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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.

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