Passing through an era of unsatiated consumerism, led by industrialization, urbanization, liberalization and globalization, urban living is adversely impacting human health- both physical and mental. Reports of WHO has stated that globally, large proportion of urban population is suffering from variety of problems including mental ill-health, obesity, social isolation, health inequalities, stresses and strains besides environmental degradation. Report calls upon nations /communities to find appropriate /equitable solutions to address health and environment related problems on priority . Green spaces play key role in addressing issues related to human health and environment, reduce illness, obesity and stress with positive outcomes, ensuring health, social and environmental benefits on sustained basis. Accordingly, providing adequate, quantitative and qualitative, open spaces; preserving, enhancing and promoting existing green spaces; making green spaces and parks integral part of planning and development process’, involving communities and users in the siting, planning and designing of green spaces; fostering multidisciplinary approach, based on collaboration with all the stakeholders, adopting a bottom-up approach for siting the open/ green spaces based on equity and in close proximity to the community, with priority going to neighborhoods/communities found deficient in green spaces, remains critical. For ensuring adequate provision of green spaces prevailing legal/developmental framework needs to be appropriately, reviewed, revised and redefined. Green Spaces need to be made integral part of the urban infrastructure and adequately reflected in the local infrastructure plans. Looking at the multiplicity of usages/purposes served and large number of benefits accruing, cities would need to be made more clean, green and eco-friendly by providing quality green spaces at prescribed norms, as part of urban infrastructure/ long term planning, development , management process. This can help and ensure making cities; more livable, sustainable, safe, inclusive, resilient, happy and healthy places to live in and work.
Buildings, as definers of character and fabric of any city, are known for their positivity, negativities, dualities and contradictions. Consuming half of the global energy, majority of resources and generating 45% carbon emissions, buildings are largely responsible for consumption of resources, generation of waste, climate change and global warming. Sustainable Development Goals enunciated by UNO also mandate the critical role of buildings in promoting global sustainability. However, majority of buildings are designed without any concern for energy, resources and environment. For making buildings least consumers of energy, resources and generators of waste, traditional approach to buildings have to be changed and redefined. Appropriate options of designing sustainable, environment friendly and energy efficient buildings would involve the study, analysis and application of the relevance of climate both at regional, city and local levels; site and orientation ; options for energy and water efficiency; context of building materials and indoor air quality, active and passive means of heating cooling and using resources provided with nature for making buildings green and energy efficient.
Green Spaces Making i Cities Happy , Healthy and Sustainable Places to lLiveJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Green spaces have been valued and promoted by both royalty and the human beings for their distinct advantages, right from their landing on this planet earth. Green spaces are known to promote quality of life, promoting physical activities, making people and communities happy and healthy. In addition, they are known to be stress busters and provide space for socializing and promoting the sense of community and neighborhood. In addition to provide fresh air, green spaces are valued for connecting manmade and natural environment besides bringing back birds and animals who were forced to leave the urban habitat. Green spaces have shown their value and importance in the current crisis created by COvid 19. However, providing qualitative and quantitative green spaces in urban context remains always an issue considering the prevailing high land prices with green spaces being always discounted when compared with residential, commercial and industrial/institutional land uses. Paper tries to bring out the entire context of green spaces including its role, importance, issues and roadblocks faced in providing such spaces and options to make urban spaces a distinct reality along with its planning, designing, development and maintenance..
Prepared for presentation at conference organized by Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai on 6 March 2010, which had as chief guests Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State, Environment and Forests, Govt of India
Buildings, as definers of character and fabric of any city, are known for their positivity, negativities, dualities and contradictions. Consuming half of the global energy, majority of resources and generating 45% carbon emissions, buildings are largely responsible for consumption of resources, generation of waste, climate change and global warming. Sustainable Development Goals enunciated by UNO also mandate the critical role of buildings in promoting global sustainability. However, majority of buildings are designed without any concern for energy, resources and environment. For making buildings least consumers of energy, resources and generators of waste, traditional approach to buildings have to be changed and redefined. Appropriate options of designing sustainable, environment friendly and energy efficient buildings would involve the study, analysis and application of the relevance of climate both at regional, city and local levels; site and orientation ; options for energy and water efficiency; context of building materials and indoor air quality, active and passive means of heating cooling and using resources provided with nature for making buildings green and energy efficient.
Green Spaces Making i Cities Happy , Healthy and Sustainable Places to lLiveJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Green spaces have been valued and promoted by both royalty and the human beings for their distinct advantages, right from their landing on this planet earth. Green spaces are known to promote quality of life, promoting physical activities, making people and communities happy and healthy. In addition, they are known to be stress busters and provide space for socializing and promoting the sense of community and neighborhood. In addition to provide fresh air, green spaces are valued for connecting manmade and natural environment besides bringing back birds and animals who were forced to leave the urban habitat. Green spaces have shown their value and importance in the current crisis created by COvid 19. However, providing qualitative and quantitative green spaces in urban context remains always an issue considering the prevailing high land prices with green spaces being always discounted when compared with residential, commercial and industrial/institutional land uses. Paper tries to bring out the entire context of green spaces including its role, importance, issues and roadblocks faced in providing such spaces and options to make urban spaces a distinct reality along with its planning, designing, development and maintenance..
Prepared for presentation at conference organized by Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai on 6 March 2010, which had as chief guests Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State, Environment and Forests, Govt of India
The Green Book of the city of Zurich's Office of Parks and Open Spaces (Grün Stadt Zürich) represents a comprehensive strategy for the city of Zurich’s green and open spaces and for its green knowledge. A good city-wide linking of concepts and aims is needed to ensure that the different paths of urban development do not get in the way of each other.
With these stated objectives and specific statements, we will ensure the significance of green space in Zurich – for the good of the urban population and for the good of Nature.
Paul Roebuck, one of our London based ecologists, takes you through some basics on green infrastructure in the UK and highlights some really interesting projects we have worked on and exciting future developments.
The slides cover legislation, mitigation, habitat creation, ecology impact assessments and green roofs and walls.
