Urban placemaking as an interventional planning and design tool, has immense potentials for Transforming Small Towns and Mid-Sized Cities of JKUT. Though the concept of placemaking introduced in 1960s was initially adopted and widely used in the field of sports management and the sports industry. However, with passage of time, it has attained greater acceptability/applicability and has made significant inroads in urban real estate development, urban renewal, urban regeneration and other areas of urban development. Likewise, it holds great promise as a planning mechanism and tool, as it is being used to reclaim, reinvigorate and activate spaces in urban areas at various levels.
Placemaking deals with judicious and enriched physical disposition of urban places to maximize its utility, viability, aesthetics, and functionality by fulfilling the aspiration of the people. It is a multidisciplinary and multi-faceted planning and design action, for redefining and reinventing the public places for sustainable development and welfare of urban community in relation to its surrounding and functional environment. It involves a comprehensive approach to reshape urban morphology and urban fabric, in part or in full. Unlike the earlier interventions of redevelopment, correction planning, urban improvement and other planning schemes which did not yield much of the desired benefits and failed to create an identity, change the image of the city by making it inviting and happening. It is an ongoing and a continual process. It can be either impulsive in nature, driven by the will of the political motivation or can be compulsive in nature, involving the citizens at grass root level. Placemaking can be useful from small to a mega project, involving simple to more complex elements for placemaking to enhance the utility.
Best Practice in Srinagar City
Till date a number of urban improvement and redevelopment projects have been implemented in the Srinagar which include Core area redevelopment project, redevelopment of Dargah- Lal Chowk road, improvements in Ali Jan road, development of Doodh Ganga from Solina to Chattabal, and many more. These projects have only been able to alleviate some of the local and city level issues but have not lend it a much needed harmony and effective functioning. As such city has continued to remain as a sprawled improvisation of unplanned legacy, confronted with multitude of burning urban issue affecting quality of life and its sustainability.
Smart City Project under implementation in Lal Chowk area is though a part of the Smart City Mission Scheme of the Srinagar city but is basically a project of urban placemaking by its very domain of activities. It has all ingredients to be a largescale placemaking project. It involves improvement in green parks, playfields, stadia, paths, streets, transportation issues, rehabilitation of informal sector shopping’s and kiosks, improvement in business earnings, wherein Streets would form the stage for activity of everyday business life in this part of the city with potential to bestow a high-quality identity to the place. Efficient placemaking along the two major corridors and their interconnection are likely improve functionality by encouraging reduction in distance, improved urban design outlook of the streets and livability by demonstrating a sense of interconnectedness, sense of place, visibility, variety of transportation options, meaningful interactions between travelers /visitors and business community. Creation of paths, cycle tracks along the river Jhelum is likely to make it adorable and endearing with evergreen avenue plantation, element of attraction and green slopes would ensure an eye catching landscape alongside of the river as well as the bund street in the south. The project was expected to be accomplished in the month May, work is still going on on a number of components. Its completion would be worthwhile to experiences, observe and evaluate whether the outcomes do commensurate targeted and visualized goals of grounding ideas in a realistic setting. Overall, it has to be accepted that a modest beginning has been made in reinventing the urban landscape and urban fabric of Lal Chowk which shall set in a process of urban transformation and growth momentum for which a galaxy of small and urban centers of the valley would be potential respectales.
Placemaking Needs Greater Penetration
Srinagar being inorganically evolved historical city is formless, presenting a chaotic and unplanned outlook. Despite having third generation Master Plan in operation Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Development Authority and other institutions are simply promoting spontaneous growth in all direction of the city. At present city is almost spread over an area of about 300 sq. kms. except few spot of intervention, city is holistically build in unplanned manner which resultantly has generated a cross section urban issues wearing out both the citizen and urban administration at large. Srinagar city which as per Master Plan 2035 has an area of 735 sq.kms warrants urban renewal, regeneration and gentrification for urban transformation at comprehensive scale to change it from a formless to a better shaped city. All the nodal point where people and transport converges and busy activity nodes/centers need to be taken up under such projects for rectifying the disorders in urban design and development.
