Analyzing 'People First' Streets and Spaces in Mapusa

“People first” places and
streets
A case of Mapusa town
Maria Chloe Tonia Rodrigues ,11125
Akihabara,Japan

To study and analyze the streets and spaces selected in Mapusa town and to
identify the factors that are pros and cons to a rich walkable experience for the
public. To help formulate a resource material that would be useful when designing
built environments for the public(able and differently able). Applying this
understanding to analyze existing public spaces and streets in Mapusa and to assess
their design for better development.
“People first”, places and streets
Aim

Objective of the study
In order to achieve the aim the following objective should be achieved:
•To study and understand public space.
•To obtain parameters along which architectural observation of the streets and spaces can be made.
•To analyze the conditions of the street scapes of selected case studies in Mapusa town with respect to the
principles of walkability and people first design.
•To identify the public-form-space relationship in order to establish practical design criteria from the findings
that can be used for future design implementations.

Scope and limitation
•The scope of the study is to document the quality of the selected street scapes.
•The study will be done in order to find the relevance of the existing public-form-space relationship in the
selected case studies.
•Time constraint may limit the number of case studies and extent of study.
•The researcher is not well versed in the field of Psychology of the senses and thus must depend on
literature and comments of previously published material and views of professionals in the field of
Psychology.
•Suggestions/guidelines to be formulated will only be done for the context of Mapusa in terms of the
project in hand.
•The study does not aim to impart any absolute rules or definite conclusions, but to provide certain
knowledge of how People first design is carried out and what cities in Goa and India contain or lack that is
required for people centered design.

For streets and spaces to be more successful, safe, economical, environment
friendly, intimate and walkable, a human centered design approach is required
for a successful city, town design.
Central Argument

Methodology
Objective 1 : To study and understand public space.
Chapter1 : “People first” places and streets
Stage 1 : Formulation of the project
The study focuses on stating the importance of walkable streets and creating an sensorial rich environment through people
centralized design.
Chapter 2 : Streets and public spaces
Chapter 3 : People first design
Stage 2 : Background literature study
•Brief explanation on importance and evolution of streets and public spaces.
•Brief study on already existing examples of walkable streets.
•Brief study on relationships between senses and architecture.

Methodology
Chapter 4 : Introduction of Mapusa town
Stage 3 : Establishing criteria of selection of streets and spaces
•Identifying vehicular and pedestrian streets.
•Identifying public spaces for functional and leisure purposes.
•Identifying functionally important streets and spaces.
Objective 2 : To obtain parameters along which architectural observation of the streets and spaces can be made.
Stage 4 : Data collection
•The importance of Mapusa town
•Plans of Mapusa town.
•Previously done research material on streets and spaces selected.
•Procuring methods of documentation of the case studies.
Stage 5 : Process of analysis
•Architectural setting of the streets and spaces.
•Location, heights of buildings and widths of streets.
•Discussing the four characteristics of walkability wrt to Mapusa town.
•Study of plans.
Town and Zone level

Methodology
Objective 2 : To obtain parameters along which architectural observation of the streets and spaces can be made.
Chapter 5 : Audits – Testing for walkability and Measuring urban design quality
Documentation and testing of quality of streets chosen for study will be done with the help of two audits and also
observation of elevations of the streets.
•Testing walkability - Pedestrian Facilities, Pedestrian Conflicts, Crosswalks, Maintenance, Path Size, Buffer, Universal
Accessibility, Aesthetics, Shade.
scored from 1 to 5
Sum of High importance (A+B+C): __________ x 3 = __________
Sum of Medium importance (D+E+F+G+H): __________ x 2 = __________
Sum of Low importance (I): __________ x 1 = __________
Total Score: __________ / 100
(U.S Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010)
•Measuring urban design qualities – Imageability, Enclosure, Human Scale, Transparency, Complexity .
(Field Manual , July 5, 2006 , Prepared by : Marnie Purciel, Research Coordinator : Mailman School of Public Health and Graduate School of Architecture,
Planning, and Preservation, Columbia University Ellen Marrone, Research Assistant Urban Studies, Columbia College, 2006)
Public space and Street
level

1. Testing walkability
A. Pedestrian Facilities (High): presence of a suitable walking surface, such as a sidewalk or path.
B. Pedestrian Conflicts (High): potential for conflict with motor vehicle traffic due to driveway and
loading dock crossings, speed and volume of traffic, large intersections, low pedestrian visibility.
C. Crosswalks (High): presence and visibility of crosswalks on roads intersecting the segment. Traffic
signals meet pedestrian needs with separate ‘walk’ lights that provide sufficient crossing time.
D. Maintenance (Medium): cracking, buckling, overgrown vegetation, standing water, etc. on or near
walking path. Does not include temporary deficiencies likely to soon be resolved (e.g. tall grass).
E. Path Size (Medium): measure of useful path width, accounting for barriers to passage along pathway.
F. Buffer (Medium): space separating path from adjacent roadway.
G. Universal Accessibility (Medium): ease of access for the mobility impaired. Look for
ramps and handrails accompanying steps, curb cuts, etc.
Methodology
H. Aesthetics (Medium): includes proximity of construction zones, fences, buildings, noise pollution,
quality of landscaping, and pedestrian-oriented features, such as benches and water fountains.
I. Shade (Low): amount of shade, accounting for different times of day.
Public space and Street
level

2.measuring urban design qualities
A. Imageability
The quality of a place that makes it distinct, recognizable, and memorable.
B. Enclosure
The degree to which streets and other public spaces are visually defined by buildings, walls, trees, and other vertical
elements.
C. Human Scale
Human scale refers to a size, texture, and articulation of physical elements that match the size and proportions of humans
and correspond to the speed at which humans walk.
D. Transparency
Defined as the degree to which people can see or perceive human activity or what lies beyond the edge of a street or
other public space.
E. Complexity
The visual richness of a place that depends on the variety of the physical environment, including: the numbers and kinds
of buildings, architectural diversity and ornamentation, street furniture, and human activity.
Methodology
“People first”, places and streetsPublic space and Street
level