Promoting Affordability Through Sustainable Built EnvironmentJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper tries to define that sustainability makes a commercial sense and looking at the life cycle cost sustainable development makes all building affordable in the real sense of the term
Sustainable Urban Open Green Spaces Opportunities and ChallengesMehdi Rakhshandehroo
Shortage of open green spaces has become a common concern in today’s compact cities. Based on the literature review, urban open green spaces provide different dimensions of sustainability because of opportunities for social, environmental, and economic benefits which contribute to quality of life in cities. Urban development and renewal should be accompanied with a greening vision, to insert more plantable spaces into the urban fabric. Therefore sustainable urban planning, design and management are needed to improve urban greening strategy.
In order to enhance urban greenery, innovative and creative ideas should be applied in urban management, for instance informal open green spaces (e.g. brownfields, vacant lots, streets and railways) potentially are part of urban nature or a setback along roadsides could create a planting strip and improve the urban landscape. The opportunities which are laid in the sustainable development can improve environmental quality and consequently the quality of life.
ECO-CITY is an ecologically healthy city. The ecocity provides healthy abundance to its inhabitants without consuming more (renewable) resources than it produces, without producing more waste than it can assimilate, and without being toxic to itself or neighboring ecosystems.
Multifunction green infrastructure new cairoAhmed Haron
Attention to green infrastructure and urban ecosystem is a result of needs for upgrading of ecological environment and social life of the city. Urban ecosystems are complicated and overlapping with other systems, such as economic, social and human activities that may cause conflict and negative/positive impact according to the nature of activity. Multifunction green infrastructure is an effective ap-proach for enriching urban ecosystem. Green infrastructure leads to adaptation and even transformation of future and faces challenges such as climate change, food insecurity and limited resources.
Cairo ecosystem faces a lot of challenges that may affect the urban, cultural, heritage, economic and environmental aspects of one of the oldest capitals of the world. Biodiversity in Cairo is a key element could help in implementation of Multifunction green infrastructure strategy despite of all culture and awareness challenges.
The research discusses main concepts related to this topic such as:Landscape Sustainability, Ecosystem Services, LandscapeSer-vices, MultifunctionalLandscape, Urban Green space, Greeninfra-structure.Then it spots the light on some international ideas concern-ing green infrastructure as multifunction solution, reaching to the research case study.
Coastal cities resilience for climate changeAhmed Haron
This paper aims at studying the impacts of climate change on Egyptian northern coastal zones and exploring the urban resilience to the effects of climate change. In this regard, the current paper discusses the concept of resilience and describes the city resilience framework.
London's Green Spaces. Pocket Parks: The Design Challenge.marcusshields
Open space within the city of London is limited. Consequently, the existing policy framework aims to provide access to high quality open space dispersed throughout the city with important initiatives such as the Greater London Authorities 100 Pocket Parks programme. This presentation reviews the type and scale of London’s green spaces, then moves on to discuss how we can make the most of our small-scale local community green spaces, or pocket parks.
The Green Book of the city of Zurich's Office of Parks and Open Spaces (Grün Stadt Zürich) represents a comprehensive strategy for the city of Zurich’s green and open spaces and for its green knowledge. A good city-wide linking of concepts and aims is needed to ensure that the different paths of urban development do not get in the way of each other.
With these stated objectives and specific statements, we will ensure the significance of green space in Zurich – for the good of the urban population and for the good of Nature.
Paul Roebuck, one of our London based ecologists, takes you through some basics on green infrastructure in the UK and highlights some really interesting projects we have worked on and exciting future developments.
The slides cover legislation, mitigation, habitat creation, ecology impact assessments and green roofs and walls.
Promoting Affordability Through Sustainable Built EnvironmentJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper tries to define that sustainability makes a commercial sense and looking at the life cycle cost sustainable development makes all building affordable in the real sense of the term
Sustainable Urban Open Green Spaces Opportunities and ChallengesMehdi Rakhshandehroo
Shortage of open green spaces has become a common concern in today’s compact cities. Based on the literature review, urban open green spaces provide different dimensions of sustainability because of opportunities for social, environmental, and economic benefits which contribute to quality of life in cities. Urban development and renewal should be accompanied with a greening vision, to insert more plantable spaces into the urban fabric. Therefore sustainable urban planning, design and management are needed to improve urban greening strategy.
In order to enhance urban greenery, innovative and creative ideas should be applied in urban management, for instance informal open green spaces (e.g. brownfields, vacant lots, streets and railways) potentially are part of urban nature or a setback along roadsides could create a planting strip and improve the urban landscape. The opportunities which are laid in the sustainable development can improve environmental quality and consequently the quality of life.
ECO-CITY is an ecologically healthy city. The ecocity provides healthy abundance to its inhabitants without consuming more (renewable) resources than it produces, without producing more waste than it can assimilate, and without being toxic to itself or neighboring ecosystems.
Multifunction green infrastructure new cairoAhmed Haron
Attention to green infrastructure and urban ecosystem is a result of needs for upgrading of ecological environment and social life of the city. Urban ecosystems are complicated and overlapping with other systems, such as economic, social and human activities that may cause conflict and negative/positive impact according to the nature of activity. Multifunction green infrastructure is an effective ap-proach for enriching urban ecosystem. Green infrastructure leads to adaptation and even transformation of future and faces challenges such as climate change, food insecurity and limited resources.
Cairo ecosystem faces a lot of challenges that may affect the urban, cultural, heritage, economic and environmental aspects of one of the oldest capitals of the world. Biodiversity in Cairo is a key element could help in implementation of Multifunction green infrastructure strategy despite of all culture and awareness challenges.
The research discusses main concepts related to this topic such as:Landscape Sustainability, Ecosystem Services, LandscapeSer-vices, MultifunctionalLandscape, Urban Green space, Greeninfra-structure.Then it spots the light on some international ideas concern-ing green infrastructure as multifunction solution, reaching to the research case study.
Coastal cities resilience for climate changeAhmed Haron
This paper aims at studying the impacts of climate change on Egyptian northern coastal zones and exploring the urban resilience to the effects of climate change. In this regard, the current paper discusses the concept of resilience and describes the city resilience framework.
