Re-establishing the Identity of Old Core City in Vadodara

Abstract

The potential of the Walled City of Vadodara are immense-economically, culturally and socially. The old city of Vadodara has a strong civic character around the lake Sursagar and historic core Mandvi. The growing city has witnessed a shift in urban patterns of migration, trade, culture and art. These changes have a direct impact on the identity and visual integrity of this historic city. This has produced strange image and highly illegible urban structure. The city is not becoming a dead town; it is the overuse and chaotic functioning which is threatening the very basic life of the area. The urban life in the walled city has always confronted with problems due to modernization against traditional built form. To meet today's functions the city is under stress and calls for revitalization. A significant concern is being paid towards the concept of “urban identity” after the loss of characters, essence, soul, individuality and distinctiveness of many cities especially those with the cultural and historical significance. This thesis work investigates the imact of growing urbanization on the identity of Vadodara, the cultural city of Gujarat and identifying the potentials for revitalizing the identity of historic core Mandvi through spatial development. The thesis thus aims on the importance of identity and on the idea of looking forward to the future as well as remembering the past, respecting the cultural significance of the city and opening it out at a larger city level. An approach towards the rejuvenation of this place will facilitate people (locals and tourist) over art and the history of the city. The theoretical framework specifically related to the concept of Identity in city was done to understand the aspects more in detail from various authors and analyse the elements of identity in old historic core area. The documentation and analysis was thus based on the five identified aspects of identity with respect to tangible and intangible form in old core area of the city. The site visit was done to analyse the old core area, issues and inferences related to these aspects was further carried out to address the concern of identity. Thus to address the issue of lost identity in old core area suitable guidelines and larger area level strategy plan was made.