Architectural Dissertation: Study of An Urban District - Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

ARCHITECTURAL DISSERTATION
STUDY OF AN URBAN DISTRICT CASE OF CONNAUGHT PLACE,

NEW DELHI
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DECLARATION
I Dishant Bhatia, hereby, solemnly declare that the dissertation work undertaken by
me, titled Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New
Delhi is my original work and wherever I incorporated any information in the form of
photographs, text, data, drawings, etc., from different sources it has been duly
acknowledged.
Name DISHANT BHATIA

Entry No.-
2008EAL13
B.Arch. IXth semester

Session - 2012-13
School of Architecture & Landscape Design,
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University,
Katra, J&K
SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI UNIVERSITY

School of Architecture & Landscape design
Katra, J&K
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this dissertation report entitled Sustainability of an
Urban District: Case of Connaught Place, New Delhihas been submitted
by Mr.Dishant Bhatia in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
award of degree of Bachelor of Architecture. Session 2012-13
Recommended by
Ar. Abhiney Gupta

(Guide)
Accepted by
Ar. Aditya K. Singh

(Director)
Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This paper is a result of my sheer-love towards the heart of the city The Connaught Place. Thus,
foremost, I dedicate this work to the place and the magic that is created by it. To document it
somehow was one of my dreams and to bring that dream to reality, first of all, I would express my
deepest gratitude to Ar. Aditya K. Singh, Director, School of Architecture and Landscape Design,
S.M.V.D.U., for being the driving force of the process of preparing this paper. I also thank him for all
his guidance and support at every stage. I thank him for opening the world of Urban Design to me
through the books he referred.
I thank my guide Ar. Abhiney Gupta, for being caring, supportive to all my ideas, giving me space and
guiding me throughout the documentation. I thank my parents, my grandparents and my brother, for
always showing trust in all my deeds. Without their concern and care, I would have not been able to
complete this paper.
I would also express my love for my laptop that worked the whole night before submission even after
power failure. I would also thank my friend Surender Kumar [for his endless queries which opened my
mind several times] and KanavNagari [for being the only one to appreciate my work at every stage].
Finally, I would dedicate every single bit of this work to three persons, who have always been my
inspiration, strength, guide, teacher and friend. I thank them for the part played by them:
Ar. PremithSatish
for providing me the external support, guidance and for being there always,
irrespective of the distance
Ar. DilipMuralidharan
for being my guru always and for being the guiding light to all my projects
Ar. Anusha Narayanan
for being the inspiration and for setting the bench-marks
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Architectural Dissertation 12
CONTENTS
1. CERTIFICATE
2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
3. CONTENTS
4. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS _
5. TOPIC: Urban District _

Question
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Objectives
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Need Identification
Methodology _
Scope of Research
Limitations
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6. INTRODUCTION _
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7. DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNS & CITIES

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Background of Public Spaces _
Agora _
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Medieval & Renaissance Towns _
Ideal City and Urban Planning Theories
Urban Plazas of France and England
The Industrial Towns _
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8. DEFINING URBAN DISTRICT
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9. IDENTIFYING A DISTRICT _
The character _
Anatomy of District
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10. EVOLUTION OF DISTRICT _

Elements of change
Forces of Change
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11. SUSTAINABILITY OF A DISTRICT _

Performance of District _
12. STUDY PATTERN _
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13. CONNAUGHT PLACE BIRTH OF A DISTRICT

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14. CP AS AN URBAN DISTRICT IDENTIFICATION

Anatomy of the district _
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15. EVOLUTION OF C.P.

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16. SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PERFORMANCE_
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17. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
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18. BIBLIOGRAPHY _
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List of Illustrations
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Description
Plan of Agora, Athens
Plan of Pompeii
Plan of Star City
Map of Delhi, 1915
Lutyens Plan for Delhi
New Delhi, proposed plan 1913
New Delhi, layout as built
Photograph of Plaza Theatre, 1945
Photograph of Plaza Theatre, 2012
Photograph showing skyline of CP
Photograph, showing LIC building under
construction
Photograph, showing LIC building at present
Photograph, showing metro entrance
Plan of CP
Photograph, showing newly built CP
Photograph, showing newly built CP
Photograph, showing outer circle
Photograph, showing CP after redevelopment
Photograph, showing Janpath Market
Photograph, showing Palika Bazar entrance
with LIC in backdrop
Photograph, The Statesmen House
Photograph, Janpath Market
Panoramic view of CP
Photograph, UgrasenkiBaoli
Photograph, Le Meridian Hotel
Photograph, Odeon Cinema
Photograph, CP during redevelopment
Photograph, service/back lanes of CP
Photograph, LIC building at present
Photograph, LIC building, rear side
Photograph, traditional architecture
Photograph, newly constructed subways
Photograph, skyline of CP
Photograph, parking chaos
Photograph, UgrasenkiBaoli
Photograph, CPs colonnade
Photograph, skyline
Photograph, STC building
Photograph, CPs architecture
Photograph, parking areas
Source
History of Architecture, B. Fletcher
History of Architecture, B. Fletcher
Architecture of Town & Cities, P.
Spreiregen
Hindustan Times
Planning for Delhi, V. Nath
Lucy Peck
Lucy Peck
Hindustan Times
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TOPIC: URBAN DISTRICTS

QUESTION To study and understand the key elements resulting in the sustainability of an Urban
District. How a district sustains itself and survives with time? - Taking the case of Connaught Place,
New Delhi.
Objectives
To study and understand the role of a district in Urban Context.

To study in brief the District development patterns in history.
To identify and study the need and requirement of an Urban district in a particular city.
To study and understand the key characters of a successful Urban district in present
scenario.
To explore the key points which make the district sustain itself in time, thus understanding the
idea of sustainability in terms of urban districts.
To study the progress or decline of urban districts and how the city is effected by the same.
To take a live case study of a successful urban district in order to understand the key
elements of urban design and urban planning.
To find out whether the district studied is capable of holding the pressure exerted by the
requirements of the metropolitan city or not. If not, then charting out the reasons for the
same.
Listing out the inferences and key points that help a district become sustainable in character
irrespective of time and drafting recommendations for making one.
Need Identification
Great Architect and Planner, Kevin Lynch, in his work Image of the City, has defined Districts as one of
the elements to be considered to form an Image for any city. Actually, a district constitutes to be
much more than that. In the language of Urban Design and planning, a district acts as an important
constituent that completes a city and most of the times even decide its form and pattern of
development.
In present scenario, considering the rapid development and urbanization in Indian cities, there is a
constant demand for districts, townships, neighborhoods, etc. The constant increase in the facilities
has made it difficult for districts to survive or sustain themselves in time. Thus most of them fail.
Hence, there is a need for the identification of the problems and parameters which help a district
sustain its character. Also there is a need for identification of the elements that lead a particular
district towards the end.
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The questions, Ill be looking an answer to are:

What is required to develop a district in a whole?
How one can identify a district?
How a district sustains itself with time and how we can measure that?
Methodology
Framing of Questions and Objectives.

