The urbanscape of a city constitutes the built man made environment of buildings, the streets along which they are located, modelled to provide access to & fro places of living to work places and public services through transport, communication interfaces that connect with places of natural environment for leisure and recreation. In other words, cities are concentrated points for flows of socio-cultural and economic exchange over space. These exchanges and flows happen between buildings, streets, system of communication and utilities, places of work, along transportation networks, leisure and meeting places of the city. Urban Design encompasses the design and integration of the built form (i.e. urban structure and morphology or the relationship between buildings and their form, in accordance with their typology) with the public realm (i.e. streets, transport corridors, markets, parks & open spaces, lakes etc) into the city.
It is in this context that urban design is envisaged as a tool to realise sustainable planned urban development and interventions to give the city a modern urban character, establish a strong public realm that lends from its past and yet ushers into the future with a world view of a Global City.
15.1 Urban Design Strategies for RMP 2031
Urban Design helps in shaping the physical setting for life in cities, creating places where people want to live, work and play. Urban Design guidelines aim to preserve and enhance the urban character of different existing and future physical areas in the BMA. These guidelines will help to ensure that developments integrate well with their surrounding urban environments. The following are the urban design strategies that are proposed in RMP 2031.
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Urban Design aspects for Certain Areas that require special and intended treatment
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Providing for well-designed public realm
• Promoting Lake front and treatment to Buffer Areas for water bodies
• Providing Streetscape and Avenue Plantation
• Parks and Open Spaces
• Promoting and regulating Street Vending
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Landscaping Plan for BMA.
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Accessibility Improvement Plans for transportation modes and educational institutes
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Conservation of Heritage Zones and Heritage Precincts
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Providing for Universal Accessibility such that the city is accessible and made user friendly.
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Regulating Signages and hoardings such that the visual character of the city is not marred.
AUTHORITY ★
15.2 Urban Design Scheme
Master Plan proposes that Urban Design shall be embedded in all area development, redevelopment, linear projects etc in consideration to physical features, providing improvements in the physical layout, making infrastructure and amenities accessible and their upgradation, conservation of heritage zones and precincts, managing the area to enhance health and safety of the occupants, to support economic development as well as to enhance the quality of living, environment, and preparation of area specific regulatory parameters for the area covered31. Urban design guidelines need to be formulated for specifications of plot frontage, building line regulations, landscaping features and architectural elements, for specific particular plots/area. Local Area Plans can be used on peri-urban areas for providing plot layouts, laying of infrastructure and providing social amenities while respecting the traditional and prevalent culture of the people. This aids in achieving structured development and densities along with visual integration.
15.3 Providing for Well-Designed Public Realm
15.3.1 Promoting Lake front and treatment to Buffer Areas for water bodies
Bengaluru requires urban places for recreation for its people. The lakes and water bodies can serve as the public realm, but with careful consideration to the sensitive wetland ecosystem. Specific guidelines are recommended, that regulates activities and other landscaped interventions.
15.3.2 Providing Streetscape and Avenue Plantation
The streetscape and visual character of any city is not resplendent without designed and well thought out interventions in streetscape. Streetscape includes street furniture, road side planting, street lighting, pedestrian and non-motorised lanes, spaces and pockets for street vending, public interaction with surrounding land uses such as commercial, markets, institutions etc. the streetscape is envisaged to enliven the spaces for vibrant and safe public interaction.
15.3.3 Parks and Open Spaces
RMP-2031 proposes Parks and Open spaces that are envisaged to provide public recreation, conserve the ecology, and also provide for flood protection and ground water recharge. The following are the guidelines;
Parks and Open spaces are natural habitats of rich and varied flora and fauna. The habitats must be conserved, and the open spaces must protect the ecology.
Emphasis has to be given on native plants species, and only limited use of ornamental and decorative plant species shall be allowed.
The parks also have a role to play in flood control. All regional parks and zonal level parks to be designed based on the gradient. Low lying areas in the park must not be paved.
31 Draft URDPFI Guidelines 2014
BANGALOE AUTHORITY ★
Rain Gardens and bio swales may be designed in zones identified as flood prone, in smaller parks where the pervious area is less.
15.4 Universal Accessibility
Any public open space needs to be accessible to everyone, irrespective of their disabilities and shortcomings. Most areas in the open space should be accessible for the differently-abled. Elderly need passive recreation and some amount of active recreation. Frequent seating needs to be provided along the walkways for resting. Sufficient lighting along the walking tracks. Activities for adults may include passive recreation as well as active recreation like outdoor Gym, jogging track, and sports. Play areas for children of school going age (shall involve a lot of running and active recreation) is necessary in suitable areas within the parks. Safety of Toddlers shall be taken care of. Smaller level plays spaces within the parks, which can be easily monitored. The Universal Accessibility and Urban design Guidelines for Public Spaces are as following:
Guidelines for Footpaths, Paving and Street Furniture:
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Public walkways, footpaths must be minimum 1.2 m wide with a maximum gradient of 1 in 20 and must have ramps at all the entrances for entry and exit.
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The footpaths should be well lit, with proper marking.
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Tactile paving should be used for lead persons with vision impairments to the lifts, crossings, toilets, bus stops etc, and away from the flowing traffic.
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Obstructions: A 1500 – 2000mm pathway (depending on pedestrian volumes) clear from any obstruction must be dedicated to pedestrian use. Trees, planters, street furniture etc must be placed beyond this 1500 m.
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Bollards: A minimum width of 815 mm between bollards is required for the passage of wheelchairs.
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Seats: All public walk ways must preferably be provided with seating facilities, and the seats should be easily accessible to the differently abled.
Universal Accessibility for Transportation
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At least one accessible route should be provided from the alighting and boarding point of the bus stand to the walkway that leads to the accessible building entrance.
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Public transport system must be barrier free with easy entry from bus stop/rail station, into the vehicle, for all groups of users using person using wheelchairs.
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Bus stops with designated spaces to wait and relax (Urban Mobility India)
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Alighting and Boarding Areas:
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Directional signs should be installed to direct the differently abled to an accessible entrance.
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Guiding blocks should be provided along the accessible walkway from the bus stand to the building entrance to aid persons with visual impairments.
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The bus stand shall have optimum illumination levels (minimum 35 to 40 lux) for ease of visibility.