Abstract:
Cities are spatial compositions of diverse activities which emerge as distinct urban
fabrics that changes with time and needs of the people. These built fabrics when
integrated properly creates a coherent urban landscape. But in contemporary
cities, it is visible that the due to globalization the cities are expanding
accommodating newer developments, functional zones which are spatially
disconnected from the surrounding areas resulting in fragmentation of the city.
Especially in peri-urban areas of developing countries like India, where rapid
urbanization brings in migration of people which impact the urban landscape of the
area and brings in new activities and functions, spatial fragmentation is a visible
phenomenon. The spatial fragmentation manifest on the built form creating locally
disconnected spaces, privatized public spaces, gate enclaves etc. This fragmented
landscape creates an unsustainable growth of the city, which has an impact on
social bonds, activity pattern of life of the people and ecology of the area.
The enquiry of the study is to understand the impact of fragmented spaces on the
social, spatial and ecological aspects of the city and importance of inclusive urban
spaces for maintaining a sense of pluralism in the city and producing coherent
urban canvas in modern cities. This could be understood through the analysis of
urban areas that has undergone rapid development and produced fragmented
urban fabric.
To understand this, we will explore and analyse the characteristic of developing
area of Kakkanad, Kochi, Kerala. The Kochi city has a long history starting from
spice trade network and developments happening in different time periods. The
Kakkanad site is located in the fringes of the city and has been subjected to rapid
urbanization in recent decades creating lot of pressure on the urban landscape.
The area is also ecologically sensitive area which consists of wetlands and
waterbodies. Newer developments, functional zones and enclaved spaces are coming up without any conscious effort of understanding the spatial dynamics and
relation to already existing urban fabric around it. This creates fragmented urban
landscape that is characterized by disconnected, impermeable and inactive
spaces. these spaces have now been reduced to incoherent urban entities which
are visually and functionally disconnected from rest of the area and impact the
biodiversity in the area.
Thus, the intend of the thesis is spatial integration of fragmented urban fabric both
spatially and ecologically through urban networks while responding to the natural
systems to provide urban cohesiveness and vitalizing the area. By strengthening
the relationship between people and urban spaces would allow the city to create
and form its own meaning from the fragments. Making the spaces accessible, both
physically and socially and develop strategies for spatial integration of the area
through Urban Design.