UD Landmarks Vikas

8/12/2019 UD Landmarks Vikas

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DEPARTMENTOFARCHITECTURE&REGIONALPLANNING

INDIANINSTITUTEOFTECHNOLOGY,KHARAGPUR

200809

Landmarksin

Urban

Design

structuresasidentitiestoaregion

VIKASKUMARNIRMAL

08AR6031


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SEPTEMBER1,2008

UrbanDesign

ABSTRACT:Landmarksaretheoneswhichrepresentanynodeorregionwiththeirsingleidentity.Theideaofthisstudyistoknowtheimportanceofvariousstructures,buildings&monumentswhichareofgreatimportanceandthecharacteristicsoftheseentitieswhichmakethemuniqueanddelightful.Ihavealsoemphasizedonseveralissuesthatneedstobetakencareoftoprotecttheselandmarkslikeconservation&preservation.Theneedofthehouristosetupseparatebodytolookaftertheirmaintenance&restorationworkotherwisethreatoflosingthegreatarchitecturestyles&planningwillseverelyaffectthesegreatstructures.


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CONTENTS

1. WhatisaLandmark? Naturallandmarks Manmadelandmarks

2. FeaturesCharacterizingLandmarkValue Verticaldominance. Location. UniqueDesign. Integrationwithbackground&foreground. Appreciationspace. Elementalrelationship.

3. ScalesofLandmarks Humanscale. Genericscale. Monumentalscale.

4. Overplaying&UnderplayingofLandmarks5. FuturisticChangingConceptsofLandmarks6. MethodstoRestoretheGloryofLandmarks7. ConservationofLandmarksandBuiltEnvironment8. UrbanArtCommission

DelhiUrbanArtsCommission DUACsInitiatives

9. Observation&Conclusion10.Bibliography


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1.WHATISALANDMARK?Alandmarkmaybedefinedasanimportantgeographicfeatureactingasanidentitytoany

node,place,cityorcountry.Itisalsousedbyexplorersandotherstofindtheirwaybackor

throughanarea.Inmodernusage,alandmarkincludesanythingthatiseasilyrecognizable

suchasasculpture,monument,building,oranyotherphysicalstructurethatdraws

attention.

InAmericanEnglishitisthemaintermusedtodesignateplacesthatmightbeofinterestto

touristsduetonotablephysicalfeaturesorhistoricalsignificance.LandmarksintheBritish

English&Americansenseareoftenusedforcasualnavigation,suchasgivingdirections.

Landmarksmaybesplitintotwocategories:

Naturalphenomena:

Naturallandmarksaretheoneswhicharenaturegiftedorsometimescreatedbyvolcanic

eruptionsetclikewaterfalls,rivers,mountainsandrockformations.

Manmadefeatures:

Manmadelandmarksarestructuresbuiltthroughdevelopmentforhumanactivitieslike

featureslikebuildings,bridges,statues,satellitetowersandpublicsquaresetc.


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2. FEATURESCHARACTERIZINGLANDMARKVALUE:I. Verticaldominance.II. Location.III. UniqueDesign.IV. Integrationwithbackground&foreground.V. Appreciationspace.VI. Elementalrelationship.I. Verticaldominance: Theverticaldominanceoverabuttingfeaturesapparentlymakeslandmarkvalue. Skylineallowsmoreviewstolandmarksgroundaswellasaerial. Singlingoutanelementfromthehostofpossibilitiesinthebackground. Theskylineoflandmarkmakesappealingeffecttoitsentity. Verticalityallowslandmarkstobeappreciatedfromdistantpointsofcity. Mostoftheskyscrapersareidentifiedbytheirdominanceoverneighboringbuildings. Closelandmarksareidentifiedbytheirbaseandcrown.

II. Location Locationdoesplayanimportantroleinstrengtheningorweakeningthelandmark. Siteoflandmarklocatedinthecitywillalwayshavemoreviewersratherthanlandmarks

incountrysideorurbanfringe.

Proximity&accessibilitytolandmarksitesalsohaveinvitinggesturetopublic.


