Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Abstract:- Urban public spaces have been described as importance of pedestrianisation in a public space, how
places of gathering for social, economic or cultural the place should be accessed, the role of physical
purposes. It derives its form from the local context, features etc.
land use and heritage of the city. Earlier the streets ,
the chowks, the open green spaces people wants to go to The study concludes that all factors helps in
shop, to walk, to interact, to meet, to play and even to making chowks a better place to think about, they gives
see. Then the time came when the automobiles, an ideal imageability to chowks which becomes a
buildings, traffic, crowd came changing the concept of highlight of the public spaces. These factors give a new
spaces, the people and places were shunted aside. With enlighting path or ways of improvement in the existing
time the quality of spaces washed away with the new chowk concept and make it a center point of attraction
inventions. The proportion of urban areas dedicated to again, which will affect the vision of the passerby and
streets, nodes and public spaces is a crucial feature of set in the memories of the visitors forever.
the spatial plans of cities. Indeed cities that have
adequate street and public spaces and greater Image of the city is duly enhanced with the advent
connectivity are more liveable and productive. of new modern concepts of chowks, they provide an
imageability and bring out the vision behind the
Earlier the Chowks were the major urban public structural concept of chowks.
spaces in India solving different purposes such as
promoting the access & movement but with I. INTRODUCTION
encouraging the interaction & various activities at the
same time. But with time the essence of chowks is been There was a time in our cities & towns when moving
washed away due to many reasons. This focus is to from one place to another was pleasant and gives enriched
analyse what are the physical & social factors that play experiences. Earlier the streets, the chowk, the open green
major role in reviving the chowks of a city. spaces people wants to go to shop, to walk, to interact, to
meet, to play and even to see. Like the urban spaces were
Through this study, an attempt is made to the stage given to the community to interact & exchange
understand the various social & physical factors such ideas and at the same time various activities takes place.
as pedestrian movement, activities, accessibility, visual Then the time came when the automobiles came changing
access plays an important role in defining the image of the concept of spaces, the people and places were shunted
a city through these spaces. The study aims to aside. With time the quality of spaces washed away with
understand the chowks, and how they act as an urban the new inventions. The activities on street are important
public space by considering the physical and social element of urban structure as a street and a node acts as a
aspects of traditional and contemporary chowk in social space, commercial space, cultural space as well as a
present scenario. channel of movement, sometimes a junction gives a
symbolic representation of local tradition and culture. The
For the fulfilment various methods are carried proportion of urban areas dedicated to streets and public
out, the literature is studied that what has been said spaces is a crucial feature of the spatial plans of cities.
about the chowks & public places by different authors Indeed cities that have adequate street and public spaces
in different perspectives, then the data is generated & and greater connectivity are more liveable and productive.
collected by the surveys at different timings for better Street pattern, street junctions, plazas and public gardens,
understanding of the place. By analysing the current is the key element of personal interaction and
scenario some findings are generated on the basis of communication between the citizens. In that sense, it
some parameters (physical & social aspects) such as the defines the culture and political quality of city life.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW consideration the physical, social and symbolic aspects at
the same time (Krier, 1979, p.15).
2.1 Urban Spaces
Many people have identified urban spaces with a Urban spaces are important segment of daily lives.
number of different perspectives. Subsequently, Krier Such activities of daily life take place both in public
characterizes urban space as the “external space”, “all spheres and private spheres.
types of space between buildings in towns and other
localities.” The concept of urban space needs to take into
Historically, the urban spaces in any city have been 2.3 Area of Concern
important to everyone which is being over For centuries streets & chowks contributed to
shadowed by the lost traditional sense of urban space. Ther defining the cultural, social, economic and political
e is need to understand the relationship of a city and its functions of cities. They are key element in determining the
urban spaces, and aid in generation of newer urban spaces. form and function of a city neighbourhood and community.
