Abstract:
Markets have been spaces for public interaction, along with a hub for commercial
activities since time immemorial. The market typology has gone through extensive
changes over time and this emerging typology of markets functioning as socio-cultural
hubs has been explored in the thesis. Socio cultural hubs have been places of
importance in the functioning and flourishing of the city. These are sources of culturally
varying activities which facilitate meeting and concentration of people through events
like 'flea markets', temporary art, crafts and regional products exhibits, performing
concerts and periodic activities can and should happen in these spaces, without
resorting to costly infrastructures. Market as a socio-cultural hub is now only gaining
momentum in the Public Space design forum. Markets have been closely functioning
with the needs of the community surrounding it and the community influences the
design of the market also, until it becomes a city level node.
With today’s cities growing without any respect to the communities residing in them,
the concept of Place lessness or the feeling of not being able to relate and differentiate
between same space in different cities is growing and this is making the design
process more module type, replicable rather than indigenous and context led. The
concept of Placemaking can be the solution to solve this problem of Place lessness
through design.
The thesis project aims to create a redeveloped INA Market that will establish a
strengthened network of public spaces functioning as cultural and social nodes. The
project seeks to set in place an example of integrating the public realm and
contemporary market with a string of socio-cultural activities that will become a
landmark in Delhi’s unique metropolitan urban landscape. The new market will place
people at the centre of the architectural response, with an emphasis on placemaking
to foster a strong sense of community at INA Colony, integrating the ideals of
strengthened diversity through a phenomenological approach to architecture.
The design has been influenced by factors of Placemaking in order to deliver a city
level socio cultural node with a network of public places.