London's Green Spaces. Pocket Parks: The Design Challenge.marcusshields
Open space within the city of London is limited. Consequently, the existing policy framework aims to provide access to high quality open space dispersed throughout the city with important initiatives such as the Greater London Authorities 100 Pocket Parks programme. This presentation reviews the type and scale of London’s green spaces, then moves on to discuss how we can make the most of our small-scale local community green spaces, or pocket parks.
Institute for Drought Research and Global Greening in Africa, Europe and Sout...MdSaifulIslam289
Institute for Drought Research and Global Greening in Africa, Europe and South Asia
Greening Deserts founders and researchers explore with various projects not only drylands wand arid ecosystems, but also wetlands such as floodplains, alluvial forests, wet forests, bogs or swamps, lake and river landscapes. The Drought Research Institute is a project of the Global Greening and Trillion Trees Initiative. The world's first international research institute for drought, climate and environmental research invites reliable partners and sponsors to participate in ongoing project developments.
http://droughtresearch.org/
biodiversity, climate adaptation, climate emergency, climate protection, conservation, drought research, droughts, floods, global greening, regreening, reforestation, resilience, forest fires, emissions, forests, ecological, education, soils, species protection, tree species, wet forest
Definition of Zoning,Land use planning,Urban planning,Urban and regional planning,Regional planning,Zones,Zone planning,Land use planning in india,objectives of land use planning,objectives of zone planning
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Landscape and Urban Planning 125 (2014) 234–244
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Landscape and Urban Planning
j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / l a n d u r b p l a n
esearch Paper
rban green space, public health, and environmental justice:
he challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’
ennifer R. Wolch a,∗, Jason Byrne b, Joshua P. Newell c
University of California, Berkeley, 230 Wurster Hall #1820, Berkeley, CA 94720-1820, USA
School of Environment, Griffith University, Australia
School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, USA
i g h l i g h t s
Urban green space promotes physical activity and public health.
Many US minority communities lack green space access, an environmental injustice.
US and Chinese cities have developed innovative ways to create new green space.
Urban greening can, however, create paradoxical effects such as gentrification.
Urban green space projects need more integrative sustainability policies to protect communities.
r t i c l e i n f o
rticle history:
vailable online 2 March 2014
eywords:
rban green spaces
cosystem services
uman health
nvironmental justice
lanning strategies
entrification
a b s t r a c t
Urban green space, such as parks, forests, green roofs, streams, and community gardens, provides crit-
ical ecosystem services. Green space also promotes physical activity, psychological well-being, and the
general public health of urban residents. This paper reviews the Anglo-American literature on urban
green space, especially parks, and compares efforts to green US and Chinese cities. Most studies reveal
that the distribution of such space often disproportionately benefits predominantly White and more
affluent communities. Access to green space is therefore increasingly recognized as an environmental
justice issue. Many US cities have implemented strategies to increase the supply of urban green space,
especially in park-poor neighborhoods. Strategies include greening of remnant urban land and reuse of
obsolete or underutilized transportation infrastructure. Similar strategies are being employed in Chinese
cities where there is more state control of land supply but similar market incentives for urban greening.
In both contexts, however, urban green space strategies may be paradoxical: while the creation of new
green space to address environmental justice problems can make neighborhoods healthier and more
esthetically attractive, it also can increase housing costs and property values. Ultimately, this can lead to
gentrification and a displacement of the very residents the green space strategie.
Augmenting urban parks in bahrain for the improvement of citizens’ healtheSAT Journals
Abstract Research over the past three decades has provided strong evidence of the positive impact of nature on the health of human beings. Contact with nature, whether that be with plants, animals, aesthetically pleasing landscapes or with the wilderness at large in all its forms, offers a range of medical benefits. Carlson er, al. [1] those benefits may include: lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, enhanced survival after heart attacks, more rapid recovery from surgery, fewer minor medical complaints, and lower self-reported stress. Although the Kingdom of Bahrain is a very small country, there are quite a few public parks in it: for example, Al Fateh Corniche , Arad Bay/Dohat Arad, Andalus Park, etc. In addition, strewn around residential areas, one finds many small neighborhood parks. This research suggests that the benefits of urban parks can be tapped into if the following criteria are fulfilled: First, policy makers and planners create the necessary awareness among citizens and residents of the positive impact on human health of contact with nature; second, recreational and cultural activities are conducted within those parks and green spaces; this will increase the interest of the population in frequenting them. Last but not least, parks in Bahrain need to be augmented to fit the needs of the specific country climatically as well as socially and culturally. Direct benefits can be reaped on the health of children and adults from walking and playing in parts, and indirect benefits can accrue on the health system from prevention of diseases through exercising, fresh air, and the sharing of recreational and cultural activities in those green spaces. Key Words: Urban parks; general health benefits; recreation; societal and cultural needs; diverse activities.
Role and Relevance of Architects and architecture in SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
This brief text on Role, Relevance and importance of Architects and profession of Architecture in making this world and human settlements more livable, climate responsive and sustainable has been prepared as commitment of the professionals and profession of Architects on this World Environment Day ; June 5th , 2024 , with the hope that profession would be understood, valued ,appreciated and empowered in the right context for enabling it play its designated role in making built environment qualitative, cost-effective, energy-efficient, eco-friendly, safe and sustainable.
Bridging gap between resources and responsibilities at Local level.JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Text refers to need, role, relevance and importance of empowering urban local bodies by bridging gap between resources available and responsibilities bestowed, for enabling ULBs to operate and function as institutions of local governance more effectively and efficiently.
Construction Industry Through Artificial Intelligence -.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Considering the role, relevance and importance of construction sector in promoting economy, generating employment and creating wealth besides providing infrastructures and amenities, there is need to make the sector more effective, efficient, productive and sustainable. Driven manually, construction sector remains in the slow lane of creating quality built environment which are cost-effective, energy efficient, least consumers of resources and generators of waste. Artificial intelligence can help and empower the construction to make it more valuable, productive and qualitative besides supportive of environment and ecology. However, construction sector must be ready to co-operate and collaborate with IT industry to look for options and opportunities to make construction sector more qualitative and productive. Majority of urban ills and climate related issues can be resolved if Artificial intelligence can be embedded as integral part of the construction industry right prom planning, designing, construction, operation and management of the built environment and infrastructures. Communities and nations will save lot of valuable non-renewable resources if the construction sector is transformed from human led to technology led by the induction of Artificial intelligence. However, Construction industry has to search the areas where Artificial intelligence can be used effectively and intelligently.