Developing countries like India face these challenges more Historically, the purpose of streets was to carry pedestrian
than others as rapid urbanization is enormously extending and nodes to facilitate movement and access while at the
the residential sector but has limited development same time encouraged interaction within the community.
in public areas. The demand of housing is so high that Thus, streets define a city’s urban landscape & the chowks
lacking in the public spaces occurred. And privileged people to interact.
whatever new urban spaces are designed, are failing to gras
Traditional streets, similar to past public places (i.e. chowks are acting just as traffic nodes in today’s time losing
Greek agora, roman forum), were developed based on the their sense of place with time.
functional need of the people throughout time. The sidewalk
was a western invention. The first sidewalk was said to have The chowks were welcoming people to interact, they
been built in Pompeii in 200 B.C. with the sole purpose of were like having a temple and shops along inviting people
physically delineating walking individuals. The study of to worship and provide space to have a social activity, these
History provides an understanding on the evolution of the things were helping in promoting a better social life.
local urban context ensuring the cultural continuity in a city.
2.4. The concept of nodes (chowks)
Earlier the chowks were majorly used by the people to The concept of a node is another element that needs to
interact. A tree aside of the chowk invites people to interact be considered when discussing space and place. A node is
with a feeling of comfort and safety. People sitting and chit an intersection of two or more linear systems can be a
chat interact with each other in their leisure time at the main generating point of a place, can be starting point of any
chowks of the town or place encourages the sense of safety community. Nodes are immaterial, representational points
to the people living in that place. The chances of crime that describe just not the flows of movement & but the
reduced by it as they work as “eyes on street” for the activities as well.
community. But do we have that culture now-a -days? The
Lynch discussed the term ‘nodes’ in his study ‘The image of a city, imageability, cognition, identity,
Image of the City’ as one of the five elements of a city. He orientation, way- finding, urban design and architecture.
made a classification into five types of elements, which are
paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks. Lynch was the Nodes are points, the strategic spots in a city into
first person to discuss the importance of these elements in which an observer can enter, and which are the intensive
that manner. He studied each element’s functions and each foci to and from which he is travelling. They may be
element’s effects on the people who live in the urban primarily junctions or concentrations.
environment, in terms of physical reality of a city, mental
Fig 2.7: Plan showing various major nodes of the city (Source: Image of city, Kevin lynch)
2.5 Chowk in Indian context chat interact with each other in their leisure time at the main
Cities in history are remembered for their public chowks of the town or place encourages the sense of safety
spaces, the Greek Agora, the Roman Forum, the European to the people living in that place. The chances of crime
squares and Indian ‘chowks’ (quadrangle open spaces). The reduced by it as they work as “eyes on street” for the
experience of ‘public’ is the experience of a city. This is as community. But do we have that culture now-a -days? The
true for the visitors as for her inhabitants. In fact, public chowks are acting just as traffic nodes in today’s time losing
spaces have great value for the inhabitants than the visitors, their sense of place with time.
as these spaces contribute greatly to enhance the experience
of lived reality. The chowks were welcoming people to interact, they
were like having a temple and shops along inviting people
Earlier the chowks were majorly used by the people to to worship and provide space to have a social activity, these
interact. A tree aside of the chowk invites people to interact things were helping in promoting a better social life.
with a feeling of comfort and safety. People sitting and chit
Fig 2.10: Streets with Inviting, rich in detail,& design for lingering
(Source: https://www.pps.org/article/8-principles-streets-as-places, 2015)
2.7.5 Interactive and social which some external stimulus provides a linkage between
William Whyte used the term ―triangulation, to people and prompts strangers to talk to other strangers as if
refer to features and activities that create linkages between they knew each other.
people in a public space. In his words, it is ―a process by
Fig 2.11: Streets showing intractiveness & social activeness with uniqueness
(Source: https://www.pps.org/article/8-principles-streets-as-places, 2015)
A 100X100m square accessible by two major roads- located centrally. The viewing angle of 10° reduces the feeling of
closure and there is a clear visual connection from one end to the other.
Fig 2.15: Street lights in badi chaupar (source: traditional jaipur study,2014)
Street lights:
Street lighting is just an element but it increases the safety level of badi chaupar and offers an welcoming environment (all
day) to the people visiting there.
Fig 2.16: Buffer zones in badi chaupar (source: traditional jaipur study, 2014)
Zones created for pedestrian, parking of vehicle & for place. On the corners of the chaupar trees are planted which
vehicular movement provide proper channelization for the are for shading & sitting purposes. Landscape is not just
people coming for any purpose here. Pedestrian friendly increasing the aesthetics of the place but giving
environment increases the rate of people accessing the opportunities of social interaction.
