Architecture Dissertation
Making of a memorable street : a case of Hazratganj, Lucknow
by Saumya Gangwar under guidance of Prof. Ravi Sharma
2018 architecture dissertation b.arch.
This dissertation is an attempt to develop an extension of the theory set out by Kevin Lynch in his book 'The Image of the City' published in 1960, to reciprocate the meaning of the urban elements for an Indian city's context, while keeping in mind the inherent culture and heritage.
"We must consider not just the city as a thing in itself, but the city as is being perceived by the inhabitants.
Book: The Image of The City
Lucknow, a city ruled and developed under the influence of Awadh kings an East India Company was hence chosen for the study. The rich history associated with Hazratganj, a significant street to the city and its development from a commercial street to elite British public space and then to common man"s market at the time of India's independence.
Hypothesis
Theory of Imageability is relevant to development of the interactive structure of historic streets
Aim
The study proposes to rethink street structure and its organisation to create spaces with stronger place attachment guided by variations in terms of enjoyability, imageability, interaction and ease of accessibility
Objective’
To study the organisation of a street and the relationship between the various functions fulfilled in it.
To observe the congruency of Lynch's urban elements(path, edge, node, district, landmark) - theorised by observing American cities - with the Indian street of Hazratganj
To derive the intensity of place attachment for Hazratganj by analysing the preferred language of each of Lynch's elements by conducting user participation surveys.
Would we want to preserve what we are building today? And where in the city do we find the cultural and historic significance on display at its maximum?
‘Kalai wala’
Extrapolating from this assertion, we can establish that the image of an urban space is influenced bu the personal objective of the user and the physical parameters that affects his experience. The interplay between these two factors results in the creation of spaces that are instinctively meaningful and largely legible to all its users. Following aspects can be quantified by the study:
Structuring of street and identification of zonal division
Trends in intervention between history, commercialisation and social spaces.
Analysing and inferring preferred language of urban elements
However, these aspects remain beyond the scope of study
Effects of reformed street on city dynamics
Theory limits itself to concrete spaces and doesn't take into account organic space like waterfronts, parks, sitting spaces, etc.
Theory doesn't take into account the architectural language of the space and its association with place attachment
Next project