URBAN VOIDS
Reclaiming urban leftover spaces
Harishkumar.S M.Arch (UD), School of Planning and Architecture, UOM, Mysuru
UTILISATION of left over spaces- case of Bangalore
INTRODUCTION
Cities are designed with clear demarcation of various land use zones further dividing the city
into public and private spaces.This blurring of public and private realms, of cultural and
commercial zones, overturns the modern urban project with its desire to create distinct
mono functional territories. Such fragmentary productions rests on a peculiar echo of the
traditional strategy of urban beautification. It is therefore necessary to redefine how a city
might be made so its citizens are able to comprehend and be accommodated by the
environment in which they are expected to live.
Urban voids are undesirable urban areas that are in need of redesign, anti-space, making no
positive contribution to the surroundings or users. Urban voids are generally created below
flyovers and bridges where there is no specific uses attached to it (Azizul and Ashrafuzzaman2016).
Since there is no use attached to these spaces people tend to ignore this spaces and perceive
this space as dead, underused, unused space in the city. This urban voids are result of
inefficient decision making which has a great potential of creating a stronger urban fabric
within the city (Kushwah and Rathi-2016).
Hague (MAR 2016) studied void space characteristics of Kolkata and observed Contrasting
characteristic with distinctiveness in the space utilisation below and around it and he
concluded that, few small interventions and provision of amenities in this patch of land can
transform the space positively.
Neelam kushwah et.al (SEP 2016) studied Urban voids-Reclaiming urban spaces in the city of
Mumbai by Strategical regenerate and study the type of voids and proper alternative ways to
reclaim urban voids and Concluded that, urban voids have huge potential of improving the
place and creating strategic urban fabric.
Jasim Azhar et.al (DEC 2016) studied Rethinking role of urban in-between spaces to make
better use of existing space between buildings and other land use and concluded that,
positive use of negative spaces in-between the city and generate activities can also help in
revenue generating.
Azizal Moula et.al (SEP 2014) studied the Left space to urban space-Elephant road, Dhaka by
observing, measuring and determining public concentration zones and reasons behind
those and find the surrounding land use data to establish a natural linkage through
field survey and concluded that, the artery maintains one of the major circulation of the
city and has the potential to be an example for the rest of the city places if proper
urbanisation tools are implemented.
Not many studies are done on urban voids-leftover spaces of Bangalore and how
rejuvenating they could provide a huge potential for entertainment and economy generation.
Identifying and analysing the potential of the left over un-used spaces below the flyovers or
bridges in the case of Bangalore major flyovers will provide enough justification to turn in to
an active public space.
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UTILISATION of left over spaces- case of Bangalore
STUDY AREA:
For the study purpose Domlur flyover has been selected which is located at the heart of the
city and is constructed to reduce traffic congestion moving towards old airport road,
Indranagar and inner ring road.
Bangalore city map
Bangalore
Location: 12°59′N 77°35′E
Climate: 36℃, Wind: SW at 2km/hr
HUM 40%
Area
Megacity
Metro
Elevation
Network
709 km2 (274 Sq mi)
8,005 km2 (3,091 Sq mi)
920 m (3,020 ft)
Population (2017)
Megacity
12,339,447
Density
17,000/km2 (45,000/Sq mi)
Urban
10,456,000
DOMLUR FLYOVER
Domlur flyover is a grade separator situated at a junction of two busy roads, HAL Airport
road and 100ft Road.
The construction started at 2004 and the flyover opened to the traffic in 2007. This overpass
is in between two wards of BBMP- Indranagar and Domlur.
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UTILISATION of left over spaces- case of Bangalore
OBJECTIVE:
The primary intention of this study is to find out existing left over spaces at urban scale for
the proposed study area. Observing the naturally occurring public concentration zones and
then gather enough data through site visits, interview and questionnaire, after mapping an
active land use and behavioural information map this study will try to identify potential lost
spaces and evaluate the problem areas for possible interventions.
METHODOLOGY:
The study will fellow simple methodology in observing, measuring and determining public
concentration zones and reasons behind those and find the surrounding land use data to
establish a natural linkage through field survey, with questionnaire survey the study will
acquire certain data regarding the users purpose and frequency of visit, typology and
volume of group in categories like age limit, mode of travelling, sense of place and
performance and with recent urban design guidelines this study will try to offer some
possible interventions at selected spaces.
FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS:
An urban void is created mainly due to three factors-Planning void, Functional void and
geographical void. These factors that create an urban void can also become the basis for
classification of these urban voids, urban voids present new opportunities for developing
ambiguous and dynamic relationships.
At present condition the area having the major roads crossing across this junction, the land
use pattern has a mixed use of residential, commercial and office spaces and the space below
the Domlur flyover is left unused and BBMP park next to it and a major drain (Raja Kaluve)
runs next the park and below the flyover, this creates the boundary to the below left over
space.
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UTILISATION of left over spaces- case of Bangalore
RESULTS AND POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONS:
From the study and research on these areas one specific location was examined to propose
some possible action and development plan to revive urban harmony and create better city
environment. The Domlur flyover was investigated and minimal alteration to existing fabric.
With proper planning the following betterment of urban environment is feasible.
Red marked intervention spaces could be developed as plaza or squares, shades and natural
canopies, vegetation, landscaped park with pedestrian friendly paths, open air theatre,
amphitheatre and rethinking of fuelling stations and reuse.
CONCLUTION:
The urbanization at leftover space below the Domlur flyover and adjacent area, since there is
no use attached to these spaces people tend to ignore this spaces and perceive this space as
dead, underused, unused space in the city, above mentioned interventions could change the
entire scenario of urban form and fabric of that space and create a liveable urban
environment around the space and this spaces has a potential to be an example for the rest
of the city leftover spaces if proper urbanization tools are implemented.
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UTILISATION of left over spaces- case of Bangalore
References:
Marilyn. “Decision making in Allocating Metropolitan Open Spaces: State of the Art.” Transactions of the Kansas
Academy of Science 1975. Pp 149-153.
Taylor, Nigel-2007. Urban Planning Theory since 1945, London, Sage.
Rob Krier- Urban Space, 1979.
Azizul Mowla and Ashrafuzzaman. “Lost Spaces to Urban Space” critical analysis for identifying and generate
reuse possibilities of leftover spaces around Elephant road, Dhaka-Sep 2014.
Kushwah- Urban voids- Reclaiming Urban Space, 2017.
Jasim Azhar. “Re-thinking the role of Urban In-between Spaces”, Dec 2016.
Dipti Shukla. “Flyover” infrastructural barrier or a potential opportunity for knitting the city fabric, Sep 2016.
Nazia Roushan. “In The Shadow” A Study for Utilization of Space Under flyovers in Dhaka.
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http://bangaloremirrior.imdiatimes.com/bangalore/civic/in-indranagar-the-devil-is-in-the-retail/articleshow/58351372.cms
http://wwwbritannica.com/EBchecked/topic/619432/urban-culture
http://www.google.com/timesofindia
http://www.googlemaps.com
http://pwd.gov.in
http://bbmp.gov.in
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UTILISATION of left over spaces- case of Bangalore