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Landmarkslocatedatmajorshoppingplazas,urbansquares,recreationalareasfetchmorepublicascomparedtostructurelocatedatbusytransitjunction.

Locationslikehilltops,pinnacles,seasideandlandwaterinterfaceetcaddmorecharm&advantagetolandmarkvalueandhencegivesoothingexperiencetopeople.

III.UniqueDesign Uniqueanddifferentlookveryimportantforanylandmarktohaveitsownidentity. Itmakeslandmarkstandingoutfromaclusterofstructures. Itallowsnewideasanddesignstocomeforwardagainstconventionalapproachofpure

geometricalforms.

Thresholdofstandingoutstructuresshouldbeentertainedastoomanyofformssometimegiveschaoticexperience.

Awholenewworldofemergingideasgivesbetterprospectstoarchitecturalstyle. Thisalsoencouragesthetechnologicaladvancementshappeninginbuildingindustryto

thinkbeyondtheconventional&oldmethods&techniques.

Repetitionsofmodulesalsoproviderhythm&harmonytolandmarkstructures. Formsdepictingbird,boat,twistedcolumnetcareabstractdesignsattractpeoplethe

most.


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IV. Integrationwithbackground&foreground Figure,backgroundrelationneedstobeamalgamatingincontrasttourbanlandmarks,

architecturalcontrast

and

material

change.

Skyline&colorscanalsogeneratelandmarkinterestbycontrastinbuiltforms. Clusteringoftoomuchdiversifiedstylesmayruinthelandmarkvaluebyspoilingrhythm

&harmonyoncontraryitmayenhanceitsvaluetopeoplewhoarewillingtoseemore

iconicstructuresatsingleplace.

V. AppreciationSpace&ViewPoints Anylandmarkanywhereneedsappreciationspaceforpeopletohavebestviewpoints. Distanceofweavingangleofviewandobjectsinpartsofvisionwhileappraising

landmarks(distant).

Minimumdistanceforappreciationfromfootofstructureshouldbeequaltotheheightofobjectormorethanthat.

Landmarksmaygetovershadowbyothermeansiftheydontgetadequateopenspaceforpeoplegatheringtoappraisethestructure.

Views&Vistasfocusingobjectitselfmakesitslandmarkvalue.

A

sequential

series

of

landmarks

in

which

one

detail

call

up

anticipation

of

next

and

the

keydetailstriggerspecificmovesoftheobserver.eg:FortArchitecture

Citiesshouldhaveappreciationspacestoenhancetheimpactoflandmarkandviceversaassometimeslandmarksthemselvesactasappreciationspaceforcity.


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3.SCALESOFLANDMARKS:Thedominanceoflandmarksdependsuponitsscalewhichcanbeclassifiedin3broad

categoriesasfollows:

HumanscaleThesizeofthelandmarkrelativetothestatic&activedimensionsproportionstothe

humanbodywhichisalsorelatedtothepublicabilitytocomprehendthesurroundings

intellectuallyifnotholdvisuallywiththequickestpulseoftime.

GenericscaleThesizeofthelandmarkrelatedtotheotherformsintheimmediatecontext.Itmaybe

chaoticorharmoniousdependinguponthesympatheticapplicationofbuildingformin

urbanchoreographyratherthangoingdifferentloudtones.

MonumentalscaleThesizeofthelandmarkishugecomparingtootherforms&structuresinitsvicinity.It

mayovershadowotherimportantandessentialcharacteristicsoftheregiondepending

uponitsmass,heightandornamentationoveritsfaade&surface.Monumental

elementsalsohaveprivilegeofbetterviews&vistasascomparedtootherlandmarks.

Human

scale

Generic

scale

Monumental

scale


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4.OVERPLAYING&UNDERPLAYINGOFLANDMARKS: Thelandmarksshouldalwayshaveatendencyofovershadowingtheneighboring

structuresinareabutsometimesoverpoweringshouldbecontrolledasotherimportant

vintagestructureslosetheirimportance.Theheritagevalueofoldstructuresshouldnot

tobesacrificedtogreatnessofcontemporarystructures.

