URBAN LOST SPACES
“A future niche for creative and flexible development”1
ABSTRACT
This research paper will predict the various urban spaces way before it transforms into
urban lost spaces and relook them functionally according to changing city culture. Change in
growing pattern of a city due to influenced growth, Morden invention, urbanisation and
changing city culture will form multiple transformation of existing spaces and their function.
This transformation has been experienced from the past where, a place which was once an
important part of the city has now lost its existence functionally but physically, we can still
see its footprint in city fabric.
We can see that the growth has impacted not only the architectural style of the build form
but also the function and activity of the building, thus many spaces lack to fulfil this Morden
need and culture creating urban lost spaces. There are many papers and books which talk
about these spaces under different terminology like urban voids & dead space, in CITIES FOR
PEOPLE by (JHON GEHL) and negative space in FINDING LOST SPACES: THEORIES OF URBAN
DESIGN by (ROGER TRANCIK) and concluded to many theories for the creation & types of
these urban lost spaces and Eventually utilization of such spaces into more functional space
in this Morden era. Many case studies have been explained with respect to place and people
reaction to these places after being redesigned.
This research paper will follow these theories to predict the future spaces which can
transform into an urban lost space with respect to changing city trend and culture. Influence
of an established developed city hints towards the upcoming change in a function which we
can integrate with the culture and predict these spaces prior and redesign it accordingly
with Morden need, culture and technology (Urban Design Futures, By Malcolm Moor)
KEYWORDS
AIM: - To understand the future of spaces which can transform into URBAN LOST SPACES
with respect to changing city culture & trend and integrate it with optimum utilization for
land, people and activity of the city. `
OBJECTIVE: -
1. To understand key factor creating urban lost spaces
2. Transformation of spaces due to change in cities culture
3. Predict the future spaces turning into Urban lost spaces
REASEARCH QUESTION: -
“HOW CAN WE PREDICT THE FUTURE URBAN LOST SPACES OF/ CITIES AND
UTILISE THEM AS A LONG-TERM FEATURE FOR THAT CITY?”
NEED FOR THE STUDY: -
In this developing era cities look forward to an established & developed city’s culture and
influences itself from its trade technique to trending fashion, these transformations not only
effects the quality of life of a citizen but also develop a new culture of the city which would
directly affects the people, technology, infrastructure, activity, city growing pattern etc.
This transformation leads many spaces less potential with time and convert them into urban
lost spaces. These urban lost spaces might not be a vacant space or build form but can a
space which has not been used in its full potential or can be used into a more appropriate
and better way. if these spaces can redevelop, its carrier’s the capacity to optimise the land
use and can contributes towards a better quality of life creating liveability.
TABLE OF CONTENT
1.0 Title Page----------------------------------------------------------------------------------i
Abstract---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii
aim & objective-------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii
Need for The Study--------------------------------------------------------------------------iv
Table of Content------------------------------------------------------------------------------v
2.0 Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------02
3.0 Understanding urban lost spaces -------------------------------------------------03
3.1 study of riverfront development-----------------------------------------------------04
3.2 study of port complex-------------------------------------------------------------------05
3.3 Development of Space Under Flyover----------------------------------------------06
4.0 Transformation of spaces-------------------------------------------------------------08
5.0 Future of urban lost spaces-----------------------------------------------------------09
5.1 Government offices----------------------------------------------------------------------10
5.2 Institutions campus----------------------------------------------------------------------
6.0Analysis--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.0 References-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
INTODUCTION: -
As the democracy was introduced there was a time when cities were focused on the basic
need of the living like food, clothes and roof, then an era came into the world where the
producers and manufactures plays an important role where the human resources was an
important part and people in large amount were migrated into the cities followed by many
inventions for the betterment of these produces, manufactures and workers leading to
betterment of the living condition and dependency on the machines. Eventually the
development catches a new pace leading to urbanisation of many cities and population in
cities increases with inadequate utilization of land, build form and other resources.
The population of the city has been increasing rapidly leading towards the in unplanned
expansion of the city and influenced growth of cultures leaving behind many voids or urban
lost space which varies from an unutilised land to a build form, a market to transit node, a
river frontage to a vacant private plot.
Thus, these urban lost spaces have been categorised into 4 parts understanding its
establishment and formation.
1. Geographical reasons: These urban lost spaces are formed due to geographical condition
of the area and the development derived according to the major geographical feature of the
area. Examples: housings in hilly regions, many flood sensitive areas. Etc
2.Planning reasons: These urban lost spaces are created due to planning byelaws and many
times these spaces are vacant intentionally due national security and people safety.
Example: vacant improper shaped plot, vacant industries, defence land, huge unused
stadiums. Etc
3.Fuctional reasons: These urban lost spaces are created to support an existing structure,
space or function example: defence land, dock yards, space beneath flyovers Etc
4.social reasons: These urban lost spaces are created due to social conflicts and public
acceptance of an area. Example: urban parks, etc.