Literature study and internet study to understand the topic.
Data inventory related to the researches done before on the same topic.
Case study of an Urban District in New Delhi
Supporting field study and personal experiences.
Drafting Inferences and Conclusions.
Scope of research
The study will throw some light on the development patterns of districts in history.
It will also study how we can identify a district by studying its character and physical
elements.
Study will be done on the elements and forces which contribute to the evolution of the district
in whole.
The dissertation will study the physical elements of an Urban district that makes it
sustainable in character irrespective of passage of time.
Qualitative aspects of urban planning and urban designing will be taken in to the study.
Limitations
The typology of urban districts is vast and thus cannot be covered in the study of this level.
Thus, limiting the scope of study only to the Commercial or business district of the city.
The study would be based only on secondary sources and tertiary sources (no direct
questionnaire or data collection through surveys)
The study will be conducted by taking a particular commercial/business district, i.e.,
Connaught Place in consideration. No other district will be studied for comparison.
The study will not include physical aspects other than that of Architecture and Urban Design
and Planning.
The study will not be in detail of Architectural styles and components. Rather, it will be a study
related to urban design and planning in order to understand its value in urban context.
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Introduction
We have all grown living in a district, knowingly or unknowingly. Be it a residential district, a
commercial one or an industrial, every city is divided rather made up of such districts combined
together. This study is about how the districts survive.
At first, the study focuses on the development of a district and the patterns that it follows or forms
during the development. For this purpose, references and studies have been done understanding the
pattern in history and how old towns and districts have developed in the course of time. The study of
districts in history covers up the development beginning from the Ancient period to the age of
Industrialization.
Moving on, a district has been defined, understood and analyzed with the help of literature studies and
researches done on the topic before. It covers up major elements of identifying a district and the
factors which define the anatomy of a district. A district has to stay in order to survive in a city
which is developing and growing at every moment and face the change that is taking place. Thus, the
study also talks about the elements that result in change of a district. Any change is possible only if
there is something that forces to bring in that change. Those forces have also been discussed in this
work.
When we are done with the identification, the anatomy, and studied the elements that change a
district, a trial has been done to understand how a district survives irrespective of time and changes
happening around it. The idea of examining the sustainability has been adopted. Sustainability has been
marked in terms of performance and thus different dimensions have been defined to measure the
performance of the district.
To understand the topic in a better and more practical way, a live case study of Connaught Place in
New Delhi has been done. The particular district is then been put in all the elements and parameters
that has been considered in the study. According to these parameters, Connaught Place, as a district
has been studied and its performance has been checked.
At the end, some inferences and conclusions have been made which might help
In identifying a district in a qualitative manner.
In identifying the qualitative factors to measure and check the sustainability of a district.
In drafting of recommendations which could be kept in mind while designing or planning an
Urban District.
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Development of Towns and Cities

In order to develop something new, we as humans, tend to look into our past for reference. The same
goes with Architecture. It sometimes even becomes essential, especially, when the past is showing
successful results and findings. Such is the history of human race in building towns and cities. Well
before the building of household, the ancient man was concerned about the development of his city.
Earlier civilizations of Egypt and those of Indus valley show remarkable cases of development of town
planning and building Urban Form. The basic idea behind the planning was to settle around a religious
precinct or place devoted to elite, in such cases, the citadel. The higher areas were planned and
areas which developed around them showed the organic character. [Cliff Ellis] In a way, they were
concerned about the well-being of the whole town and thus wanted the supreme power to overlook
and take care of the city. With this, the development of public spaces also came into existence. These
were the places of public meetings and state functions. What makes humans different from animals is
that humans are social in nature, they tend to interact with others, spend some time in public and
thus they need a space for public gathering. The earlier civilizations had the citadel as the answer to
this quest. Although, it transformed with time as the new civilizations came in.
Background of Public spaces

History of Urban development marks the presence of public spaces back in the times of Greek and
Roman civilizations. They provide us with the overview of the development of spaces which were
dedicated to public and social gatherings.
Agora
The Greeks followed what the earlier civilizations of Egypt and Indus Valley had done, in terms of
urban planning. The city was raised around the temple or the place of worship, the Acropolis. The
Agora developed at the foot of the Acropolis along the route leading to Athens port, Piracus, and was
the citys political and commercial heart. The Agora served as facades to form an enclosed urban
space. The buildings in Agora were grouped around a central open space. Small gaps between the
buildings led to smaller peripheral spaces and to pathways to various parts of the city.1The design
and planning of Agora was such that it turned out to be a successful urban space. The buildings were
low and horizontal, creating a comfortable spatial enclosure, there were statues in central open
space, and all the structures were made similar which thus created harmony and visual stability.
Being an urban space, the Agora kept on changing and transforming with time and people and thus
made it clear the urban space is flexible [P. Spreiregen].
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01.
Forum
What Greeks had as Agora, the Romans developed as The Republican Forum. Working on the lines of
Greeks, Romans built the Forum at the base of the hill where the empire was set up. The forum
started off as the commercial and administrative heart of Rome. Unlike Greeks, the Romans were
concentrated over the planning which was more of abstract than following a module. Greeks
developed the towns keeping the house or the human scale in mindwhereas the Romans kept the
proportions of towns on first place. The buildings of The Forum were crowded and had no formal
relationship between each other. As an architectural group it had the character of a permanent
carnival. [P. Spreiregen] The extensionof the Republican Forum developed the Imperial Forum. This
was totally different from the Romans earlier attempt of making an urban space. The Imperial forum
had different forms of plazas formed by a colonnade. The prime focus in such plazas was given to a
central or focal building, in such cases, the basilica or temple. This attempt by the Romans fared well
than the one made earlier. The character of the new Imperial forum defined a well-planned urban
space where as the jumble of buildings in the Republican forum could not create that.
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02.
Medieval & Renaissance Towns
The development of the medieval towns was more concentrated over the buildings of churches, guild
halls, and burghers houses. The most important element of the urban planning in this period was the
development of streets which lead to the central market place or plaza. The importance of the central
plaza was maintained by the introduction of the marketplace, which was a counterpart of the Agora or
Forum.
During the period of Renaissance, it was for the first time that urban space was given the preference.
Architects began to systematically study the shaping of urban space, as though the city itself were a
piece of architecture that could be given an aesthetically pleasing and functional order. Many of the
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great public spaces of Rome and other Italian cities date from this era. Parts of old cities were rebuilt
to create elegant squares, long street vistas, and symmetrical building arrangements. [Cliff Ellis]The
Renaissance Plaza is one of the elements of Urban Design par excellence. Brilliant theories of
proportion were advanced on the basis of practical experience. There are many theories given by
Renaissance architects on the design of plaza,2
A plaza should not be too long in relation to its width; otherwise the cornice at the far end
would be too far below the eyes field of vision.
Statues should be placed at heights, so they would be seen silhouetted against the sky, above
cornice lines.
A plaza could also be very large, but at the upper end of the acceptable scale of sizes.
Fountains should be introduced to attract observers to particularly fine vantage points.
Plazas could be built as series, connected by such transitional devices as narrow streets,
bosques, column screens, or arches.
They could also be made in different shapes circles and ellipses and shapes could be
combined.
Ideal City and Urban Planning Theories
Vitruvius, the Roman Architect, developed theories on architecture and town planning. The theories
were based on the practical implementations in the Roman era. He defined and summed up the Roman
architecture and their style of building. In his Ten Books on Architecture, he defined the principles of
town planning and stated the different possible patterns, shapes and forms of a town. According to
the text, as all earlier civilizations had done, the placement of public buildings and spaces should be in
the middle of the city.
This was followed by Leon Battista Alberti during the Renaissance period. He came up with his book De
Architectura, treats Architecture and town design as a single theme. The urban designer came up
with the idea of the ideal city, star-shaped plans with streets radiating from a central point, usually
proposed as the location for a church, palace, or possibly a castle. [P. Spreiregen]
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03.
Urban Plazas of France and England
The remarkable development of Italy in the field of Urban Design profoundly influenced other parts of
the world. The concepts of urban design formed and practiced in Italy left a mark on further
developments and architects like Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, of France and English Architect Inigo
Jones. They were responsible for the introduction of plazas in Paris and London, respectively.
Gradually, plazas turned out as the most important element of urban design, which was first placed in
the center, around which the city used to develop.
Both, Paris and London, developed on the same lines but Inigo Jones came out with better plaza and
squares with the design of Bedford Square, which was well appreciated and adopted by the society
later.
The Industrial Towns
A major turn in the history of mankind was the introduction of machines. Not only it affected the
human lives but transformed the face of their cities. As by now, the towns were being developed
based on the hierarchy of statures, the introduction of machines and factories changed this notion of
architects and urban designers. The emphasis started developing over for the industries as
agriculture lost its pace and thus the working class gained an important status. The designers
realized that the development of an industrial town should be such that it becomes a livable space for
everyone keeping in mind, the needs of the working class.
The center still retained its importance and the industrial cities were focused to its center only. The
plazas or the city centersof earlier times got converted into commercial and industrial places and
were connected by well-developed rail-road system. Better means of transportation led to connection
of the city to far off places and thus public mobility became easier. The center developed into a
workplace and the working class started developing their households around the center in crowded
districts. Earlier, what had been a place of worship or for elite had now been converted to central
business district. The center emerged as the place for large office buildings. The connection with
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other parts of city made it the best opportunity for entertainment and commercial set up. Factories
and industries developed around the region extensively.
The presence of such unhealthy facilities, polluted and crowded atmosphere made people to move
outwards and railroad and cable-car made it possible. Now, the heart of the city was treated as the
business hub and people used to pour-in from other parts of the city, like the suburbs. The central
business district became was the workplace and hub of all the industries and businesses but the
environment it created provoked a concern for the planning of the towns again.
One radical change that transformed the shape of the central business district was the development
of skyscrapers which was made possible with the use of steel framed structure and invention of
elevators. Now the working class had more place around the city center to live in and work. The
workers and elites started concentrating more on the central part of the city than ever.
Modern Town Planning
Like every time, the architects and urban designers learnt from the mistakes and developments done
in the past and brought out a better solution for the society. The modern town planning was a step
towards preserving the environment and better and healthier livelihood for people. The failure of the
Industrial Town brought everyones focus towards healthy living. Several ideas were drawn on paper,
few of which even realized practically, and a number of modern Architects came into limelight. In
twentieth century, visionary Architects like Le Corbusier, Paolo Soleri, Frank Lloyed Wright and dozen
other had their remarkable contribution in introducing the modern and utopian concepts for city
and town planning, which influenced generations that followed.
With the dawn of the Twentieth century, the central business district changed its character. With
more and more businessmen and the administrative class settling in the heart of the city, it
transformed into a center for information processing, finance and administration rather than
manufacturing. Now the heart of the city, the central business district, had become a place for the
administrative class to live and a commercial hub for trade and finance, quite similar to the ancient
style where it played the role of Agora, Forum or the Marketplace.
All in all, the continuous transformation of the character of a Central Urban center or the Urban
District through ages confirms the validity of the statement that An Urban space is flexible.
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Defining Urban District

