vision for a world class delhi, jan2009

Vision for a “World Class” Delhi

• Safe• Clean, Green & Usable

• Well Connected

• With Civic Pride

• Democratic & Transparent

Shivani Langer (M.Arch, B.Arch, LEED AP) is an Architect and Sustainability Consultant specializing in civic and institutional projects. She has worked on the design and hands-on construction of several Sustainable buildings in the US (Solar Decathlon, international design competition), and sustainable neighborhoods in India (Ladakh, Mumbai, Delhi). She currently works for SHW Group in Austin US and lectures part time on Sustainable Architectural Design at the University of Texas at Austin.

Mitali Ganguly (M.Arch./ UD/ RealEstate) is a Project Coordinator and Urban Designer with over six years of experience in architecture, urban design and real estate. Mitali has worked in several leading international firms and has a Masters in Urban Real Estate degree from Harvard University. Mitali believes in urban design that enriches its cultural context and is responsive to market forces. She is currently working on several international projects that involve urban infill and revitalization, affordable housing and adaptive reuse - supported by transit and mixed use.

Nishant Lall (MCP, B.Arch) is an architect, urban designer with a Materas from UCLA and currently practicing architecture in New Delhi. For 10 years, Nishant has worked on award winning architecture and urban design projects in China, Norway, India, Puerto Rico, Abu Dhabi, Egypt and Canada. He has worked on the North Point Development (Boston, CBT Architects), Penn Connects (Sasaki Associates) and Beijing 798 Arts District projects. At UCLA he studied under Thom Mayne, Morphosis and worked on several published research projects.

Romi Roy (M.Arch. UD, B.Arch) is a Senior Architect and Urban Planner, currently working with Arup. She has over 10 years of experience leading Urban Planning and Architecture projects in China, Russia, Dubai, India, Pakistan, Jordan, Tunisia, as well as all over the US. Romi has recently completed several ‘sustainable’ urban planning projects integrating transportation, energy, water, waste and resource efficiencies along with localized socio-economic constraints into design. Romi has particular expertise in integrating transportation, jobs and housing issues with built-form design at the block and building level, tying in to a multidisciplinary approach to sustainability. Ran Chen (MCP/ B.Arch.) is an Urban Planner/

Architect specialized in Decision Support Systems as a means to achieve sustainable urban solutions. Ran has worked extensively for 4 years in North America, Latin America and Asia for many non-for-profit Planning organizations aiming to produce sustainable, community-friendly urban developments. This includes working as a Planning Consultant for international organizations such as the Lincoln Institute for Land Policies and the United Nations Development Programme. Ran has worked in the planning of various Eco-Cities in China & the award-winning Dujiangyan Post-Disaster Reconstruction Plan.

Our Core Team who has prepared this over several years….

Anuradha Saberwal (M.Arch., MUD, M.A) has a wide range of expertise in the field of architecture and design, ranging from working at micro level interventions at the level of urban houses, to large scale macro developments such as tertiary urban hospital developments. She has a insightful understanding on urban issues and the impact of design intent combined with political will on the social and urban fabric of a city. Her current work in large scale healthcare projects include addressing issues of sustainable development , environmental impact of urban developments and energy conscious architecture.

What does it mean to make Delhi a “World Class City”…?

Q.

Food for thought…

Can a woman walk alone safely on the streets of Delhi after 7 pm?Q.

“Delhi is India's crime capital..” – TOI, June 2008

“The most unsafe time out - 40% felt unsafe between 8 and 10 am and 5 and 7 pm. 31% felt unsafe in mid-afternoon.

Most unsafe places - 45% identified buses as the most unsafe; 25% the roadside; 6.7% found bus stops...”

– A Delhi Police survey on women’s safety, 05 March 2006.

Source: http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/127142/1/

Why Why

Setback??Setback??

No Setbacks No Setbacks

Which street would you feel safer walking on…?Q.

Brooklyn, New York

Why do we have building setbacks & boundary walls?

Delhi

Source: Romi RoySource: Romi Roy

Why Boundary Walls???Why Boundary Walls???

Q. Which street would you feel safer walking on…?

DelhiVancouver

Why do we have building setbacks & boundary walls?


Q. Why are buses killing people on the street every day?

Streetlamps on pavements, Streetlamps on pavements,

So pedestrians on the road!So pedestrians on the road!

A/Q.1 m sidewalk!!! So both buses 1 m sidewalk!!! So both buses & pedestrians are on the road! & pedestrians are on the road!

Are there enough safe sidewalks

& crosswalks for pedestrians?

Urban Planning and Citizen (YOUR) Participation can help solve Delhi’s problems…

Example Cities which are achieving similar transformations: Curitiba, Bagota, Los Angeles, Austin, Portland, Chicago, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai…

Lets take a look…. how?

