Rajiv Babu

UD4003-3

Elements of Urban Design Portfolio

Representation of design intention is really important when it comes to architecture and especially for urban design. When it comes to design, there are a lot of decisions that are taken by the designer to arrive at the final end product. To properly convey these ideas and decisions to the viewers, diagrams are utilized. These diagrams have to be simple enough to be understood by everyone, and still be visually pleasing. In a way, diagrams can be said that it is both artistic and infromative. Being artistic, it is important that the diagrams have a unique style to it. The style often varies due to numerous reasons, including type of the project, scale etc. This compilation of works was done in the second semester of Masters of Urban Design course at CEPT University. The projects vary in scale and type, as there is a steep progression from visualizing building types, streets, open spaces and finally, an urban block. Module 1 of this semester studied building types, urban blocks, streets and public open spaces which form the key elements to make any functional urban space. Module 2 involved a design exercise reflecting the application of the abilities and skills developed in the first module through preparation of a framework plan of a given urban area and communicating it graphically. The semester culminated with the design of a public place in Vastrapur in the city of Ahmedabad. In short, this is my experiments of delving deeper into the representation techniques in urban design, and a steep progression in the representation style is clearly visible. It really helped me in having my own representation style, and understand the urban elements that make a city.


Report Content

Building types

Streets

Urban block

Vastrapur is primarily a residential area in the Western part of Ahmedabad. Vastrapur lake is a prime example of a central urban space in the city, which attracts a lot of people, and informal vendors to the area. There are a lot of vendors situated around the lake area, but are scattered. The project identifies such vendors and aims to providing them with an organized space to conduct their business. By doing this, the project also declutters the informal vendors around the lake.

The project is not providing any specific infrastructure for the vendors, and the vendors are only required to provide a rent for using the marked spaces. They are allowed to come there, and do business in the street. Formalising informal vendors always results in increased prices of commodities as the vendors will have to find a way to make profit while paying taxes. There has to be a balance struck between what is to be done regarding formalising these businesses.

The streets are staggered to be adjoining the public places, which can enhance it in the case of Vastrapur Lake, and activate it in the case of the playground

Concrete is the main material used. Only the finishes are varied towards the edges, and the grid changes. The surfaces are painted to demarcate its uses

The steel columns varies in height in accordance with the roof forms, and these elements organize the activities in the street

The roof enables the street to function anytime of the day, making it a really good public place for the city of Ahmedabad

The project serves as an example for future streets of the city for including spaces for vendors in the street