Imarat Kancha – Development of an Andhra Pradesh Housing Board Site (APHB) in the Hyderabad Airport Development Authority (HADA) area in the manner of a Public-Private-Partnership Project

Strategies for Integrated Neighbourhoods in Urban Peripheral Sites (SINUPS)

Feasibility Study and Capacity Building Workshop

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Project Description

Strategies for Integrated Neighbourhoods in Urban PeripheralSites (SINUPS).

AbstractThe Faculty of Architecture of the University of Karlsruhe (Germany) and the School of Planning and Architecture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad (India) developed the model project named „Integrated Neighbourhoods in Urban Peripheral Sites“ (SINUPS) and orga-nised a joint academic urban design workshop from July 23rd to July 30th 2007 in Hyderabad. Within the workshop the conditions of growth in the vicinity of Hyderabad’s new international Airport were explored with local experts and stakeholders. Finally, development scenarios for a target area named Imrat Kancha, a site belonging to the Andhra Pradesh Housing board were developed. The results form a preliminary feasibility study. The work can be used as a basis by public or private au-thorities when developing the site. In addition to this practical use, the workshop was also an extraor-dinary collaborative- and intercultural learning-, and capacity-building exercise.

Context and GoalsFor Hyderabad, as well as for many other emerging mega-cities, the outer fringes are the frontiers of contemporary urban change. Fast growing urban peripheries are the key areas, which determine the economic, social, and ecologic futures of a city. According to the local Urban Development Autho-rity the total Hyderabad-region will grow from 6,4 million residents today to more than 13 million in 2020. In the near future, the majority of Hyderabadis will be based in new sites, developed at today’s peripheries.

The development of large projects such as the outer ringroad, the new international airport (HADA), several integrated urban townships or new high-tech suburbs (Cyberabad) have spurred two digit growth rates and a highly speculative development context. However, issues of resource consumption and sustainability have been left behind in this extremely dynamic development process. Therefore, one of the most important tasks in development, planning, and architecture is to understand the deve-lopment patterns of the periphery, to improve the layout of its elements, as well as to contribute to a better integration of the parts.

Within this framework, the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Karlsruhe (Germany) and the School of Planning and Architecture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad (India) developed the model project named „Integrated Neighbourhoods in Urban Peripheral Sites“ (SINUPS). From July 23rd to July 30th 2007 a joint academic urban design workshop was orga-nised. The goals of the workshop were to analyse a selected site and to elaborate a set of planning and design recommendations.

As part of the agenda a target area named Imrat Kancha was selected. This terrain is part of the Hyderabad Airport Development Authority (HADA) - a special development area of 458 sq. km. It is owned by the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board and located in close proximity to the emerging new international airport of Hyderabad.

The goal of the project was to jointly investigate and develop urban design solutions for this area on the southern fringe of Hyderabad. The study focused on issues of spatial integration and sustainable urban development. The broader objective of the exercise was to gain a deeper understanding of the conditions, forces, and mechanisms that drive urban growth processes in the periphery of an emerging megacity such as Hyderabad. Not at least, the workshop was an extraordinary collabora-tive, and intercultural learning and capacity-building exercise.

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Project-ContextThe workshop took place within the context of the research project SHAKTI. SHAKTI stands for Sustai-nable and Holistic Approach and Know-How Targeted to India. This is a research project initiated by the German Ministry of Education and Science in the year 2005. SHAKTI explores, among 16 other projects worldwide, options for a sustainable development of the megacities of tomorrow (e.g. cities that will reach the 10 million population mark within the next 10-15 years). The School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) at Hyderabad’s renowned Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University is one of the main local partner institutions of the research project. The SINUPS-workshop was one of the elements of a consecutive series of academic activities such as lectures, undergraduate and graduate-level studios as well as several theses projects (see SHAKTI-project page www.shakti-project.org)

MethodsAmong the methods utilised to achieve the stated objectives were various field visits to the site and to reference areas, such as the Cyberabad Special Development Area (CDA). In addition, rapid field surveys were undertaken on the site and served as a analytical basis for the design work. The know-ledge background of the participants was enhanced by several guest lectures by stakeholders from key organisations such as the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board or the Hyderabad Airport Development Authority. Additional guest lectures were given by three of the German Guests (Prof. Alex Wall, Dr. Bärbel Schwaiger, and Peter Gotsch), who presented other current research projects.

Working StructureThe working team consisted of twenty-six students, ten from Germany, and sixteen from India. While the German team was mainly comprised of architecture students, the Indians represented the Plan-ning discipline. In course of the work the team was split in five groups, each of them comprised two German and two Indian students. The remaining Indian students made up a general service team. The work was divided into the five phases: I. Analysis; II. Evaluation; III. Concept, IV Strategy; and IV. Design Proposal – Scenario.

The subsequent work was composed of individual group consultations by the supervisors and three public reviews. Finally the results were presented and exhibited in a final public presentation. Impor-tant stakeholders and professors served as critics.