The usual application of the term District in political use has made it quite difficult for people to
understand and identify an Urban District. Usually people relate it with a politically defined area or a
type of administrative division controlled by the local government. But when it comes to defining an
Urban District, there is nothing political or administrative rather it is defined by its own identity or
character.
Districts are the relatively large city areas which the observer can mentally go inside of, and which
have some common character. They can be recognized internally, and occasionally can be used as
external references as a person goes by or towards them.
Kevin Lynch, Image of the City
The famous American Urban planner and Architect, Kevin Andrew Lynch described District as one of
the five elements to define the Image of a city. According to him, every city has its own imagery, an
identity or character, which could be defined or differentiated using elements like paths, nodes, edges,
districts and landmarks. In the process, he defined each element the way in which they have been
used or consumed by citizens of the city.
Districts are the areas formed in a city due to an identifiable character they possess. They do not
tend to have hard boundaries or edges, still they start and end at some place. Usually these areas
cater to a large population for a similar function or activity. The activity and the happenings in that
area define its character and provide an identity or forms its image in the mind of the commuters.
A region in the city with major commercial activity, the central shopping area, residential area, an
office complex, a university campus or even an airportcan also be defined as a District. They all have
obtained a distinctive nature due to the different activities occurring there. A large set of population
is visiting that place for a particular activity or purpose. Sometimes, there is an inter-mix of the
activities in the area and still it is termed as a District. Sometimes they are considerably mixed in
character and do not have distinct limits -like the midtown area of Manhattan. [Paul D. Spreiregen]
The districts can be identified in a broad typology on the basis of their function or activity, as:
Residential District
Commercial District
Industrial District
Central Business District
Districts may be mixed use but are typically dominated by a single primary land use3. The above
classification is done basically on the terms of the land use pattern or otherwise, the activity
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occurring in that particular zone. A commercial district may even have some residences and a
residential one may have shops and business areas, but overall, it is defined on the extent of the
character or the dominance of one activity over other.
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Identifying a District
As stated earlier, a district is an area in urban setting which has its own similar character and is
distinct in its form and extent. There are many criteria of identifying a district which includes
identifying and forming an image of its character in mind. Identity is the extent to which a person can
recognize or recall a place as being distinct from other places as having a vivid, or unique, or at
least a particular, character of its own.6 Basically an urban spacemust be distinguished by a
predominant characteristic, such as the quality of its enclosure, the quality of its detailed treatments
or out-fittings, and the activity that occurs in it. An urban space should, ideally, be enclosed by
surrounding walls have a floor which suits its purpose, and have a distinct purpose to serve. If,
however, any one of these qualities is sufficiently strong, it alone may establish the sense of urban
space. [Paul D. Spreiregen]
The character
When we define a character of something, we usually talk about its properties or the unique
qualities it displays. Our mind, then itself, arrange or divide those qualities or traits in different
domains, which also, are created by us only. When we talk about the characteristics of a place or an
area, we are usually talking about the physical characteristics of the same. To identify these
characteristics one can identify and study a number of components. Kevin Lynch, in his book Image of
the City, has defined such components. The physical characteristics that determine districts are
thematic continuities which may consist of an endless variety of components texture, space, form,
detail, symbol, building type, use, activity, inhabitants, degree of maintenance, topography.
Keeping three cities, Los Angeles, Boston and Jersey City, as the basis for his studies, he kept the
above mentioned components as the tools to form the image of districts. On the other hand, while
defining the districts of a city, Paul D. Spreiregen, in his work Urban Design: The Architecture of
Towns and Cities, talks about the things to look out for in order to differentiate a district and also, the
anatomy of a district. According to him, basically, there are two things to look for in discerning the
various districts of a city
1. Physical Form
2. Visible activity
For example, in a commercial center the types of buildings, the signs, the demolition and construction
activity, the crowds of rushing people, the cabs and buses, the parking facilities all these identify the
place for us. On the other hand, in a residential area we have the houses, their spacing, the trees, the
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milk wagons, the parked cars, the children playing, the occasional neighborhood stores and schools.
The sum impression of the individual parts and their relationships conveys to us the existence of a
particular district of a city a part in relation to a whole.
Anatomy of District4
While defining the anatomy of the district Spreiregen has charted out certain characteristics to be
studied and observed, which include:
FormWhat is the physical form of the place form and structure in three dimensions and in broad
outline? What is the density and character of the buildings? What is the spacing of buildings? How
does it vary? What is the greenery of the place? How would you describe the paving, the signs, the
night lighting? How uniform or how varied is the whole, or section of it? Can a district be further
dissected into meaningful places within it? What are these places like? What are the physical patterns
of the place? What are the patterns and the linear and focal points of urban spaces within the
district?
ActivityWhat do people do there? How well do architecture and the district serve people? What are
the groupings of different activities within the district? How does the activity pattern change
according to the time of day, week, or season? How lively are the central city areas? How does the
local climate affect life in the areas? What are the detrimental aspects of the place?
Features What are the features of the district the major hubs or nodes, landmarks, and vistas?
What are the major magnets, generators, and feeders? In a busy center-city area, what are the
oases, the places of repose? In a quiet residential section, what are the hubs, the places of
community focus?
PathWhat are the principal paths of movement in a district? How are they differentiated? How well do
they serve the people there? How well do they connect to the larger network of paths? Are the actual
physical dimensions of the paths adequate or excessive? How do they determine the physical limits of
the districts?
CentersWhat are the features of a district that serve a symbolic civic role? What are these places
like? Are they lively or lifeless? How can they be made lively? Are the integral parts of the areas
around them? Are they part of the life of the community, or are they inanimate symbols?
IntrusionsWhat are the intrusions and detrimental features of a district? What are the blighting
features? How much traffic can be tolerated on a street before it is impaired? How little before it is
dead?
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Change How is the district changing, both in internal character and the adjustment of its periphery to
change? Is there a direction of growth? In which direction is the center of gravity moving? Is the edge
decaying? How can a decaying edge be invigorated? How can a district be stabilized?
Improvement Finally, how can the formation of a new district be aided? What are the new elements of
the city that are struggling to emerge? Which marginal districts can be protected and improved as
part of the complementary complexity of the whole city? How would you analyze and depict the
important districts in your city? What strengths do you discern, what weaknesses? What differences
do you find between districts? Is there significance in their relative positions and character?