Methodology
 Objective 3 : To analyze the conditions of the street scapes of selected case studies in Mapusa town with respect to the
principles of walkability and people first design.
Chapter 6 : Streets of Mapusa town
•Study of elevations - Sections and image, Solids
and voids, Proportion and scale, color, Material,
Texture, Functions, Barriers, Car parks .
Human scale level
Methods of data collection
•Counting (a 10min or 1hour basis at different times day and location)
•Mapping (traffic flow, people flow,activities,place of stay, used spaces)
•Tracing(paths of flow)
•Traces(paths through lawn, paan stains, spaces where garbage is dumped)
•Photography
•Score sheets and tables for quality of walkability of street

Methodology
“People first”, places and streetsHuman scale level
Objective 4:To identify the public-form-space relationship in order to establish practical design criteria from the findings
that can be used for future design implementations.
Chapter 7 : Solutions to designing walkable streets
Stage 6 : Findings and observations Correlate findings to establish a conclusion on the case studies.
With respect to the case study and design solutions the existing condition of the streets is discussed and suggestions of
what could be designed in the town are mentioned too.

Literature review
The eyes of the skin, Juhani Pallasma, 1996
The book speaks about the importance of
having an intimate connection with one’s
public spaces. That a space has to be
detailed at a human scale and should have
poetry beyond just being a well designed
functional area .Juhani Pallasma introduces
his Theory on phenomenology “multi
sensory architecture”.
Spaces between buildings, Jan Gehl , 2000
It explains the important and forgotten realm
just outside the buildings that define most
people’s lives. Jan Gehl helps readers
understand the larger public life of cities and
how this knowledge can help improve society as
a whole.
How to study public life, Birgitte svarre
and Jan Gehl, 2013
Provides an extensive study based on
Jane Jacobs, William Whytes and Jan
Gehls methods of documenting
human behavior in a public space. It
explains that design and structure
were given utmost importance while
public life and interaction between
people and built form was neglected.
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save
America, One Step at a Time, Jeff Speck, 2012
The author fits a remarkable collection of data and
anecdotal evidence from his long career in urban
design. It explains about the challenges that the
community faces with the built form of today and
the need for walkability. The book discusses what
walkability is and why it is an efficient component
for streets. Also it provides guidelines in creating
walkable streets.

People first design and Walkability
•Design of cities affect our behavior
•Therefore people should be made the centre of design
Physical space
•Infrastructure
•Streets and public open spaces
•Buildings
Life
•Behavior and use of patterns
•Culture
•Commerce, exchange, free time
"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by
everybody." – (Jane Jacobs, urban author and activist)
People 1st design
•Time
•Social interactions
•Discoveries
•In the 21st century, cities have been designed around the vehicle.
• Form and structures are given primary attention while the pedestrian moving through a city has been
forgotten.
•This has culminated to vehicle dominant streets, where the roads, curbs and even the movement of
pedestrians have been designed to favor the movement of the automobile.
"Walkable places are thriving places," (Walkable city, Jeff Speck, 2012)

Why are public spaces important?
Economy and Safety
•The working class spend up to
1/3 of their income on mobility.
•50km per hour itself there is an
80% chance that a pedestrian
will die, while if a pedestrian is
hit by a car moving at 30 km per
hour, it is a 95% chance of surviving.
Environment and Health
•In the 21st century cities will account for
90% global population growth
80%global carbon dioxide
75% global energy use
•65% chance of an obesegeneric society

What is walkability of streets?
It is a city in which the car is an optional instrument of freedom
rather than a prosthetic part.
• It is not only the infrastructure but also how a street
•Looks like
•Feels like
•Sounds like
A walk able environment is made in the
• details, the height of the buildings ,the width of the street,
the quality of the store fronts, the availability of services
the general feeling and character of the area
URBAN EXPERIENCE =
TIME+MEMORY+IMAGINATION
Thus designing spaces based on the 5 senses is essential
as it gives attention to human scale design

The 4 characteristics of walkability
1. It has to be an experience –A reason to walk (balance of uses)
2. Safe to walk (reality and perception)
3. A comfortable walk (Space and orientation)
4. An interesting walk (signs of humanity)
Access and linkages
•space is easily accessible
• visually visible
•Good public space edges
Uses and active spaces
•building block of the space
•reason for the people to use the place
Comfort and image
•perceptions of safety
•cleanliness
•shade
•place to sit
Sociability
•stronger sense of place
• attachment to community

Mapusa town
•In the state of Goa, Mapusa is considered as an important economic
and commercial town.
• It is the largest town in North –Goa and is famous for its weekly
markets.
•These weekly markets attract scores of buyers and sellers from all
the neighboring villages.
•The town has a healthy intake of foreign and national tourists.
•The name Mapusa according to tradition, is thought to be derived
from the word ‘measure’ – ‘map’ and the phrase ‘fill up’ – ‘sa’ .
•It is believed that since ancient times, Mapusa has enjoyed a
healthy intake of local and foreign visitors due to its weekly fairs,
that still continue today as the Friday market.
(Google Earth, 2016)

Mapusa town
•Mapusa is located at 15.60°N 73.82°E.
•To the North it is bounded by the villages Colvale
and Siolim, on the West by Marna, Canca and
Assagao,on the east Tivim, Moira, Ucassium,on the
South by Guirim and on the east by the river Mapusa
which is a branch of the river Mandovi.
Demographics
1971year – the population was 20001
2011year – the population was 40487 (census of
India)

Mapusa town
Issues faced in Mapusa town
•Streets are not maintained.
•Traffic jams.
•Haphazard parking.
•Proper walking and parking space is not
designated.
•Proper garbage disposal site is not designated.
•Flooding of market place during monsoon.
•Sparse vegetation or shade.
•Pedestrian paths are narrowed to widen roads.
•Wide road.
•Every month over 1200 vehicles are registered in
Mapusa town.

