From 'Pensioners Paradise' or 'Garden City' to 'Silicon Valley' or 'Garbage City', the city of Bangalore has come a long way. One of the interesting aspects of life in Bangalore is 'public life' and the use of public space. However the quality of public spaces in Bangalore has deteriorated over the years due to several reasons. Rapid development, increase in traffic, encroachment into public spaces and lack of management of public spaces have all contributed to this. The CBD (Central Business District) area, especially M.G. Road has evolved as the de-facto centre of Bangalore. Hence a space that used to cater to a city of 2 million in 1980 has to now cater to a city of 5 million. This has led to congestion on M.G. Road, especially along the sidewalk, where people jostle each other to get to their destinations and one can no longer take a leisure stroll or promenade in comfort. Although the sidewalk has been historically an important public space, it is now slowly being reduced to the function of circulation. The increase in population has also altered the demands on public spaces in Bangalore. The cosmopolitan image that Bangalore has acquired has resulted in the creation of many eclectic spaces such as pubs, open-air cafés, and food courts. The common man is being left out of this semi-public realm because of affordability, causing a social rift. Also with pressure increasing on the streets it is becoming difficult to cater to these needs in an appropriate manner. The public realm is slowly diminishing and the semi-private realm is filling the void. This calls for a re-evaluation of the role of a street and how it is functioning in Bangalore and exploration of new spatial types of public spaces, which can be introduced in the public realm. Public spaces should reconcile these differences rather than aggravate them. With pressure on land due to increasing population and density a contest for space is inevitable. What is important is to reconcile these differences and evolve a strategy through which public space can be returned to the people irrespective or religion, caste, creed, class or political alignment for the common good without compromising on aesthetics. At the same time the poor and deprived need to feel a sense of belonging and ownership in the city. Public space is one of the few mediums for such expressions and hence the duty of the city to provide it. Also the absence of iconic public spaces as landmarks has resulted in Bangalore remaining an imageless city, a former middle-class city with no apparent vernacular. Today Bangalore has no real city centre to represent its image and cater to its citizens. The elements of a city centre already exist as observed by Rao & Tewari; it is a matter of giving it structure and a sense of place. Bangalore today confronts several problems with respect to its public spaces ' lack of an imageable city centre; contest for urban and public space based on class and caste; privatisation / corporatisation of public space. To curtail violent and disruptive demonstration of ideas and aspirations by various interest groups especially those of the suppressed, the city needs a democratic, civic space in the perceived/evolving heart of the city ' M.G. Road. Such a space would attempt to bridge the zoning of Bangalore and the lack of imageability of the city; providing its citizens a space to speak their minds, to protest, to celebrate, to mourn, to recreate and most importantly to unite. The thesis document comprises three sections. The first section deals with theory pertaining to the design of public spaces that provides a basis to evaluate public spaces in Bangalore, and draw conclusions, which can be applied in the design project. It draws from public space theory pertaining to the issues identified earlier. The second section provides a brief history of urbanisation of Bangalore. It describes the use of public space from colonial times to the present and draws conclusions for future development of public spaces in Bangalore. The last section applies and tests the conclusions arrived at in the previous two chapters through a design project for a site on Mahatma Gandhi Road. The design process and final product comprises the third section. / Master of Landscape Architecture

No description available.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Jason Brody / This report evaluates the success of the Green Light for Midtown in New York in order to understand the factors that led to its success and thereby determine how social spaces can be created along streets and the initiatives that can be taken by other cities to create such spaces. It begins with a review of historical trends of urbanization that shifted the focus on streets from open spaces to transportation networks. The report attempts to answer a two-fold research question. Firstly, the Green Light for Midtown project in New York that attempted to reinvent the public space on Broadway and Times Square is evaluated in depth to examine the design elements that resulted in a thriving public space. This is done with the help of documents produced by the city and the concerned organizations as well as interviews with the officials in charge of the project. Analysis of the Green Light for Midtown illustrates certain elements that are essential for the design of social spaces along streets and bring the focus back on the pedestrians. Through the second part of the research question, the report attempts to determine the lessons that can be learnt from the New York example. The study reveals certain key elements for the creation of successful public spaces along streets in urban areas. The primary element is to have a political will that enable these changes to take place in the public realm. In addition, the area should be able to maintain a competitive edge in order to attract people and keep them coming back to the area. Finally, the regulations should be made more specific to the context of the area so that the identity of the place can be maintained effectively.

