study of open spaces

8/14/2019 study of open spaces

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/study-of-open-spaces 1/15

STUDY OF OPEN SPACESAT URBAN LEVEL &

ITS RELATED DESIGN CONSIDERATION

--- atul soni



WHAT IS OPEN SPACES? The widest meaning of the open spaces in residential areas is probably asthe “ unbuilt volume of space within a given volume.”

FUNCTIONS OF OPEN SPACES

The functions of open spaces in residential areas can be usefully groupedinto three categories.#utilitarian functions : These include environmental aspects like light &ventilation inside the built spaces, the provision of access to use area andthe passive functions like parking, storage etc.#social functions : These include social interaction, recreation etc.#perceptual functions : These include aspects like aesthetic satisfaction,creating a distinct identity of a given residential areas, etc.



** CHOICE OF CASE-STUDIES **

• Ahmedabad is an important metropolitan centre in western India. It is dividedin three distinct zone.

1.central zone 2.eastern zone 3.western zone.• The central zone comprises of the old city. having a personal report, with theplaces I selected old city of Ahmedabad for selection of case-studies.• Residential areas in this part are the traditional neighborhood locally known as“poles”.• Each pole has a well-defined boundary and an entrance gate. The houses are

clustered around looped or dead-end streets and sub-streets. The land is usedintensely with almost all plots fully covered without any margins. The housesare oriented towards internal private courtyard. The built form generates mostlypositive open spaces.• In this research I focused on “scale of spaces” and “levels of interaction”. withdifferent scale and location of open spaces, the definition of that open spacewill differ.• The architecture of Indian cities has an inward nature of place making becauseof that it presents an interwoven pattern of enclosed and open spaces.



* EVALUATION OF OPEN SPACES IN OLD CITY OF AHMEDABAD • Any evaluation of open spaces involves a consideration of the basic

objectives which ultimately are related to the functions.• A planner or designer through his experience can generate many kind of

open spaces. But the success of this kind of open spaces may be tosatisfy the above functions.

• The second important aspect is the minimization of use of land &finances.

* CRITERIA OF STUDY

To study how different kinds of open to sky spaces are made. So as tounderstand how the characteristics of formality, degree of public ness& definition affect articulation of such places.

• CASE STUDIES The case studies are selected on the basis of their definitions.

The cases are identified in following manner.• Chowk – private space.• Otla – private space. • Khadki – private type of interaction at urban level.• Choktha – semi-public type of interaction at urban level.• Chakla – public interaction at urban level.

• Street bazaar – public interaction at urban level.• Temple – religious institute.



* CHOWK

• This is the central open to sky

space.• It is the main characteristic withinthe house of rich family.

• All the other functional spaces like‘rasodu’, ‘paniyaru’, ‘pooja’ etc.are built around it, so all theactivities take place around it.

• The ‘tanka’ was usually locatedbelow the floor level of chowk.• It is becoming the main space for

the social gathering.• It is served as light well &

ventilation shaft.• Next to chowk, there is semi open

passage around the chowk,known as ‘osri’. It becomes thetransition space between thechowk & the built space.

ordo pursalchowk

osriordo

otlo



OTLA

• It is the front most spatial element of houseformed in a form of raised platform (plinth).

• It is the principle entry of ground floor from thepublic street.

• The level difference demarcates the boundaryand also helps in attaining privacy.

• the otla is used mainly for sitting & doinginteraction with neighbors.

• Otla has a colonnade, supporting upper floorextending outwards which provides shade & rainprotection.

• It provides a transitional space between publicspace & private house.



• KHADKI • The second band next to ‘otla’ is called‘khadki’.

• It is the semi public space.

• This place is in the inner part of a subordinatestreet. A narrow approach from street leads tothe typical entrance gate of this place.

• Organization of this place consists of squarishcourtyard space in the middle, & on the twosides the dwelling units faces each other. Oneside is the entrance gate & the other side is the

buildings of shorter span used for storage &stairs.

• Sunlight never enters in this space due to theheight of the dwelling units which is more thanthe width of the central open space called‘khadki’, so in summer this place is used for

sleeping.• This space is used for parking. Separate washarea called ‘chokdi’ & ‘tanka’ for every dwellingunit are provided in this space. so interactionbetween neighbors is much more in this space.

