

BUS

SHOPPINGJOB

SCH

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P.LEISURE

SOCIAL SETTINGS




car / motorcycle


dependence on close





DIVERSE STRUCTURE

SHOPPING

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SHOPPINGJOB

BUS

SHOPPINGJOB

SCH

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SOCIAL SETTINGS




car / motorcycle


dependence on close





DIVERSE STRUCTURE

Analysing the impacts of infrastructural interventions

EXISTING STRUCTURE

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture

Scheme: urbanisation of informal inhabited territory

Scheme: urbanisation agricultural land

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT

FRAGMENTED & HARDLY CONTROLLABLE URBANISATION

EXISTING STRUCTURE

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture





EXISTING STRUCTURE

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture

agriculture





Infrastructure as a tool to initiate uncontrolled urban development

EXISTING STRUCTURE

EXTERNAL INTERVENTION

DIFFERNTIATION FROM EXISTING STRUCTURE

OASIS: INDEPENDENCY OF IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT

migration

EXTERNAL IMPACT : MIGRATION

migration

NEW ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS ARRISE ELSEWHERE

Cycle of informalisation

EXISTING STRUCTURE

EXTERNAL INTERVENTION

DIFFERNTIATION FROM EXISTING STRUCTURE

OASIS: INDEPENDENCY OF IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT

migration

EXTERNAL IMPACT : MIGRATION

migration

NEW ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS ARRISE ELSEWHERE

NEW TOWN IN RAJARHATCASE 02:

BAGUIATI

V.I.P. R

OAD

EMB

: EA

STER

N M

ETR

OP

OLI

TAN

BYP

ASS

CA

SE 0

1:

EEW

: EA

STER

N E

XPR

ESSW

AY

SALT LAKE CITY

NSC BOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

HOOGHLY R

IVER

OLDHARBOUR

BOTANICGARDEN

RABINDRA SAROVAR

KALIGHAT

HOWRAH STATION

SEALDAH STATION

ULTADANGASTATION

SCIENCE CITY PARK CIRCUS

GARIA HAT

MAIDAN

EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS

BANTALA LEATHER COMPLEX

CBD (CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT)

SECTOR V

KOLKATAMUNICIPAL CORPORATION

0 1 2 KM

CASE STUDIES

NEW TOWN IN RAJARHATCASE 02:

BAGUIATI

V.I.P. R

OAD

EMB

: EA

STER

N M

ETR

OP

OLI

TAN

BYP

ASS

CA

SE 0

1:

EEW

: EA

STER

N E

XPR

ESSW

AY

SALT LAKE CITY


HOOGHLY R

IVER

OLDHARBOUR

BOTANICGARDEN

RABINDRA SAROVAR

KALIGHAT

HOWRAH STATION

SEALDAH STATION

ULTADANGASTATION

SCIENCE CITY PARK CIRCUS

GARIA HAT

MAIDAN


BANTALA LEATHER COMPLEX

CBD (CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT)

SECTOR V

KOLKATAMUNICIPAL CORPORATION

0 1 2 KM

Eastern Metropolitan Bypass & Eastern Expressway

KMA (Kolkata Metropolitan Area)KMC (Kolkata Municipal Area)Main RoadsEMB (Eastern Metropolitan Bypass)proposed EEW (Eastern Expressway)proposed ConnectorsRailwaybuilt-up Area

WEST BENGAL KOLKATA

METROPOLITAN AREA

KOLKATA MUNICIPAL AREA

CBD

EASTERN METROPOLITAN BYPASS

SALT LAKE

AIRPORT


EAST

ERN

EXP

RES

SWA

Y

CHINSURA

BARRACKPORE

BUDGE BUDGE

KALYANI

HOWRAH MUNICIPAL AREA

0 1 5 KM



TANGRA

BELEGHATA

TOPSIA

E.M

. BYP

ASS

TILJALA

KASBA

PARK CIRCUS

SEALDAH RLW STATION

GARIA HAT

V.I.P. R

OADAIRPORT

SOUTH DUM DUM

SALT LAKE CITY

SECTOR V

SOVABAZAR

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OSED

SON

APU

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KRISHNAPUR CANAL

BASANTI ROAD

EMB Phase IEMB Phase IIEMB Pahse IIIbuilt-up AreaSewage drainMain Roadproposed ConnectorRailwayHospitalLeisure /ShoppingBusiness /HotelTrafficResidential /TownshipEducation / Science

SBTRE0 1 2 KM

KOLKATA METROPOLITAN AREA Map showing Eastern Metropolitan Baypass & Eastern Expressway