Critical writing on public art in the late 20th century in the UK and USA either legitimized public art as an extension of studio art intended to widen its public, or implied a new relation to public space - as demonstrated in texts by Cork (1995) and Phillips (1988) respectively. This suggests a polarization of art's aesthetic and social dimensions. A deeper understanding of the relation between these dimensions is found in the work of Marcuse, Bloch and Adorno. Marcuse, in his early work, sees art as serving the needs of bourgeois society by displacing ideas of a better world to an independent aesthetic realm; Bloch sees art as giving form to hope, shaping a recurrent aspiration for a better world; Adorno sees the tension between the aesthetic and social dimensions of art as unresolvable, and, like Marcuse in his later work, sees art's autonomy as a space of criticality. But, as Bloch argues, conditions for change are noncontemporaneous, fostering culture which is both progressive and regressive. In this respect, Gablik's appropriations of other cultures may be seen as regressive, whilst Lippard's concern for locality offers art a basis for progressive intervention. The introduction of the local, as a point of reference alongside the aesthetic and social, leads to consideration of three cases of art practice: Common Ground's Parish Maps (1986-96), the Visions of Utopia Festival coordinated by the Artists Agency (1996-8), and 90% Crude (1996--), a project by PLATFORM in London. The originality of the thesis is in its investigation of these cases; and equally in making connections between them and the elements of art criticism and critical theory noted above.

What was once begun as research called LIFE has become the key component of my master's project. The meaning of LIFE has been redefined by a new landscape language. Living, infrastructure, traffic, shopping and eating identify the most common scenarios that are an intrinsic part of our daily lives. These are not exempt from the problems and difficulties characteristic of large cities like Shanghai. Landscape no longer focuses only on building parks or squares. In my project it has its own definition that informs about how to create a sustainable space not only for public use but also for private use. The research into the different ways people live has assisted me in identifying the Longtang morphology -a living system that was very popular and successful in downtown Shanghai in the 30's. Longtang is a fast-disappearing architecture due to the urban expansion in older Shanghai. Nowadays people's living conditions have improved. The buildings are new and mostly high-rise, without the unique Longtang style- easy eating and shopping ¨C in the past and without the good neighborhood relationships and useful public space. However, Longtang's living style to some extent surpasses the modern high-rise living structure. This research acknowledges the success of LIFE as a balanced schema in Longtang. The space in a traditional Longtang is neither public nor private. Longtang residents concede and build on its spatial negotiations, as private space is very restricted. Transferring private space into public space is one of the most important rules people learn while living in the Longtang. And my research question concerning how Longtang urban morphology can be used as a tool in the development of Shanghai becomes my key point in studying the Longtang structure, especially the changeability of the Longtang space. The research also identified a need for public space in various scales. The provision of this space is not easy as Shanghai is a highly dense area. My project proposes the use of public space as private-testing the strategy at different scales.

City halls have long been regarded as the social, organizational, perceptual and physical centers of cities. A successful city can be recognized by the success of its city hall. As a city develops, so must its city hall. Over several decades of construction, urban sprawl in Michigan has resulted in an increasingly contiguous network of cities. Devoid of distinction, the boundaries of these cities meld with each other, disintegrating developed city centers. City halls have furthered this disintegration by relocating municipal service buildings along the periphery of downtowns reducing accessibility to the services and involvement with the vitality of the downtown. The city hall is then left to contend with mid-rise commercial buildings for prominence and distinction or to simply become isolated amidst residential neighbors. In downtown Ann Arbor the 1964 city hall stands, exemplary of an era concerned with accommodating the conveniences of driving, economy of construction and the modernist style. Building upkeep, working conditions, accessibility of services and expansion cause problems today. This thesis recognizes the city hall as an intrinsic part of the development of downtowns for midsized cities. It looks at how a city such as Ann Arbor could further that development by relocating and transforming the city hall into a new, central, responsive, informative and integrated hub for administrative and social functions, worthy of pride. Devised in response to numerous observations made across the State, related studies and discussion with city officials, the project identifies eight major criteria to consider when designing a new city hall. An integration of community and social programs with those of the administrative departments of the city, draw the citizens to use the building regularly and become more actively involved with political issues. Success of this project might assert the city as a leader in inspiring others to evaluate the role of architecture in smart growth planning and urban densification.

City halls have long been regarded as the social, organizational, perceptual and physical centers of cities. A successful city can be recognized by the success of its city hall. As a city develops, so must its city hall. Over several decades of construction, urban sprawl in Michigan has resulted in an increasingly contiguous network of cities. Devoid of distinction, the boundaries of these cities meld with each other, disintegrating developed city centers. City halls have furthered this disintegration by relocating municipal service buildings along the periphery of downtowns reducing accessibility to the services and involvement with the vitality of the downtown. The city hall is then left to contend with mid-rise commercial buildings for prominence and distinction or to simply become isolated amidst residential neighbors. In downtown Ann Arbor the 1964 city hall stands, exemplary of an era concerned with accommodating the conveniences of driving, economy of construction and the modernist style. Building upkeep, working conditions, accessibility of services and expansion cause problems today. This thesis recognizes the city hall as an intrinsic part of the development of downtowns for midsized cities. It looks at how a city such as Ann Arbor could further that development by relocating and transforming the city hall into a new, central, responsive, informative and integrated hub for administrative and social functions, worthy of pride. Devised in response to numerous observations made across the State, related studies and discussion with city officials, the project identifies eight major criteria to consider when designing a new city hall. An integration of community and social programs with those of the administrative departments of the city, draw the citizens to use the building regularly and become more actively involved with political issues. Success of this project might assert the city as a leader in inspiring others to evaluate the role of architecture in smart growth planning and urban densification.