Thiscanbecontrolledbyheightrestriction,buildingmaterial,demarcationofrestricted

zonefornotbuildinghugemammothstructures.

Eg:LICCentreatConnaughtPlace,NewDelhiistoodominatingthatithastotally

overshadowedHeritageColonialstructuresofthearea.

Simultaneouslyunderplayingoflandmarksshouldbeexaminecarefullyasthelostofidentity

degrade

their

landmark

value.

These

should

be

rejuvenated

with

methods

like

nighttimeilluminations&openspacesaroundforleisurewhichcanattractpeople

towardsthem.

Eg:ZeroMileonNH7,WardhaRoadatNagpurisacentreofIndiahavinga4mhigh

brickpierwithtinyhorsesstructuresdoesnothaveanyimpactasalandmark.


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5.FUTURISTICCHANGINGCONCEPTSOFLANDMARKS TechnologicalAdvancements

The technologicaladvancementsand research&development inbuildingengineering

hasgivenlotoffreedomtoarchitectureintermsofstructuralstability,unrealisticforms,

more building materials, environmentally sustainability, energy conservation etc has

evolvedwithrevolutionarychangesinconceptsofbuildings&landmarks.

VerticalDominanceisGivenMoreEmphasisVertical dominance has always been one of the most important part of building &

landmarksandthesame ispracticed incontemporaryarchitecture&building industry

toreflectgreatness&dominanceagainstabuttingfeatures.

Abstract

Forms

without

any

Themes

Abstract forms arenecessary for getting attention as a landmark and its importance

reflectsinsomeofthebeautifuldesignstructuresbutinsomecasestheabstractforms

haveconfusingdesignsandrathertheyfailto impress itsviewerspositivelyasmostof

thepeopleperceivethesestructuresaestheticallybutnotfunctionalcharacteristics.The

picturesareshowingformsreflectinggoodthemes&fewwithtooabstractdesigns.

Environment&energyconservationisneglectedInaworldwithglobalwarmingthreatstheenvironment&sustainability issometimes

compromised with high energy consumption by lighting & ACs in modern landmark

buildings.The

designs

practiced

should

be

sustainable

&

energy

conservative.

NaturallandmarkslosingimportancethroughmankindactivitiesNaturallandmarksareofgreat importanceandtheyshouldbepreservedaspresentin

small numbers. The natural landmarks are used as revenue generating places with

commercialactivities.


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6.METHODSTORESTORETHEGLORYOFLANDMARKS HeightRestriction:

Restrictingheight

of

abutting

building

activities

does

help

in

sustaining

identity

of

landmarks.The influence zoneof landmarkattracts lotofbuildingactivitiesaround it

becauseoflargeprivatesectorsinfluxwithoutpreservingtheheritagevalueofthesite.

Thisinfluencezoneshouldberestrictedasseveralviewpointsoflandmarksgetspoiled.

PromotionofPedestrianism:Promoting pedestrianism enhances in preserving urban environment in and around

landmark region.Thehugeautomobilerush inurbanareahascreatedchaos inpublic

placeswithparkingproblems&trafficjamswhichthreatsthepeopletoloseinterestin

theselandmarks.

Eg:IndiaGatewithChildrenparkareahasrestrictionofvehicles.

AdaptiveReuse:Lotofoldstructureshavebecomeruinedstructuresbuttorejuvenateitspast,thereis

needtogoforadaptivereusewhichgeneratesrevenueandhenceutilizationofspace&

publicproperty.

Eg:HeritageonWheelstraintobeusedasRestaurant&FactoriesinMumbaiashotels.

Afforestation:Afforestationaroundlandmarkregionreinforcethepublicinterestaspeopleperception

ismoreadoringtogreenspacesandsimultaneouslyenhancethelandmarkvalueattract

morepeopletocomeforrecreation.

DemarcationofNoIndustrializationzone:Entryofhazardousfactories& industriesshouldbestrictlyprohibited inthevicinityof

landmarksasthepollution&smokefromthemgivethreattotheregionalenvironment

andalsopeopleshealth&safetyfromharmfulgases.