EASTERN METROPOLITAN BYPASSspatially fragmented functions



TANGRA

BELEGHATA

TOPSIA

E.M

. BYP

ASS

TILJALA

KASBA

PARK CIRCUS

SEALDAH RLW STATION

GARIA HAT

V.I.P. R

OAD

AIRPORT

SOUTH DUM DUM

SALT LAKE CITY

SECTOR V

SOVABAZAR

T

LB

E

ET

L

L

LL

B

T

LR

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RE

LL

BB

BL

RB

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R

R

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E

E

TT

B

L

L

R

R

RR

R

ET

PROP

OSED

SON

APU

R RO

AD

KRISHNAPUR CANAL

BASANTI ROAD

EMB Phase IEMB Phase IIEMB Pahse IIIbuilt-up AreaSewage drainMain Roadproposed ConnectorRailwayHospitalLeisure /ShoppingBusiness /HotelTrafficResidential /TownshipEducation / Science

SBTRE0 1 2 KM

EASTERN METROPOLITAN BYPASSspatially fragmented functions

RUBY CROSSINGScheme showing development along Eastern Metropolitan Bypass

EEW-CONNECTORScheme forecasting development along Eastern Expressway

PROPOSED CONNECTOR

WETLANDS

WETLANDS

CONNECTOR

SERVICE POINT

SERVICE POINT

WETLANDS

WETLANDS

TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP

SHOPPING

SHOPPING

TOWNSHIP

WETLANDS ?

WETLANDS ?

EMB

RUBY HOSPITAL

DESUN HOSPITAL

GENESIS HOSPITAL

RASH BEHARI CONNECTOR

URBANA PROJECT

EMB

KASBA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

EAST CALCUTTA TOWNSHIP EAST CALCUTTA TOWNSHIP

RASH BEHARI CONNECTOR

WETLANDS

TILJALA

AGRICULTURE

GEP

LAN

TER

BYP

ASS

PROPOSED CONNECTOR

A New Town in Rajarhat


BANTALALEATHER COMPLEX

PROPOSED SONAPUR ROAD

KRISHNAP

UR CAN

AL

EASTER

N LIN

K H

IGH

WA

Y

FISH

ERY

FEED

ING

CAN

AL

BAS

ANTI

RO

AD

BIDYA DHARI RIVER

SALT

LA

KE

CIT

Y

PROPOSED EASTERN EXPRESSWAY


NOR

TH L

INK

ROA

D

SOU

TH

LIN

K R

OA

D

existing settlementproposed Townshipsewage drainexisting roadproposed road

NEW TOWN IN RAJARHAT

MAJOR ARTERIAL ROAD

IT-HUB

CBD RAJARHAT

ACTION AREA II

ACTION AREA I

ACTION AREA III

ACTION AREA IV

BAGJOLA CANAL

MA

JOR

AR

TER

IAL

RO

AD

E.W

. MAJ

OR

AR

TER

IAL

RO

AD

0 1 2 KM

NEW TOWN IN RAJARHATMap showing master-plan for action Areas I & II as well as several projects to be developed in action Area III


BANTALALEATHER COMPLEX

PROPOSED SONAPUR ROAD

KRISHNAP

UR CAN

AL

EASTER

N LIN

K H

IGH

WA

Y

FISH

ERY

FEED

ING

CAN

AL

BAS

ANTI

RO

AD

BIDYA DHARI RIVER

SALT

LA

KE

CIT

Y

PROPOSED EASTERN EXPRESSWAY


NOR

TH L

INK

ROA

D

SOU

TH

LIN

K R

OA

D

existing settlementproposed Townshipsewage drainexisting roadproposed road

NEW TOWN IN RAJARHAT

MAJOR ARTERIAL ROAD

IT-HUB

CBD RAJARHAT

ACTION AREA II

ACTION AREA I

ACTION AREA III

ACTION AREA IV

BAGJOLA CANAL

MA

JOR

AR

TER

IAL

RO

AD

E.W

. MAJ

OR

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IAL

RO

AD

0 1 2 KM

SCHEME: DIFFERENT STATES OF URBAN TAKE-OVERProcess of Informalisation based on actual situations found in Rajarhat in 2011. To illustrate the impacts of this tendency more clearly the different states have been arranged in a virtual chronological order.

pt. 03

CONSTRUCTION

Regarding pre-decided urban ac-tivism two forms could be detected during the preceding analysis. Both of them show possibilities to initi-ate and participate in disorderly urban growth processes but at the same time seem to follow different motivations.

While Infrastructure intends to link single ele-ments informalisation deals with the differenti-ability and segregation of individuals in relation to their physical environment. Generally spoken these two motivations could be summarised in consensus- and dissent-driven actions. The so-called bi-polar model presents these findings by defining parameters that can describe a schema for uncontrolled urban development. On one hand it is a question of contextual layers which are dedi-cated to the influences affecting single elements and follow the consensus-oriented perspective.

