URBAN DESIGN PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC AND WORK

1. URBAN DESIGN
PORTFOLIO
HEERA MOHAN
ARCHITECT/URBAN
DESIGNER
B.Arch,M.ARCH

2. Studio Project Experience (Studies and
Documentation):
(a) 2009-10, Masters in Urban Design Thesis:-
“Auroville – Towards realising Utopia” under guid-
ance of Prof. Rajeev Kathpalia
(b) 2009 July to Dec 09, Urban Transformation:-
Urban Design as a tool to connect grass root level
administration through 73rd and 74th amendment act,
“Urban Transformation-Public Participatory develop-
ment”, Case: Mapusa, Goa state, India
(c) 2008 Dec – May 09, Urban Extension:-
Making Sustainable GIFT (Gujarat International Fi-
nance Tech City)city for 3 lakh population, Ahmedabad

3. Masters in Urban Design Thesis

25. Published Article on “Auroville: Natural systems as a determinant
role in realizing Utopia” in Journal of Landscape Architecture – LA 31
(LANDSCAPE URBANISM) April to June 2011.

26. Urban Design as a tool to connect grass
root level administration through 73rd
and 74th amendment act, “Urban Transfor-
mation-Public Participatory development”,
Case: Mapusa, Goa state, India

29. URBAN EXTENSION STUDIO - GIFT,GANDHINAGAR
VISION AND INTRODUCTION
NARRATIVE
INDIAN CITIES ARE EXPANDING AND CHANGING AT A SUPERFLOUS RATE UNDER THE PRESSURE OF URBANIZATION AND GLOBALIZATION. THE PROBLEMS OF
LESS SPACE, STIPULATED TIME AND INCREASING POPULATION, HAVE LEAD TO A SEVERE PRESSURE ON EXTINGUISHING RESOURCES. THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE
EITHER UNPLANNED AND GROW IN A HAPHAZARD PATTERN OR THE PLANNING APPROACH LEADS IT TO BE VOID OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND VALUES.
THERE NEED OF THE HOUR IS TO REALIZE, UNDERSTAND AND TACKLE THESE ISSUES SENSITIVELY.
URBAN AGGLOMERATION THRIVES ON SOME BASIC PUSH AND PULL FACTORS. CENTRIPETAL FORCES DRAW THE POPULATION TOWARDS CENTER AND
INCREASE THE DENSITY, WHEREAS THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCES LIKE EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION DECONGEST AND DECENTRALIZE THE PRESSURES. THE
BALANCE BETWEEN THESE FORCES HELP IN SUSTAINANCE OF A CITY.
VISION
TO ADOPT A HOLISTIC APPROACH TOWARDS DESIGNING A LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE IS A CONCERN OF TIME, SPACE, RESOURCES AND PEOPLE.
INTENT
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, COMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS, PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLE-FRIENDLY DESIGN.
A> TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD)
MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT,
NIL PRIVATE VEHICULAR MOVEMENT,
MIXED-USE/COMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH TEND TO USE TRANSIT THROUGHOUT THE DAY,
REDUCE THE USE OF RESOURCES,
REGIONAL COOPERATION TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND EXPAND SERVICES.
OTHER TOPICS FALL UNDER THIS CONCEPT:
TRANSPORTATION DEMAND/ MANAGEMENT MEASURES,
ROAD/ PRICING SYSTEM (TOLLING),
COMMERCIAL PARKING TAXES,
PARKING CASH OUT.
B>COMPACT NEIGHBOURHOODS
REDUCES URBAN SPRAWL,
CHANNELING HOUSING AND JOB
GROWTH INTO URBAN CENTERS AND
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS,
TO CREATE COMPACT,
WALK ABLE, AND BIKE- AND
TRANSIT-FRIENDLY HUBS,
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT,
INCLUSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS ON
SUBURBAN DESIGN FORMS,
INCLUSION OF PARKS AND RECREATION
AREAS
C>PEDEST
LOCATION
ACCESSIB
SOIL CON
VEGETAT
SABARMA
Making Sustainable GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tech City)city
for 3 lakh population, Ahmedabad