Area of study (central commercial core of Mapusa)
The study area is restricted to the main commercial centre
of Mapusa town ,Land use plane 2011, (Master and
associates firm, Mumbai)
(Google Earth, 2016)

“People first”, places and streetsTown and Zone level
Land use plan 2006,
(Oriana Fernandes, 2010)
Land use plane 2011,
(Master and associates firm, Mumbai)
•The entire town was dominated by hillocks and paddy fields, which was the source
of major income for the town.
•A large area of these hillocks and paddy fields are proposed to be converted into
residential, institutional and religious land use.

•In the 2006 land use plan development was seen to
take place with respect to the natural topography.
•The 2011 depicts different where the commercial
zone spread and stretched over the natural
topography due to introduction of major institutions.
•The concentration of commerce on the edge of this
old core which has been proposed now to spread
within the old core causes a threat to the already
diminishing character.
Town and Zone level
Topographic map of Mapusa town

•The old core that is the commercial
centre of Mapusa town still retains its
status as a business centre for people of
Mapusa and people from neighboring
villages.
•The location of main institutions in
Mapusa town still exist in their former
location and serve as trigger points for
socio-cultural and physical development
as they are placed at regular intervals. In
the 2006 land use plan development was
seen to take place with respect to the
natural topography.

1. A reason to walk
•A balance in amenities available around a place
determines the number of discoveries that can be
created along the streets.
• In the case of Mapusa city it is observed that
amenities such as banks, ATMs, schools, hospitals
and cafes are available at proper intervals and are at
walkable distances.
•Assuming the larger number of populous visiting
Mapusa travel by public transit, that is the bus.
•All amenities seem to be at walkable distances
from the bus stand.
cafes Educational
institutions
Hospitals Banks ans ATM’S

•Public Transit is important.
• the Mapusa bus terminus provides little facilities for
buses as well as commuters.
•The structure is well lit, though the glare of the afternoon
May be very harsh.
• Lack of signage or a system for parking.
•Lack of bays for interstate buses has led to the
buses being parked near the taxi stand.
1. A reason to walk

2. Safe to walk
The primary role when creating a safe city in the block is
creating block sizes of 60m- 90m ( 2 lane streets) and not
180m ( 6 lane streets).
Two lane road can carry ten thousand cars and are preferred.
According to “The Times of India” January, 2014,it was stated
that 510 signboards and 29places for road marking would be
installed. This would also reduce the pathway widths.
The block size seen in Mapusa town
Bala Desai Street – 60m
D.B. Marg – 75m
According to Jane Jacobs (1961), small block sizes facilitate
pedestrianisation and provide a fabric of intricate cross use.

2. Safe to walk
Entry to D.B. Marg
road
from main road of
Mapusa town, Goa
Induced demand
This brings the requirement of explaining what
‘induced demand’ is, it is applicable to both highways
and to city streets. Induced demand explains that
when streets are widened to accept the congestion
that is anticipated in congested systems, it is
principally that congestion that is constraining
demand and therefore it leads to widening of the
roads.
congestion
congestion
congestion
capacity
Years
Traffic
Width
Width

2. Safe to walk
Hierarchy of linkages
Traffic circulation plan,
Mapusa, Goa
Road linkages plan,
Mapusa, Goa

3, 4. An interesting walk and comfortable walk
•The success of a place depends on the amount of
human activity taking place in it at all times of the day.
•Thus this human activity attracts other humans as such
causing the place to be welcoming and interesting .
•But to attract humans a place needs to have a mix of
varied activities.
• It requires providing scope for conversation.

•All beings seek simultaneously prospect and refuge.
Therefore humans are drawn to good edges.
•Good edges attract people, as they are flanked with
facades that are interesting and provide the sense of
safety, while having a proper undisturbed path of
vision of the street.
•Thus a proper ratio of height to width should be
maintained.
•A ratio beyond 1:6 is not very comfortable as it does
not provided enclosure, while 1:1 ratio is very
comforting.

Building use plan,
Mapusa, Goa
Building heights plan,
Mapusa, Goa
Building condition plan,
Mapusa, Goa

The public spaces in Mapusa Town
level
One understands the connection between spatial forms and social interactions by studying
and analyzing the sensorial qualities of an urban public space.
For interaction of public spaces with the public to be possible it requires the ability for the
possibility of seeing and being seen by public.
Thus a successful public space could be said to be one providing multiple activities, creates a
sense of belonging, creates the sense of safety for all sexes, and provides sufficient shade
and freedom for seating.

The Mapusa market
level
The positives of the market are
•It is located near the bus stand.
•This creates a lot of convenience for those
visiting the town.
• The Mapusa market is a success in terms
of containing multiple discoveries.
• It has its special weekly markets.
The negatives of the market are
•No proper shade is provided along its
streets.
•It does not provide any .
•The paths are mostly shaded with the
help of colorful umbrellas, which block
the line of view.
Friday Market

The Rammonohar Lohiya garden
level
The negatives of the garden
•Freedom for movement.
•The seating provided is not movable.
•Part of the garden is properly shaded by trees.
•Used by one gender and also all age groups do not
use it.
•Used as a short cut.
•Does not provide many activities or has any variety
in ground texture and also water features.
The positive are the garden
•proximity to main amenities.
•Serves as a resting space .
•The trees block the loud sounds and view of
the roads around, forming a calm space.