Social Goal 1:

Safety:1) Make streets be “watched” through “eyes on the street” – remove

setbacks and boundary walls flanking streets.2) Promote Hawker zones at regular intervals3) Make streets pedestrian friendly by providing Street-Amenities.

For Safety: Create “Eyes on the Street” ….1)

Source: © State of LouisianaSource: © State of Louisiana

Remove SetbacksRemove Setbacks


Source: © State of LouisianaSource: © State of Louisiana

Remove Boundary WallsRemove Boundary Walls

Eyes on the street



Benefits of Hawkers:

• They keep streets clean, busy, vibrant and safe.

• They provide a variety of cheaper food and retail options for the public.

• They express our culture.

• They generate self- employment.

Hawkers are good for Safety!2)

Source: Flickr.comSource: Flickr.com

• Benefits of Hawkers:

• They keep streets clean, busy, vibrant and safe.

• They provide a variety of cheaper food and retail options for the public.

• They express our culture.

• They generate self- employment.

2) Hawkers are good for Safety!


Stop wasting money on shallow “beautification”

Existing curbstones being replaced by sandstone – in Central Delhi.

Make sidewalks accessible for the handicapped.

Provide simple ramps at street cornersSource: Flickr.comSource: Flickr.com

Public Toilets

Hawker Zones (every ~800 M)

Bus Stop

Mid

-blo

ck

pede

stria

n cu

t(e

very

~15

0 M

)

Disabled Access

Provide Amenities and Signage on sidewalks3)

Hawkers ZonesHawkers Zones

Signage

Public Toilet

Shaded bus stopsHandicapped and blind

accessibility Handicapped and blind

accessibility

Bioswales

How many hours do you spend in traffic jams? Q.

"Smog is back with a vengeance... it's just getting unbearable… 1,000 new private vehicles being added to Delhi's roads every day” – BBC, Nov 2008

“What the completion of Metro Phase I has meant for Delhi:

Phase I covers 55.79 km, carries 5 lakh passengers daily, ensures 1,650 less buses on Delhi roads, cuts 1.5 million

commuter trips per day, saves 2 million man-hours per day, has reduced accidents and pollution levels by 30 percent,

while saving fuel worth Rs. 650 crore per year.”

– The Statesman, January 26, 2006

Social Goal 2:

Connectivity1) Provide high density mixed use developments (residential. office,

entertainment & civic uses) with 5-min walk of Metro Stations.

2) Make transferring between modes easy

3) Design streets for Pedestrians, not just cars.

3) Design Streets for Pedestrians & Transit users, NOT cars!

• It is not enough to put BRT on the street.

Wilshire Vermont Station, NY

• We need to design the public realm for the BRT user, and the pedestrians.

Source: John FregoneseSource: John Fregonese

Source: “All Systems Go!”, Austin, TX, USA

Must be safe, quick and easy to:• Access Train/ Bus Stations• Change from one mode to the other• Cross streets• Park bikes and ride the train/BRT• Rickshaws & vans to drop off at stations

2) Make Transfers between modes “safe and easy”

Transit NodeTransit Node

Express Express

Bus RouteBus Route

That is the reason for success of BRT in Curitiba

1) High Density near Stations - Maximum people should Maximum people should Live, Work & Play within 5Live, Work & Play within 5--min walk of min walk of RAPID TRANSITRAPID TRANSIT Stations.Stations.

1) High Density near Stations - Reduces Traffic, Provides Cleaner Air:

http://repositories.cdlib.org/cssd/opolis/vol2/iss1/art3/

Car Dependency & Transport CO2 Emissions decreasewith increasing Urban Density near Metro/BRT Stations

Curitiba

Delhi BRTDelhi BRT

“Transportation - Landuse Pyramid”of the BRT in Curitiba:

Delhi forgot to copy the Curitiba “Transportation - Landuse Pyramid”! leading to the current failure of its BRT model.


Delhi has Copied

Delhi has Not-Copied

DelhiDelhiDelhi

CuritibaCuritibaCuritiba


– Delhi is still unfortunately trying to solve traffic & congestion - by building ‘flyovers’; while there is a phenomenal rate of car ownership increase, and complete failure to capitalize on the Metro and tie it with a land use and growth strategy.

- Station areas are NOT JUST for Malls… but for creating civic spaces and ‘communities’…

Case Study - Sha Tin Station, Hong Kong:

Example:

Case Study: Sha Tin Station, Hong Kong


Sha Tin Station: Mall


Sha Tin Station: Restaurants, Cafes


Sha Tin Station: High Density Residential, Parks


Sha Tin Station: …. Snoopy World


Sha Tin Station: Town Hall, Plaza, Library

A complete Community destination

Do your kids play daily at a park within 5 minute walk from your home? Q.