The pedestrian zones made in the badi chaupar are in 2.10.4. Physical Attributes
context of architectural style of Jaipur, providing Landscape features
uniformity to the place. The monotonous colour, texture & Seating’s
style making it visually attractive. Street lights
Pedestrian Friendly
2.10. Parameters of a better urban public space
According to the description that is mentioned in the III. CASE STUDY
previous sections, we continue to address the issue of how
to create these spaces and which measures and indicators to The case study is of the different chowks of lucknow
use to evaluate their effectiveness, open a huge field for that are-
assessment, discussions and action. Considering the Kaisarbagh chowk (18th Century)
substantial role of these spaces, not only in terms of what Lalbagh chowk (19th Century)
they are expected to prepare citizens and society as a Husariya chowk (21st Century)
whole, this type of spaces can be evaluated according to the
following criteria: These are the chowks of different time period from the
oldest to the modern time. Site selection criteria of these
2.10.1. Access chowks-
Inviting public spaces and easy access to these spaces
has a significant impact on people's presence in spaces. Kaiser Bagh Chowk
Access to public spaces is in the sense of openness towards This is one of the oldest chowk catering major roads
a social presence in itself. from the city to major destinations that are charbagh,
The linkages, connectivity, connecting roads, ameenabad, Burlington etc.
surrounding building.
Visual Connection Lalbagh Chowk
This is the next traditional chowk catering various
2.10.2. Scale & Proportion activities and connecting to major roads to hazrat ganj,
Scale & proportion creates an image to one’s mind, if charbagh etc.
it is in proportion can give a feeling of comfort, feeling of
safety can be felt by the proportions of a space. Husariya Chowk
Enclosure ratio(building height/road width) This is the chowk of modern time catering different
Visual attractiveness settlements of people & connected to the highway.
2.10.3. Transparency
Transparency increases the rate of people coming to
the place, it gives a feeling of safety & helps in inviting
people to the place.
Building facades
Activity pattern
3.1.1. Accessibility
This chowk is accessible by 5 minor roads, providing connection to the major areas of the city i.e. to hazratganj, ameenabad,
great post office etc.
Fig 3.4: Plan showing Pedestrian movement at Lalbagh chowk (Source: Author)
3.2.1. Accessibility
This chowk is accessible by 5 major roads-located centrally.it gives direct connectivity to the major area that are charbagh,
ameenabad, kaisarbagh bus station, cantonment etc, that’s why its is one of the most active chowk of the city.
3.3.1. Accessibility
This chowk is accessible by 4 major roads, which are further connected to major destinations that are hanhemann chowk,
gomti nagar, patrakar puram etc.
Fig 3.37: Pathways along chowk Fig 3.38: Building heights variation with mix
(Source: Author) land use (Source: Author)
IV. FINDINGS & DISCUSSIONS -Seating and landscaping elements should be provided
in the centre and should be well-shaded to protect from
The access could terminate in a landmark or have an the harsh sun. Shops and stalls should use overhangs for
element of surprise, or any activity that attracts the the same.
visitors to the place. -To promote unity and continuity in the space, a
Pedestrian movement also gets enhanced by multiple common element or façade treatment should be done.
activities happening in the area, as can be seen in This will give enhance the sense of similarity among
lalbagh chowk. The number of pedestrians increases the users.
with market activity. -Use of tactile flooring has to be incorporated for the
The landscape features are also an important part, ease of visually-impaired people.
providing shades and maintaining the micro climate of
the place. C. Activities:
Physical features are also important as they add value to Shops, food stalls, etc should be provided for leisure.
the place and give a feeling of sense of place. This will promote more people to use the space.
Basic street furniture like benches, litter bins and public
From the case studies of the different chowks, it is toilets should be provided within 500m distance.
possible to come up with guidelines related to designing it Smell can be used as a tool to attract people to food
to a better urban space. stalls.
Promotion of activities should be done by utilizing
A. Access: proper space which is generally covered by
should be accessible from major network of roads. The unorganized parking.
space should be designed as a fully pedestrian zone so
that it is accessible to all without haphazardness. D. Physical features:
Specific landmarks should be visible from at least 100 physical features such as street lights, seatings,
m (walkable distance) to provide visual access. hardscapes & softscapes, building features seems to be
very little but all together they enhance space in a better
B. Visual Configuration: way, so consideration of these should be taken
An element of surprise can be added in the space to seriously.
promote activity to the place.
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