The Taxi Stand
level
The positives of the taxi stand
taxi stand
•It provides a space for parking of four
wheelers, bikes.
•There are a few stalls set up below the only
two existing trees.
•one of the first sites when entering the town.
The negatives of the taxi stand
•Here little activity is seen.
• This is due to the fact that parking
though having a central location
seems desolate within its self.
•No shade is provided within the taxi stand
and around.
•Being situated along the one way section of
the D.B.Marg also creates a huge disconnect
and a desolate sense.

Audits
level
An audit is an unbiased evaluation of the walking and bike environment of a street. The general reason for
an audit is to identify concerns for pedestrian and bicyclist related to safety, access, comfort and
convenience in the environment. It can also be used to identify potential alternatives or solutions. Audits
can be performed before, after or during an ongoing project.
The two tests that are carried out are :
•Testing for walkability
•Measuring urban design quality

Testing for walkability
level
•The audit is a simple assessment of the seven streets
chosen in Mapusa.
•The streets are scored from 1 to 5 on the basis of certain
parameters that are – Pedestrian facilities, pedestrian
conflicts, crosswalks, maintenance, path size, buffers,
universal accessibility, aesthetics and shade.
•The parameters are of certain level of importance, that is
Pedestrian facilities, pedestrian conflicts, crosswalks – high
importance
Maintenance, path size, buffers, universal accessibility,
aesthetics – medium importance
Shade – low importance

level
Location: ____________________ Date: ________________________
A. Pedestrian Facilities (High): presence of a suitable walking surface, such as a sidewalk or path.
1 No permanent facilities; pedestrians walk in roadway or on dirt path
2
3 Continuous sidewalk on both sides of road, or completely away from roads
4
5 Sidewalk on one side of road; minor discontinuities that present no real obstacle to passage
B. Pedestrian Conflicts (High): potential for conflict with motor vehicle traffic due to driveway and loading dock crossings, speed and volume
of traffic, large intersections, low pedestrian visibility.
1 High conflict potential
2
3
4
5 Low conflict potential
C. Crosswalks (High): presence and visibility of crosswalks on roads intersecting the segment. Traffic signals meet pedestrian needs with
separate ‘walk’ lights that provide sufficient crossing time.
1 Crosswalks not present despite major intersections
2
3
4
5 No intersections, or crosswalks clearly marked

level
D. Maintenance (Medium): cracking, buckling, overgrown vegetation, standing water, etc. on or near walking path. Does not include temporary deficiencies
likely to soon be resolved (e.g. tall grass).
1 Major or frequent problems
2
3
4
5 No problems
E. Path Size (Medium): measure of useful path width, accounting for barriers to passage along pathway.
1 No permanent facilities
2 < 3 feet wide, significant barriers
3
4
5 > 5 feet wide, barrier free
F. Buffer (Medium): space separating path from adjacent roadway.
1 No buffer from roadway
2
3
4 > 4 feet from roadway
5 Not adjacent to roadway

level
G. Universal Accessibility (Medium): ease of access for the mobility impaired. Look for ramps and
Handrails accompanying steps, curb cuts, etc.
1 Completely impassible for wheelchairs, or no permanent facilities
2 Difficult or dangerous for wheelchairs (e.g. no curb cuts)
3
4 Wheelchair accessible route available but inconvenient
5 Designed to facilitate wheelchair access
H. Aesthetics (Medium): includes proximity of construction zones, fences, buildings, noise pollution, quality of landscaping, and pedestrian-
oriented features, such as benches and water fountains.
1 Uninviting
2
3
4
5 Pleasant
I. Shade (Low): amount of shade, accounting for different times of day.
1 No shade
2
3
4
5 Full shade

level
The scores are then entered into a formula to
obtain a total score which determines the
walkability of the street.
Sum of High importance (A + B + C): __________ x 3
= __________
Sum of Medium importance (D +E +F + G + H):
__________ x 2
= __________
Sum of Low importance (I): __________ x 1
= __________
Total Score: __________ / 100
Scores for testing of walkability of streets of Mapusa

level
Location: Mapusa town, Goa, Bala Desai Street (Street A), March 2016
A. Pedestrian Facilities (High): 1 - No permanent facilities; pedestrians walk on the road.
B. Pedestrian Conflicts (High): 3 - Average conflict potential.
C. Crosswalks (High): 5 - No intersections, or crosswalks clearly marked.
D. Maintenance (Medium): 1 - Major or frequent problems.
E. Path Size (Medium): 1 - No permanent facilities.
F. Buffer (Medium): 2 - Very narrow buffers are available.
G. Universal Accessibility (Medium): 1 - Completely impassible for wheelchairs and no
permanent facilities. There is no availability of facilities for the differently able.
H. Aesthetics (Medium): 3 – Inviting
I. Shade (Low): 3 - Averages
A.
B.
D.H.I.

Measuring urban design quality
level
This audit studies the three main streets selected extensively.
Bala Desai street, D.B. Marg, Market Street
The streets are given certain scores based upon the directions
provided by the audit for particular parameters – imageability,
enclosure, human scale, transparency, complexity.
Each of these parameters have a certain set of characteristic
which help in determining the parameter concerned.
Imageability
•Count courtyards, plazas, and parks
•number of major landscape features
•proportion historic building frontage
•number of buildings with identifiers
•number of buildings with non-rectangular shapes
•presence of outdoor dining
•number of people
•noise level

level
Enclosure
•number of long sight lines
•proportion street wall
•proportion of sky
Human Scale
•number of long sight lines
•proportion windows at street level
•average building heights
•number of small planters
•number of pieces of street furniture
and other street items
Transparency
•proportion windows at street level
•proportion street wall
•proportion active uses
Complexity
•number of buildings
•number of basic building colors
•presence of outdoor dining
•number of pieces of public art
•number of people

