Enhancing night life experience by creating vibrant public realm: a case of Gurugram

Abstract

It has been observed that most of the Indian cities have not been planned or designed for the night which makes night-time activities disorganized, spaces unfamiliar, and experience unsafe and reactive. Today, a lot of businesses are expanding towards the night-time leading to a changing lifestyle with the expansion of activities, culture of consumption, and socialization beyond working hours. Urban lighting, mobility, and informality are three parameters that must be addressed to make any public space successful at night. For this study, Gurugram, in Haryana, has been selected because of the various night-time activities that the city supports. Many Fortune 500 companies have set up their offices in Gurugram and since they have international clients, night shifts are common. This corporate culture has given rise to a late-night supply of leisure in the city and further attracted various commercial establishments to open up in the recent past. Gurugram has a healthy population of youth working experts, often in their 20’s & 30’s who contribute a lot to eating out, entertainment, and spending time with colleagues. The nightlife in Gurugram provides for the requirements of its young citizens, consisting of night clubs, breweries, pubs, and restaurants that are at par with global standards. Keywords: night life, lighting, mobility, economy, public realm