Once the structure or anatomy of a district is defined, it becomes essential to also understand the
process of evolution of a district. We need to understand the growth pattern of the district and how it
evolves with time.
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Evolution of District
As any other Urban Space, districts are also flexible and change with time. In their paper, Evolution
of Urban Districts: Elements and forces of change, William Grimes and Eric Lee elaborated the
Elements of change for a district and also define the forces for the same later.
Elements of change5
In his work on the shearing layers of buildings, Brand (1994) described six distinct parts of a
building that exhibit varying rates of change. He explained the lifecycles of the different parts and the
frequency at which they changed. The differing rates of change had consequences for its cost as well
as for how people related to it. For this work, that concept and those categories were adapted to
describe six elements composing urban districts and the relative frequency at which they change.
SettingThe topographical and geographical environment of the district is the most stable and fixed
element. Environmental characteristics provide opportunities and limitations for land use. Setting is
essentially unchangeable.
Transportation NetworkThe system of roads and rights-of-way in a district sets the pattern for
development. New routes, when built or expanded, generally occur over older and existing routes.
Transportation networks are well-established and difficult to change.
Civic SpacesSpaces that serve civic and social functions for a district are durable institutions. Over
the years, their uses change according to need until they no longer serve a public function. Civic
spaces change slowly.
InfrastructureSewer, water, electricity, and telephone lines provide services needed for urban
districts. They require routine maintenance and upgrading. Infrastructure changes on a regular basis.
ArchitectureBuildings, houses and other structures are the most visible part of a district and often
define a districts character. The architecture of a district continually evolves as new buildings go up,
styles change, and modifications occur. Architecture changes frequently.
AccessoriesSigns, plantings, light fixtures, awnings and street furniture have both ornamental and
functional uses for a district. Incorporation of new materials and colors can distinguish districts.
Accessories change constantly.
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Forces
We identified six forces of change that influence the form and appearance of districts, roughly
corresponding to the six elements.
NatureNatural forces include weathering and decay as well as natural disasters like earthquakes,
floods and fire.
SocietySocial, cultural and demographic changes occur through shifts in population, ethnic groups,
cultural norms and values.
LawLayers of regulations, ordinances, and codes shape districts. The force of law filters down into the
myriad of decisions affecting the built environment.
TechnologyTechnological advances in transportation, communications, and manufacturing influence
what is built and how it is built. Building and construction materials change. Technology creates
relatively rapid change.
EconomyEconomic forces include the transformation of an industrial base, economic cycles of
investment and job growth, as well as day-to-day economic competition. Economic forces generate
constant flux.
FashionForces of fashion dictate constant change to suit new styles and tastes. Colors and facades,
design and landscaping, all are changeable. These six forces vary according to the speed at which
they generate change.
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Sustainability of a District
The most widely quoted definition of sustainability as a part of the concept sustainable development,
is that of the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations:
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs 6
Sustainability can also be defined as the property of being sustainable or holding up with time
duration or space. Thus, while talking about sustainability in regard to an urban district, I am taking
into consideration the elements or characters that help the district sustain itself with the passage of
time. How it held up to the requirements and demands of the changing environment or whether it even
succeeded in sustaining or not?We can also study, in the similar way, whether the developmentof the
district is sustainable in character or not. For this purpose, we need to study the district in terms of
performances in the past and present, which could ultimately define the degree of sustainability of the
district. This can be done in comparison to other districts also. But for a district, which is flexible in
nature, and where the development is occurring with respect to time, we shall study its performances
in time.
Performance of District
When we talk about performance of a place, there comes a shear need to measure the performances
in some physical terms or quantities, so as to reach some conclusion. And in order to calculate those
quantities, there is a requirement for some dimensions or criteria, which can be the basis of the
study. But as the scale of the subject is huge, it is impossible to figure out such dimensions. Kevin
Lynch while talking about the cities also stated in his work, Good City Form, We must realize that it
would be foolish to set performance standards for cities, if we mean to generalize. Situations and
values differ. What we might hope to generalize about are performance dimensions, that is, certain
identifiable characteristics of the performance of cities which are due primarily to their spatial
qualities and which are measurable scales, along which different groups will prefer to achieve
different positions.
Looking at the similarity of nature and magnitude of the problem, the dimensions coined by Kevin
Lynch to measure the performance of the city, can be used in a similar way to measure the
performance of a district. Here, the five performance dimensions given by him have been modified in
terms of district instead of cities. Thus, the five performance dimensions for measuring the
performance of a district are:
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1. Vitality: the degree to which the form of the district supports the vital functions it includes
the sustenance, safety and consonance within the district. Sustenance is affected by the
physical systems of supply and disposal, the density of occupation relative to sources, the
location, the effect of buildings and landscape on isolation and air movement. Safety involves
protection from unhealthy environment or natural hazards. Last, it should be consonant with
human being, i.e. the elements in environment, such as steps, doors, inclines, should all be
fitted to human size.
2. Sense: it is the clarity with which a district can be perceived or identified, and the ease with
which its elements can be linked with other events and places in a coherent mental
representation of time and space and that representation can be connected with non-spatial
concepts and values. Sense depends on spatial form and quality, but also on the culture,
temperament, status, experience, and current purpose of the observer. The simplest form of
sense is Identity. The major elements to define sense are the form, structure, time
orientation, congruence, legibility and significance.
3. Fit: the degree, to which the form and capacity of spaces, channels and equipment in a district
match the pattern and quantity of actions that people customarily engage in, or want to
engage in that is, the adequacy of the behavior settings, including their adaptability to
future action. Places are modified to fit ways of behaving, and behaviors are changed to fit a
given place. The term fit is loosely related to such common words as comfort, satisfaction,
and efficiency.
4. Access: the ability to reach other persons, activities, resources, services, information, or
places, including the quantity and diversity of the elements which can be reached.
5. Control: the degree to which the use and access to spaces and activities, and their creation,
repair, modification, and management are controlled by those who use, work or reside in
them.
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Study Pattern
Till now, the Historical Background and the Literature Study of an Urban District has developed a
format of its own, which can further be used to study the development and sustainability of any
individual district, in this case, Connaught Place, New Delhi. The format that I have prepared is:
History
Anatomy of
District
Evolution of
District
Sustainability of
District
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Birth of Urban Place

