Jayakrupa G J

UP4002

Infrastructural Metamorphosis

The simultaneous growth of pilgrimage and trade is an outstanding feature of urban life in a region - George Michell What happens when one seems to outgrow the other ? Is there a definite line between sacred and urban spaces?  


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This has led to modification of urban spaces that have altogether changed the land use patterns in the areas surrounding the temple.

The width of the streets do not support the commercial activity. The institutional activities on the arterial roads again do not have adequate supporting infrastructures.

The life and character of streets define people’s experience. One such street is the W.B.Road and College Road in Trichy.

Informal commercial establishments take away businesses from established retails and they degrade the overall sacred atmosphere by shouting and encroaching on the roads. As there is no green cover, the buildings acts as providers of shade.

The streets adjoining the temple and the temple tank have become commercial areas where pilgrimage activity seems to have lost its charm. The temple tank and its activities are not being maintained or used and are getting degraded as the everyday tradition starts from here.

The inability to maintain houses and the boom of institutional areas have given a shift from pilgrim based economy to a commercial economy. This has resulted in confusing circulations and unordered vehicular access.

Wall to wall construction in the long run have encroached even the temple premises as it is the core area where availability of land is scarce, it has commercials developed all around.

The built structures are not anymore influenced by the temple. The market demand in the name of tourism has influenced the precinct towards commercialization.

Along the main roads, there is FSI of around 2 to 3 with the buildings in the sub-arterial road also having FSI of around 2 in spite of the narrow lanes. Even though the plot sizes are small, there is development because of the nature of the precinct. Hence we see a lot of G+1 structures in addition to G+2 and G+3.