Redevelopment of shahgunj as a socioeconomic and cultural hub Aurangabad Maharashtra

Abstract

Markets, since time immemorial, have been a vital component of any city. Besides being viable for economic developments of the city they are also the loci of social and cultural cohesion of its people. A marketplace is recognized by its Social components i.e., the society and all surroundings influenced in some way by humans: relationships, institutions, culture, and physical structures., Economic components i.e., the local and foreign commerce of the area and the Cultural components, the people, their interactions and spaces that augment this interaction. For any public space to be successful the aforementioned components must be of paramount importance while designing the built and unbuilt of the area. Hence, this thesis is an attempt to keep in mind the various dimensions of a public realm and formulate a design for a historic marketplace, Shahgunj in the city of Aurangabad. Shahgunj, was founded in the 1700s as a market for royalty, where grains and vegetables were sold for local people as well as traders from other places. Owing to its location at the heart of the city, it soon became a market for the confluence of the royals, commoners and traders. Through time, it has now developed into an urban area with vibrant markets, commercial and mixed-use infrastructure and residential localities. Besides being geographically located at the centre of the city it is also socially the heart and soul of the city’s public character. It is a good illustration of an urban centre that follows the values of vibrant city neighbourhood with mixed-use buildings, commercial centres, predominant local markets and residential areas. However, the site has spaces that are underutilized due to several factors like an increase in population, infrastructural demands, lack of proper management, negligence by locals and government etc. These spaces have a potential of becoming vibrant public spaces: where people can have a cohesive and interactive environment. The aim of this thesis is to understand the tangibles and intangibles that make a community and their wellbeing, improve their quality of life, create new economic pportunities for them and to enhance the existing functions and programs on site.