Synergising shared spaces in a divided city: Shillong, India

Abstract

As boundaries between urban and rural begin to blur, cities witness more ethnicity mix, diversity and difference than ever leading to an urban divide. This thesis explores urban divide centered around pluralism, identity and territory. Intolerance to differences is making our city spaces polarised while reduced public spaces offering exposure to varied cultural and economic backgrounds due to increased privatisation has escalated conflicts and indifference among people. Hence, urban spaces today, need to play a significant role in helping people experience multiplicity and 'throwntogetherness' in a positive and constructive expression. This thesis aims to inquire the role of urban design in creating shared spaces and identity in a divided city - Shillong, India. This north-eastern city of India has a history of intolerance between its local and migrant population resulting in a conflicted and fragmented urban landscape. Understanding the cause of the divide and the perception of it through questionnaire survey forms the preliminary task of the thesis. It further explores how this divide manifests itself in the public realm through formation of homogeneous neighbourhoods, building use and movement pattern. The thesis forms an understanding of how built environment characteristics has inculcated an anticipation of fear and conflict in the existing public spaces of the city. Further, using overlay method a tool, the thesis explores the pattern of inclusivity of common interest activity contextual to Shillong city. The study culminates into identifying potential places and activities that can help increase positive encounters and public participation. Thus, with an aim to increase conviviality in a divided city and to inculcate a shared identity beyond ethnicity, the thesis formulates the vision for Shillong as, " An interconnected public realm that encourages positive encounters between people creating more inclusive and less territorial urban spaces ". Informed from the concepts of democratic spaces, slow urbanism, shared identity and third place dynamics, the thesis proposes certain urban inserts and guidelines that encourage multiculturalism. The thesis recognizes the limitation of urban design in addressing social issues. However showcases how urban design can be used as a tool to create positive stories about public spaces and influence social behavior. In conclusion, the thesis paves way for further research on designing public spaces to induce tolerance in our cities that are becoming more indifferent and inward than ever.