level
measuring urban design qualities scoring sheet auditor chloe
street: Clip A
recorded (multiplier) x
step value multiplier (recorded value)
imageability
1. number of courtyards, plazas, and parks (both sides, within study area) 0 0.41 0.00
2. number of major landscape features (both sides, beyond study area) 0 0.72 0.00
3. proportion historic building frontage (both sides, within study area) 0.4 0.97 0.39
4. number of buildings with identifiers (both sides, within study area) 7 0.11 0.77
5. number of buildings with non-rectangular shapes (both sides, within study area) 4 0.08 0.32
6. presence of outdoor dining (your side, within study area) 0 0.64 0.00
7. number of people (your side, within study area) 30 0.02 0.60
8. noise level (both sides, within study area) 4 -0.18 -0.72
add constant +2.44
imageablity score 3.80
enclosure
1. number of long sight lines (both sides, beyond study area) 3 -0.31 -0.92
2a. proportion street wall (your side, beyond study area) 1 0.72 0.72
2b. proportion street wall (opposite side, beyond study area) 1 0.94 0.94
3a. proportion sky (ahead, beyond study area) 0.3 -1.42 -0.43
3b. proportion sky (across, beyond study area) 0.4 -2.19 -0.88
add constant +2.57
enlosure score 2.00
human scale
1. number of long sight lines (both sides, beyond study area) 3 -0.74 -2.22
2. proportion windows at street level (your side, within study area) 0.8 1.10 0.88
3. average building heights (your side, within study area) 50 -0.003 -0.15
4. number of small planters (your side, within study area) 0 0.05 0.00
5. number of pieces of street furniture and other street items (your side, within study area)5 0.04 0.20
add constant +2.61
human scale score 1.32
transparency
1. proportion windows at street level (your side, within study area) 0.8 1.22 0.98
2. proportion street wall (your side, beyond study area) 1 0.67 0.67
3. proportion active uses (your side, within study area) 1 0.53 0.53
add constant +1.71
transparency score 3.88
complexity
1. number of buildings (both sides, beyond study area) 9 0.05 0.41
2a. number of basic building colors (both sides, beyond study area) 9 0.23 2.03
2b. number of accent colors (both sides, beyond study area) 5 0.12 0.58
3. presence of outdoor dining (your side, within study area) 0 0.42 0.00
4. number of pieces of public art (both sdies, within study area) 0 0.29 0.00
5. number of people (your side, within study area) 30 0.03 0.93
add constant +2.61
complexity score 6.56
street lights 5 5
street trees no
Measure for urban design qualities for Bala Desai street
The 5 parameters are the qualities required in designing a
space in terms of people first design and walkability.
Scores for testing of urban design qualities of streets of Mapusa

level
Location: Mapusa town, Goa, Bala Desai Street (Street A), March 2016
A. Imageability
Bala Desai Street scored the value 3.80.
•Count courtyards, plazas, and parks both sides, within study area : 0
As there are no available courtyards and parks along the street.
•Count major landscape features both sides, beyond study area : 0
•Estimate proportion historic buildings both sides, within study area : 0.77
As there exist 3 buildings with historic architectural elements.
Joao Menezes Pharmacy building

level
•Count buildings with identifiers both sides, within study area : 0.33
•Count buildings with non-rectangular shapes both sides, within study area : 4
Joao Menzes Pharmacy building has pointed arch windows and doorway of Dr.
Bhobes clininc is a rounded arch. The build balcony its self has a rounded edge.
•Record outdoor dining your side, within study area : 0
•Count people your side, within study area : 30
A study was done 3 times during a working day and weekend. It was observed that an
average of 30 people are moving on the street during a span of 10 minutes.
•Estimate noise level both sides, within study area : 4
As it is one of the two main streets and a number of vehicles move through it.
Evaluate the level of noise (1=very quiet, 2=quiet, 3=normal, 4=loud, 5=very loud)

level
B. Enclosure
Bala Desai Street has a value of 2.0.Therefore one can say that Bala Desai Street is fairly defined by it building walls.
•Count long sight lines both sides, beyond study area : 3
•2a & 2b. Estimate proportion street wall a) your side, within study area (3m), b) Opposite side, within study area (3m) : 1
As the buildings are consistently less than 3m from the sidewalk edge.
•3a & 3b. Estimate proportion sky a) ahead, beyond study area b) across, beyond study area : a) 0.4, b) 0.3

level
C. Human Scale
Bala Desai has a value of 1.32.Bala Desai may have a good 1:1 scale.
•Estimate proportion windows at street level your side, within study area : 0.8
•Estimate average building height your side, within study area : 50
•Count small planters your side, within study area : 0
•Count outdoor dining tables your side, within study area : 0
D. Transparency
The Bala Desai Street has a value of 3.88 for transparency. Most of the shops
along the street have large glass windows that show case the goods they sell.
•Estimate proportion active uses your side, within study area : 1
A few activities take place along the Bala Desai Street however these are
restricted to one side of the street. (eg : Tailor, cobbler, garage and bicycle store )

level
E. Complexity
The visual richness of a place that depends on the variety of the physical environment, specifically the numbers and kinds of
buildings, architectural diversity and ornamentation, landscape elements, street furniture, signage, and human activity.
•Count buildings both sides, within study area : 9
•2a. Count basic building colors both sides, within study area : 9
•2b. Count building accent colors both sides, beyond study area (3m) : 5
•Count public art your side, within study area : 0
Considering the public(able and disabled) as a main design element leads
to a robust, well connected, accessible, mass transit system,
higher job opportunities, reduction in accident numbers,
Improvement in travel time, increase in retail sales.
(Lecture by Arch.Chris Downey,Design with the bling in mind, 2013)

Streets of Mapusa town
•The drawings provided represent the main factors involved in people first design, walkability
and a sensory rich .
•These factors are further divided into qualities pertaining to them with respect to the three
streets discussed below namely Bala Desai Street, D.B. Marg (road), Market Street.
Solid and void- Figure ground, Building use, Function, Nature of place, Location, Accessibility, Landmark.
Activity pattern- Circulation pattern.
Shade and light- Micro- climate.
Physical barriers- Barriers, Car parks.
Proportion and scale- Raised platforms, Sense of belonging, Sense of enclosure, Street edge.
Ground texture- Paving on streets, Materials used on faces of buildings.