Intervention in Small and Medium Towns
Apart from two main cities of Srinagar and Jammu which dominate the urban scene of the JK UT, there are a number of small and medium towns and mid- sized cities. All of these have either rural origin or are of special category urban centers. Most of these are still in formative stages of urbanism and despite being towns, have retained indelible rural characteristic and present a testimony of rurban urban centers. All of these are growing and developing without any concerted planning effort to regulate the growth and development. Baring few towns /cities which either have approved or draft mater plans, more than 90 percent of small urban centers are yet to see planned intervention in any form i.e. master plans/development plans or inclusion in any scheme for comprehensive development. The form and the urban fabric of these towns and cities is a manifestation of unplanned and unintended growth, lacking proper design with widespread disordered, messy and chaotic mushrooming urban development intruding into other wise rich, serene and ecologically fragile countryside. This is primarily due to the reason that urban growth has been predominantly been unregulated and spontaneous in nature, with more less freedom to build wherever wished and intended by the individuals.
These urban center seem to have inbred the legacy of unplanned growth from their mother city. The scenario of urbanization in Jammu is no different in any aspect. In both the regions small and medium town and mid-sized cities are beset with a lot critical urban issues ranging from traffic and transportation, poor infrastructure and services, lack of sanitation, improper solid waste management, mushrooming informal sector, conversion agricultural land into urban uses, weak human capacity, high levels of unemployment and extremely weak local economies and many more.
Overall urban form and design of these towns/cities is a vivid example and testimony of absolute neglect towards their development and lack of realization about the role these can play in bring economic transformation and managing the influx of rural population oriented towards the Srinagar/Jammu cities. Their development can act as a catalyst in reducing rural poverty of the hinterland. Their development holds key in many ways for sustainable development in the JKUT and are capable of changing complex process urban transition which is skewed presently in favor of metro cities. Interestingly, these towns and cities being urban entities since long are starved of adequate investment to improve the condition of the physical conditions and infrastructure. As such government need to identify important mid-sized cities and medium towns for development under urban placemaking on similar pattern as have been taken up Srinagar and Jammu cities. In the first instance Sopore , Anantnag and Baramuala in Kashmir valley and Udhampur, Doda and Kathua in Jammu region, as vibrant townships to stimulate and streamline urban development warrant immediate focus. These cities and towns have to be taken up for complete make over so that these act as growth centers for economic growth momentum for the hinterland and generate a trigger effect to boost economic development. Subsequently, district headquarter towns and tourist towns have to be transformed by placemaking to reshape and reinvent their urban design and infuse and stimulate much needed impetus to act as vibrant service centers to tourism industry and to rural hinterland. This will enable to achieve balanced development and reach the benefits of economic growth all areas in both regions which otherwise will remain as a sprawling issue arising out of increasing agglomeration and concentration in two principal cities with all its manifestations through social, economic and environmental problems of grave nature. To achieve it, all small towns and mid-sized cities need intervention in the form of:
By strengthening the connectivity and reimagining converging corridors which either form district roads, key tehsil roads or roads connecting to tourist place of importance. These shall be taken up along with correction in road geometry and intersection to improve the image and efficiency of travel with appropriate placemaking of spaces.
Establishing of wayfinding signage’s to enable to explore and travel through aesthetical hinterland of towns/mid-sized cities.
Preserve the rich cultural and natural heritage as main attraction to reinforce distinctiveness of each urban center.
To create elements of natural attraction along with facade improvement, improve infrastructure, greenspaces, organized market places to instill in each town a sense of place and identity.
Ensure upgraded visibility and safety of pedestrian alleys through reshaping of streetscapes to be more welcoming to cyclists, bikers and pedestrians.
Whole process of placemaking in these urban centers has to be focused to give a fillip to the economic development of rural- urban communities living in the hinterland and build a stronger Jammu and Kashmir through preservation based regional economic development.
Bottom-line
Placemaking as a process has primarily to focus on creating places and emphasizing on transformation of public spaces with strong connections between people and these places. Signifying that in the process of reinventing small towns and mid-sized cities, placemaking has purely to be aligned to people and their needs, aspirations, requirements, and visions with greater reliance on community and stakeholder participation. As the spaces are to be reinvented to imbue a sense of place for people, it obligates that people should feel a connection to the space and satisfies their needs. Thus, in the whole process a people-centered approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces has to be adopted rather than a top down approach.