Transformation
Form
Activity
Features
Path
Centers
Intrusions
Change
Improvement
Elements of change
Forces for change
Now, in order to study an Urban District, i.e. Connaught Place of New Delhi, a similar work pattern has
been established to define its sustainability in terms of performance.
History of CP
Anatomy of CP
as district
Evolution of CP
Sustainability of
CP
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Background
Transformation
Form
Activity
Features
Path
Centers
Intrusions
Change
Improvement
Elements of change
Forces for change
Connaught Place Birth of a District

After serving as the capital to many great rulers and dynasties, Delhi was chosen as the site for the
new seat for the Viceroy of British Government in 1911. That is when the British Government decided
to shift its center from Calcutta and develop Delhi as its new office. For a development, as huge as
this one, eminent English architects, planners, town planners were involved and a plan for the new
capital was drafted. As the city was to be developed by Englishmen, all the planning theories,
concepts, patterns which were applied, were their own. Hindustan Times [HT], celebrating the Delhis
centenary in 2011, described the beginning and execution of the development that took place.
Background
When the British started building New Delhi, the city witnessed its biggest construction endeavor
since Shahjahan built the Red Fort and Walled City. The new city with its grand office and residential
buildings, wide avenues and gardens was an architectural, engineering and logistical challenge. Chief
architect Edwin Lutyens wanted to build an imperial city in neo-classical style. Eventually, with Viceroy
Hardinges goading, more Indian elements were included to create an Indo - Saracenic marvel. Though
the shifting of the capital was announced in 1911, work started only in 1918, after World War I ended.
The initial inspiration for the layout of New Delhi, it is believed, came from Washington DC and that
of the Government House from Capitol Hill of the same city. However, by the time the Viceroys
House came up, it showcased a unique confluence of western and Indian styles.
04.
The layout of the new city consisted of hexagonal lines, to connect New Delhi to Safdarjung Tomb,
PuranaQuila, Connaught Place and Jama Masjid. At the apex was the Government House (now
29 | P a g e
RashtrapatiBhavan), joined by North and South blocks and a grand vista culminating at the All-India
War Memorial (now India Gate). The English architects who had a major role in shaping the capital
were Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker along with Robert Tor Russell, who designed Connaught Place,
Teen Murti House, Eastern and Western Courts, National Stadium, etc.Then there was W.H. Nicholls,
who, not many know, helped Russell design Connaught Place.
It was originally intended that the main axis would lead straight from Government House towards the
domes of the Jama Masjid; an early concept had Connaught Place (as it became) as a mid-point
punctuation of this route. The problem with this idea was that Paharganj would have had to be entirely
bought up and redeveloped, so the main axis was swung round to face the PuranaQila, tugging the
centre of gravity of the new city away from the old. However, the Jama Masjid thoroughfare remained
as a secondary axis, with Connaught Place planned as the location of the new railway terminal.
[Linking histories: The planning of New Delhi, Lucy Peck]
Conceived as a Central Plaza
In 19th century England, social life in cities and towns traditionally revolved around a central plaza
with its shopping arcades, eateries and hotels. For the new city to be complete and 'real', New Delhi
needed a hub to put life into the brick and mortar town, which was nothing but office space till then. It
needed a place where the inhabitants could have all the trappings of the good life shopping,
entertainment and fine dining and where a city could come alive beyond office hours. Like London,
New Delhi needed its own Piccadilly Circus.
The British planned India's imperial capital and wanted the city to have a central business district of
its own. The earlier plans were first mooted in the 1910s, when WH Nicholls, the chief architect to the
Government of India, planned a central plaza based on the European Renaissance and Classical style.
In Europe, a city plaza would usually be at the center. In New Delhi, however, the Viceroy's house
(RashtrapatiBhavan), Secretariat and Central Vista were the axis around which the city was
developed.Nicholls left India in 1917 but his plan slowly took shape. While Edwin Lutyens and Herbert
Baker built Delhi's grander buildings, the job of designing the plaza fell on Robert Tor Russell, chief
architect of the Public Works Department.
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05.
In 1929, the British commissioned the construction of the central business district. So basically a
ridge made way for a unique colonnade complex with shops of fine European lifestyle a first in
Delhi.And like many other great architectural masterpieces in British colonies across the globe then,
this was also named after the Duke of Connaught.Connaught Place [mentioned as CP herein after] had
the distinction of introducing Delhi with lifestyle options through the shops that catered solely to
British tastes that were not known to a city with mostly medieval roots.
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06.
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07.
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Transition
1930s
CP went through many phases than one before gaining the prestige it has now and played many roles
in history. By 1931, its construction was in full swing. The ground floor, which was supposed to be
commercial establishments, had been allotted, while the first floor meant for residences was still
being made. By 1938, most of the residential quarters were full with tenants from the old city, Punjab,
Shimla and a host of other places. And the later years saw increase in patrons as new eateries,
cinema halls and other establishments kept springing with new offerings.[HT]
As soon as the plaza took its original shape, many centers of entertainment started coming up. The
most famous centers were the four theatres of CP Regal, Plaza, Odeon &Rivoli. Sir Sobha Singh
opened the Regal theatre in 1932, mainly for stage performances, designed by renowned architect
Walter Skyke George. [HT]
1940-50s
In 1940, Mangal Das built the block designed by Sir Robert Tor Russel where the Plaza Cinema hall
exists. Rivoli was the smallest theatre in CP built at the same time. In 1945, Odeon joined the club and
completed the famous quartet. [HT]
08.
The present view of overpowering high-rise buildings around CP was not there since the beginning.
Earlier there used to be bungalows of officers of the British government or high-rank personals. The
Connaught circus complex, the principal shopping plaza of the city, is located about 3 km from
Parliament House. The street connecting the two, now called the Sansadmarg, has multi-story office
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buildings on both the sides of it. But until the early 1950s it was flanked mainly by bungalows of
officers.The few office buildings along it were those of All India Radio, the State Bank of India and the
New Delhi Municipal Committee.[Planning for Delhi, V. Nath 1993]
09.
It was in the mid-40s when the ground floor shops were sold out and the shopping plaza started to
flourish. More than just a plaza, CP developed as the hub for the families of elite and officers. Thus the
hangouts came in the circle. United Coffee House (UCH) in B Block was launched in 1942 by the
Kalras [WMF, Connaught Place and its surroundings]
1970s
Major changes in CP happened and were visible clearly in the post-independence era. The introduction
of the 1962 Master Plan of Delhi brought in the construction of high-rise in the city. This was the time
when major offices shifted to CP and it started taking the shape of a Central Business District. A
large number of multi story office buildings came up to the S of Connaught Circus Complex during
1970s and 1980s. With them, the Connaught circus area has become the central business district of
the city in the western sense of the term. [Planning for Delhi, V. Nath 1993]
In the 1970s, one of the defining changes in the physical landscape of the city was the arrival of
high-rise buildings in Connaught Place. There was a scramble among businesses to acquire a space
in Connaught Place, where the first and second floor flats had been residences for hundreds of
families for over three decades. With rapid commercialization, most of these families either rented
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out their flats or sold them and moved to various south Delhi colonies, such as HauzKhas and Green
Park.
But CP alone could not meet the rising demand for commercial space in the heart of the city. So
many Lutyens bungalows on Barakhamba Road and Curzon Road gave way to the city's first highrises such as Kailash Building, Himalaya House, Kanchenjunga Building, Akashdeep Building and
others. By the late '70s, downtown New Delhi had acquired a skyline, and Connaught Place had
become the city's central business district. [HT]
10.
Another major development occurred during the same period. Introduction of an underground market
in the Inner Circle changed the face of CP, not physically but functionally. The center of the complex,
the Inner Circle, had started off as an open space; in the late 1970s, this was filled up by constructing
an underground market, Palika Bazaar, which spreads out all the way to the Outer Circle. The parking
lot and small garden above ground are a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Palika Bazaar itself: the
underground market is chockfull of small shops and stalls that sell everything [WMF]
On the other hand, new laws formed in order to redevelop the city affected CPs existence to a great
extent. The Lutyens Bungalow zone has been shrinking visually and physically. The segment north of
Connaught Place has been almost totally destroyed, and that between Connaught Place and the
Central Vista has been changed beyond recognition. In 1974 NDRAC [New Delhi Redevelopment
Advisory Committee] prescribed norms which led to the organized destruction of the character of the
northern part of Lutyens Bungalow Zone, and also isolated Connaught Place visually and functionally
from the rest of the city.[Lutyens New Delhi yesterday, today and tomorrow, M.N. Buch]
1980s
This is the era which gave CP the face we see today. Development of new high-rise buildings and
office complex took place during this time only. Overlooking Central Park and the Georgian buildings
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of Connaught Place are the newer structures that have risen around the complex, mainly in the 1980s
and after. There is, for instance, the red sandstone-and-glass edifice of the JeevanBharati Building
(the LIC building) designed by Charles Correa in 1986. [WMF]
11.
Although the introduction of the new style of architecture to the existing marvel of planning was not
welcomed by all. There are many who still find the amalgamation of so-called modernism with the
colonial architecture inappropriate. In a paper by famous Planner S.S. Shafi, he quoted Prof. A.G.K.
Menon saying, While New Delhi, the imperial city designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, accommodates the
political bureaucratic elite that rules India, paradoxically, the great architectural styles that came in
Delhi before the Raj was established, had but only marginal impact on the many structures that came
up during the decades following Independence. However, as he points out, two major trends are
noticeable: the revivalists or the local version, Indian Modernism, maybe, but both with appalling
outcomes.
Menon calls it architectural malapropism and cites examples of biuldings like KrishiBhavan,
UdyogBhavan and the Supreme Court of India. With VigyanBhavan and Ashoka Hotel in between, the socalled Indian modern could be NirmanBhavan, ShastriBhavan, Shri Ram Centre, Triveni Kala Sangam,
Parliament Annexe and the State Trading Corporation Building, besides some others that have
recently emerged. Two peculiar examples are Statesman house on Barakhamba Road and LIC (Jeevan
Deep) building by Charles Correa in the Connaught Place area, both grossly inappropriate to the
formal urban design setting originally envisaged by Edwin Lutyens. [Delhi: Many Windows in Time and
Space, Syed S. Shafi]
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Present
Now, accepted by all as the Central Business District of the capital, CP, after 80 years of its being, has
somewhat achieved its right shape and still improving. Beginning as a plaza for the British officials to
a Commercial hub for the Delhi-wallahs CP has adapted every timeline and performed well. Being
the center of the city, it draws crowd from every hook and corner of the city. An important part of
Connaught Place is the aptly-named Central Park, once home to fountains and gulmohar trees, now
renovated and with an amphitheater and water bodies added (the trees, unfortunately, have been
done away with). The Central Park is one of Delhis major venues for concerts and cultural events.
[WMF] The buildings blocks are still there performing their duty with a slight change in the form of
activities going in and around. At present it has mainly residential buildings, along with some hotels
and offices. [HT] The new intervention of Central Park enriches the everyday experience of the place.
[48 degrees Celsius]
12.
A landmark in the development of CP in recent times could be the introduction of Metro in Delhi. The
moment CP was conceived as the central junction for the transport network, it literally got converted
into the heart of the city. Over time, Connaught Place became more approachable and accessible to
a wider spectrum of patrons. Besides the fashionable elite who had been its first clientele, it began
catering to those who wanted a more home-grown, familiar environment. The significance of
Connaught Place as a commercial and cultural hub was the main reason for its being the focus of
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extensive restoration prior to the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. Today, despite the
mushrooming of several other commercial areas in other parts of Delhi, Connaught Place remains
almost synonymous with central Delhi. Little wonder, then, that when the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
(DMRC) was planning its network, Connaught Place (or, strictly speaking, Rajiv Chowk) was chosen to
be the hub of the network. [WMF]
13.
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CP as an Urban District Identification