Bala Desai Street
Lanes for parking
Roads serve for parking,
Traffic and walking
•During the time when Mapusa was a village, Bala Desai
had the important residential buildings.
•Rapid development took place when the Municipal and
Judicial headquarters was set up.
•Mapusa was then declared a town, led to several public
buildings coming on this street.
•The street attained prominence due to traffic flow.
•Ground floor of the residential buildings were
commercialized.
•After the zoning plans was initiated, the street was
designated as central commercial.
•Along the street commercial functions spread to the top
floor of the existing buildings.
•A lot of vegetation was lost during the change.
•It altered the materials used on the street façade.
•To manage traffic the road was widened, ultimately
leading to no or narrow foot paths.
Existing foot paths

D.B Marg and Market street
•D.B Marg forms the commercial edge of the market and is one
of the primary roads connecting places in Mapusa.
•The market is at the centre of the commercial zone .
•The fact that the market and bus stand as situated near each
other creates great convenience for those visiting Mapusa, as
many travel by bus.
•The original location of the Market was the open space near
the now existing Alankar theater.
Existing foot paths
Roads serves for
parking, traffic and
walking
D.B.MargMarket

Solids and Voids
•The most important cavity is the space enclosed (solids) and space
between two adjacent buildings (voids).
•Solids: built forms
•Voids: the punctures in street scape.
•After the zoning plan was implemented the punctures in the street
scape reduced and density of the built form along the streets street
increased.
•Thus the sense of visual enclosure along the streets of Mapusa town
increased.

Solids and Voids
Figure ground
Bala Desai Street, figure ground, Mapusa, Goa
D.B. Marg and Market Street, figure ground, Mapusa, Goa

Solids and Voids
Building UseBala Desai Street, building use, Mapusa, Goa
Bala Desai Street, circulation pattern,
Mapusa, Goa

Solids and Voids
Bala Desai Street, function, Mapusa, Goa Function

Solids and Voids
Market street, function, Mapusa, Goa
D.B. Marg, function, Mapusa, Goa

Solids and Voids
Bala Desai Street
Bala Desai Street
Nature of place
Block size of 50m with very few paths and secondary lanes (voids).
Negatives: not maintained, numerous open gutters, no pavements exist,
traffic leads to congestion due to road being very narrow.
Positives: main central location, mix used activities,
visited by a good number of pedestrians,well shaded for most parts of the day,
good sense of scale, range of colors along its building face, good sense of enclosure.
Location
It is connected to the main road of the town.
Accessibility
Vehicula, pedestrian, transportation and access.
Landmark
Apart from the Joao Menzes pharmacy there is no other
land mark along the Bala Desai road.

Solids and Voids
D.B. Marg and Market Street
D.B. Marg
Nature of place
branch of the main road entering town.
Block size of 75-80m.
Negative: no crosswalk, not maintaine, cracking and buckling of paving, street edge is used for parking,
congested throughout the day, poor shading of pavements.
Positives: mix used activities, has a number of visitors,
only streets with a few trees, has sufficient pavement width.
Location
The street forms the commercial border of the market.
Accessibility
Vehicular, pedestrian, transport and access.
Landmark
Sirsat hall, taxi stand and Mapusa market.

Solids and Voids
D.B. Marg and Market Street
Market Street
Nature of place
Extension to the D.B. Marg, open to both pedestrian and vehicles,
infrastructure forms small blocks sizeS of 60m.
Negatives: lack of service entries. No proper accessibility for service vehicles, Access road is
mostly blocked with random two wheeler parking.
Positives: Huge numbers of crowds visit the street, large number of activities, the Friday market
to is a boost in income for retail.
Location
The Market Street is near the Kadamba bus stand.
Accessibility
Vehicles, pedestrians, transport.
Landmark
The street is within a main landmark that is the
Mapusa market of Mapusa town.

Activity patterns
Morning Afternoon Evening Notes*
Bala Desai Street Commercial activities, commuters
moving to office, tourist, students
walking to school, public bus transit
movement, vehicular movement
Shops are closed, school going
student walk back home from school,
transit not too frequent. Street is
quiet
Shops reopen, commuters and
students moving back home, tourists,
public bus transit movement and
vehicular movement increases at
peak hour
Very few vehicles move through the
streets on Sunday, except for the
evenings.
D.B. Marg Commercial, informal and formal
activities begin, Traffic peaks at this
time, tourist walk along the paths,
commuters and students walk to
office and school, people are in line
near the banks, small trucks park to
unload goods.
Most shops are closed, small
restaurants are full with office goers,
students move out from the school.
People sleep and have lunch on the
shaded pavements of the market.
All shops reopen, cafes are full, traffic
peaks, a lot of tourists move as
compared to the afternoon and
morning.
A space on one side of the street near
the market entrance is used as a food
stand every Tuesday from 4:00pm
onwards.
Market street Commercial formal and informal
activities begin; tourist and locals fill
the streets. Lorries with goods park
and unloading of goods takes place,
large amount of two wheelers are
parked.
Most formal stores are closed.
Vendors either sleep on the
pavements or head home. The
number of two wheelers parked is
less. It is relatively quiet.
Large numbers of tourist visit the
street in the evening. The two
wheeler parking is as in the morning
but reduces in late evening 6:00pm.
Fridays the activity is the most
intense.