Making Urban India a Role Model of Planned Urban Growth a.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Known for productivity, promoting economy, employment and innovations cities, when properly planned, rationally developed and professionally managed, have been labelled and recognized as engines of economic growth. Prosperity and urbanisation are known to have positive co-relation with rational urbanisation, leveraging growth and development of any community, city, state and region. In majority of developing countries, where urbanisation remains unregulated, forced largely by rural push and less by urban pull, cities invariably remain in crisis, crisis of population, crisis of poverty, crisis of development and management. Cities need to be cared ,incentivized, empowered and made more productive, effective, efficient and humane.
Redefining Globalization, urbanisation and LocalisationJIT KUMAR GUPTA
If cities are to made more livable, humane and productive, it is time that intent, contents and scope of globalization must be revisited and reviewed, both critically and objectively. Globalisation would need redefinition for promoting universality and inclusiveness among people and nations to have basic amenities and quality of life for all its residents , including poorest of the poor to lead a dignified life. Failure to redefine globalization, rationalise urbanisation, restore localization empowering poor and promoting universalisation and inclusivity; will invariably lead to making SDGs merely a paper exercise. In addition, making the world, cities and communities sustainable, livable, safe and inclusive, would remain merely a dream and a mirage, for future generations and communities, making planet earth as their preferred place of residence.
Knowing, Understanding and Planning Cities- Role and Relevance Physical Plan...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities are known for its complexities and operational inefficiencies. cities remain dynamic ,ever evolving, ever devolving, never static and never finite.
All cities remain different, distinct, unique and universal. No two cities are similar. Each city has its own strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Accordingly, problem faced by any city cannot be viewed, dissected, analyzed and enumerated, while sitting within the four walls of the air-conditioned rooms and by the so called intellectual sitting in the so called offices determining the future of cities and towns. Neither the cities can be made more rational by limited knowledge agencies providing consultancy to cities , states and nations.
For realistically and rationally understanding, analyzing the cities and having simple, cost-effective and quality solutions to the problems and challenges faced , Cities have to be walked through and concerns of the various communities have to be properly understood and appreciated.
Prime reason for inability and lack of capacity on the part of majority of physical planners, engaged in the art and science of planning, designing and developing the cities, to address the issues and challenges faced by cities , realistically and rationally, has genesis in the lack of understanding of the origin, growth and development of cities.
Lack of capacity in majority of town planners, has roots in the quality of education imparted and seriousness and commitment on the part of both teachers and taught involved. As it stands today, majority of institutions involved in imparting education in planning are being run on an ad-hoc manner and by proxy. Only few institutions have regular teachers and regular students. Majority of planning institutions are being run on proxy with proxy students and proxy teachers. Education system including curricula used for teaching, needs, review, revision and redefinition to make it more relevant to rational for addressing the issues and challenges faced by the cities and towns.
Land as a Resource for urban finanace- 24-1-23.pptJIT KUMAR GUPTA
PPt tries to brief Land, as a gift of nature, is being grossly misused, abused , manipulated Land is globally used for providing platform for all human driven activities, based on living, working, culture of body/ mind and travel.
Limited availability, coupled with large number of human beings trying to source land, has invariably created large demand for land resource for human consumption. Land, in urban context, is required for meeting the specific needs of urban dwellers for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, travel& traffic purposes besides providing space for infrastructures , amenities, services, trade and commerce etc. Land in urban context remains under large demand and command high price due to concentration of large population in small physical area, with stakeholders making competing claims.Rapid and uncontrolled growth in population experienced by urban areas has adversely impacted and generated considerable pressure on land resource in cities and towns , leading to large scale conversion, sub-division and illegal occupation of urban land. Unregulated and regulated pressure on land has largely been met by means of both formal/informal sub-division and development of land. Growth of the urban settlements and entire mechanism of urban planning and development remains land based/ land focused. In order to make optimum use of land resource on 24x7x365; making city planning, growth, development and management ,both rational. realistic, orderly and promoter of quality living, it will be critical and essential, that all ULBs are made to focus on eliminating culture and practices promoting un-authorized/ illegal sub-division of land for ushering an environment and era of planned urban development in the cities. Land needs to be effectively leveraged to generate resources for ULBs to make cities vibrant.
COST-EFFETIVE and Energy Efficient BUILDINGS ptxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Built environment is known for its capacity, capability, role, relevance and importance to change the quality of life of the occupants and communities. Presentation focuses on options which need to be leveraged to make buildings sustainable, cost-effective, energy efficient, resource efficient, qualitative over its entire life-cycle through designing, construction, operation. It calls for making buildings green and sustainable.
Making Buildings cost-effective , Energy Efficient ptxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation focuses on options which need to be leveraged to make buildings sustainable, cost-effective, energy efficient, resource efficient, qualitative over its entire life-cycle
Ppt briefs about role, relevance, importance of the rating systems applicable in India, criteria used in assessing
greeness, weightage allocated, , brief of how these rating systems are applied, parameters involved; weightage granted, levels of rating granted , incentives given by states for green rated buildings and brief of suggestions, how to make rating system more effective, efficient, objective and transparent.