ResultsThe way of working in small groups, among two disciplines (architecture and planning), and two countries (Germany and India) brought about enormous mutual learning and capacity building effects for each participant – for students as well as supervisors. The participants learned about other views on designing urban structures, understanding characteristic aspects of European and Indian cities, the mutual culture of critique and urban discourse and the respective working disciplines and timelines.

In an intense process, each team explored the potentials of the site and explored the various limi-tations imposed by the proximity of the location to the new airport as well as to a military zone. The final result is a set of development scenarios for the site drawn up by each group. The results represent a preliminary feasibility study. This can be used as a basis by ongoing projects and by the public or private authorities to develop the site. In particular it can be used by the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board to assess its plans.

December 2007Prof. Ravi Anand, Prof. Alex Wall, Peter Gotsch, Ute Knippenberger

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1. Cyberabad Development Authority2. HITECH-City3. Lanco Hills4. Outer Ring Road Phase 15. Airport Development Authority SEZ/ IT-Park Integrated Township Workshop Site

Regional Plan

Above: Overwiev of Hyderabad-Region and the location of large projects. Note: The workshop-site Imrat Kancha is in the red box. Hatched are the Special Development Zones of HADA (5) and CDA (1). With an agglomerated 510 sq. km. they jointly take up almost 300 per cent of the inner city area (MCH, 172 sq. km).

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Site

restricted area

to Airport

to Ringroad and Future Center

to city centre

buildable area (G+2)

existing village

Bottom Left: The site has a tra-pezium shape of about 700 by 400 m. It comprises about 28 hectares. However, due to the restrictions imposed by a mili-tary zone to the north building activity will be allowed only on 14 ha. In addition, the height regulations caused by the funnel zone of the new international airport impose a maximum building height of G+2 (ground-floor and 2 stories). Power lines running through the site impose additional restrictions. With an envisioned popula-tion density of 100 persons/ha a total target population of 16-20.000 residents can be envisioned for the site.

Top Left: This illustration shows the location of the area in the context of traditional village centres and rural-roads.

200 m

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Impressions

APHB housing project (Survey no.1/1) at Imarat Kancha of Raviryala village, Maheshwaram Mandal, Hyderabad-24

Done by: SINUPS Workshop team School of Planning and Architecture

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological UniversityMahaveer Marg, Hyderabad - 500 028.

Scale:

Sheet title:Orientation:

July,2007

Sheet no:Project title:

Faculty of ArchitectureTechnical University of Karlsruhe

Engesserstr. 7 D-76131 Karlsruhe

Theme:

Group:

HOUSING TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES IN HYDERABAD

No. 4

BUILDING TYPOLOGY Charminar

1:1000

APHB housing project (Survey no.1/1) at Imarat Kancha of Raviryala village, Maheshwaram Mandal, Hyderabad-24

Done by: SINUPS Workshop team School of Planning and Architecture

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological UniversityMahaveer Marg, Hyderabad - 500 028.

Scale:

Sheet title:Orientation:

July,2007

Sheet no:Project title:

Faculty of ArchitectureTechnical University of Karlsruhe

Engesserstr. 7 D-76131 Karlsruhe

Theme:

Group:

HOUSING TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES IN HYDERABAD

No. 4

BUILDING TYPOLOGY Charminar

1:1000

Left Image: Typological context: The envisioned densities are comparable to those of the tra-ditional city centre of Charminar in Hyderabad. This structure has a ground coverage of 80%, open space of 10% as well as road space of 10%. Higher densities would only be pos-sible with taller buildings and a greater open space ratio.

The site from Srisailam-Road

Existing lower-income-housing- settlement on Site

Contruction at the new hard-ware-park

Emerging office structures close to the new airport

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1 2 3 4 5 6

Analysis and Evaluation

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2.

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Analytical and conceptual sketches: 1. Main traffic arteries; 2. Impact of noise and pollution; 3. pro-posed ‚strenght‘ of boundaries; 4. Meaningful intersection of built and green areas; 5. Concept for green and open spaces; 6. Formulation of parks and pocket parks

The mapping of contour lines visualises the highest and lowest elevations. The site has no dramatic slopes. Locations of potential flooding, but also sui-table for ponds and other water storage facilities can be located in the central (yellow) area

The site analysis reveals three important Zones: 1. ‚green zone‘ – only suitable for non-building green uses, such as parks, playgrounds, recreational facilities, forests; 2. ‚organge-zone close to the power lines – suitable for small service buildings, and 3. ‚Pink-Zone‘, buildable area.

Sketch of the relationships of the site to existing and new centers. The area is located about 12km from the historic city center, the Charminar area. It faces the Srisailam-Road. A new center is supposed to emerge at the inter-section of the highway and the Outer-Ringroad-Corridor only 2 kilometresto the south.

