Ahmedabad

in western part of India.

Approximate city-boundary and locations of three ideas.

Traditional ideas
Location: Bhadra plaza, Ahmedabad.
The city was founded in the 15th century and the old part of the city still retains the city patterns from
centuries ago. The design is made to express the power structure of the city. The biggest open space in the
city is in front of the fort (residence of the ruler). This central axis led to a city gate, the city mosque and the
tombs for the king and the queen. The plan does not show ideas such as symmetry and a geometric open
space but the ideas that have generated this form are similar. The plaza has been used for many years as a
place for informal commercial activities. It also been redeveloped in the last few years keeping in tune with
the traditional ideas and now has more facilities for street vendors.

city gate city kings queens

fort Bhadra plaza mosque tomb tomb
Modern ideas
location: Naranpura, Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad doesnt have many places which can show modern ideas. The economic resources and
planning regulations have not allowed to built high-rise until recently. However, there are a few residential
developments that use the maximum height limit of 40m and build dense residential fabrics. This should
have allowed to free up more space on ground but so far I dont see that happening in the city. The spaces
between towers are generally used for parking and lack any human activity.
Green ideas
location: Sabarmati river front, Ahmedabad
The river front development project is an on-going project. It has reclaimed land on both sides of the river
by making retaining walls and filling soil to bring the level of the river to the level of the city. A part of this
reclaimed land is going to be sold for commercial development to sponsor the project, and the rest of the land
will be made into public parks as seen in two examples here. Though the project has been criticised widely
because it has involved relocating poor settlements, insensitive planning, huge environmental implications
and over-use of resources, if done well, the project has the potential to create the largest system of green
areas within the city.