The phenomenon of global warming remains more pronounced in the urban areas, for the reason cities house large concentration of people and activities in a small/compact urban space.Densely-built downtown areas tend to be warmer than suburban residential areas or rural areas.. UHI not only raises urban temperatures but also increases ozone concentrations because ozone is a greenhouse gas whose formation will accelerate with the temperature. Tokyo, an example of an urban heat island. Normal temperatures of Tokyo go up higher than those of the surrounding area. However, it needs to be understood and appreciated that climate change is not the cause of urban heat islands but it is causing more frequent and more intense heat waves which in turn amplify the urban heat island effect in cities. Major reasons for ever growing global warming and climate change can be attributed to the; Nature and natural; Human-Driven; population; Rapid Urbanisation; Irrational Urban planning; High Density; Inefficient Transportation ;Large generation/consumption of fossil fuel based Energy; Unsustainable Buildings; Polluting Industry & Manufacturing; Unsustainable Agriculture; Irrational Development; Large scale Deforestation; Lack of open spaces and individual life-choices;
Making and Unmaking of Chandigarh - A City of Two Plans2-4-24.pptJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation is a narrative of a
capital city- known for its innovative planning, designing, construction and management of a new capital . It briefs about the principles used in the planning and designing of city -by the first team of planners led by Albert Mayer and Mathew Nowicki-- followed by the second team led by Le- Corbusier, P Jenerette, Jane B Drew , Maxwell Fry. It also details about the various aspects of the city planning, planning of the sector as a neighbourhood, typologies of
various developmental controls used for regulating the construction of buildings. Innovations used for regulating the growth and development of periphery; redensification of city in case city exceeds its planned population of half a million, creating a narrative of city and periphery, innovative landscaping, defining an edict for the city to educate the future citizens of the capital city to safeguard the future growth and development besides lessons learnt from planning and designing the new cities.
Planning and Designing Green buildings-.issues, options and strategiesJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Affordability and sustainable development are considered anti-thesis across the world. Generally there exists conflict between the approach to sustainable built environment and affordable buildings. Sustainable development is considered more expensive. According to Middleton, ‘Sustainability and affordability aren’t mutually exclusive goals. It’s not about adding extra, but thinking more carefully about the design of buildings and incorporating technologies that can offset the rising costs of energy, water and other services. Affordability and sustainability are known to fit together perfectly’.
Through excellent design, buildings can be made more sustainable and affordable. Smaller the footprint of buildings, lower will be the upfront costs and embodied energy and lower shall be the running costs of buildings. Looking at the entire context of health, rising cost of amenities/services; Sustainable/Green designs are now being increasingly adopted, to make built environment more cost-effective and affordable. Considering the enormous amount of built environment to be created, India will have no option but to tread the path of sustainability and sustainable development in the built environment. Sustainable built environment would also help in and go a long way in achieving the majority of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the reason, built environment is known to be the largest consumer of energy, avoid wasteful use of resources and minimise generation of waste. Global sustainability will be largely contingent upon how effectively and efficiently we can make our buildings sustainable and qualitative through innovative/green design solutions based on local climate and culture, valuing site planning, embedding orientation, cross ventilation, using renewable/waste materials and involving state of the art building technologies.
_Neighborhood Planning in Capital City of Chandigarh- An Appraisal (2) - Copy...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Neighborhood as an idea, concept, option and strategy has been extensively used locally and globally by the Urban Planners to plan and decentralize cities, create cities within cities, promote self-contained communities and to make cities more humane, safe and socially vibrant. Neighborhood has also been used recently to define the city in terms of travel time - making 10/15 minutes city
Accordingly, large typologies of NH ,in terms of planning and designing , with varying shapes, sizes and contents have emerged in the urban context. Americans have used superblock and French using Sector for defining the neighborhood. Despite distinct advantages, holding high degree of relevance in urban and local area planning , NH planning has not been able to deliver the envisioned objectives of safety and social vibrancy. Cities in the process have been socially, economically and physically fragmented, leading to clear division of cities into different communities with little economical and social connectivity. Variance of planning and designing norms followed at NH and sub-neighborhood levels have promoted more dichotomy and contradictions with varying quality of life inducted at local level. Differential population and infrastructures have divided the city into the categories of high/low end NH units. Fabric and morphology of cities, in large cases, has been distorted with urban settlement emerging as a distinct social map of communities graded economically and socially,on the basis of area/location . In the process, the way NH planning concept has been used, neighborhood planning has emerged as an instrument of social and economic segregation/division. In fact in number of cases, concept has been used, misused, abused in intent and content to divide the cities into distinct social and economic layers. Instead of unifying , concept has led to division of cities.
Genesis of modern application of NH can be found in the planning and designing of Chandigarh where entire city fabric of capital city was woven around Sector as the basic unit of planning, concptulasied as self-contained and self-sustaining unit at the local level. However, the way sectors have been planned, it has led to dividing the cities into different and distinct communities. Individual status in Chandigarh can be judged from his/her residence. Concept of Sector has done more damage than good to the fabric of the city. Chandigarh is likely to face considerable problem in making city socially and economically cohesive/vibrant,. Sectors in Chandigarh remain anti-thesis to the basic concept of NH planning of safety, involving walkability, vehicular movement, putting commercial space in the centre. Considering role, relevance, importance and usability , NH needs to be planned, designed with care and caution, in order to make cities socially and economically vibrant, inclusive. NH planning deserves a new definition and approach to make it relevant and rational.
Reviewing, Revising and Redefining Master Plans and Development Plans to Ma...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Looking at its efficacy and efficiency, it can be seen and observed that Master Plans/ Development Plans have done more damage than good for the planned growth and development of the cities to which they have been made applicable. These plans have been violated with impunity both by the people, communities, cities and parastatal agencies; for the betterment/welfare of which these plans were prepared. These plans have been visualized as controller of development rather than promoters of development. Instead of planned development , these plans have been usherers of the unplanned development. These plans are known to be responsible for promoting large number of slums besides making quality of life poor for majority of the urban inhabitants. Cities under Master Plans are also known to promote exclusion rather than inclusion. Master Plans/Development Plans are known to promote prosperity for few and marginalize the large proportions of the local community by making them poor. Instead of catering to urban dynamism, Master Plans/Development Plans try to freeze the city, for next two decades, to which it is made to serve. Accordingly, these plans need to be reviewed , rationalised, revised and redefined to make them better Master Plans/Development Plans
Rationalizing the Planned Growth of Urban India- paper.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Rapid and uncontrolled growth in population experienced by urban areas has adversely impacted and generated considerable pressure on land resource in cities and towns , leading to large scale conversion, sub-division and illegal occupation of urban land. Unregulated and regulated pressure on land has largely been met by means of both formal/informal sub-division and development of land. Growth of the urban settlements and entire mechanism of urban planning and development remains land based/ land focused, based on a strategy of sub-division of the land, dictated by the economic forces prevailing in the market. Irrational and ineffective public policies of urban planning and land sub-division, devoid of prevailing ground realities, have turned out to be incompatible with the demands of urban expansion, leading to large scale un-authorized and illegal sub-division of land. In the process, valuable land resources, gift of nature, has been misused, abused and mutilated in this race of uncontrolled and irrational urbanisation. In order to make optimum use of land resource; making city planning, growth, development and management ,both rational. realistic, orderly and promoter of quality living, it will be critical and essential, that all urban centres are made to focus on eliminating the culture and practices promoting un-authorized/illegal sub-division of land for ushering an environment and era of planned urban development in the country.