30. SHEET NO. 5a
MASTERS PROGRAMME IN URBAN DESIGN , SEMESTER - II
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, CEPT UNIVERSITY , AHMEDABAD
D INTRODUCTION
AMIT SINGH, HEERA MOHAN, KOMAL PANJWANI.
OBLEMS OF
PMENTS ARE
LUES.
AND
THE
D PEOPLE.
C>PEDESTRIAN POCKETS
LESS LAND IS COMSUMED, LESS TRAFFIC IS GENERATED, LESS POLLUTION IS
PRODUCED,
BIKING AND WALKING INSTEAD OF DRIVING,
CAN REDUCE EMISSIONS,
SAVE MONEY ON FUEL AND MAINTENANCE,
FOSTER A HEALTHIER POPULATION.
LOCATION
LOCATED 12KM FROM AHMEDABAD AND 8KMS FROM STATE CAPITAL GANDHINAGAR
AND 12KM FROM THE NEAREST AIRPORT.
THE SITE IS LOCATED ON THE BANKS OF NON PERENNIAL RIVER SABARMATI.
OWING TO ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION THE AREA WILL WITNESS DEVELOPMENTS THAT
WOULD INCLUDE GIFT (GUJARAT INTERNATIONAL FINANCE TECHNOLOGY) CITY AND
2700 ACRE OF INTEGRATED TOWNSHIP.
ACCESSIBILITY
THE SITE IS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH A PUCCKA ROAD FROM NH8 (MUMBAI- DELHI HIGHWAY)
OTHER ROUTES INCLUDE ACCESS FROM THE 3 VILLAGES OF RATANPUR, LOWARPUR,SHAHPUR, PHEROZPUR.
A BRTS AND MRTS ROUTE IS PROPOSED TO PASS THROUGH THE SITE CATERING TO INTER-CITY MOVEMENT.
SOIL CONDITION
BAD LAND TOPOGRAPHY- LACK OF HUMUS IN SOIL HENCE SPARSE VEGETATION.
SOIL IS LOOSE IN THE RAVINES AND IS PRONE TO EROSION AS IT IS BARREN LAND.
THE VEGETATION IS MAINLY
VEGETATION
VEGETATION TYPICALLY CONSISTS OF PLANTS THAT EITHER ARE EMERGENT AQUATIC PLANTS, OR HERBS, TREES AND
SHRUBS THAT THRIVE IN PROXIMITY TO WATER.
THE RAVINE IN THE WESTERN CORNER OF THE SITE IS ABUTTED BY LEMON PLANTATIONS.
THE AREA CONSISTS BASICALLY OF SHRUBS AND NO LARGE FOLIAGE TREES ARE PRESENT.
CLIMATE
THE REGION HAS SEMI- ARID CLIMATE REGIME.
THREE DISTINCT SEASONS ARE EXPERIENCED: HOT DRY
SUMMERS, COLD DRY WINTERS AND WARM HUMID
MONSOONS.
MAX TEMP. 45C, MIN TEMP. 3C.
MAJOR WIND DIRECTIONS AREFROM S-W IN
SUMMER-MONSOON AND FROM N-E IN WINTER.
AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFAL IS 782 MM.
SABARMATI RIVER
THE SABARMATI ORIGINATES IN THE ARAVALLI
RANGE OF THE UDAIPUR DISTRICT OF
RAJASTHAN.
THE 3 MAJOR CITIES THAT LIE ON THE RIVER ARE
GANDHINAGAR, AHMEDABAD, SURAT.
DHAROI DAM WHICH IS CONSTRUCTED ON THE
RIVER FACILITATES IRRIGATION TOWARDS
WESTERN PART OF GUJARAT.
THE PORTION OF RIVER PRE-AHMEDABAD
SUFFERS FROM SEVERE EROSION WHICH CAN BE
SEEN FROM EXCESSIVE SAND SETTLEMENTS AND
RIVER BRAIDING.