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7.CONSERVATIONOFLANDMARKSANDBUILTENVIRONMENT:Thetermconservationhasonlywidelybeenusedinrelationtomonumentsorbuildings

datesback

to

writing

by

Patrick

Geddes

who

wrote

of

conservative

surgery

in

Indian

Planning.Untilthenpreservationwasthewordused.Semanticallyboththewordsrefer

thesameastokeepsafefromharmordecay.Nevertheless,conservationseemstohave

been rather arbitrarily redefined for application to the built environment. So; that it

allows for more change than does preservation while preservation implies no more

changethantokeeptheartifactsinexistence.Conservationcancoverallcircumstances

from absolute retention to demolition sometimes partial or complete demolition is

necessaryfor

the

benefit

of

an

overall

project.

Conservationoflandmarksandarchitectureheritageisofhugeimportanceanywherein

thebuiltenvironmentwhich signifies thegloryofpast&present.Protectionof these

landmarksfromdifferenttypesofpollution,construction,deforestationandmanyother

humanactivitiesisnecessarytorestoreorrejuvenatethegloriousdaysofurbandesign.

TheIndiansetup

In India traditional cities, ancient and medieval are known for their architectural

heritage,colorfuland livelywideranging lifestyleandcultures.Haphazardgrowthof

thecitiesduetoboominbuildingindustryhasthreatenedthisuniquewealthwiththe

prospectofextinction.Indiscriminateroadwideningandclearanceschemeshaveoften

cut through the historic centre not only knocking down buildings of architectural

heritagebutalsoexposingtheoldquarterstospeculativeforces.InIndiawhatwefind

inreality isthatconservationhasbeenreducedtomerearcheologicalprotectionofa

few ancientmonuments. Partly the flow canbe associatedwith the insufficiencyof

institutional arrangements and legislation as in the west. In this sphere a need of

judiciousortownplanningmachinery isessentialwhich isalreadywellestablished in

Indiawithlegalbacking,professionalmanpowerandbudgetaryallocation.


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In India from theverybeginning ithasbeen thearcheologicalsurveyof India that is

takingcareofconservation.ASIprotectsalmost5,000monumentsandarcheological

sites of national importance while another 4,000 are being protected by the State

DepartmentofArcheology. Itwouldbe apparent to anyone familiarwith the Indian

scene that protection is extended to only a fraction of the exact number of

monuments.ConsideringthedepthsoftheissuetheexistinglegislativesetupinTown

PlanninghasenhancedtheprocessofconservationwiththeintroductionofUrbanArts

Commission. The most important fact is that the Ancient Monuments and

Archeological sites and remainsActof 1958 (AMASR) is clearlyoutdated andnot in

conformity with contemporary international understanding. The recent charter of

InternationalCouncilonMonumentsandSites(ICOMS)considersmonuments intheir

setting.Thiswillincludepartsoftheurbanfabricandthereforeoverlapstheactivities

of the Town PlanningDepartment. Thephysical features of these historic areas are

integratedtothe livesofthepeoplewhostilloccupythemandasthe ICOMScharter

pointsout theconsideration for theirconservation introducessocioeconomic issues.

Thetownplannerishardlysensitivetothis'onewithintheother'relationbetweenthe

people and place in our historic cities but these are the legitimate concerns of

conservationists.

Thus

an

important

area

of

study

is

the

need

to

coordinate

and

multi

departmental frameworks for action. It is at this point thatwe strike atone of the

prominentchords,howfartheurbanartscommissionactissuccessfulinaccomplishing

thistaskandconsequentlyinmaintainingtheurbandesignqualityofourcities.