Physical Form & Visible Activity
While defining CP as an important element of the city in one of his papers, V. Naths description of it
could be considered to understand the basic structure of the place. The Connaught circus complex
consists of two concentric rings of 3- story buildings, which surround a central green. The outer ring,
which faces the city, is called the Connaught circus and the inner ring is called Connaught Place. The
buildings in both the rings have shops on the ground floor, and offices and residential quarters of the
shop owners or managers on the first and second floors. A number of roads radiate from the complex
to Shahjahanabad and to various parts of Delhi. [Planning for Delhi, V. Nath 1993]
14.
Anatomy of the District
Form
The inner core of Connaught Place is laid out astwo giant rings of white colonnaded, two storied,
colonial building blocks with radial roads converging from all directions towards its center. With this
concentric arrangement, theplace offers an inner and outer circle of predominantly retail, office and
recreational functionsto the lakhs of commuters who move around this unique round-about in the city.
In fact, the unified architectural vocabulary of boththese circles and the unchanged scale of the built
form of thisinner core against the chaotic transformations of the physical setting all around it allow
Connaught Place to retain its distinctidentity and conspicuous imageability across all its visitors and
users. In fact, the memory of Connaught Place as a unique destination within the capital city of Delhi
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remains firmly embedded within anyone who would have chanced to experience and engage with this
place.
15.
Connaught Place was imagined as an urban gateway into the British city of colonial New Delhi and
positioned strategically at the mouth of the formally laid out geometric pattern of this city facing the
native settlement of Shahjahanabad further north. Today's Connaught Place in contemporary Delhi not
only occupies the central core of the city but has grown to represent its heart as well. In every way,
this huge bowl of urbanity with white rimmed edges and a green center could easily qualify to be
amongst some of the great living spaces in urban history. [48 degrees Celsius]
According to many leading architects, the inspiration behind Connaught Place was the Royal Crescent
building in the city of Bath in England. The Crescent believed to have been inspired from the
Colosseum in Rome was built by John Wood in 1774. With its semi-circular shape, colonnades and
archways, the Crescent looks like the long lost brother of Connaught Place. However, while Connaught
Place is almost completely circular (with a gap, where Palika Bazar is located), the Crescent is semicircular. Also, the Crescent is three storied while Connaught Place has only two floors. There is an
interesting story behind why the Crescent and later Connaught Place were designed in a circular
manner. Wood was a member of Freemasons, a fraternal organization and a secret society. Wood, it is
believed, infused Masonic symbolism in his buildings. So, the semi-circular Crescent and the round
Circus symbolised the Sun and the Moon.
Many such Masonic symbols, apparently, were part of the design of Connaught Place too, according to
German architect Andreas Volwahsen. In his book, Imperial Delhi, Volwahsen says the circular
structure of Connaught Place symbolized eternity. The 'circle' was eventually planned with two
concentric circles and seven radial roads. According to the original plan, the different blocks of
Connaught Place were to be joined from above with radial roads below them. The circle, however, was
'broken up' to give it a grander scale.[HT] The Central Park now serves as the focal point of the
district as an exhibition-cum-performance area located in the center of the district.
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16.
17.
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18.
Activity
The outer circle of CP consists of mainly offices, shops and show-rooms on both the sides of the road.
The circle also acts as Citys major route connecting different parts. CP acts as an entry point to the
whole of Lutyens Delhi. Being the Central Business District of Delhi, it portrays a vibrant character
with office and shopping related activities. The everyday activities of the place have been portrayed as
a spectacle, making its experience extremely special. Middle circle behaves as the backbone for CP as
it incorporates the necessary everyday activities for the place. [HT]
19.
The inner-circle, however,has become a major hub for shopping and meeting for people from and
around the city. The colonnaded structure, like the earlier times, showcases a number of shops,
restaurants, clubs, showrooms, etc. With the commercial activities going around, the Central Park or
the green center, serves as the junction and display area for exhibitions and performances by local
artists. Much more than the activities going above the ground level, public movement in the Metro
station beneath it, makes it the busiest station of the city, being the major junction of the Metro
transportation network.
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Features
While Connaught Place itself is one of the citys largest and most important commercial and business
districts, the area surrounding this hub is equally interesting. Dotted across this stretch are a
number of significant buildings (many of which formed part of Lutyenss Delhi). In addition, there are
places of worship, important government offices, and even a few interesting medieval structures.
[WMF] In order to define the magnets within the district one can pick places like the Bangla
SahebGurdwara, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, JantarMantar, the Janpath Market, LIC building, and
some important offices like the Palika Kendra and DLF.
20.
21.
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22.
Path
Connaught Place, the old central business district of New Delhi, was designed on a hub-and-spoke
basis. The radial roads were designed as traffic arteries which moved people swiftly in and out of
Connaught place. Now these rapid transit roads have been totally commercialized and carry a huge
load of terminating and originating traffic. Parliament Street was designed to link the new capital with
the old city. Now it contains major offices, a number of banks and the massive complex of the New
Delhi Municipal Committee exactly opposite JantarMnatar, thus suffering from almost terminal
arteriosclerosis. [Lutyens New Delhi yesterday, today and tomorrow, M.N. Buch]
Centers
On the roads leading out of Connaught Place are other equally important buildings. There are, for
example, pre-Independence buildings like the Eastern and Western Courts; the Imperial Hotel and,
further afield, colonial buildings like the Sacred Heart Cathedral, the GoleDakkhana in front of it, and
Gole Market. Not that this area is wholly and completely of twentieth century vintage. Scattered
across it and in an often unusual but pleasing juxtaposition of old and new are older monuments:
AgrasenkiBaoli is a step-well dating back to the fifteenth century and the impressive observatory
known as JantarMantar, built in the eighteenth century. Though they do not look as old as either the
baoli(step-well) or the observatory, Hanuman Mandir and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib too are medieval
buildings that were already in existence when Connaught Place came into being. [WMF]
23.
24.
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25.
26.
Intrusions
The ongoing redevelopment project has caused major threat to the districts economical as well as
physical value. The project has crossed its deadline more than once and thus degrading the value of
shops coming in its way. Also, the regular increase in traffic has introduced another threat to the
districts capacity of holding it. Inappropriate parking areas and uncontrolled growth of demand has
made the problem even severe. Hawkers and street vendors have also made parts of the districts
insecure and untidy. The newly designed sub-ways have become the space for unsocial elements
making them unapproachable for public. The implementation of the new automated multi-level parking
has also failed as shoppers prefer to park the cars near the shops resulting in unmanaged system.
27.
28.
Change
Due to its unique and identifiable character, CPs growth has always been constricted to its center.
Though, the growth and development of new office complexes and high rise buildings along the
radiating roads has distributed the load from the core uniformly. The most important change in the
district since last decade has been the Metro Station, Rajiv Chowk. The district has become more and
more accessible to all parts of the city and NCR. Implementation of new traffic regulations is tried and
being practiced to smoothen the traffic flow. Redevelopment work in the district is ongoing under
which the proposal for concealing of physical infrastructure is being worked out. The project also
includes increasing green zones and development of plazas within the district to cater to the
pedestrian population that visits the place on daily basis.
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Improvements
The implementation of above mentioned redevelopment projects would definitely bring in a bright
future for the place. Moreover, emphasis should be given on tackling the regularly increase need and
demand of traffic in the zone. Key areas around the district can further be developed in order to subdivide its load. Implementation of new traffic regulations or planning would help in the improvement of
the district.
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Evolution of C.P.
Elements of change
Setting
Initially a part of the Delhi Ridge, Connaught Place was an expanse of keekar trees, home to jackals
and wild pigs. This was where the rich and powerful of Delhi came to hunt partridge on the weekends
and devotees came to worship at the Hanuman Temple. [WMF] With this setting, CP still has the
tendency to grow as the green district. The areas in and around the district are still the green lungs
of the city. The setting of the place has merely changed it in the course of time.
Transportation Network
As described earlier also, CP was built with the hub-and-spoke concept keeping the building blocks in
concentric circles and seven roads radiating from the center. The giant round-about acts as the
junction for major traffic routs of the city and thus caters to large number of public and private
vehicles. In terms of road systems, there have been minute changes in the form of planning. Instead
remarkable changes have come up due to planning and implementation of Metro. The new mode of
transport has brought in more functional than physical changes in the district.
Civic Spaces
In case of CP, Civic spaces have also not brought any significant change. The shops, features and
centers have only increased in numbers. The residences of the first and second floor have converted
into offices or showrooms, restaurants. The bungalows on the roads radiating out of the district have
been replaced by the high-rise office complexes. But all these changes took place largely in the postindependence era. The central park has improved in terms of being a cultural and civic hub.
29.
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30.
Infrastructure
There have been constant endeavors to improve the physical infrastructure of the district. Many a
times steps have been taken in same regard. The redevelopment of CP began as a part of preparing
the city for the Commonwealth Games 2010. The project included the facelift of the place with a
permanent solution for the problems caused by physical infrastructure development of
underground physical facilities. The work is still undergoing.
31.
32.
Architecture
The Architecture of the district has gone through many phases. Present in the heart of a city which
itself is hundreds of years of age, within eighty years CP has seen many transformations. It started as
a masterpiece of colonial architecture and planning, survived the post-independence rapid
development and then the Indian modernism buildings in 1980s. Presently CP is a canvas that shows
the blend of colors of the past gone by. William Dalrymple compares the new capital with the city of
Chandigarh in his novel City of Djinns,
Pandit Nehru wrote: New Delhi is the visible symbol of British power, with all its ostentation and
wasteful extravagance. He was right of course, but that is only half the story. It is also the finest
architectural artifact created by the British Empire, and preferable in every way to Nehrus
disastrous commission of a hideous new city by Le Corbusier at Chandigarh. Chandigarh is now an
urban disaster, a monument to stained concrete and discredited modernism; but Imperial Delhi is now
more admired and loved than perhaps ever before. Nevertheless, in its patronizing and authoritarian
after taste, Lutyens new Delhi remains as much a monument to the British Empires failings as to
its genius.
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Accessories
The white colonnaded blocks is what defines CP. The district has its own identity as the white colored
building blocks marked as A, B, C, etc. as names on each block. The signage has changed with the
introduction of metro railway also during the revamp project of the district. Still the place is known by
the landmark shops and theatres.
33.
34.
Forces of change
Nature
The only natural change that has affected CP is the timeline through which it has stood up till now. The
course of eighty years has weakened the structures and their ability to bear the loads of rising
demands. The structures have asked for revamp and renovation many a times but the recent
redevelopment project has given the district a new facelift.
Society
The regular increase in population and its influx in the district have resulted in constant growth of CP.
Instead of being a Central Business District, it is now known as commercial and shopping hub. From
political to social to cultural, CP caters all the activities.
Law
Rapid growth of CPs infrastructure and buildings, which depends on the norms and bye-laws, along
with the rising demand threatens the future of the ecology of the place. The green zone of the district
is well preserved and maintained till now. But continuous rise of the high-rise construction in and
around the place stands as a danger towards a healthy environment.
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Technology
Technological advancement in terms of transport facilities has by far benefited the district. The
district has become more approachable and is now well connected to even the remote areas of the
city. Further proposals are there to make it a technology-abled zone keeping in mind its importance
as the central business district.
Economy
With the rise in demand and development of CP as the main commercial hub many international
brands have come up and invested here in recent times. Just as it began, CP continues to be the most
preferred space for major brands and companies which ultimately affects the economy of the district.
Fashion
With the passage of time, tastes have changed and thus the competition amongst the shops has
doubled in terms of fashion. This has brought in new and innovative ideas of publicity and customerdealing. Innovative facades, signage, lighting patterns and spaces have come up thus attracting more
population.
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Sustainability through performance