31. URBAN EXTENSION STUDIO - GIFT,GANDHINAGAR
REGIONAL LINKAGES
GANDHINAGAR
SHEET NO. 5c
MASTERS PROGRAMME IN URBAN DESIGN , SEMESTER - IIAMIT SINGH, HEERA MOHAN, KOMAL PANJWANI.
REGIONAL LINKAGES

32. SHEET NO. 5i
MASTERS PROGRAMME IN URBAN DESIGN , SEMESTER - II
RE OF OPEN SPACES
AMIT SINGH, HEERA MOHAN, KOMAL PANJWANI.
0 50 200

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URBAN EXTENSION STUDIO - GIFT,GANDHINAGAR
BRTS AND MRTS LINKAGE PLAN
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URBAN EXTENSION STUDIO - GIFT,GANDHINAGAR
SHEET NO. 5n
MASTERS PROGRAMME IN URBAN DESIGN , SEMESTER - II
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, CEPT UNIVERSITY , AHMEDABAD
WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT
AMIT SINGH, HEERA MOHAN, KOMAL PANJWANI.
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SION STUDIO - GIFT,GANDHINAGAR
MASTERS PROGRAMME IN
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, CE
BRTS AND MRTS LINKAGE PLAN
AMIT SINGH, HEERA MOHAN, KOMAL PANJWANI.

34. Professional Experience:
• CRDC, School of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad
- Worked as an Urban design Research Associ-
ate under Prof. Utpal Sharma (July 2010-July 2011)
Preparation of Development Plan for Ulhasnagar,
Maharashtra, Improving Patna – Master Plan 2031.
• DHV INDIA, Executive Urban Designer, Bhopal
(Jan 2012 – May 2012) Development of Sustainable
schemes for Bhopal by PPP, Madhya Pradesh.
• GITPAC INTERNATIONAL ,Kerala Urban Designer
(May 2012 – August 2012)
- PROJECT FOR GANDHI SMRITHIVANAM AS ECOTOURISM
PROJECTS AT PURAKKAD IN ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT.
- INTEGRATED MASTER PLAN FOR ATTUKAL REGION - GOK
PROJECT (ON-GOING)
- PREPARATION OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PLAN FOR NILA
RIVER (ON-GOING)

35. Preparation of Development Plan for Ulhasnagar

41. Development Strategies for the Project
The strategies for sustainable development for Bhopal on a holistic basis require two distinct development strategies, one cov-
ering the Greenfield Projects and second covering the Brownfield Projects.
Greenfield Projects involving virgin lands, which are available only on the outskirts of the city, would need to be formulated as
per the provisions of Section 50 of the M.P. Town & Country Planning Act h1973, where by schemes would be formulated for
the designated area, through a process of land pooling/land acquisition and implemented.
The Brownfield Projects, involving the optimization of Built Space through various strategies like Urban Renewal, Densifica-
tion, Redevelopment and Re-densification.
Development of Sustainable schemes for Bhopal by PPP

42. Development and the Density of Government Housing Stock
This shows the evolution of government housing stock in the new capital city which was initiated with North and South T. T.
Nagar which housed F, G, H, and I type quarters (3000 nos.), 45 Bungalows which housed D & E type quarters, and some parts
of 74 quarters which housed B, C & D type quarters.
Delineated Area for Phase I Redensification Schemes in New
Bhopal- TT Nagar, Professors Colony and Temporary Qtrs,
Tulsi Nagar