Suggestion and Options for integrating villages. within the framework of the...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Preparing Master Plans/Development Plans for any urban settlements, basically and essentially, involves declaring a planning area for which the said long term plans are prepared. Planning area invariably includes and involves, number of rural settlements, which comprise of the planning area besides the urban settlement. It has been observed that in majority of cases, while detailed studies and analysis are carried out of the urban settlements but villages in the study and analysis remain marginalized, diluted and muted. Despite the fact, villages have critical role in the rational development of the urban settlement, but in preparing Master Plans their role and relevance is not made part of the said plan. Accordingly, this text tries to bring out the typologies of villages falling in the planning area and the suggested framework to develop these villages in making Master Plans, better Master Plan. In order to improve Master Plan qualitatively, quantitively, both in intent, contents and scope, It will be appropriate that all the villages falling in the planning area must be studied , analyzed and made integral part of the final outcome of the proposals of Master Plan. In-fact one Chapter must be exclusively dedicated to detail out the issues faced by the Villages and options which can be leveraged to promote the rational growth of villages ,as an integral part of the long term development of the urban settlement , for which the Master Plan is being prepared. This will help not only in integrating the urban- rural settlements falling in the planning area, but would also go a long way in promoting and ensuring rational growth and development of the urban settlement, for which the Master Plan is being prepared.
Making cities Climate Responsive and SustainableJIT KUMAR GUPTA
“Decarbonization” of cities ,as an issue ,as an option and as a strategy , has been gaining currency in the parlance of; making planet earth livable and sustainable. “Decarbonization has been globally valued for keeping the global temperature below 1.5C, and achieving the agenda and goals defined in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, defined by UN for achieving universal sustainability. Despite distinct role and relevance, criticality and importance of decarbonization of cities has neither been properly understood and appreciated nor made integral part of the architectural practice and art and science of designing and construction of buildings. Consuming one -third of global energy (33%) and generating 39% of greenhouse gas emissions buildings have been considered as the major player in the domain of climate change and global warming. Since Architects and Architecture are
actively involved in the making and unmaking of buildings, accordingly it becomes important that planners and architects must play a significant role in making
cities and buildings least consumers of energy and generators of the minimum greenhouse gas emissions. This objective can be achieved if decarbonizing cities/buildings is made a distinct reality . Issue of decarbonizing the cities/buildings assumes importance for the reason, that world’s building floorspace is likely to be become double by the year 2060, with the addition of large number of newcities/ buildings due to rapid urbanization, population growth and economic development ; required for catering to
to the needs of additional population opting for urban living.
Managing Planning and Development of Citie- 26-2-24.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities in India are known to be in perpetual crisis; facing numerous crises in terms of; crisis of rational growth, crisis of orderly and planned development; crisis of effective and efficient urban management; crisis of making provision of basic infrastructure and services; crisis of climate change; crisis of global warming; crisis of poverty, pollution and population and crisis of making human living and prevailing environment qualitative. These urban crises have genesis in the fact that cities in India, lack ownership, command, authority and lack of willingness to run and manage cities professionally and objectively. In majority of cases, cities in India are run by proxy. In terms of physical growth and development; large cities are marked by multiplicity of agencies claiming right/ownership of development over the urban areas, whereas smaller cities face absence of such ownership and are made to run, operate and function like orphans
Agenda, Approach and Options for Rationalising and Redefining Future Indian ...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Government of India/state policies, programs, mission and agenda must move providing basic essentials to all its citizens through an efficient, objective and transparent system of governance. For making cities livable and empowering people; right to basics/essential of human living including; Right to shelter, food, clothing universal access to healthcare, education, employment , infrastructures, amenities and mobility; should be made integral part of Indian Constitution by embedding it as Fundamental Rights/Directive Principles of state policy besides making them integral part of planning, development and management/governance process of all human settlements.
ZGB - The Role of Generative AI in Government transformation.pdfSaeed Al Dhaheri
This keynote was presented during the the 7th edition of the UAE Hackathon 2024. It highlights the role of AI and Generative AI in addressing government transformation to achieve zero government bureaucracy
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the latest updates to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly known as the Uniform Guidance) outlined in the 2 CFR 200.
With a focus on the 2024 revisions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), participants will gain insight into the key changes affecting federal grant recipients. The session will delve into critical regulatory updates, providing attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and comply with the evolving landscape of federal grant management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the rationale behind the 2024 updates to the Uniform Guidance outlined in 2 CFR 200, and their implications for federal grant recipients.
- Identify the key changes and revisions introduced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2024 edition of 2 CFR 200.
- Gain proficiency in applying the updated regulations to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and avoid potential audit findings.
- Develop strategies for effectively implementing the new guidelines within the grant management processes of their respective organizations, fostering efficiency and accountability in federal grant administration.
Understanding the Challenges of Street ChildrenSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
A process server is a authorized person for delivering legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers, to peoples involved in legal proceedings.
