Detailed Study of the Precinct

Urban Design Studio  |  Fall 2015

Location: Shahjahanabad, Old Delhi, India
Instructors: Madhurima Waghmare, Shhilpi Sinha, Sandeep Singh, Manjari Gupta
Collaborators: Harsh Khaitan, Gunveer Singh, Sakshi Bahukhandi

My work: On-site Research, Documentation and Interviews, Historical Analysis, Designing Urban Recreation Spaces (Haat), Streetscape Redevelopment

Published in Shahjahanabad Documentation and Proposals Report
Curated and Featured in Shahjahanabad  Exhibition

Daryaganj is one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Delhi inside the walled city of Shahjahanabad. The city was built in 1638 and the district fell on either side of the New Daryaganj Market, erstwhile Faiz Bazaar street, built to mirror the main commercial street, Chandni Chowk as they ran orthogonally from the cardinal points of the fort walls to those of the city walls. The area to the west of New Daryaganj Market - Dilli 7 - is a living exhibit of the built-open fabric of the 17th century, while the south eastern district  - Dilli 2 - has a rich mix of colonial and post-independence architecture.

The D7 region still retains some of its character from the Mughal Era, but due to recent additions in built form, the concept behind these modules has somehow become obsolete. Various issues in terms of parking shortage, lack of open space and loss of character, have arisen in this Old Delhi fabric. The D2 area was relatively recently developed, nevertheless, there are pockets that need special attention. This project identifies the areas of conflict which need intervention in terms of environmental, physical, socio-cultural, economic, and transit-oriented renewal.

These are classified according to the nature of intervention required:

1. Augmentation of existing economic generators and creating suitable infrastructure for them to boost economic and social activity.
2. Integration of Open Spaces to create larger networks of spaces for social and community engagement via place-making exercises.
3. To Recognise and build on the distinctive characteristics of the precinct including its human, cultural, historical values and natural systems.
4. To Resolve points of conflict in circulation developed due to unsuitable mobility patterns(veh-veh, ped-veh)
5. To Develop and Enforce policy changes to ensure regulation of land use and other physical and structural changes in: 
   a) Height & Volume   b) Façade elements  c) Substructure
6. To address and resolve the issue of grossly inadequate vehicular parking in the precinct.

Explore my writings on Daryaganj here.