43. Key Issues in the Study Area
The key issues identified in the delineated area of T.T. Nagar (North and South are summarised with respect to the (i) Land,
Built Form and Activity Pattern, (ii) Traffic and Transportation.
A. Land, Built Form and Activity Pattern
• Under Utilization of Land
• A number of units Unsafe and the housing in the area has outlived its life
• Built form across valleys and not in optimal orientation
• Inappropriate informal turned formal commercial activities near Anjali Complex, Tinshed and at Jawahar Chowk
B. Traffic
• A number of thorough movement options in the South T.T. Nagar area
• Individual Residential entries on the Arterial roads
• Vehicular & pedestrian movement combined
• Severe lack of parking space at New Market
• Entries to residential areas from Arterial roads choked at most of the places
PHASING PLAN AND PACKAGING
The Phasing Plan has been evolved for the housing and infrastructure components respectively considering:
• the availability of land for initiating the process for construction of the government houses in the Stage 1 of the Pro-
ject with minimal relocation requirements;
• identifying the land parcels where structures have already been demolished/ large number of structures have already
been declared unsafe/ are vacant.
• the relocation to the newly housing stock has been considered in a way that the workable chunks of land are avail-
able for construction of government houses in the South T.T. Nagar in subsequent stages
• the developer is able to get the pockets vacated for compensatory land parcels in North T.T. Nagar and few pockets in
South T.T. Nagar area

44. Redensification/Urban Renewal Schemes for Shahjehanabad
Bhopal Development Authority appointed consultants for preparation of sustainable development schemes for Bhopal on
PPP Basis. The schemes to be designed on the principles of urban renewal, redevelopment and densification without affecting
the basic structure, character and heritage of this traditional city of Bhopal.
Emergence of Shahjehanabad
Identifying areas of intervention
Existing activities in the intervention area

45. Proposed activities in the intervention area Ram Nagar - existing
Plot area (sq.mtr): 34,310
Ram Nagar - proposed

46. A project is for establishing a Smrithivanam, commemorative forest, at Purakkad in Alappuzha district.
The initial proposal was to establish a biodiversity conservation park over an extent of 600 acres of paddy field known as MAN-
AKKAL padasekharam.
Due to the lack of maintenance (stopping of Agricultural activities, weakening of the bunds etc) the Paddy field has been
transformed as a Wetland that supports an Eco system of Birds, Fish, grazing ground for Buffaloes
The SITE lies within an existing system of Paddy fields which are inter-
connected by canals.
Excess water which is pumped out from the paddy fields, through
these canals, are interlinked to the TS Canal or the adjoining Rivers.
PROJECT FOR GANDHI SMRITHIVANAM AS ECOTOURISM
PROJECTS AT PURAKKAD

47. EXISTING FEATURES OF THE SITE
The SITE lies within an existing
system of Paddy fields which are
interconnected by canals.
The settlements mainly depend
on agriculture for their livelihood.
The average house hold size is 5
members
project concept
Of the 337 acres, an extent of 64 acres lies in continuous block and the remaining 273 acres of land lies interspersed with
private land.
DETAILED APPROACH
Development of a sustainable Tourism development taking into ac-
count wetland biodiversity conservation.
Encouraging Agriculture, fisheries, poultry and other traditional prac-
tices with in the Site area.
Providing Employment opportunities to the local people who are as-
sociated with the Paddy field.
In Turn upgrading the existing infrastructure in the area like develop-
ing proper roads, street lights, organizing pathways leading to the
adjoining settlements etc.
Retaining a part of the wetland as it is to support the existing ecosys-
tem associated with it.

48. LAND RECLAIMATION PROCESS
CONCEPTUAL ZONING PLAN
The canal could act as a spine for
the Development, for circulation
and as a‘Node’.
The canal is to accommodate a
Water Detention pond connecting
the built space around it.
Proposed paddy cultivation on the
western part of the site due to the
site topography and also as a buffer
from the existing settlement.