Email:------------------hamwani24@gmail.com
Urban placemaking as an interventional planning and design tool, has immense potentials for Transforming Small Towns and Mid-Sized Cities of JKUT. Though the concept of placemaking introduced in 1960s was initially adopted and widely used in the field of sports management and the sports industry. However, with passage of time, it has attained greater acceptability/applicability and has made significant inroads in urban real estate development, urban renewal, urban regeneration and other areas of urban development. Likewise, it holds great promise as a planning mechanism and tool, as it is being used to reclaim, reinvigorate and activate spaces in urban areas at various levels.
Placemaking deals with judicious and enriched physical disposition of urban places to maximize its utility, viability, aesthetics, and functionality by fulfilling the aspiration of the people. It is a multidisciplinary and multi-faceted planning and design action, for redefining and reinventing the public places for sustainable development and welfare of urban community in relation to its surrounding and functional environment. It involves a comprehensive approach to reshape urban morphology and urban fabric, in part or in full. Unlike the earlier interventions of redevelopment, correction planning, urban improvement and other planning schemes which did not yield much of the desired benefits and failed to create an identity, change the image of the city by making it inviting and happening. It is an ongoing and a continual process. It can be either impulsive in nature, driven by the will of the political motivation or can be compulsive in nature, involving the citizens at grass root level. Placemaking can be useful from small to a mega project, involving simple to more complex elements for placemaking to enhance the utility.
Best Practice in Srinagar City
Till date a number of urban improvement and redevelopment projects have been implemented in the Srinagar which include Core area redevelopment project, redevelopment of Dargah- Lal Chowk road, improvements in Ali Jan road, development of Doodh Ganga from Solina to Chattabal, and many more. These projects have only been able to alleviate some of the local and city level issues but have not lend it a much needed harmony and effective functioning. As such city has continued to remain as a sprawled improvisation of unplanned legacy, confronted with multitude of burning urban issue affecting quality of life and its sustainability.
Smart City Project under implementation in Lal Chowk area is though a part of the Smart City Mission Scheme of the Srinagar city but is basically a project of urban placemaking by its very domain of activities. It has all ingredients to be a largescale placemaking project. It involves improvement in green parks, playfields, stadia, paths, streets, transportation issues, rehabilitation of informal sector shopping’s and kiosks, improvement in business earnings, wherein Streets would form the stage for activity of everyday business life in this part of the city with potential to bestow a high-quality identity to the place. Efficient placemaking along the two major corridors and their interconnection are likely improve functionality by encouraging reduction in distance, improved urban design outlook of the streets and livability by demonstrating a sense of interconnectedness, sense of place, visibility, variety of transportation options, meaningful interactions between travelers /visitors and business community. Creation of paths, cycle tracks along the river Jhelum is likely to make it adorable and endearing with evergreen avenue plantation, element of attraction and green slopes would ensure an eye catching landscape alongside of the river as well as the bund street in the south. The project was expected to be accomplished in the month May, work is still going on on a number of components. Its completion would be worthwhile to experiences, observe and evaluate whether the outcomes do commensurate targeted and visualized goals of grounding ideas in a realistic setting. Overall, it has to be accepted that a modest beginning has been made in reinventing the urban landscape and urban fabric of Lal Chowk which shall set in a process of urban transformation and growth momentum for which a galaxy of small and urban centers of the valley would be potential respectales.
Placemaking Needs Greater Penetration
Srinagar being inorganically evolved historical city is formless, presenting a chaotic and unplanned outlook. Despite having third generation Master Plan in operation Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Development Authority and other institutions are simply promoting spontaneous growth in all direction of the city. At present city is almost spread over an area of about 300 sq. kms. except few spot of intervention, city is holistically build in unplanned manner which resultantly has generated a cross section urban issues wearing out both the citizen and urban administration at large. Srinagar city which as per Master Plan 2035 has an area of 735 sq.kms warrants urban renewal, regeneration and gentrification for urban transformation at comprehensive scale to change it from a formless to a better shaped city. All the nodal point where people and transport converges and busy activity nodes/centers need to be taken up under such projects for rectifying the disorders in urban design and development.
