Structuring a Citys growth using Inland waterways Kochi A Synopsis

26 April 2012

Shyne U , UD 559, Dept. of Urban Design School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi

Hypothesis Historically cities development was guided by various natural features and was dependent on them for various aspects of environmental and functional needs. Thus usually the structure of the settlement was also influenced by the structure of this inherent natural feature. But as the city evolved from the pre modern settlement to the contemporary auto dependent conurbation, this traditional structure got disconnected from it. In this era of easing boundaries of global capital, profitability & market pressure is becoming decisive in structuring Indian cities through multimillion investments, public private partnerships etc. With this thrust of external factors the cities structure is changing and evolving rapidly, but mostly without context to the inherent structure and social conditions. Natural geographical features which had traditional connections with the locality if adapted to the aspirations and requirements of the present may prove to be the integral elements which can coexist in both global & local scenarios. In its own way, water combines universality and specificity, global and local. It perfectly aligns with glocalism, the new password of correctness. (Bruno De Meulder & Kelly Shannon, Water and the City: The Great Stink and Clean Urbanism) Concerns The layers of human intervention and their relation to the natural systems were evident till the starting of the recent rapid urbanization. But geographical elements are getting more and more disconnected from the settlement due to various factors and are being turned into backyards of our cities. In the city of Kochi, the economic hub of the state of Kerala, the Inland waterways is such a geographical element which is under such a threat and conjoint with a no: of discussions regarding degradation of ecological systems, loss of opportunities in terms of potential for visual, physical and social integration etc. Issues Disconnect between the natural systems and our cities and neglect of their presence in the evolution of the city- its structure and form. Directionless growth of the city and subsequent fragmentation due to growth driven projects and the evolution of city structure in relation to them. Environmental concerns regarding these neglected natural systems. Loss of opportunities in using the inherent natural features in order to integrate the city physically, visually and socially.

Aim of the Thesis The main aim of the thesis shall be to generate an urban design approach to integrate the inland waterways with the evolving city structure and thus contextualize the citys growth direction. Objectives To understand the role of inland waterways in the evolution of the citys structure and form. To understand the manifestations of the global developments in terms of the transformations it brings about in their precincts and the city as a whole. To evolve an urban design framework in order to intervene in such precincts in order to unlock the potential of inland waterways in restructuring the city and bridging the new developments with the existing. To try and apply the evolved framework on a real ground situation where the components of global development projects and inland waterways are simultaneously present. Scope and Limitation The thesis aims to test the hypothesis on a city which has evolved its structure under the influence of inland waterways. Inland waterways usually consist of rivers, backwater extensions, tidal canals etc and as the name depict form part of a path of movement through the city. Even though the inland waterways may extend over a large area of the city, the demonstration shall be limited to a specific inland waterway and its overlap with the new investment projects at specific contexts.

Theoretical Framework Ecology in the city vs Ecology of the city The Importance to recognize the environment as a national capital which needs to be kept constant has led to
the emphasis on the interdisciplinary view of ecology rather than the traditional one.

Both Economy and Ecology deals with flows and allocation of resources. But economic models often represent the economy as essentially separable from and independent of the environment. Ecological perspective of human economy as an integrated, completely contained and wholly dependent subset of ecosphere is a more wholesome approach . (William E. Rees,1992) We cannot regulate our interaction with any aspect of reality that our model of reality does not include because we cannot by definition be conscious of it. (Beer.S, 1981)

Globalization in Indian cities The city is becoming less the result of design and more the expression of economic & social forces. This amorphous city appears abstract, disordered, confused and illogical. It is within these present difficulties that a space has opened up in the city, which allows expression of hope for urban vitality. The urban waterfront provides us with that space. (Richard Marshall,1971). According to Manuel Castells the global-local dialectic involves space of flows vs space of places (Theory of Resistance). Or according to David Harveys Theory of Global Domination the struggle is between Capital & Community. But this binary situation in which viewing the local as an entity outside the globalization process, may not be the true situation. Even if there can be global or local cores within the city where the other is excluded, most of the other areas falls in between, where both worlds coexist. In this era of neoliberalization, may be majority of our city spaces shall fall into this hybridism. But these spaces need to be cohesively bonded through systems of common interest in order to make up a coherent urban structure. Whether markets are part of the problem or part of the solution depends on the contested political processes through which social actors construct and transform them.(cf. Fligstein 1996). Ecological Interface Though urban lives are lived to an abstract notion of time and space, personal lives and acts establish connections to nature through practices and celebrations and create intermediate ecologies. (Shiv Viswanathan, Intermediate ecologies). The inland waterways form definite edges within the citys fabric and sometimes between areas of different characteristics. Traditionally the waterways and their components used to play an important part in generating the public realm, creating visual linkages and had religious and social significance. Physical, visual and functional integration of this ecological interface connected between the natural and manmade systems. The natural processes happening along the interface was a rational response to a social value system. In todays citys congestion the network of waterways also provide us with the opportunity of open space network within the city. Regions indigenous traditions+New water front economies & ecologies results in resilient Water Urbanism. (Urbanism Fascicles OSA, Water Urbanisms)