49. INTEGRATED MASTER PLAN FOR
ATTUKAL REGION
INCEPTION REPORT
KERALA SIDCO
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongala festival, in which over a million women partici-
pate. Attukal Pongala is an exclusive women’s only festival, which has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for
being the World’s largest religious gathering of women. Devotees who gather to offer Pongala to Attukal devi increases in
numbers every year.
The rush is so intense that the entire Trivandrum City, about 5 km radius around the Attukal temple, becomes the holy
grounds for women to offer Pongala nivedyam to Goddess. From temple grounds to courtyards of houses, to bus station and
railway station to public roads one can see only devotees offering Pongala to Attukal Devi. This sudden influx of people in
the CBD area of Trivandrum City bring with it, its own share of problems. The large share of pilgrims contributes mainly to the
sanitation, transportation and environmental and infrastructural requirement issues in the region.
ATTUKAL TEMPLE
Kawdiar
Sasthamangalam
Vazhuthakkadu
PMG jnt
Pattom
Medical college
Kumarapuram
Pattor
Panvila jnt
Chalai Market
Manacaud
Kovalam Route
Thiruvalam
Marathurkadav
Bridge
East Fort
KILLIPALAM
HIGHWAY
MANACAUD
ATTUKAL TEMPLE
BYPASS
The Temple is bounded by major
Urban Features like:
Killi River on the Eastern side
Dense Residential Fabric on the
Western side
East fort, Chalai Market and Railway
station on the Northern side.

50. The increased pressure on development has currently left Attukal
Temple ‘Land-locked’ within the dense residential settlement.
Also in a regional level, the temple is being cramped within the
surrounding setting of the East Fort , the Chalai Market and the
Railway line running on the Northern side.
Presently, there are open lands on the north eastern side of the temple
which is dispersed within private lands.
ATTAKULAMKARA
MANACAUD
KILLI PALAM
CHIRAMUKKU
EAST FORT CHALAI MARKET
NH BYPASS
NH47
MARUTHOORKADAVU
BRIDGE
Scale I Scale iiiScale ii
Integrated urban Planning approach at 3 levels:
Scale I : TEMPLE AND ITS ADJACENT PADDY FIELDS APPROX(100 ACRES OF LAND)
Scale II : ATTUKAL TEMPLE HUB
Scale III : ATTUKAL TEMPLE AND 29 WARDS - EMPHASIZING ON PONGALA SPREAD AREA
Planning concept

51. Scale I : TEMPLE AND ITS ADJACENT PADDY FIELDS APPROX(100
ACRES OF LAND)
Currently the temple has around 10 Acres of land which is dispersed between Private land holdings. The land is low-lying on
which patches of cultivation presently occurs. Due to the pressures of development, it is envisaged that, over the years ,the
present private open space could get engulfed within the surrounding residential development. Meanwhile, there is a need
for an contiguous open space near the temple to accommodate the temple activities . Hence it is proposed to adopt Town
planning scheme as a‘Tool’for reconstituting private and temple lands and to develop a contiguous open space.
Scale II : ATTUKAL TEMPLE HUB
To Define a Township zone which comprises the Temple and
its immediate settlements ,in turn upgradation of infrastruc-
ture, environmental management, lifestyle improvement,
up-liftment of slum dwellings, formulation of policies and
guidelines to strengthen the character of the region as a
Temple Hub
Scale III : THE MASTER PLAN
BOUNDARY INCLUDING THE 29 WARDS
This scale deals with a regional scale with Attukal Temple and
29 wards adjoining it.
To develop the temple and its precinct as a Nodal Zone, it is
essential to strengthen it by facilitating basic infrastructures
like physical, social and economic upgradation of the region at
Ward level, city level and region level.
PONGALA FACILITATION interim PLAN

