Reimagining lost spaces in a city case of Pimpri, Pune

Abstract

A reformist approach towards industrialization has been underway in India since 1991. Under this program Public sector economy has been restructured, in order to make it more productive and competitive. Today as a result of the liberalization policies and the shift in focus on industrial development, Indian cities have experienced establishment of economic centers in the marginal part of city, which further resulted into migration of population from core cities to peripheral part. In this case it becomes necessary on the part of government to provide the basic infrastructure and utility services in order to regulate the development of expanding cities. During the transition period of Indian cities primarily industrial townships have flourished around the industrial clusters at sub-urban part of cities. But due to the fact that, focus of investment in Public sector industrial unit has been shifted to private sector, which is why today Public sector unit in India turns out into loss making sector. At present acres of surplus land is lying vacant and derelict housing stock is underutilized and locked up under loss making Industrial public sector unit. According to Roger Trancik theory about finding lost spaces it describes these kinds of areas in a city known as lost spaces which are ill defined spaces and without measurable boundaries it makes no contribution to its surroundings. Therefore this thesis will question the status of underutilized surplus Public sector unit land and to understand how this land will be influence by real estate pressure and current demand of city. The main scope of the study is to heal the urban distress in industrial housing quarters and urban design solution for this unique problem of sick public sector unit through exploring the possibilities of potential use. Here this thesis will scope down to the certain part urban patch in order to understand the nature and effect of lost spaces. Therefore looking at edge condition where integration of land and adjacent edges is available shall be considered for urban design intervention. Also the study will also look at the thriving needs of city and local marginalized communities in order to integrate and revitalize the land into new dimension. During the process of integrating land into city density will be one aspect to be considered in order to introduce new activities. Therefore at the same time the aftereffects of putting density, such as effects of transitions will also need to be considered.