Intervention in Small and Medium Towns
Apart from two main cities of Srinagar and Jammu which dominate the urban scene of the JK UT, there are a number of small and medium towns and mid- sized cities. All of these have either rural origin or are of special category urban centers. Most of these are still in formative stages of urbanism and despite being towns, have retained indelible rural characteristic and present a testimony of rurban urban centers. All of these are growing and developing without any concerted planning effort to regulate the growth and development. Baring few towns /cities which either have approved or draft mater plans, more than 90 percent of small urban centers are yet to see planned intervention in any form i.e. master plans/development plans or inclusion in any scheme for comprehensive development. The form and the urban fabric of these towns and cities is a manifestation of unplanned and unintended growth, lacking proper design with widespread disordered, messy and chaotic mushrooming urban development intruding into other wise rich, serene and ecologically fragile countryside. This is primarily due to the reason that urban growth has been predominantly been unregulated and spontaneous in nature, with more less freedom to build wherever wished and intended by the individuals.
These urban center seem to have inbred the legacy of unplanned growth from their mother city. The scenario of urbanization in Jammu is no different in any aspect. In both the regions small and medium town and mid-sized cities are beset with a lot critical urban issues ranging from traffic and transportation, poor infrastructure and services, lack of sanitation, improper solid waste management, mushrooming informal sector, conversion agricultural land into urban uses, weak human capacity, high levels of unemployment and extremely weak local economies and many more.
Overall urban form and design of these towns/cities is a vivid example and testimony of absolute neglect towards their development and lack of realization about the role these can play in bring economic transformation and managing the influx of rural population oriented towards the Srinagar/Jammu cities. Their development can act as a catalyst in reducing rural poverty of the hinterland. Their development holds key in many ways for sustainable development in the JKUT and are capable of changing complex process urban transition which is skewed presently in favor of metro cities. Interestingly, these towns and cities being urban entities since long are starved of adequate investment to improve the condition of the physical conditions and infrastructure. As such government need to identify important mid-sized cities and medium towns for development under urban placemaking on similar pattern as have been taken up Srinagar and Jammu cities. In the first instance Sopore , Anantnag and Baramuala in Kashmir valley and Udhampur, Doda and Kathua in Jammu region, as vibrant townships to stimulate and streamline urban development warrant immediate focus. These cities and towns have to be taken up for complete make over so that these act as growth centers for economic growth momentum for the hinterland and generate a trigger effect to boost economic development. Subsequently, district headquarter towns and tourist towns have to be transformed by placemaking to reshape and reinvent their urban design and infuse and stimulate much needed impetus to act as vibrant service centers to tourism industry and to rural hinterland. This will enable to achieve balanced development and reach the benefits of economic growth all areas in both regions which otherwise will remain as a sprawling issue arising out of increasing agglomeration and concentration in two principal cities with all its manifestations through social, economic and environmental problems of grave nature. To achieve it, all small towns and mid-sized cities need intervention in the form of:
By strengthening the connectivity and reimagining converging corridors which either form district roads, key tehsil roads or roads connecting to tourist place of importance. These shall be taken up along with correction in road geometry and intersection to improve the image and efficiency of travel with appropriate placemaking of spaces.
Establishing of wayfinding signage’s to enable to explore and travel through aesthetical hinterland of towns/mid-sized cities.
Preserve the rich cultural and natural heritage as main attraction to reinforce distinctiveness of each urban center.
To create elements of natural attraction along with facade improvement, improve infrastructure, greenspaces, organized market places to instill in each town a sense of place and identity.
Ensure upgraded visibility and safety of pedestrian alleys through reshaping of streetscapes to be more welcoming to cyclists, bikers and pedestrians.
Whole process of placemaking in these urban centers has to be focused to give a fillip to the economic development of rural- urban communities living in the hinterland and build a stronger Jammu and Kashmir through preservation based regional economic development.
Bottom-line
Placemaking as a process has primarily to focus on creating places and emphasizing on transformation of public spaces with strong connections between people and these places. Signifying that in the process of reinventing small towns and mid-sized cities, placemaking has purely to be aligned to people and their needs, aspirations, requirements, and visions with greater reliance on community and stakeholder participation. As the spaces are to be reinvented to imbue a sense of place for people, it obligates that people should feel a connection to the space and satisfies their needs. Thus, in the whole process a people-centered approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces has to be adopted rather than a top down approach.
Email:------------------hamwani24@gmail.com
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