52. Pattom
Kumarapuram
Kannanmula
Bridge
Pettah
Chakka
Bypass jnt
Model
school jnt
Palayam
Vazhuthakadu
Bakery jnt
Overbridge
East fort
Enjakkal
Kumari
Manacaud
Attakulamkara
Killipalam Karamana
Bridge
Jagathy
Sasthamangalam
Kawdiar
Poojapura
Marathurvadavu
Bridge
Kovalam Route
NH Bypass
Thiruvalam
Pattom
Kumarapuram
Kannanmula
Bridge
Pettah
Chakka
Bypass jnt
Model
school jnt
Palayam
Vazhuthakadu
Bakery jnt
Overbridge
East fort
Enjakkal
Kumari
Manacaud
Attakulamkara Killipalam Karamana
Bridge
Jagathy
Sasthamangalam
Kawdiar
Poojapura
Marathurvadavu
Bridge
Kovalam Route
NH Bypass
Thiruvalam
Existing major concerns to be addressed
LACK OF SANITATION FACILITIES LIKE BATHROOMS AND TOILETS during pongala as the pilgrims depend on the adjacent
houses.
no PORTABLE DRINKING WATER AVAILIBILITY even though frequent water tankers are there to meet the water needs of the
pilgrims.
Open spaces that presently accommodate Pongala needs to be organized to facilitate the pilgrims with proper sanitation,
drinking water and shaded resting space.
TEMPLE BEING INACCESSIBLE DURING THE FESTIVAL DAYS DUE TO OVER CROWDING OF THE ROADS Linking TO IT.
IMPROPER WASTE DISPOSAL MECHANISM NEEDS TO THE ADDRESSED.

53. PROPOSAL i: SANITATION FACILITIES LIKE temporary BATHROOMS
AND TOILETS
PROPOSAL ii: Provision of portable drinking water facility
at frequent intervals
PROPOSAL iii: ORGANIZING OPEN SPACES FOR PROPER PILGRIM FA-
CILITATION
Identified space for facilitationExisting Pongala Spatial Spread
PROPOSAL iv: Developing an efficient movement plan for Pon-
gala
Pattom
Kumarapuram
Kannanmula
Bridge
Pettah
Chakka
Bypass jnt
Model
school jnt
Palayam
Vazhuthakadu
Bakery jnt
Overbridge
East fort
Enjakkal
Kumari
Manacaud
Attakulamkara
Killipalam
Karamana
Bridge
Jagathy
Sasthamangalam
Kawdiar
Poojapura
Marathurvadavu
BridgeKovalam Route
NH Bypass
Thiruvalam
Vellayambalam
An efficient Movement Plan is proposed connecting between the major Entry
nodes (at the city fringes) to Manacaud Junction.
7 Routes are identified where‘Mini-Bus’service is proposed to provide To and
Fro pickup facility.
These Routes need to cleared to demarcate space for the ease movement of
the vehicles.
ROUTE 1 – Chakka Bypass – Palayam – East Fort – Manacaud
ROUTE 2 – Thiruvalam – Manacaud
ROUTE 3 – Marathurkadavu – Killipalam – Ambalathara – Manacaud
ROUTE 4 – Karamana Bridge – Killipalam – Ambalathara – Manacaud
ROUTE 5 – Vellayambalam – Jagathy – Killipalam – Ambalathara – Manacaud
ROUTE 6 – Enjakkal – East Fort – Manacaud
ROUTE 7 – Kumari – Manacaud

54. WORKSHOPS PARTCIPATED:
• Participated and won a special mention award in
2nd session: West African workshop of urban plan-
ning in Porto-Novo on STRATEGY AND URBAN DESIGN FOR
THE CITY CENTRE OF PORTO NOVO – July 23rd to August
13th 2011.
• LES ATELIERS, SCIENTIFIC MANAGER ASSISTANT, In-
ternational Professional Workshop in Naya Raipur,
India from November 17th – 30th 2012 (Duration of
Task - August 25th to December 3rd 2012) prepara-
tion of the context document, participant guide and
the final session book.