Nizamuddin Dilshad Garden Nizamuddin Dilshad Garden

Neglected….Neglected…. Fenced off!!Fenced off!!

Delhi is the “greenest” India city with the least amount of “usable” public open spaces.

G.K.or Compromised…or Compromised…

Over-designed!Over-designed!

Social Goal 3:

Clean, Green and Usable

Open spaces play multiple functions:1) Safe ‘usable’ public spaces for young, old, rich & poor.

2) Working landscapes that capture, purify and treat storm water runoff.

Make existing Parks usable & safe!

Make Parks intimate and “watched” by surrounding buildings

LajpatLajpat Nagar Nagar

1)

Source: Mitali GangulySource: Mitali Ganguly

Bryant Park, New YorkBryant Park, New York

Make Parks – NOT JUST beautiful, but Usable too.1)


Parks should be usable by all age groups…

(...at a park in Beijing)(...at a park in Beijing)

kidskids……..

1)



youngyoung……

Parks should be usable by all age groups…1)



oldold……..

Parks should be usable by all age groups…1)


Public spaces should be usable by all income groups…

Carter Road Promenade, MumbaiCarter Road Promenade, Mumbai

1)


Utilize parks as “Working Landscapes”:

1: Treat at Source(streets, parks)

2: Natural Conveyance(minimal piping)

3: Natural Storm Water Treatment

•• Utilize Parks and Open Spaces for Utilize Parks and Open Spaces for Natural Storm Water Management.Natural Storm Water Management.

•• Adopt a 3Adopt a 3--Tier Approach:Tier Approach:

Delhi in Monsoons

•• Advantages:Advantages:- Reduced Flooding- Less pressure and reduced sizing for Municipal

Storm Water Treatment Plants.- PREVENT POLLUTING THE YAMUNA!!

2)

Source: Rowan Roderick JonesSource: Rowan Roderick Jones

• Parks can be usable green spaces throughout the year;• In monsoons, they transform into storm water swales or detention ponds…

Hammarby Sjöstad

Utilize parks as “Working Landscapes”:2)

Source: Tony ChanSource: Tony Chan

• Parks can be usable green spaces throughout the year;• In monsoons, they transform into storm water swales or detention ponds…

Utilize parks as “Working Landscapes”:2)

Source: Tony ChanSource: Tony Chan

So - DO NOT put parking under existing parks!!

Put parking over existing or new Retail…Prioritize Bikes & Scooters.

Parking under parks makes them dysfunctional as storm water catchments.

Source: Hindustan TimesSource: Hindustan Times

Does your maid or driver travel for an hour every day to get to work? Q.

“Can the poor ever be legal?”– Housing and Land Rights Network, Habitat International Coalition, 2002

• Delhi has failed to integrate the rich and poor symbiotically and ‘legally’ within the city.• Lack of Community Ownership between rich and poor.

• Failure to make the city’s historic precincts a part of the lives of its people.

Social Goal 4:

Civic Pride- Rich and poor have ‘equal access’ to transit and amenities.

- Poor and rich ‘coexist’ symbiotically – benefiting each other.

- All citizens feel pride and a sense of ownership for the city due to active involvement in its decision making process.

Remove slums, NOT slum dwellers!- Integrate rich and poor symbiotically, with

shared amenities, near Transit.

Prepare for 55% Urbanization by 2050.

Integrated Society

STOP Banishing the Poor; Integrate them into mixed-income communities

Remove ghettos:

• Amenities and Housing for Low-income people MUST be accommodated:

- NEAR Transit Facilities and Amenities.- NEAR mid to high income groups.

• Low-income groups can:– work in local offices, – provide household help for richer homes– work in community gardens producing local

food, etc. – also commute to other jobs easily.

Remove concentrations of poverty and wealth.

Successful Examples in the US:The Hope VI Community Redevelopment Projects:

(Made Law in US in 1993), redeveloped and converted blighted, high-crime, public housing “ghettos” all of the country into thriving mixed income, multi-use communities.Some recent findings (http://www.huduser.org/publications/pubasst/hope2.html):

– HOPE VI is helping residents move into the economic mainstream by stressing improved education, job training, and computer literacy.

– HOPE VI is dramatically reducing crime and violence in public housing. Overall crime rates in the communities studied have been reduced by up to 72%.

– HOPE VI is reducing the isolation of public housing residents.– HOPE VI is leveraging significant investments in community-wide improvements.

Example: Mandela Gateway Hope VI,Oakland, California

Mandela Gateway Mandela Gateway beforebefore RedevelopmentRedevelopment

After

Delhi today:Delhi today:

Remove ghettos:

Redevelop existing low-income ghettos as mixed- income communities

FAR bonuses for developments NEAR Public Transit Facilities –

to accommodate Affordable homes NEAR middle income communities.(Tax-Revenue strategy must be developed).