Circulation patterns
Circulation pattern
Weekday – Morning,
9:00am to 9:30am, 95
people
Mapusa, Goa

Circulation pattern
Weekday – Afternoon,
12:00pm to 12:30pm,
53 people
Mapusa, Goa

Circulation pattern
Weekday – Evening,
5:00pm to 5:30pm, 70
people
Mapusa, Goa

Circulation pattern
Mapusa, Goa
Weekend – Almost the
same throughout the
day, 30 people

Shade and Light
Bala Desai Street, shade and light, Mapusa, Goa
Morning
Afternoon
Evening

Shade and Light
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
D.B. Marg and Market Street, physical barriers, Mapusa, Goa

Physical Barriers
Physical barriers
Bala Desai Street, physical barriers,
Mapusa, Goa

Physical Barriers
Physical barriersBala Desai Street, physical barriers,
Mapusa, Goa

Physical Barriers
Physical barriers
D.B. Marg and Market Street, physical barriers,
Mapusa, Goa
•The journey or circulation path through a street by a human
is conceived as a perceptual line that links exterior and
interior spaces together. This is because we move in time
and also through a sequence of spaces.

Physical Barriers
Market street,
Mapusa, Goa
D.B. Marg,
Mapusa, Goa

Proportion and Scale
Bala Desai Street, circulation pattern, Mapusa, Goa
•It has a significant effect upon visual appearance.
•The street has a strong sense of enclosure
•It has a 1:1 scale.
•Jeff Speck (2013), states that streets with ground and ground plus one structures are good as they are close to the
human scales. This is one of the positives of Bala Desai Street.
Has a strong sense of belonging .
•Provides shade.

Proportion and Scale
D.B. Marg and Market Street, physical barriers, Mapusa, Goa
•The D.B. Marg road is wider than 12m but has a
good sense of belonging and sense of
enclosure,because the road is divided by the
median of trees along it.
•The trees provide shade.
•A distorted scale is observed near the Sirsat lodge.
•The Market street scales are 1:1 and partly shaded.
The enormous variety of activity taking place along
the street results a huge sense of safety.

Ground texture and building face
A walkable city should be open to all people, irrespective of gender, age and ability.
Thus in the case of ability, ground textures, built faces, raised and recessed platforms are
needed to be given utmost attention.
The three streets have variety of colors making the streets vibrant, though maintenance is
needed.
The street lack in ground paved materials.
Building face of Bala Desai street: wooden planks, blue trap, wooden doors, white washed
walles, glass, rolling shutters, railings, collapsible gats, laminate. Presence of round arch doors
and pointed arch windows.
Building face of D.B. Marg: rolling shutters, glass, texture blocks, tiles, laminate, white washed
walls, wooden doors and collapsible gates. Colonnade is present on one side of street.
Building face of Market Street: rolling shutters, glass, texture blocks, tiles, laminate, white
washed walls, wooden doors and collapsible gates and colonnade.

Building face
Mapusa, Goa

Wood ,signage Wood ,signage, rolling shutters, metal gates
Collapsible metal doors Glass, tile
Laminates ,glass

Ground texture
Mapusa, Goa

Conclusions
•To study and understand public space.
•To obtain parameters along which architectural observation of the
streets and spaces can be made.
•To analyze the conditions of the street scapes of selected case studies
in Mapusa town with respect to the principles of walkability and
people first design.
•To identify the public-form-space relationship in order to establish
practical design criteria from the findings that can be used for future
design implementations.
Observations Broad conclusion
Form and structures are given primary attention while the pedestrian
moving through a city has been forgotten.
The factors that play a major role in street design for Goan streets
are : imegeability, aesthetics, shade, universal accessibility, path
size, barriers, buffer, public facilities, transparency, function, color,
ground texture, building faces, maintenance and sense of belonging
and enclosure
Order of walkability quality of streets in Mapusa town
1) Market street
2) D.B. Marg
3) SBI road
4) Bala Desai Street
The overall form, proportion and the extent that the street are being
used by pedestrians govern the quality of the streets.

Qualities of walkability
The issues concerning good street design may vary in their complexity and nature depending on the context in hand.
Though using an approach which consists of six qualities of successful places has benefits as a methodology.
•Distinctive quality
•Safe and pleasant
•Easy to move around
•Welcoming
•Adaptable
•Resource efficient
Qualities for Walkability Bala Desai Street D.B. Marg Market Street
Reason to walk Yes
(Municipal buildings)
Yes
(shops and market)
Yes
(for purchasing goods)
Safe to walk Block size Good (60m) Good (75m) Good
Induced demand exists exists -
Comfortable and interesting
walk
Vegetation vs built space No vegetation Very little vegetation No vegetation
Enclosure Good sense of enclosure Average sense of enclosure Good sense of enclosure
Sense of belonging poor average good
Heights Majority G+ 1 Majority G+1 and G+2 All ground structure
Linkages Good linkages Good linkages Good linkages
Quality Poor quality Average quality Average quality
Use Mix used Mix used Mix used
Public space and street
level

Qualities of the street, Mapusa, Goa
Streets
Bala Desai Street D.B. Marg Market Street
Function Mix used commercial
(formal), It has a good mix of
activities
Mix used commercial(formal and
informal), space for public
transit(rickshaws, pilots) It has a good
mix of activities
Mix used commercial(formal and
informal), space for public
transit(pilots) It has a very good mix
of activities
Shade/Light Mostly shaded Main part of the road is not shaded Only pavements are shaded
Physical Barriers Obstructions Multiple obstructions Few obstructions Multiple obstructions(mainly two
wheeler parking)
Raised platforms Present as steps and uneven
pavements. Poor condition
Present as uneven pavements.
Condition of street is average
Not present. Condition of street is
good.
Car parks No space available for street edge
parking thus parking occurs on paths.
Condition is bad
Parking occurs along the street edge. Parking occurs along street edge and
also mostly blocks the two end points
of the street
Causing congestion and obstruction
for two wheelers and pedestrians
entering the street
Ground texture and Building
faces
Paving Non existent Paving is in poor conditions, absence
of tactile paving
Paving is in average condition
absence of tactile paving
Elevation treatment Vibrant colors, mix of modern and
traditional materials. Signage
present. Presence of traditional
architectural elements.
Vibrant colors, mix of modern and
traditional materials. Signage present
Vibrant colors, mix of modern and
traditional materials. Signage present