55. The lower valley of the Ouémé Nokoué Lake (150 km) and Porto-Novo lagoon (35
km) together form the largest wetland of Benin, with 91 000 ha. Water and food
plays a major socio-economic, feeds the groundwater that supplies water wells in
the vicinity and is used to irrigate vegetable crops. The lagoon contains important
fishery resources to feed the people of the region and serves as a means of trans-
porting goods and people.
Porto Novo & Its surroundings
West African workshop of urban planning in Porto-Novo on STRATEGY
AND URBAN DESIGN FOR THE CITY CENTRE OF PORTO NOVO

56. The study site
At the heart of the city, the site devel-
ops to the west of a line running from
the bridge, the only means of access
to the city from the south shore of the
lagoon and Cotonou, Place Jean Bayol
to the crossroads and Catchi the outer
boulevard. It is bounded on the south
by the end of the plateau overlook-
ing the lagoon and to the west by the
valley of Zounvi. It is characterized
by major thoroughfares, squares and
intersections strong symbolic (Place
Bayol Catchi Carrefour, Place de la Ré-
publique, the axis of power, the avenue
Victor Ballot ...), and the presence of
a heritage built mainly occupied by
colonial government and military which
marks the border between the city and
the traditional town colonial history,
further east.
UPCOMING PRO-
JECTS
- NEW ASSEMBLY
• Currently under
construction, the new
National Assembly
takes place at the
bridge is Porto-Novo.
It will thus be one of
the first buildings seen
(with the Supreme
Court) by any visitor to
Porto-Novo.
- PROPOSED RELOCA-
TION OF THE TOWN
HALL:
• The municipality
of Porto-Novo now
wishes to settle, once
the new national
assembly built in the
former premises of
the National Assembly
which is located in the
former building of the
colonial Governor’s
Palace.

57. Today, it is proposing a project responding to the
combination of two aspects:
- City of Culture
- Capital City
The future of the city must mix the attributes which
constitute a major capital while maintaining its
tangible and intangible heritage.
ECONOMIC STRATEGIES
SITE ANALYSIS
KEY ISSUES

58. The heritage monuments are deterio-
rating and an appropriate strategy is to
be developed to rehabilitate them.
There are many dead edges in the city
centre and there is a need activate it.
The heavy traffic congestion at the entrance
of the city needs to be addressed.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES 1. TO CONNECT THE CITY TO THE LAGOONS
Integration of public amenity such as public toilet, biogas centre
with the existing communities
2. HERITAGE WALK 3. PROPOSING MIXED USES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AREA OF THE CITY CENTRE

59. 4. TO WIDEN THE ENTRANCE BRIDGE.
Existing Bridge
Proposed Bridge
5. CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SONGHAI, THE NEW
UNIVERSITY AND THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
Proposed Density
PROPOSED MASTER PLAN

60. The EAST project gathers partners from Europe (ENTP – European New Towns and Pilot Cities Platform, Basildon Borough
Council, and Les Ateliers), India (Naya Raipur Development Authority and the EuroIndia Centre) and China (Baoshan and
Qingpu districts). The project is cofinanced by the European Union (Thematic Programme“Non-state actors and local authori-
ties in development”) for a duration of 4 years, from 2011 to 2014.
Naya Raipur is a new, planned capital city for 560,000 inhabitants, adjacent to the existing city of Raipur and currently under
construction. The state government has moved to Naya Raipur on November 1st, 2012, attracting new workers, residents
and businesses and beginning the establishment of a new urban population centre. This workshop will take place at a point
in time when the first steps of a new city have already been taken, but different possibilities remain open. NRDA, the devel-
opment agency responsible for the new city is open to ideas and wants the professional participants to work under the les
Ateliers method, to explore possibilities, with the intention of implementation of the best results.
The objective of the workshop is to explore the potential for the new city plan to achieve its goal of becoming a‘city for every-
one’.
The Government of
Chhattisgarh recently
shifted the capital to
Naya Raipur to establish
the identity of the state
and also to provide for
the insuffi cient social
and institutional infra-
structure.
The city structure of Raipur is defined by a strong nucleus which is the intersection of GE road and NH 200. It acts
as a major node for commercial and public / semi-public activities.