Disappearing Architecture Media facades dominate the skylines of many of our cities. A quick stroll through today’s urban areas involves a one-sided conversation directed at pedestrians. Advertisements aggressively compete for attention, creating a visually chaotic battlefield of logos, brand names, and flashing lights. Structures themselves recede into the background behind this visual confusion, withdrawing completely under giant billboards that are plastered with images and LED lights. In the visual order, architecture comes second, if at all, behind graphics and media messages. Building facades are now covered with flat images and advertisements which use savvy marketing schemes. The vast and overtly stimulating messages, however, have gradually desensitized viewers as they become increasingly accustomed to this visual noise. More explicit images, brighter lights, and larger movements are now required to make an impact. As media facades are such a large part of the competitive communications industry, these facades have come to influence architectural practices which are in danger of succumbing to the demands of the ad industry. It is thus important to create a balance between media and architecture, which is mutually beneficial to both. Architecture can be preserved while advertisements can also flourish. This thesis examines the use of digital media to enhance the public’s connection to the built form within public spaces. Chapter one explores the various spaces in which people gather and their relationships to the city. Specifically, this chapter looks at the progress and decline of public realms in North America. Case studies of Times Square in New York City, Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, and the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada illustrate how each city negotiates media saturation. Chapter two presents eight design principles for the successful integration of digital media in public spaces. These principles were established through the use of historical references, case studies, and precedents showcasing each principle’s potential. Chapter three looks at Galt City Centre in Cambridge, Ontario where the principles outlined in chapter two are demonstrated through a video application that was part of a public Christmas event in Cambridge. The project in Galt addresses the existing features of the city which engage its public spaces, encouraging a symbiotic relationship between the architecture and video facade. The integration of digital media and architecture can be enriched in the choice of strategic locations highlighting local character. Installations can be cultural, create local identity, become reactive for community engagement, and encourage the public to inhabit the city by transforming existing spaces into communal areas. Installations connect with users in their use of the characters inherent to outdoor spaces; texture, sounds, emotions, and the experiences of different seasons and times of day. With a more responsive approach to content design and implementation, the outcomes of the use of digital media on facades can be positive.

This case study is dealing with a new city district in Uppsala and its potential for social interaction asking: how can visions regarding social development in Uppsala be implemented on the Field of Rosendal through its public spaces? The question is answered by using a territorial approach interviewing informants in the entire city being active in meeting places, concerning their view on social meetingplace and furthermore by analysing the zoning plan of the Rosendal area, mapping what public spaces that are planned, The study shows that Rosendal has great potential both in being in a strategic postition and having many types resources in the area, above all many green areas. The study however suggest that Rosendal needs to develop more public spaces with few threshholds such as limitating costs, opening hours and degree of specialisation of the place and safeguarding the cultural heritage that there is.

No other city in Europe has seen as much urban landscape changes as Berlin, Germany. How can a contemporary urban design approach along the former site of the city’s division help stitch together the physical as well as cultural disconnects and introduce a new public space in the city? The relationship between the built landscape and the social world is dialectical, with each perpetually and cyclically shaping the other. There is a direct language spoken between the architecture of a city and the inhabitants using the space. This relationship is dynamic and stands at the center of my endeavor. When studying the urban grid of a city a production of processes is found – both social and physical – creating a navigable network. “The immediate questions raised for an urban observer by its configuration are related to the communicational capacity and power of these shapes and their legibility” as they relate to the architectural quality of urban space.1 Interruption in the grid of a city can occur from a multitude of reasons: physical terrain conditions, a modernizing intervention such as a highway, urban planning programs (such as a Haussmann boulevard in Paris), or even a political play of forces that can divide a city with physical boundaries. Perhaps the most notable specimen created from political transformations was the Berlin Wall, existing from 1961 to 1989. This physical structure interrupted the building culture and social life of Berlin to an extraordinary extent and changed the urban grid of this city forever. Berlin was seeing a separation in the political positions during this time and soon their ideologies were superimposed onto the citizens. While people attempted to carry on with life as usual the cultural movements also began to divide between the East and West. While there were no physical barriers until 1961, the political ones had begun and were only strengthened by the actual separation of these two “cities”. In Berlin there are three primary phases of this evolving relationship between the urban grid and society: the historical growth of urbanism until 1961, physical division of the city into East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, and the forward motion of current design as these two worlds has physically become one again. In a general manner the aim of my urban design solution will be generated by evaluating the historical building culture of Berlin and critically applying a social theory in design to an urban architectural intervention. Key components of the project will focus around urban housing demands and cultural institutions that need a home in the city. I plan to organize public spaces in this contemporary society. Berlin has been chosen as the site for my master’s design study because it has a rapidly changing building development, a collision of nationalities, and a diverse artistic culture. / text