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8. URBANARTCOMMISSIONIn 1968, the Institute of Town Planners India in their annual planning seminar on

NationalCapital

Planning

and

Development'

held

in

Delhi

suggested

that

for

improving

the imageof theNationalCapitalonurban form in totality as the first step for the

holisticdevelopmentofcity so thatdevelopmentplanscanbeprepared inaunified

andcomprehensivemannerforspecificenvironmentalareasinordertogiveadistinct

urbanentity to thecityofNewDelhi.Though itwasnotthere in the finalversionof

DelhiMasterPlanevenbeforethisthedraftpreambleoftheDelhiMasterPlanreport

stipulated that a great capital deserves great architecture and efforts to build an

altogetherurban

design

quality.

It

was

the

National

Building

Code

of

India,

1970

that

speltoutinclearcuttermsinoneofitsclausesthatUrbanArtCommissionshouldbe

established in all metropolitan cities in the country so that major public building

complexes or buildings coming up in important areas of these cities are properly

evaluated in theirexpectedenvironmentbefore theyare sanctioned.Thecodecited

examplesofworksdonebysimilarcommissionsincitieslikeWashington.Paris.London

etc.

DelhiUrbanArtsCommission

TheDelhiUrbanArtCommissionwassetupbyanActofParliamentin1973to"advise

theGovernmentof India inthematterofpreserving,developingandmaintainingthe

aestheticqualityofurbanandenvironmentaldesignwithinDelhiandtoprovideadvice

and guidance to any local body in respect of any project of building operations or

engineeringoperationsoranydevelopmentproposalwhichaffectsor is liketoaffect

theskylineortheaestheticqualityofthesurroundingsoranypublicamenityprovided

therein.

The areaofurbanDelhihasexpanded and ithasbecomemoredenselybuilt in the

years since the DUAC was constituted. This gives even greater relevance to the

injunctions intheoriginalmandate.Ecologyandheritagearemorepressingconcerns


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now,thedifficultiesofseeingthecityasawholeinasituationwheretherearemany

decision makingbodiesismoreevidentthanbefore,andthereisurgentneedtohave

avisionforthefutureofthecity'sconstituentelements.

Thisdecade'smainconcernsareaboutfourissues

Thethreatstotheremainingoasesofopenspaces,riverlineandforest, Theneedtoimprovethequalityoflifeinhistoricprecincts, Theneedtoensurethatdilapidatedareasare'redeveloped'elegantly. Tofindwaysfortrafficnetworkscanworkefficientlybutwithahumanequality.DUACsInitiatives:

ShahjahanabadRedevelopment restoringtheOldDelhipastglory. Rajpath/CentralVista Comprehensiveconservationplanforthecapitalcomplex. ConnectingConnaughtPlaceToShajahanabad NewDelhis CityCentretoOldcity. PuranaQilaToLodiRoad DevelopingHeritageRoutes.


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9.OBSERVATIONS&CONCLUSION: Theconceptoflandmarksisgettingchangeinmanmadestructuresasabstractdesigns

areprevailing

more

against

good

designs.

The much talked sustainable designs are only practiced for sampling and notimplementedinlargenumberofprojects.

Environment friendly buildings are losing their charisma and modern buildings arecomingwithflashierfacadeslikeglass&aluminumpanels.

The landmarks are sometimes only famous in terms of expensive buildings whichshouldnotbethecriteriafordrawingattentionoftheviewers.

The natural landmarks should be preserved and conservation to be done only toimproveitsownpersona.

There shouldbe definite authorities in cities& regionswhere landmarks have theirsignificancefeltatregionallevel.

As it isseenthat landmarksplayvitalrole indefiningpublicinteresttowardsrecreation,

tourismetc,sothecitymusthavegreatvalueandrespecttoitslandmarks,architectural

heritage which symbolize identity of city in national & global scenario. The city

administrationshould

also

take

responsibility

in

conservation

&

preservation

of

these

landmarks and should form an independentbody likeUrbanArtCommissionwho can

takepart in Townplanning and look after severalbuilding activitieshappening around

landmarks.


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10.BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Books:

ITPIReaderVolume PlanningLegislation&professionalPracticeAuthor:Prof.B.K.SenGupta,IITKharagpur.

ClassnotesofUrbanDesign.

Websites:

www.google.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.duac.org www.urbanindia.nic.in

Documents

UD Landmarks Vikas