61. A striking feature of Raipur is its ponds, locally
called as‘talabs’. Dug for various purposes
across the country, here the aim was to store
water for domestic use and also to help
increase the water table. The ponds not only
helped in irrigation, but also were scientifi
cally developed for water harvesting.
Raipur is dotted with such man-made ponds
which were interconnected and acted as
water detention ponds. But gradually as the
city grew and the water supply lines were laid,
the talabs were ignored and the road network
interfered with these water channels.
The city of ponds
Raipur Masterplan 2021 - Existing and proposed
land uses
Location of Naya Raipur City
in the region
Boundaries The area is divided into
3 layers: Naya Raipur it-
self (Layer-I, including a
500m-wide green belt),
the peripheral zone
(Layer-II) and the airport
zone (Layer-III).

62. The Transportation System
The Transport plan seeks high mobility for all. The city level
system is integrated with the regional infrastructure:
rail (one main station in the north and a local station in
the south), highways (NH-6 and NH-43) and airport. Two
expressways are being planned near the city boundaries
and can improve regional connectivity in the future: Bhilai-
Durg-Raipur- Mahasamund and Dhamtari-Raipur-Bilaspur
Expressways.

63. The formation of new
towns in India
Are traditional principles worth recovering
for the design of New Towns in the con-
temporary context? Should New Towns be
extensions of existing cities and towns or
should they be self-propelled entities, tree
standing in their own landscape? How could
the (urban) poor be made part of the evolu-
tionary process of a New Town? Could New
Towns be fi nancially viable and self-sus-
taining entities? What should determine the
urban form of a New Town? What eventually
gives it the bright lights
of the city? Is the idea of New Towns capable
of generating, in contemporary India, the
idealism and hope that propelled its crea-
tion historically?
Understanding of ‘Indian urbanism’
Indian Urbanity is the underlying concept that unifi es the cul-
tural, social and religious nature of the Indian cities and their
coexistence. These aspects are often refl ected in the physical
manifestation of the urban fabric and depend on the‘life’of an
Indian city.
Other characteristic of Indian cities are the wise response to
climate - in the hot and humid Indian tropics which gives out-
door spaces more importance than house interior.
The cultural homage to myth - in India where the public’and
the‘private’are perpetually intersected by the‘sacred’, physi-
cality is more supernatural than real.
Hence the four general topics for the workshop to explore are: mixity;
public transport and urban density; space and water as social resources;
“positioning” of the city.
certain questions which were raised...
In Naya Raipur, how would these ‘in between realms’ be treated, whether it is between houses,
between residential and commercial, between a water body and the built environment, between the
exising villages and the new planned city or in a regional scale, between Naya Raipur and Raipur
and along its boundaries?
How can the public space of the street be best organized to continue to support this critical
connection between the different scales of transport and the mixed urban scales?
In Naya Raipur, as the road structure is defi ned in a grid pattern in contrast with the to-
pography of the land, how could the future development address the existing water system in the
region?
Another important aspect to be thought of is how Naya Raipur could envisages economic viability
for all when the Town Planning scheme coming up in the outer periphery of Raipur will make it
more attractive to the economic weaker section?
It is a great challenge for Naya Raipur to be a city affordable for all, economically viable,
socially inclusive and also give a place for the real estate developers, function as a state
capital and continue to be a livable green city.

64. Introduction days: visits Introduction days: conferences
team work

65. ROLE OF THE JURY
Following the methodology developed over 31 years by Les Ateliers, each workshop ends with the presentation by the three
multidisciplinary teams of participants to a“jury”. The members of the jury are chosen by Naya Raipur Development Authority,
ENTP (East Project) and Les Ateliers. Their mission is not to classify the teams’proposals, but to identify the most
relevant ideas and elements of all the projects and indicate the ones which could/should be considered for implementation
by the local authorities. Therefore, the jury takes part to the process of collective production and could be considered the 4th
team of the workshop.
MANAGING TEAM