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Exploring The Role of River As Seam Within City ST
Exploring The Role of River As Seam Within City ST
Exploring The Role of River As Seam Within City ST
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Exploring the Role of River as Seam within City Structure, Case of Gomti River
Precinct, Lucknow
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Venu Shree
National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur
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Ar.Puneet Sharma
He is working as an Assistant Professor at
N.I.T. Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India
Exploring the Role of River as He did his B. Architecture degree from the
Univ. Of VTU Belgaum Karnatka (India) and
Masters in Urban Design from SPA Delhi.
Seam within City Structure,
Case of Gomti River Precinct,
Lucknow
Abstract
This paper is an attempt to define the role of rivers as seem in urban fabric. In
past, rivers used to shape the city structure but in the present scenario under
the pressure of urbanization rivers have lost their significance with respect to
city and its people. City needs public places and active natural recreation places
to cater new lifestyle and this need gives an opportunity of redefining the
interface between river and city. This research will be aiming at same by means
of creating active water front which joins with city as a successful public place.
This paper helps in developing an approach towards making rivers as heart
of city rather than an edge. In order to establish this hypothesis case of river
Gomti, Lucknow India, has been taken as research area.
Keywords :
Urban Fabric, Urbanization, Rivers, Active Water front.
Introduction
Lucknow, capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh situated on
Gomti river bank, is today an important educational,
trade, Commercial and administrative center. “Lucknow
is the region that is emphatically and wisely related to its
rivers, lakes, canals and waterfronts” (Simond J O).
Lucknow, in its past responded to River Gomti both in
terms of City structure and human relationship. River
Gomti is passing through the mid of the city and also
connects the major traffic routs. With growth of city, it
has neglected this vast natural resource which can be
seen as a potential for public recreational places. At
present Lucknow is left with few recreational public
Fig. 2 : Historical Structures along River Gomti
places which are neither integrated with city nor with
Gomti.
during Muslim, French and British were along river.
There are many magnificent monuments symbolizing
the glorious past of the city, the following are the better-
known monuments.
Bara Imambara :- Nawab Asifudollah built this historic
building in 1786.
Rumi Darwaja :- Just adjacent to the Imambara is an
imposing gate structure which when seen from the front
looks like a gate but in reality is a structure of several
storeys.
Chota Imambara :- This structure is famous for its
chandeliers and other artifacts.
Clock Tower and Picture Gallery :- The novelty of the
paintings lies in the fact that they all seem to be looking
directly at the viewer from every angle.
Residency :- This is the British settlement that was
Fig. 1 : Evolution of Lucknow city established following the annexation of Oudh and was
the site of the 1857 Mutiny.
Walking street along Hazratganj and newly opened
Sahara Mall are only Public places of active recreation. A
new way for exploring some kind of common interest like
public place will help in integrating the city. In present
context (at Global level) all developments are aiming
towards sustainable development and an approach
toward sustainability in development process of Gomti
River will not only be a move toward future but also set
an example for same kind of developments in India.
Historical Evolution
Lucknow is known for its rich history and culture –
manifest not just in its many magnificent monuments
but an intrinsic part of its lifestyle. During the course of
development after independence growth pattern has
shown back towards its life, River Gomti. City is divided in
two parts by river Gomti. Most of the old intervention Fig. 3 : Rumi Darwaza
Precinct.
•Connecting Dali ganj Bridge with Hanuman setu.
•Improving connection between city railway station
and city bus stand
Pedestrian connectivity
•Development of Heritage walks connecting
monuments with river Gomti.
Inferences
•Area has number of landmarks which defines the
precinct
•Presence of historical buildings adds quality in
skyline
Fig. 15 : Concept Plan
•Presence of temples all along stretch gives an
opportunity for interaction with river
•There are number of nodes along river which can be •Enhancing the existing structures like Planetarium.
integrated •Connecting Daligangj Bridge with Hanuman setu.
•At present riverfront acts as play and parking place •Improving connection between city railway station
•Dhobi Ghats along river adds color to it. and city bus stand
Movement paths
Concept Development
•Integrating exhibition area with museum and
Vehicular connectivity
Planetarium.
•Connectivity of City railway station with river
•Introduction of informal market in order to have •Matt Vander Ploeg, Rethinking Urban Public Space in the Context
of Democracy and Altruism, “Urban Altruism” | Calvin College |
active places.
Spring 2006.
•Introduction of water related activities and •Martin Ludvigsen, Designing for Social Use in Public Places – a
reinforcing existing religious activities along river. Conceptual Framework of Social Interaction
•Jean-Paul Thibaud , Frames of Visibility in Public Places, A Forum
•Integrating and introducing new cultural activities in
of Environmental Design, 2001, Vol. 14.
river prescient.
•Urban Places, Public Spaces + Design of the City: Education as a
Strategically located on the beautiful riverside this Catalyst for Change ideas symposium, University of CALGRY,
Promenade will serve as a city level space. Clubbing of Tuesday, May 31, 2005.
the exhibition pavilion will ensure the viability of this •Erving Goffman, Behaviour in Public Places, Simon & Schuster,
1985.
•Jamie Horwitz , Mississippi Floods: Designing a Shifting
Landscape, Journal of Design / Planning / Research.
www.places.designobserver.com
•Richa Bajpai, Thesis, Reinstating the presence of rivers in cites
creating the public city interface, Thesis of Urban Design
•Nidhi Kaistha, An Approach Towards Integrating Rivers With The
City Fabric – Godavari River, Nashik Dissertation - 2007, School of
Planning and Architecture, Delhi.
•www.calgaryurbancampus.ucalgary
•www. pps.org, creating urban parks