URBAN LOST SPACES

“A niche for creative and flexible development of Indian cities”

AKSHAT CHOUHAN
WHAT ARE URBAN
LOST SPACES?

Spaces which was once being a part or

important part of an urban area has now lost
its importance or overlooked with the time.
As these spaces are ignored by the day to day
city life although being in the core of the city
or neighbourhood ,built or unbuilt, public or
private due its undesirable and unsuitable
nature in mainstream economical cycle and
fucntional insufficiency.
NEED OF THE
STUDY
It is estimated that 50% of the world population are living in urban areas, by 2050
these will rise up to 80%. many cities across the world is struggling to cope with
pressure from rapid increasing population.There are challenges like poverty, housing
supply pollution and poor infrastructure. Effecting the quality of life in these cities
thus they are competing for becoming more liveable in the world.

Cities deals with unorganised development according to the need of some people
without long term vision and one directional economic growth or profit making
which leads towards fragmented developments and other major issues leaving
behind “lost spaces or Urban lost spaces or urban voids”. Once these spaces were
some important parts of the cities, now lost its existence and 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.
INDIA PRESENT SCENARIO Social and economic development leads Indian cities spaces towards
OF THE CITIES uniform adaptation which leads to inertness of the build
environment; which leads to:
1. Discontinuity of Urban fabric
2. Unattainable existing build form
3.Fragmented development
4.Places of conflicts & deterioration
5.unsustainable transformation

CLASSIFICATIONS OF INDIAN CITIES

ACTIVITY POPULATION
1.RELIGIOUS CITIES
I TIER CITIES
2.TOURIST CITIES
II TIERS CITIES
3.INDUST TOURIST CITIES
III TIERS CITIES
4.AGRICULTURAL CITIES
5.HISTORIACL CITIES
RESEARCH QUESTION

“HOW CAN WE RECOGNIZE URBAN LOST SPACES OF INDIAN CITIES

AND UTILISE THEM AS A LONG TERM FEATURE FOR THAT CITY?”
AIM
To study the spaces which was once being a part of an URBAN area has now LOST its
importance with the time; And to use these URBAN LOST SPACES to integrate with a long
term vision of optimum utilization for land, people and activity for the city.

OBJECTIVE: -
1. To understand urban lost spaces and how they are created.
2. To identify and recognise urban lost spaces in different type of Indian cities.
3. Urban lost spaces for optimum utilization of land, people and activity of a city.
STRUCTURE & METHEDOLOGY
ABSTRACT
Over a period of time Indian urban areas are undergoing rapid developments due
to many social and economic factor, which leads to quick adaptation of new lands
and new build forms leaving behind many spaces which were being once a part of
the urban area now been overlooked or left idle. This might be spaces which one
comes upon when you travel from home to work or the spaces which go
unobserved and unfelt. These spaces are known as urban lost spaces, urban voids,
transitional spaces etc.

This paper will relook these urban lost spaces and identify & recognize these urban lost
spaces in different type of Indian ;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, 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. Etc
4.social reasons: These urban lost spaces are created due to social conflicts and public acceptance of
an area. Example: gentrified gated housings, urban parks, crematorium parks etc.
Urban lost spaces in different type of Indian cities may have different approaches and solution but the
aim would be same for all of optimum utilization.
Concluding we created 4 major objectives to revive these urban lost spaces,
1. A long-term vision
2. Adaptive land utilisation
3. Usage and activity
4. People or community involves.
CASE STUDY