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1 Public Park2 Mixed quarter3 Commercial strip4 Semi-public Park5 MIG housing6 Semi-puplic Park7 LIG- Housing

TypologyZoning 200 m

Results

Group 1. Dense Housing vs Park

Team: G.S.V. Poornima, K. Samatha Agathe Osika, Joachim Haug

Strategy: Dense block houses and commercial park

The site’s external conditions are met through developing a mixed quarter (2) for housing and commercial uses. The dense block structures offer living space for low (LIG) (7)and middle-income (MIG) (8) groups. LIG is positioned in the north, MIG in the southern part, with a joint green space in the middle (6). The commercial strip (3) embraces the housing area and shelters it from the noise of the Srisailam-Road. Its per-meable structure offers space for bazaar function, serves for visitors and for the residents.

Section

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a

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1 Sports and Leisure2 Housing3 Shopping Mall 4 Public Plaza5 Private Plazaa-f Quarters

Zoning Typology200 m

Team: V. Sujathanath, Karola Kamp Sara Haas, P. Prashanth Vardhan

Strategy: Buffer zone, open space hierarchies at human scale, ‚floating‘ park landscape

The site is structured in two main parts, sports and leisure facilities (1) in the north, and a housing area (2) in the south. In order to protect these from the noise of the Outer Ring Road, a shopping mall (3) is positioned in the southwest. A hierarchic system of paths and open spaces structures the housing development and offers a sequence of different public (4) and semi-private plazas (5). The housing part is divided into six respective quarters (a-f).

Group 2. Sequence of Puplic Spaces

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circulation

Starting point of the concept was the fact, that plenty of agricultural land will be given away to the new Development. To break up the alienation bet-ween producer and consumer, an „urban agricultural theme park“ (1) with housing (2) for low- and middle-income groups was conceived. The park encompasses all different kinds of crops from the area and has educational and recreational objectives and supports the pre-servation of agricultural employ-ment in the region. It interacts with the housing area and functions as identity giver for the new quartier. The housing is based on the Vastu-principles of Indian building tradition.

Team: N. Vishal, Laura Lingen, P. Gopika Ramya, Stefan Kracht

Strategy: Self sufficiency through small neighbourhoods and urban agriculture

Group 3. Urban Agriculture Park

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1 Agricultural Theme Park 2 Housing3 Educational Path4 Bus Line 5 Water-harvesting6 Parking7 Road to airport

TypologyZoning 200 m

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Group 4. Central Boulevard

A central boulevard (3) con-nects living and green space.The green area is organized in ribbons (1), which accommoda-te alternative technologies such as acreage for bio mass plants or an overflow basin for mon-soon rain. Private garden- and sport-ribbons act as a buffer area for the dense living situati-on. The structure of the housing area (2) is defined by a strict grid (4). Four different themed sectors connect via the central place (5). The housing block as basic unit for the living area provides dwelling places for both, low and middle income group.

Team: P. Vivantha, Sebastian Ebertshäuser, T. Mukesh Raj, Thomas Braun, T. Narendranath Reddy

Strategy: A central pedestrian bouleverds acts as a spine connecting ribbons of uses

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1 Green Ribbons2 Central Boulevard 3 Housing Sectors 4 Grid5 Central Place6 Sector Plaza 7 Private Gardens 8 Rain Storage

TypologyZoning 200 m

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Group 5. Ecological Theme-Park

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1 Organic Waste Processing 2 Solar Panel Systems3 Rain Water Use4 Educational Path

Section through Educational PathZoning 200 m

The thesis of this work is that the external conditions of the site will make it unsuitable for housing. The concept therefore is to offer a renewable ener-gy exhibition park. Here new energy efficient technologies and concepts can be tested, explained and presented. This includes organic waste proces-sing (1), solar panel systems (2) and rainwater use (3). An educational path (4) connects the showcases and the energy produced is used for buildings in the neighborhood.

Team: N. Sukeerthi, P. Lakshmi Mythili, Prisca Hirstein, Pricilla Schädler

Strategy: Ecological Themepark bounded by Walking-Loop

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Credits

Students (Alphabetical Order)

P. Lakshmi MythiliG.S.V. PoornimaT. Mukesh RajP. Gopika RamyaT. Narendranath ReddyK. SamathaV. SujathanathN. SukeerthiP. Prashanth VardhanN. VishalP. Vivantha

Thomas BraunSebastian EbertshäuserSara HaasJoachim HaugPrisca HirsteinLaura LingenPriscilla SchädlerKarola KampsStefan GärtnerAgathe Osika

Supervisors

Prof. Ravi AnandProf. S. KumarPoornima GhantaProf. Alex WallDr. Bärbel SchwaigerPeter GotschFlorian RappTina PujaraUte Knippenberger

Contact Addresses

Jawaharlal Nehru Technologival UniversitySchool for Planning and Architecture (SPA)Mahavir MargHyderabad (India)+ 91 (0) 40 23317006+ 91 (0) 40 23315743info@jntu.ac.in

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (TH)Lehrstuhl für Städtebau und EntwerfenLab for Planning in a Global Context GLORAEnglerstraße 11, 76128 Karlsruhe (Germany)+ 49 (0) 721 608 7154+ 49 (0) 721 608 3734pg@glora.org

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Workshop Impressions

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