Via Verde, South Bronx, NY Jefferson at Chelsea Station, NY

Wilshire Vermont Station, NY

• Density bonuses to developers for provision of low-income Housing & public spaces near stations

Social Equality through Design:Provide equal access to Transit + Amenities to Rich & Poor

• Density bonuses to developers for providing common public parks and facilities.

Build homes for Poor next to stations, or on top of retail/ commercial uses – where Rich people would not live,

so Property prices can be controlled.

Create Integrated Public Spaces & Amenities

for rich and poor

Civic Pride

Public spaces should be usable by all income groups…

Carter Road Promenade, MumbaiCarter Road Promenade, Mumbai

Source: Flickr.com/ mybandra.comPublic Spaces must be common and accessible to all age and income groups... and NOT ticketed!! "Carter Road Promenade: developed by the Bandra West Residents Association (BWRA) - a common public space used by people of all age groups and income levels…."

Source: Flickr.com/ mybandra.comPublic Spaces must be common and accessible to all age and income groups... and NOT ticketed!!"Carter Road Promenade: developed by the Bandra West Residents Association (BWRA) - a common public space used by people of all age groups and income levels…."

From a Parking Lot in a Crime-ridden neighbourhood ...

Invest in low-income communities to upgrade and integrate them.

Case Study:Fruitvale Village @ BART station, Oakland…

Fruitvale BART Station,

Phase-1

Phase-2

International Boulevard


Source: Fruitvale Public MarketSource: Fruitvale Public Market

Fruitvale BART Station,

Phase-1

Phase-2



… to a New “Gateway & focal point for the Community.

Case Study:Fruitvale Village @ BART station, Oakland…


Source: Fruitvale Public MarketSource: Fruitvale Public Market

Case Study:Fruitvale Village @ BART station, OAK



Integrate Heritage & Cultural spaces into daily lives of people…

Civic Pride

Civic Pride: Integrate Heritage Precincts into daily lives, encourage private investment & internal tourism.

Successful Examples in CHINA:Redevelopment without Destruction!“Taikang Lu” – a bohemian Art District in Shanghai

ShahjahanabadShahjahanabad::

Developed through a Catalytic effect…Source: Tony ChanSource: Tony Chan


“Xintiandi” – a revitalized Entertainment District of Shanghai

ShahjahanabadShahjahanabad:: Successful Examples in CHINA:Redevelopment without Destruction!

Planned intervention…


“Hutongs of Beijing” – A Modern taste of Ancient Beijing

ShahjahanabadShahjahanabad:: Successful Examples in CHINA:Redevelopment without Destruction!


[email protected]

ChandniChandni ChowkChowk Metro StationMetro Station……ShahjahanabadShahjahanabad::

55

1010

Small move – BIG IMPACT

CC Station

Source: Google EarthSource: Google Earth

[email protected]

ChandniChandni ChowkChowk Metro StationMetro Station……As a As a ““PortalPortal”” to to ChandniChandni ChowkChowk



Station Exit 1Station Exit 1

2 min walk

Station Exit 2Station Exit 2

[email protected]

ShahjahanabadShahjahanabad:: ChandniChandni ChowkChowk Metro Station as a CatalystMetro Station as a Catalyst……

Pioneer Square, Portland


A public space as a “Gateway” to Chandni Chowk…

[email protected]


Pioneer Square, Portland

Small move – BIG IMPACTChandniChandni ChowkChowk Metro Station as a CatalystMetro Station as a Catalyst……

A public space as a “Gateway” to Chandni Chowk…

[email protected]

ShahjahanabadShahjahanabad:: ChandniChandni ChowkChowk Metro StationMetro Station……An Exhibition Space for the community… (work with local traders’ organizations to implement)

Millennium Park, Chicago


[email protected]

ShahjahanabadShahjahanabad:: ChandniChandni ChowkChowk Metro StationMetro Station……

With a “museum store” and information centre


Vision for a “World Class” Delhi

• Safe• Clean, Green & Usable

• Well Connected

• With Civic Pride

• Democratic & Transparent

Achieving a “World Class” Delhi through good Urban Design & Planning:Achieving a “World Class” Delhi through good Urban Design & Planning:

Do you want to help achieve this vision?

Do you have a similar vision that you are trying to achieve?

Do you want to join forces and work together to help create a great Delhi?help create a great Delhi?

please write to:

[email protected]

Lets work together for a common vision.

Thank you.

Note: Many un-sourced pictures in this presentation have been taken from various sources on the internet; but they are for demonstration purposes only.

vision for a world class delhi, jan2009

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