Methodology

Case Studies Case study 1: Amsterdam - Venice of the North As a traditional hydraulic settlement, Amsterdam was studied to understand the relationship between the evolution of the settlement and the canal system, its built form relationship etc. Recent commercial development of Ij Overs in Amsterdam was analyzed to understand the nature of new waterfront developments coming up in such traditionally water oriented cities and their trajectories of development. Case study 2: Marine Drive, Kochi As a case study from the same city as of demonstration, the potential of such waterfront developments in the city shall be better understood through it. Also the importance of the area as the most sought after recreation zone in the city shall help to analyse the nature of the city specific successful public realm.

Case study 3: Hangzhou, Shanghai With many similar issues as faced by Kochi, the case study of Hangzhou provides a case example with definite solutions of water oriented ecological infrastructure. Also the hierarchical approach to deal with water systems is dealt with in the study. Case Study 4: Can tho, Vietnam The case study emphasizes the use of inherent natural structure to channelize urbanization and introduce the concept of eco feeder as a decentralized and scenario based approach to eco city planning.

Site Description Kochi, once an important port town, over time has evolved as the commercial hub of Kerala. The settlement also has gradually grown from the coastal stretch towards east, bringing along the gradual expansion of the city. Lately growth has been induced in the city due to a no: of ambitious infrastructural as well as investment projects, many of them of national importance, initiated by both private and public sector. If once the city was dependent on the trade and the capital thus generated, for its growth, now these large scale investments with its spatial, connectivity and such demands are anticipated to direct the growth of the city. Many of these projects are of ICT categories, which can bring in new social hierarchies within the city. Ernakulam district- Most urbanized district in Kerala state 47.5% of the population Development Plan 2031, the draft Master plan for Kochi, identifies to decongest the existing city and distribute the growth through a poly nodal approach as well as densification of newly developing areas. But at the same time the Plan doesnt incorporate the local implications of the global investment projects and the approach is that of a macro level. What is not reflected in the plan is the ongoing commercialization of the connectors to the city. A no: of shopping malls has dotted along the NH By-pass running through the centre of the city. They serve as the recreational nodes in a city unless otherwise deficient in open spaces and recreational areas. But what could be the structuring elements within the city apart from the growth centers and the induced connections, which can effectively bridge this global capital with the city within it, is set in? Apart from the non physical connections within the city like people, culture, society etc the answer could be the natural connections within the city which has got development potential. Regarding Kochi, there are a no: of inland waterways within the city, which are forgotten over the time and function as mere water canals. 1/4th of the city area is covered with water bodies.

Proposed Area of Intervention

Interestingly many of them run parallel to the existing road corridors linking one part of the city to the other. Historically many of them functioned as inland connections or for goods movement. Presently, at many points they intersect existing growth corridors or pass by the upcoming growth centers. But still they are unexploited or unnoticed- less contested elements which make them appropriate tool to intervene. This underutilization of existing natural water channels in a city which lacks in recreational open spaces provides us with a lot of opportunities. The potential of these inland waterways if put to optimal use may effectively add new alternative development corridors, divert traffic, reduce the need for lateral expansion, provide open space network within the city etc. Also in a fast developing city like Kochi where the city has already started to turn its back towards such water channels, a decisive approach towards them is required to integrate them into the citys structure. An attempted thesis would be one in which these inland waterways shall be demonstrated as alternate structuring elements within the city, which can provide new directions to the growth and development of the city. This would involve relooking at the Master Plan and analyzing them against the new investment projects, connectors, requirements etc on a local level. Edappally thodu is a 10km long inland water way connecting Muttar river to Chitrapuzha. It runs in the N-S direction almost parallel to the NH By-pass and forming two junctions at Edappally and Vyttila. These two are important nodes in the city as well as stations along the proposed Metro. It runs along the boundary of the citys corporation limit and thus falls along an area of immediate pressure from the citys growth. The site chosen for design demonstration is the part of the canal from the Edappally Junction to Bypass Junction and is around 100-300m adjacent to the NH Bypass and near the Mall corridor coming along the highway. Thus the site has the required ingredients of the natural features of inland waterway as well as the interface with the existing growth corridors in the city which need to be negotiated to derive the necessary urban design framework to achieve the objectives.

References Beer.S, I said. You are Gods, (1981) Fligstein.N, Markets as Politics: A Political-Cultural approach to Market Institutions, (1996) Kevin Thwaites, Sergio Porta, Ombretta Romice and Mark Greaves, Urban Sustainability through Environmental Design (2007) Patrick Malone, City, Capital and water (1996) Roy Mann, River in the City, (1973) Richard Marshall, Waterfront in post Industrial cities (1971) Urbanism Fascicles OSA, Water Urbanisms(2008) William E. Rees, Ecological footprints and appropriated carrying capacity: what urban economics l eaves out, (1992)