In order to figure out CPs sustainability as an Urban District, the performance dimensions charted
out earlier has been taken as tool. With the help of the performance dimensions defined earlier in
this work, I shall now evaluate the performance of this particular district and thus stating the key
points that helps it becoming sustainable and if not, what more can be done.
Vitality
As discussed earlier, Vitality consists of the factors sustenance, safety and consonance.
When seen in terms of Sustenance, a district needs to deal with the people directly in such a manner
that it helps them performing their purposes with ease and comfort. CPs physical elements that could
be considered under this heading are
Location CPs central location in the city makes it the heart of the city. Easy access from
every part of city and NCR results in the continuous increasing influx in the district which
also defines its success as the center.
Environment physical environment of CP could be termed as comfortable as a district due
to its shape, size and scale of buildings. The space doesnt look or make one feel congested or
choked in. The central plaza provides the required open space and the green buffer around
the blocks creates balance with the increasing pollution and smoke.
Physical systems CPs connect with the city provides it with regular service in terms of
supply and disposal. Though, some areas around the district are becoming negative spaces
due to less usage and activities in those zones.
35.
36.
Safety in a place could be defined in direct relation to the availability of open spaces and spaces
where public gathering can take place. In CP there are ample open spaces but areas around and
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between the building are home to negative activities. Narrow lanes and unused parking lots between
or near the setbacks of office building are a threat to safety and security.
37.
CP being constructed as a plaza for the British officials, is planned and built in such way that it serves
as a hub or place for leisure activity. Thus the basic structures of the place are genuinely in
consonance with the human environment. New buildings such as the LIC are, however, made in grand
scale and form. The high rise structures around the center which, at a time, didnt blend with the
Lutyens planning and style, now acts as defining character for the district. Overall for a pedestrian,
normally any shopper, the scale and environmental elements are comfortable.
38.
Sense
CP, with its unique architecture and planning, stands out as a separate part of the city. While
approaching CP, either from north side or the south, one can easily identify when beginning and end.
In terms of urban design, one can easily identify the edges of CP. The radial form with colonnaded
53 | P a g e
structures, similar white-colored buildings, paving patterns, green buffer zones, vegetation, all define
a similar character. Even the high-rise structures around the center mark the zone as the central
business district of the city. Also, the activities going on around the clock, exhibits CPs role as a hub,
plaza or district. Many activities like on the shopping street Janpath, Palika Bazar and other such
areas define the district as the prime business & commercial location of the city.
39.
Fit
As mentioned earlier, the term fit is loosely related to common words such as comfort, satisfaction
and efficiency. All these things come together at a simple element, which is acting as a threat to the
districts future requirements continuous increase in demands and population visiting the district.
The requirements like parking facilities and other physical infrastructure needs to be taken care off
soon in order to keep the district working in a satisfactory way. The district needs to develop with the
same pace as the demands are increasing in order to become comfortable and efficient.
Access
Though established as a plaza for the people, CP now has grown to parts which are placed quite far
from each other. For a pedestrian, sometimes, it becomes a tedious task to cover up two buildings or
offices in a stretch. Unavailability of transportation network within the district is something which
should be encouraged. Due to increase in traffic in the area, there are plans to restrict the movement
of vehicles and thus it becomes more important to have a connecting transportation network of its
own.
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40.
Control
Here, we talk about the control on the place by the users and the people who work there. There is no
such prominent control by someone over the activities of other person using it but control can be
seen in terms of using the spaces around ones own territory. People, especially the shop owners,
take on and expand the boundaries of their business environment. Some areas get defined by the
shops in front as their own due to the unavailability of spaces inside.
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Conclusions & Recommendation