Parking inkhadki

Wash areain khadki

Plan of khadki

Entrance gate of khadki



* CHOKTHA

• Courtyard space at the junction of street is called ‘choktha’.

• This place highlights semi-publictype of interaction at urban level.

• This place is at the meeting pointof three subordinate streets,connecting main streets.

• Here also daily activities likeparking, washing clothes, etc.take place on the side &occasional activities take place inthe centre.

• Commercial activities take placein the approach from main street.

• The typical structure called‘chabutaro’ placed in the centreof the ‘choktha’ is a focal point.

shops

choktha

Dwelling units

Dwelling units

Dwelling units



• CHAKLA

• This place highlights public typeof interaction at urban level.

• This place is at the junction of three main streets.

• Mainly commercial activities likeprovisional shop, barber shop, pan

shop, cosmetic shop, etc. arepresent on periphery.• Retail trading by hawkers [mainly

fruits & vegetables] takes place inthe centre.

• Constant movement of peoplegives higher public ness to this

place.• Public services like public toilets &

public telephones are alsoprovided in this area.

chakla

shops

shops

shops

Public toilet



* TEMPLE• This building is identified as institutionalbuilding for religious purpose.

• This courtyard space is between twosubordinate streets.

• Here also the courtyard space is in the centre. The two entrances of the temple are placed onthe either side of this courtyard. The maintemple, the servant activities, dwellings for thisservants etc. are situated around this openspace.

• Benches are provided for sitting.

• Inside the main temple the open spaces arealso provided. This space is used for storage.At the time of big functions this space is usedas gathering space.

• The chowk is also provided in the centre of the temple. The statue of God is placed in thischowk. People are standing in the chowk fordarshan.

• Dwelling units of pujaries are situated aroundthis chowk.



* STREET BAZAAR• when the commercial activities done on mainstreet, the main street is called street bazaar..

• This place highlights public type of interaction at

urban level.• The trade activities [mainly fruit & vegetablehawkers] are also done in street bazaar. Because of that the space becomes over burdened.

• This space connects every small open spaces.

• Most of the main entrances of poles opens on thismain street.

Dwelling units

shops

Street bazaar

Dwelling units

shops



* DESIGN SUGGESTIONS

• We have elaborately analyzed the existing open spaces in the polestructure of Ahmedabad. Now the main task is to extend this idea morefruitfully to the city area.

• Let us discuss some of the more fruitful positive suggestions in this regard.• This can be categorized as

1. Inclusion of neighborhood interaction.-- Because it is the general tendency of all human beings to lie

friendly with neighbors & to share their interests.

2. connection of between different levels of open spaces such as private tosemi private to semi public to public.

3. Grating more green spaces around the dwelling units.-- we know the manifold importance of the green space which is

very much necessary in this era of urbanization to list some of them, reduce pollution, clean environment, healthy atmosphere& so on.

4. central open court should be provided into the luxurious bungalowswhile semi private spaces should be provided in the center of high risebuildings.



• Now I would like to present my own design with a constructivefaithful suggestions.

• The city area can be broadly divided into three major zoneS 1.High rise building blocks.2. central public utilization space.3. Individual dwelling units.



• The central zone of the city is devoted to the public utilization space sothat it can be accessed by both the residential zones.

• This central zone, on one side comprises of most essential public facilitieslike hospital, schools, colleges etc.

• While the other opposite side includes recreation units such as theatre,garden cum shopping mall, trade bazaar, etc.

• And the central area of the central zone includes amphitheatre, sportsground & garden.

• In the high rise buildings the semi privatespace can be used for making centers of interaction & vertical shaft for ventilation.where as in the individual dwelling units thecentral open court can be provided to serve

this facility.

• In the high rise building zone & in the individual dwelling unit zone semipublic space included in the centre of the zone which comprises of clubhouse, swimming pool & small garden.



• The periphery of the city is covered with the green belt. It not only makesthe area beautiful but it is advantageous from many point of view as

discussed earlier.

• Lastly I would like to emphasize that there is very good connectivitybetween different open spaces which can be channelized as private orsemi private to semi public to public space same as in the pole structure of Ahmedabad.

study of open spaces

Documents