AR6912 – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN -VI

URBAN DESIGN
Design Brief _ 5th Year “C” Sec
Location: Anna
Square, PondyCherry
[ refer attached google map ]

Assoc. Prof. Senthil Mani / Assis. Prof. Mohan Gopiraj / Assis. Prof. Suba Nandhini
This document is a copyright of MIDAS
Any reproduction is subject to appropriate referencing
 URBAN DESIGN

“ It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable
is how often this has been accomplished.”
-William H. Whyte

1. Introduction:

Urban design is concerned with the design of the buildings, places,

spaces and networks that make up our towns and cities, and the
ways people use them. It is an approach that draws together many
different sectors and professions, and it includes both the process of
decision-making as well as the outcomes of design

2. Context :

Urbanization in our cities has been a combination of planned &

chaotic development due to the out flux of people from smaller
towns or villages. Due to the rapid migration the urban center is
under pressure to accommodate, circulate and provide all facilities
within a short span of time which leads to the increase in population
density of the particular region.

The most common problems due to increase in population density is

related to movement/ circulation. Primary circulation which is one of
the most important aspects of an urban center connects users to the
various elements in an urban setting. Overcrowding disrupts primary
circulation which affects the holistic growth of the locality.

Multilevel vehicular circulation through flyovers is seen as one of the

common solution to faster movement within the existing elements. A
good urban design sensitively addresses every single existing
component of a locality including its natural environment and
constantly motivates its users to cherish, maintain and develop their
surroundings in a sustainable and economically effective manner.

Assoc. Prof. Senthil Mani / Assis. Prof. Mohan Gopiraj / Assis. Prof. Suba Nandhini
This document is a copyright of MIDAS
Any reproduction is subject to appropriate referencing
3.AIM:

To explore the continuity and dynamics of urban form with a

thrust on the interrelationships between the disciplines of
architecture, urban design, landscape and town planning.

4.OBJECTIVES:

• To understand the various components and aspects of the

urban environment as well as their interrelationships

• To understand in specific components/issues such as

public spaces, physical infrastructure, socio-cultural
aspects- heritage, gender, class, dynamics of urban
growth

• To understand people as users of the urban environment in

various scales.

• To explore techniques of mapping and diagramming to

understand the dynamic urban environment.

• To take design decisions in a comprehensive manner

understanding their implications in the larger context.

Assoc. Prof. Senthil Mani / Assis. Prof. Mohan Gopiraj / Assis. Prof. Suba Nandhini
This document is a copyright of MIDAS
Any reproduction is subject to appropriate referencing
5.SITE: Study area is in Anna Square, Pondycherrry (Puducherry)
including immediate surroundings as marked in the google
map.

6. DEVELOPMENT OF A URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINE:

A city is an assemblage of buildings and streets, system of comm

unication and utilities, places of work, transportation, leisure and
meeting places. The proce ss of arranging these elements both
functionally a nd beautifully is the essence of urban design. The vision
of the development plan must fulfill the following essential needs:

• Allow understanding of what the public spaces between

buildings will b e like before they are built;

Assoc. Prof. Senthil Mani / Assis. Prof. Mohan Gopiraj / Assis. Prof. Suba Nandhini
This document is a copyright of MIDAS
Any reproduction is subject to appropriate referencing
• Show how the streets, squares and open spaces of a neighborhood
are to be connected;
• Defines the heights, massin g and bulk of the buildings but not
the architectural style or detailed design;

• Control the relationship bet ween the buildings and public

spaces to maximize street frontage and reduce large areas of blank
walls;

• Determine the distribution of uses, and if these uses should be

accessible at street level;

•Control the network of movement patterns for people moving on

foot, cycle, car or public transport;

• Identify location of street fur niture, lighting, landscaping,

monuments, etc; and

• Allow understanding and v isualization of how a new or enhanced

urban neighborhood is integrated with the surrounding urban context
and natural environment.

7. STRUCTURE OF THE PR OJECT

You are required to perform a thorough study of existing conditions in

th e given area, covering the following aspects and representing
them graphically through plans and sections:

• Land Use (Change in land use over the years)

• Building Use (Change in building use over the years)

• Building Heights

• Documentation of Historical Buildings

• Figure Ground

Assoc. Prof. Senthil Mani / Assis. Prof. Mohan Gopiraj / Assis. Prof. Suba Nandhini
This document is a copyright of MIDAS
Any reproduction is subject to appropriate referencing
 • Shift in activity patterns

• Amenities/facilities

• Infrastructure

• Roads and Networks

• Existing street furnitur e, signage, etc

8. METHODOLOGY:

The class will be divided in to five study groups based on the various
study parameters as given below.

1. Urban Sociology ( Socio-economic studies )

2. Urban Morphology ( Physical and road networks)

3. Urban Habitat ( Housing – Massing )

4. Urban Vistas ( Aesthetics , heritage, nodes)

5. Urban Ecology ( all types of Public open spaces )

Note: The groups shall further be reshuffled during the design

proposal stage.

9. Mode of submission :

Study sheets – Not less than

A1 size
Proposal Sheets – Not less
than A1 size
Physical Model – 1 sqm area

Assoc. Prof. Senthil Mani / Assis. Prof. Mohan Gopiraj / Assis. Prof. Suba Nandhini
This document is a copyright of MIDAS
Any reproduction is subject to appropriate referencing
SCHEDULE OF REVIEWS:

Date Act
ivit
y
05 & 06-07- Literature Study Presentation by Groups
2019
18-07-2019 to Data Collection _ Presentation by Groups
19-07-2019

01-08-2019 to Pre-liminary Softcopy _ Presentation by Groups

02-08-2019
09-08-2019 to Final Sheet Presentation by groups
10-08-2019
16-08-2019 Sheets Display for Public Review

REFERENCES:

1. Jonathan Barnett, An Introduction to Urban Design

2. I. Jawgeih, Life between Bu ildings,- Using Public Space,

ArkitektensForleg 1987

3. Time Savers Standard for U rban Design

4. Geoffrey Broadbent, Emerg ing Concepts in Urban Space Design

5.A.E.J. Morris, History of Urban Form before the Industrial Revolution,

Prentice Hall

STUDIO MENTORS FOR 5 “C” SEC :

Associate Prof. Senthil Mani

Assistant Prof. Mohan Gopiraj
Assistant Prof. Suba Nandhini