The study was done in order to identify rather define the parameters; fulfilling which, a district could
sustain itself in time. The study was also taken in consideration for charting out the factors with
which one can identify a district in a qualitative manner. The study of Connaught Place was taken to
understand the topic in a better and more practical way. Also, as a live example of an Urban District,
factors were studied which kept the particular district survive with time or what threatens it as a
district. Based on the research and study, conclusions have been made and answers were found to
the objectives of this study. Also, at the end, some recommendations have been made suggesting the
qualitative aspects of district which should be kept in mind while designing an Urban District also
some topics have been recommended which could be taken further to study and understand this topic.
The conclusions or inferences of the study are as follows
1. Every city needs a place where the citizens of the city can gather or meet. This is the basic
human nature and the answer to it is a district. A district serves as the meeting point for the
people of the city. Although, with the form of activity occurring in a district, its typology also
changes. A district has a character or identity of its own which makes it different from other
places and that identity is developed with its form and the development pattern. Thus, to
develop a district, one needs to maintain the character of the place with the use of
identifiable form, structures, architectural elements, texture, features, etc. Above all, the
most important thing required for developing a successful district is the human intervention
and the activity occurring.
2. As mentioned in above, a district can easily be identified or differentiated from other places
of the city for it has a character of its own. Thus to identify a district one needs to look for
the elements which set the district unique from others. Majorly, these elements can be
classified in two terms, Physical form and visible activity. Breaking down it further, we have
elements like features, path, centers, architecture, public activity, edges, etc.
3. In order to measure the sustainability of a district, some performance dimensions have been
noted which would help one qualitatively measure the sustainability. The dimensions are
vitality, sense, fit, access and control. Studying and considering the dimensions would also
help one while designing a district.
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4. Connaught place, as a Central Business District, has sustained itself through the passage of
time, which is very well visible and known but the factors that has helped the district achieve
the sustainability could be jotted down as
Its ability to adapt the changes
Its location, in the heart of the capital city.
The form of the district, its architectural features, its centers, scale and proportions,
all have contributed and helped the district to contain the rush it is catering to.
The sense of the place or the identity it has plays a vital role in making it sustain to
several generations and times. The place has its own form, and identity which has
been maintained over all.
The access to the place is very easy and comfortable which also results in continuous
influx of people from all parts of the city which also serves it as the center of almost
every activity.
The activities taking place in the center also defines it to be the first preference of
the citizens around it. The place is known for its leisure, business, commercial and
recreational activities, which makes it a hub for people.
Further, the elements which act as a threat to CPs development and sustainability are few
but important:
The amount of influx to the center stands out as a threat to the district which is a
result of lack of spaces for parking and other facilities.
The present view of the physical infrastructure is not good, which if not tackled,
would be a major threat to the development.
The rising traffic and vehicular movement needs to be checked as it is becoming
uncontrollable and the place would not be able to contain it soon.
As the study has not been conducted with much detail and only the qualitative part has been taken in
consideration, major recommendation or criteria that should be kept in mind while designing an urban
district are
The most important factor to be kept in consideration is the identity of the place which
should be maintained in terms of form, spaces, scale, features, proportions, centers, etc.
The district should be flexible in nature, i.e. it should have spaces and opportunities to
improve and adapt the change.
The setting and location of the district is important and thus while planning it should be
placed so that it is easily accessible to the people of the city.
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For further studies and research and to take the topic to further details, one might consider studying
other urban design elements which helps in the development of an urban district as a whole like
nodes, centers, features, etc. Also, one might take the designing part and look out for a solution for
designing an urban district on to architectural level and detail. One can also look to the problem
according to different activities occurring around. The study might also include the other fields of
architecture, like Landscape design and thus finding solutions towards the sustainability of a district
on a larger canvas.
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Bibliography
Books
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Urban Design: The Architecture of towns and cities, by Paul D. Spreiregen

A theory of a Good city form, by Kevin Lynch
Image of the City, by Kevin Lynch
Ten Books of Architecture, by Vitruvius
Pattern Language, by Christopher Alexander
Timeless way of building, by Christopher Alexander
Papers & Research works

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
History of cities and planning, by Cliff Ellis

The Growth of the city: An introduction to a research project, by Ernest W. Buress
Basic concepts of urban design: A researchers review, by Sanjay S. Jaon [2007]
Creating life in an Urban Space, by Kirsten fredrickson [1999]
Evolution of Urban Districts, by William Greemes, AICP & Eric Lee
Measuring Urban Sustainability: Developing a Conceptual framework for bridging the gap
between theoretical levels and the operational levels, by M. R. Manasvi [2007]
Measuring Urban Sustainability, by Marina Alberti
Re imagining Indian cities Design for urban space, by Urban Habitats Forum, Indian Habitat
Center & Mirabilis Advisory (P) Ltd.
Sustainability profile for Urban Districts in Copenhagen, by Jesper Ole Jensen
Essential Elements of Sustainable Design, by Nathan Cherry, AICP with Kurt Nagle, AICP
Social Logic of shopping: case study of New Delhi, by Amit Kumar Sarma
Linking histories: The planning of New Delhi, by Lucy Peck
Planning for Delhi, V. Nath [1993]
Lutyens New Delhi Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, by M. N. Buch
Delhi: Many Windows in Time and Space, by Syed S. Shafi
British Architecture in India 1857-1947, by Gavin Stamp
Unpublished Works
Urban Public Spaces [S-1306], dissertation work by ShahanaChatterjee, S. P. A.

Public recreational spaces [SA-548], dissertation work by N. Bhatnagar [1989]
Residential districts of Shahjahanabad [SA-840], dissertation work by P. Dhawan [1992]
Central Market Lajpat Nagar [SA-868], dissertation work by V. Khanna [1993]
Connaught Place [SA-562], dissertation work by RomitMathur [1989]
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Urban Space relationship [SA-748], dissertation work by SonaliSrivastava [1991]

Public open spaces: Special needs [SA-2042], dissertation work by S. Goel [2009]
Urban open space [SA-1879], dissertation work by AtishaVarshney [2006]
Urban Revitalization of CBD, C.P. [3701], Thesis work by AkankshaRaina [2010]
Media
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b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
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h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
New Delhi 100 Centenary of the Capital, Hindustan Times, 2011

Connaught Place & its surroundings, by World Monuments Fund
Connaught Place Introduction, by 48 degrees Celsius
How buildings learn, a six part series by Stewart Brand
City of Djinns, by William Dalrymple
www.ndtv.com
www.hindustantimes.com
www.archinomy.com
www.architecture-student.com
www.jstor.com
www.sarai.net
www.youtube.com
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ARCHITECTURAL DISSERTATION

STUDY OF AN URBAN DISTRICT CASE OF CONNAUGHT PLACE,

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Name DISHANT BHATIA

B.Arch. IXth semester

SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI UNIVERSITY

Ar. Abhiney Gupta

Ar. Aditya K. Singh

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Ar. Anusha Narayanan

for being the inspiration and for setting the bench-marks

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

5. TOPIC: Urban District _

7. DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNS & CITIES

8. DEFINING URBAN DISTRICT

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

10. EVOLUTION OF DISTRICT _

11. SUSTAINABILITY OF A DISTRICT _

13. CONNAUGHT PLACE BIRTH OF A DISTRICT

14. CP AS AN URBAN DISTRICT IDENTIFICATION

15. EVOLUTION OF C.P.

16. SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PERFORMANCE_

17. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

TOPIC: URBAN DISTRICTS

To study and understand the role of a district in Urban Context.

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

The questions, Ill be looking an answer to are:

Framing of Questions and Objectives.

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Development of Towns and Cities

Background of Public spaces

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Defining Urban District

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Birth of Urban Place

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Connaught Place Birth of a District

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi

Sustainability of an Urban District Case of Connaught Place, New Delhi