1. Green Spaces-Making Cities Happy, Healthy and
Sustainable Places to Live
Jit Kumar Gupta
Introduction
World is urbanizing rapidly with
more than half of the global
population residing in cities and
towns. Rapid urbanization,
supported by massive increase in
population, is leading to high degree
of congestion in the urban
settlements. This congestion is,
primarily and essentially, the
outcome of construction of buildings
on every available open/vacant
space in cities and towns. Accordingly, majority of urban settlements are facing a
manmade crisis of congestion, involving congestion of people in the buildings and
congestion of buildings on the land. In addition, uncontrolled rural-urban migration is
putting enormous pressure on urban infrastructures, both physical and social. Major
victim of this uncontrolled, rapid, haphazard and unplanned urban growth and
congestion, is non-availability of adequate open spaces. Lack of community and public
access to safe open and green spaces, has emerged as the critical area of concern for
urban residents. With limited availability of green spaces, majority of cities are facing crisis
of quality of life, quality of air and quality of development.
Green spaces occupy special place in the urban context, because they are known to
break the monotony of brick, mortar, glass and concrete in the urban setting. Green
spaces provide vital lungs to the city for generating fresh air, making people feel happy
and live healthy, making them more productive. Green and public spaces are known to
be major determinant of quality of life of the people residing in the neighborhood. In
addition, these spaces hold numerous advantages and make value addition to the
residents, community and the places where they are created. Making provision of green
areas for residents helps not only in enhancing the beauty and environmental quality of
2. neighborhoods but also remain valuable due to numerous critical functions performed
by such spaces. Many cities and places are known to source identity from the quality of
open spaces they promote, create and house.
Defining Green Spaces
Green spaces, by virtue of the numerous connotations and large variety of functions
performed by them in the urban settings, have been defined differently by different
experts in terms of; area embedded with grass, trees, or other vegetation, which is
exclusively set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes, in an otherwise dense built
environment. Green spaces are also defined as places, which are generally devoid of any
built mass but largely covered with vegetation,flora and fauna, duly supported with
amenities for socializing, leisure and carrying out physical exercises. Such spaces are
meant to provide universal accessibility to the people and communities, from within and
without the neighborhoods, towns and cities.
Green spaces, in the common parlance, are known as land parcels, which remain largely
covered with vegetation, grass, trees, shrubs’. Parks, gardens, playing fields, children’s
play areas and other natural areas, are other forms of green spaces found in the urban
context. Green spaces are generally found to be multi-functional, used in different ways,
such as areas of natural health services, children’s outdoor playgrounds and urban green
lungs. Green spaces not only carry social and economic values but are known to be
spaces which are revered, because of their capacity to create enabling and supportive
environment leading to safety, happiness, and physical activities. However, in the
parlance of urban planning and in land use planning, open spaces are defined as areas
under parks, green spaces, playfields, recreational areas; areas under natural landscape,
commonly open to public access but excludes area which are outside city boundaries and
areas covered by streets, piazzas, plazas. These areas are also known as non-saleable
areas and form integral part of the urban neighbourhood and newly created townships.
They are prohibited to be sold and used for any commercial purposes. No change of land
use of such areas for purposes of commercialisation and urbanisation is permitted. These
areas tend to have minimal built spaces and are made universally accessible with
special provision made for providing accessibility to the physically challenged. Depending
upon the hierarchy they occupy, these green spaces are provided with toilet facilities and
furniture for sitting and socialising. Green and public spaces are known to be major
determinants of quality of life of the people residing in the neighborhood. Development
and maintenance of these green spaces remain expensive and cost-intensive and require
large manpower and resources.
Considering the fact, that Greenspaces are multi-functional in nature, some of the
functions performed by these spaces include;
3. breathing spaces – promoting unbuilt spaces for sourcing and making available
fresh to the residents in otherwise crowded and congested environs.
healthy spaces – encouraging and promoting physical and social activities in an
otherwise stressed environment.
living spaces – for improving quality of life and generating happiness
meeting spaces – creating platform for meeting and socialization among
members and communities at the local level.
playing spaces – incentivizing children and elders for adventure and physical
activities in a safe, secure and healthy environs.
Spongy spaces – providing opportunities of absorbing large quantity of rainfall.
working spaces - creating opportunities for sharing, collaborating and co-
operative working of people.
Valued Spaces ; creating wealth for the communities and the neighbourhoods.
learning spaces - creating opportunities for acknowledging, understanding,
appreciating the diversities and complexities of flora and fauna existing in nature
natural spaces – removing disconnect and bringing nature and human habitat on
the common platform
socializing spaces - creating options and opportunities for bringing people and
communities to socialize for celebrating events, festivals and activities
activity spaces – inspiring, encouraging and supporting creativities, innovations
and activities among individuals and communities, in a natural setting
growing spaces - providing opportunities for nurturing ,sustaining and making
value additions to communities and individuals, by promoting activities and
innovations.
Identity spaces- providing landmarks for recognition and distinct identity to the
place, area and the neighborhood
Why we need green spaces
According to, ’World Health Organization (WHO)’, globally, obesity and mental illness are
the two major health related issues, adversely impacting large proportion of population
in developed and developing countries. Quarter of the adult population in England and a
third of adults in the USA are known to be the victims of obesity. In addition, mental
illness and depression, are adversely impacting approximately 5% of the urban
population and their numbers are rising. Globally, 6 million people are stated to die every
year due to air pollution. In London, two million people ,of which 400,000 are children,
are living in areas with toxic air. 98% cities in low and middle income countries and 56%
cities in high income economies; do not meet air quality specified by the WHO norms..
Greater understanding of process of urbanization and factors governing the urban health
will be critical to make urbanization more rational , supporter and promoter of better
health and happiness in urban areas.
4. Looking at the entire context , two public health issues involving obesity and mental health
have genesis in the adverse environment created by cities, due to prevailing high degree
of congestion, pollution and haphazard and unplanned pattern of development. This has
led to emergence of large gap in the availability of basic services and amenities, essential
for human living and development. With basic and essential amenities; physical and
social infrastructure; services, open and green spaces, eluding majority of urban
residents, prevailing environment helps promoting a life-style of passivity among majority
of urban population. . Indian cities are known to have enormous shortage of green spaces.
As against specified norms of 9 sqm of open space, Indian cities only have 2.7 sqm of
open spaces available on per capita basis. This calls for urgently looking at the entire
context of urbanization and its impact on human health.