Solutions for designing walkable streets
The issues concerning good street design may vary in their complexity and nature depending on the context in hand.
Though using an approach which consists of six qualities of successful places has benefits as a methodology.
•Distinctive quality
•Safe and pleasant
•Easy to move around
•Welcoming
•Adaptable
•Resource efficient
Public space and street
level

Solutions for designing walkable streets
Distinctive Safe and pleasant Easy to move welcoming adaptable Resource efficient
Street design should
respond to local context
to deliver places that are
distinctive
Streets should be designed
to be safe and attractive
places
Streets should be easy to
move around for all users and
connect well to existing
movement networks
Street layout and detail should
encourage positive interaction
for all members of the
community
Street networks should be
designed to accommodate future
adaptation
Street design should
consider orientation,
integration sustainable
drainage and use of durable
materials
Block structure
Good orientation and
navigation by distinctive
landmarks
A pedestrian first approach
should be considered in
street design hierarchy.
Good connectivity should be
provided in street design for
all modes of movement
Walkable neighborhoods
Street layouts should be
configured to allow walkable
access to local amenities
Streets should be completely
integrated with the surrounding
networks for flexibility and
accommodation of changes in built
and social environment
Orientation of all built form
open space and streets
should maximize
environment benefits
Context and character
play a major role
Achieving appropriate
speeds and reducing
Public transit should be
considered as an early stage of
design process
Streets should be designed for all
the people, that is it should
encourage public interactions
Parking should be provided by a
variety of means and should reduce
visual impact
Good drainage systems
should be provided
Street clutter should be
removed to prevent
obstruction for pedestrians
Junction types should be
designed with the
consideration of the
pedestrians
accommodation of emergency and
service vehicles
Without compromising a positive
sense of place
The need of utilities should
not determine the layout of
streets and pavements
Natural landscape
Materials should be
distinctive, durable and
visually appealing

Techniques for making cities walkable
Mapusa Town
Street
hierarc
hy
Mix
use
street
Parking Public
transit
Protection
of
pedestrian
Bicycle
lane
Shape
the
spaces
Green
space
Unique
building
faces
poor good poor average poor Not
provided
in
existing
design
good average average
•Knowing the place of pedestrian, bicycle, public transit and cars.
From the figure it can be clearly seen how a
planned public transit and people first design
could be one solution for the congestion seen in
Mapusa town.

Techniques for making cities walkable
•Having mix used street
Neighbor hoods with diversity are a success clearly Mapusa town has a diversity in built form
•Protection of the pedestrian and welcoming bikes.
•Shape of spaces
•Providing the sense of enclosure is a must.
•Orientation of spaces, buildings and streets should maximize the benefits of the environment.
• Plant trees : provides auto safety
•Provide well designed junctions

Suggestions
Introduction of a multi level parking lots
The large space available near the existing Kadamba bus stand
provides the sufficient area for the construction of multi level
parking lots. The parking lot could be connected with the bus
stand, to provide easy movement between the two spaces. It
can also serve as a space for a taxi and rickshaw stand. In this
way the public need not enter the town with their cars but
use public transit that is buses to move through Mapusa
central core.
The Kadamba Bus stand
The buses are the main mode of transport used by the public visiting the town. This is mainly
because of the hassle created by driving through Mapusa. However the Mapusa bus stand, as a
space. lacks signage and orientation. Within the bus stand spaces could be properly designated
for buses moving between each main city of Goa and Mapusa, mini buses for movement
through the city and the larger interstate buses. Proper signage should be provided at the entries
and exit points.

Suggestions

Suggestions
D.B. Marg road
The area marked in the red circle is the widest part of the D.B. Marg and
also a one way. It is very dangerous to cross due to the circumstances.
Therefore if it were to be designed, keeping in mind the principals of people
first design and walkability, firstly it would have to be made a two way. The
road width to height ratio is distorted
•With the help trees,
the sense of enclosure
could be restored.
• A zebra crossing and
wider pedestrian paths
with seating and small
food stands could
accentuate the space,
making it welcoming
and safe.
•Tactile paving and
pavements can either
at the level of the road.

Suggestions
Potential open public space is the existing
road at the entrance of the main market.
This space would activate the first path of
the market. The main entry to the market is
lost in the large amount of bikes parked in
front. If this road were to be an open space
for seating and small casual selling of
materials or a café, it would highlight the
entry.
Space used as a food stand
on Tuesdays
Space used for selling
handmade goods on Saturday
Space used as parking space on
Mondays and Wednesdays

Suggestions
The market streets
If a new parking lot were to be introduced,
then majority of the two wheelers and four
wheelers along the streets of the market
would reduce drastically. Providing a back
entry that already exists could form a
second main entrance to the market. The
streets of the market are bustling with
activity throughout the week, however the
infrastructure is poor.
The Bala Desai Road
The Bala Desai Street being one of the primary roads is very narrow to carry the amount of traffic flowing through it. This road could be a potential
pedestrian road due to its importance and the fact that the public visiting the street have a close relationship with the local vendors. The
implementation of a pedestrian road here would lead to the routes being redirected through other streets. It would create a good location for social
events and could serve as an extension to the Rammonohar Lohiya garden. Therefore with the Bala Desai Street’s past importance and the fact that it
could be a pedestrian street, maintenance of it would be the main criteria.

Analyzing 'People First' Streets and Spaces in Mapusa

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