Skip to main content

Minimally Invasive Urbanism




Urban transformation may not always be "effort-time-money-intensive". Eric Reynolds (of Urban Space Management) mentions about the "Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper" solutions that can be applied to urban spaces. This signals a bottom-up approach to urban issues rather than the top-down traditional approach.

Even small urban interventions carried out with minimum resources can improve the livability and image of an urban space and transform it into a "place". Most of these interventions are small-scale, temporary and address an immediate issue at a neighborhood level. More often than not, these are community initiatives for the sole aim of improving their immediate environments. 'Parklets', street painting, wall murals, "happy streets" etc. are all examples of these "Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper" interventions which fall under the umbrella term of "Tactical Urbanism". It is also referred to as guerilla urbanism, pop-up urbanism, city repair, or D.I.Y. urbanism.

This is particularly helpful in developing countries where resources (read, financial) are scarce and whatever gets allotted for public projects gets embezzled at all level, trickling down to mere drop by the time it reaches the citizens. Patrick Geddes proposed the concept of "Conservatory Surgery" for urban transformation. I would say Tactical Urbanism is akin to "Minimally Invasive Surgery". Similar to Minimally Invasive Surgery in medical surgery, Tactical Urbanism too involves limiting the size of incisions to heal/ treat the disease.

Urban areas in developing countries can be the playing fields of Tactical Urbanism. This, because most urban areas lack a detailed Local Area Plan, and rely primarily on City Development Plans to achieve urban transformation; leaving numerous spaces unplanned, un-designed and neglected. If the same spaces are seen from the human eye level (rather than the satellite view level), there lie numerous opportunities to intervene and transform. Spaces under flyovers, medians, roundabouts, footpaths, street corners, abandoned buildings, spaces between buildings .....

In large metropolitan areas like Mumbai, people experience a lack of recreational spaces, and community spaces. Through Tactical Urbanism, the Citizens of Mumbai can claim and create their own community spaces within their neighborhoods. This movement will not only create communities but also transform existing ones, giving the term "Participatory Urbanism" a whole new meaning - Cities built for the people, by the people! If these small urban interventions by communities, quickly and within scarce resources are repeated effectively, it is a strong strategy to make big, long-term transformations through small, short-term interventions.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Architecture for the Poor - Hassan Fathy

Hassan Fathy was a remarkable man: artist, antiquarian and social reformer to the world's poor. He was slightly built and enveloped by an air of virtuousness, projecting the intellectual vigour, tranquillity and inner calm reserved for the elect. These qualities, accompanied by a twinkle in his eye and a willingness to listen, made him a favourite of students, who responded to him with warmth and humour, and vied for his attention. Fathy's architectural and social ideas were based at first upon his colonial education, and only later moulded by a deep knowledge of his country's long history and in particular its architecture, which had often been controlled by mathematics and mystical geometries. Six general principles guided him throughout his career: the primacy of human values in architecture; the importance of a universal approach; the use of appropriate technology; the need for socially oriented, co-operative construction techniques; the essential role of tradition; and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Smart Cities and the Mango People

The Government is making massive efforts to set the ball rolling on the Smart Cities program in India. ULBs are gearing up and creating SPVs and hiring consultants to make their pitch, and access the funds. Much seems to be happening in the background. Self-proclaimed "Smart City Gurus" seem to have sprung out of nowhere, and others are clamoring to get into the scene. International consultants, IT companies and Management wallahs have all jumped onto the bandwagon to make Indian cities "Smart". But if you ask the man on the street about "Smart Cities", he will either give you a blank stare or utter something which is merely an aspect of the concept of Smart Cities. And you will experience the same reaction when conversing with a qualified Architect, Urban Planner or Urban Designer. That, or you might end up in an endless, pointless debate. The point is, in all this brouhaha where does the common-man-on-the-street fit in? Is he a part of this wav...
Post a Comment
Read more

UN-HABITAT Report - Housing Crisis

A new report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme warns that unless governments around the world take action the world faces a massive urban crisis as housing shortages could lead to mega-slums. According to "recent estimates, more than two billion people would be added to the number of city dwellers in developing countries by 2030. To meet the needs of that additional population, some 35 million new housing units would have to be built every year for the next 25 years. "But unless adequate financial resources are invested in the development of urban shelter and services, including clean water and sanitation, billions of people will be trapped in poverty, deplorable housing conditions, poor health and low productivity, making today's enormous slum challenge even greater." Full article here: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0914-03.htm
Post a Comment
Read more