These layers are described as decentralized and dynamic identity-forming systems. Networks which follow different intentions under the influ-ence of randomly chosen inputs. The intensity in turn is basically looking for the unique and particular atmosphere of the city by focusing on

Segregated enclaves which maintain a possible exchange with historical centre.

the interface between different contextual layers. Thereby conflicts and confrontations on ideological and social level play a more important role regard-ing the forming of identity than the actual spatial constellation.

Loss of control in favour of a controversy-related, self-contained development therefore has to be seen as a systematically and consciously ap-plied strategy rather than as a result of external circumstances: It is a kind of calculated loss of control, which by consciously compromising on the one hand (eg. direct influence of the planner) is able to prevent such elsewhere. Loss of control becomes a planning strategy which if felt neces-sary can shirk spatial concepts and ideological responsibilities: Loss of control: a mode of urbanisation!

ELEMENT A ELEMENT B

ELEMENT C

Impacts and dispersion of contextual networks.

In an attempt to describe Calcutta´s urban development two major mo-tivations have been made out: Con-text (consensus-orientated) and Intensity (dissensus-orientated). The following description of five as-pects each is an attemt to establish a model which is able to assimilate predominant contradictions rather than eliminate them at any cost.

CONTEXT: COMMUNICATION.

Contexts are ideological arrangements – net-works – which virtually bundle its associates. Hence contexts form a spatially disperse struc-ture in which public places hardly exist. Within such a structure it is difficult to find neutral places which could provoke spontaneous com-munication and interaction. Therefore it can be assumed that almost every form of exchange underlies a selective process: Communica-tion among as well as within Contextual-layers takes place exclusively.

CONTEXT: VELOCITY.

By dealing with network-structures, description of Context especially focuses on the connections between single individuals. These connections only exist temporarily in the form of movements of different velocities. Indeed the routes of these movements overlap but thereby don´t neces-sarily have to interact with each other.

CONTEXT: RHYTHM.

Motional rhythms qualify type and character of Contextual-layers. Node points – so-called hubs – for instance can communicate basic informa-tions according to their rhythm. Periodic motions of large groups for example can point out com-muting movements while spontaneous single moves would rather indicate a residential area.

CONTEXT: DENSITY.

Exchange between a Context and its individuals is based on a relative relationship. Hence a Con-text can change its proportion – it can expand or decrease - without necessarily affecting the sit-uation of the single individual. In fact the contex-tual density argues the converse: The structural organisation of a Context can only be revealed by following the impact of dynamic changes.

CONTEXT: QUANTITY.

Context defines itself through it´s quantita-tive attributes. Thus Contextual-layers estab-lish and maintain a hierarchical system which is represented by the mode of transportation: The easier distances can be bridged, the more selective social and economic relations can be chosen. Hence quantity is an important aspect of identification by revealing an association with a certain contextual network.

INTENSITY: CONFRONTATION.

Unlike Context, Intensity focuses on confronta-tions which arise through the spatial accumula-tion of differently contextualised elements. Due to constant confrontation, it is never possible to

archieve a balanced situation: It can best be com-pared to a pendulum which swings between two

extremes. Balance can only be found in continuity of recurring extremes.

INTENSITY: QUALITY.

Engagement, participation and identification with a confrontation is more important than

the number of different Contexts engaged. By provoking cross-contextual interaction and ex-

change Intensity deals with processes which Contexts actively try to prevent. Quality de-

scribes the relation between a specific place and its occurring confrontations – a constantly polarising situation which therefore becomes

an important aspect in identity-building.

INTENSITY: FLUCTUATION.

Intensity does not deal with motions but docu-ments processes of exchange and correlations. It records temporary screenshots of particular

situations which turn to a sequence when put to-gether. These sequences trace lines of actions,

reveal spatial correlations and document initia-tives and their actual impacts. By translating

these processes into spatial events fluctuation reveals a new temporal structure: the interval.

INTENSITY: DENSITY.

While contextual density deals with structural issues – a relative relationship between an indi-

vidual and its contextual network – Intensity´s density indicates an absolute number within a

certain area. Hence within Intensity´s perspec-tive Contexts always appear in differently dense configurations. This means that there is always a spatial predominance of some Contexts while

others only show little presence.

INTENSITY: OVERLAYS.

Intensity´s perspective focuses on the in-be-tween of differently orientated individuals. Since there always has to be an in-between - space for frictions and confrontations - overlays don´t ex-

ist in this perspective. Furthermore it has to be assumed that the immediate environment of a

single individual is generally considered to be a stranger. This leads to an introverted organisa-

tion and a programmatic differentiation.

(re)consructing calcutta. a study describing uncontrolled urban development

Documents

uncontrolled urban development

urban growth development

fragmented urban development

large urban areas

eastern fringe of calcutta

eastcalcutta accessible

koolhaas generic city

close study of indias