Book
ROBERT TANTRICK. (1967), FINDING LOST SPACES: THEORIES OF URBAN DESIGN by (ROGER
TRANCIK),
Online Source
UNDERSTANDING URBAN LOST SPACE
The classification of urban lost spaces helps us to understand the formation and
establishments of the lost spaces at micro level as well as macro level and we can see that
apart geographical factor the main reason for the formation is the change in culture and
trend of the city. following are some cases to understand the adaptive reuse of urban lost
spaces
Sabarmati Riverfront Development, Ahmedabad (2002)
The natural course of the river was encroached upon and the riverbed served as a backyard
for private plots. Unrestricted flow of industrial and domestic waste polluted the river,
making it unsafe for people living nearby in informal settlements. These settlements were
already prone to flooding during the monsoon.
The SRFD Project not only provides protection to the city from flooding but also reclamation
of land. More than 85% of the land made available by the riverfront development is
allocated for free and open public use. This includes more than 20 km of pedestrian
promenades on each bank and a 29 km long road network that has made the riverfront
easily accessible and well connected to the surrounding areas and the city as a whole.
People of the city now enjoy water-related recreational activities and get access to lush
green parks and gardens which constitute about 50% of the reclaimed land.
Mumbai Port Complex Master Plan, Mumbai (proposed)
The Mumbai Port Trust area, spanning bout 10 kms, along the Eastern Waterfront is one of
the best waterfront properties located in the heart of Mumbai city. Due to shifting of some
port activities from to the new port across the bay, an area of about 500 Ha is available for
redevelopment.
The masterplan for the Mumbai Port Complex (MPC) has been proposed to meet dual
objectives - of repurposing the port lands and of integrating it with the rest of the city,
providing public spaces and facilities to the citizens. The draft masterplan proposes to
develop a new financial centre, a Government office, hotels, commercial as well as
residential properties in close proximity to the proposed metro line and the existing sub-
urban railway stations.
Development of Space Under Flyover, Amritsar
The spaces under elevated loop at Bhandari Bridge is one such case in the city of Amritsar
which has immense potential to develop as an active public space. Located in the heart of
the city thriving commercial activity zone on the both sides, the space can act as spill over
for the active public.
Development of physical infrastructure sometimes leads to left over and underutilized
spaces in the cities. One such infrastructure is the vacant space beneath flyover, these
spaces are either abandoned or underutilized with parking for vehicles and at times act as a
dump yard.
There are various interventions possible for the development of such spaces but considering
the context of the place at present, a minimum intervention would however have a major
impact. Ideas of illumination and ornamental plantation recently adopted by many countries
which makes the spaces look vibrant and interactive.
Theme based graffiti at certain spaces on social measure is way of creating
awareness amongst the people.
Dense ornamental plantations will hereby contribute to the ecology and
environment and acts as a buffer to reduce air pollution as well contribute to the
aesthetics of the street in the day time.
Illumination at night will completely transform the appearance of the street at night.
Transformation of spaces
Transformation not only limits till the typological change but also includes the function,
usability, duration and culture of that space. And the foot print of the change effects the
nearby local area also.
Taking case of Delhi “inner ring road” earlier it was a state highway connecting other cities
like Okhala, Ghaziabad etc. but as the time passes and city experienced new trend of
development and expansion the road was further converted into the inner ring road of the
city and later in 2010 during the common wealth games , a new government policies was
introduced regarding the peripheral commercialization and since then we can see a drastic
change in typologies of ring road and its effect on the local areas nearby commercially as
well as aesthetically. Now the time demands for the unique character of the ring road and
its periphery and existing building functions fails to do so. We can find many urban lost
spaces which might have been used in a more appropriate way.
Counties like India where the western culture influences the city trend and development,
we have seen transformation from typology to its function and usability. Few are some land
uses and typology we can see transformation majorly in past few years.
Commercial spaces
Transformation form a weekly Haats to shops to shopping complex to mall & showrooms
and now online.
Residential spaces
Transformation from single farm unit to cluster of community housing to government
quarters to government flats to an integrated mix used tower.
Institutional spaces
Government school building class to privatization of school with hostel to interactive
campus to online courses and exam centres
Infrastructural and transit nodes
single platform railway station to multi-platform station to an integrated transit node
station.
Future of urban lost spaces
History of the development of cities is the history of mankind. And every time at the new
turn of development of civilization new demands of city residents emerge whose
satisfaction engender transformation of urban space. And it is natural, that urban designers,
planners and architects face new problems every time searching for the effective design
solutions of urban development under the conditions of limited resources (economic,
human and natural) that would most fully satisfy expectations and needs of the population.
Government offices
Earlier Government offices were limited to a single room structure in every city with
different departments having different build form later more departments were made and
administration welfare , public welfare and infrastructure welfare separate departments
comes into action and now we see can see an integrated build form will all major offices in
one build form with higher on floor and less on building foot print. Taking case of New Delhi
Civic centre, the 28-storeyed MCD Civic Centre comprises five multi-storey blocks, with a
total built-up floor area of approximately 1,16,000 sq. metres excluding a three-level
basement parking facility for about 2,500 equivalent car unit.