Majority of the health related issues and physical health challenges, can be effectively
and rationally tackled and eliminated, through various activities undertaken in the green
environment. Benefits associated with public open spaces / parks are known to include
better general health; reduced stress level; reduced depression and reduced obesity.
WHO studies also underlines lack of physical activity as the major global public health
risks. Studies have also revealed that people using public open spaces remain three
times more healthier than non-users. Evaluation made in respect of benefits of open
and green spaces of the largest 85 cities in USA (population of 57.2 million), found
health savings from parks, estimated to be order of $3.08 billion
Considering the role and importance of green, open and public spaces, policies and
programs evolved for making cities better places to live have also underscored the role
and importance of creating large number of green spaces within the physical framework
of our cities. New Urban Agenda has called for increasing safe, inclusive, accessible,
green and quality public spaces. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, asks
nations to pledge ; providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green
and public spaces, in particular, for women and children, older persons and persons with
disabilities. Even the mission AMRUT, launched by Government of India, has also called
for,’ developing green and well maintained open spaces and parks to increase the
amenity value of the cities
Known as “green space”, “public open space”, or “park” in urban settings, these spaces
have proved their credibility to serve numerous purposes, perform numerous functions,
providing distinct advantages for supporting and making value addition to human living in
the urban context. Numerous value additions, made by green/open spaces to the urban
landscape, can be described in terms of ;
Decarbonizing cities by offsetting greenhouse gas emissions and slowing
global warming.through large scale CO2 absorption.
5. • Making value addition to the quality of human living.
• Making cities happy and healthy places to live
• Maintaining, protecting and promoting biodiversity, natural habitats /
ecosystems-creating valuable space for birds/animals in cities
• Bringing cities and nature on the common platform.
• Increasing property value of the neighbourhood
• Promoting socialization and fostering a sense of community
• Providing Social/ psychological benefits.
• Providing resources for relaxation and recreation.
• Giving distinct entity to their places of location
• Promoting better relationship with environment
• Making cities easier to bike/ walk
• Making cities Cool- Reducing heat islands
• Making cities sustainable and least consumers of energy
• Making Cities Spongy -- Reducing flooding by reducing the volume of rain
water run-off and soil erosion
• Making large additions and providing home and space for trees and
vegetation in urban parks.
• Reducing operational/maintenance cost
• Offering cost-effective and natural solutions for addressing storm water
runoff; flooding and air pollution in the urban areas.
• Making cities water efficient by promoting ground water recharging
• Improving environment and minimizing Noise
• Promoting Tourism, generating employment and reducing poverty.
• Minimizing air, water, and noise pollution; improving quality of air/filtering air,
by removing harmful gases like NO2, CO, SO2 and air particulates
• Reducing healthcare /safety services and costs- Through healthy dose of
nature
• Promoting rest, recreation and physical activities on large scale
• Promoting Mental Health ; Reducing Stress and violence; Improving
concentration; allowing psychological restoration;
• Improving productivity; Providing Economic stimulus
• Speedily curing patients; positively impacting children.
• Providing vital lungs to the city for ensuring constant supply of fresh air and
O2
• Minimizing water pollution by absorbing heavy and toxic metals.
• Promoting aesthetic value by beautification and enhancing urban landscape.
• Reducing congestion by making cities more open/healthy
• Offering reprieve from urban environment by substituting grey
infrastructure with green spces.
6. • Promoting local ecology and environment by conserving nature ;creating
ecological awareness; serving as islands of nature and biodiversity.
Factors impacting availability of urban green space ;
Despite the fact green spaces remain essential and critical for the health, happiness,
quality of life and overcoming large number of urban stresses and strains, still availability
of adequate open spaces on prescribed norms remain elusive in majority of cities and
towns. Green spaces remain marginalized and don’t command priority , respect and care
it deserves with agencies involved in planning and development of urban settlements.
For majority of developers and colonisers, green spaces are considered shear wastage
of land and resources , because these spaces don’t generate any wealth for them.
Accordingly, all spaces , which cannot be used profitably; where no plots can be carved
out for sale to the public ; areas which remain prohibited for development due to statutory
restrictions; areas which form backyard of colonies and have irregular shape, poor
visibility and accessibility , are generally proposed and labelled as green spaces.
Competing urban planning priorities and high prevailing cost of urban land, also favour
and prioritize the utilization of land for commercial purposes rather than green spaces.
Statutory norms and standards made applicable at local level, generally exclude
specifying the area to be provided as green spaces. This gap and missing link, is
invariably exploited by the developers, to reduce the area under green spaces. In large
number of cases, it has been seen that areas earmarked for parks and open spces in the
planned colonies, at later stages, are either converted into open parking or divided into
residential plots, which are sold illegally in the market
Further, major challenge to the provision of green areas emerges from the unplanned,
sub-standard and haphazard development taking place in the large majority of urban
areas because in such development, which remains generally beyond and violative of all
norms, ethics and standards of planned development, invariably eliminates the provision
of public amenities and services including open and green spaces. Since majority of
development of urban areas in India, remain beyond the planning framework, outcome
of such development leads to perpetual shortage of open spaces in the urban context.
Slums in the urban areas remain the major victims and are subjected to large number
of health related issues, due to total absence of open spaces in such development.
In addition, existing open spaces in cities are also not maintained properly and rationally
and are generally subjected to total neglect. These spaces, over a period of time, emerge
as no man’s land, and are then subjected to illegal occupation and encroachment. With
the passage of time, these spaces are either occupied by slums or become breeding
ground for informal activities and markets.
7. Lack of awareness, appreciation, role and importance of green and open spaces on the
part of professionals, planners and authorities, regulating planning and managing the
urban areas and financial constraints imposed by limited allocation of resources; are also
largely responsible for prevailing acute shortage of open spaces in the cities and towns.
Failure of the authorities and communities to understand the context of green spaces in
promoting the health and happiness of communities, providing tangible and intangible
benefits and yielding health related dividends, has led to according low priority to the open
spaces in the planning and development vocabulary of the urban areas.
Sub-division of land into small parcels on large scale and involvement of small time
developers engaged in construction of group housing on a small land parcels/site has,
led to the exclusion of the green spaces from the urban development. High population
density, ever rising prices of urban land coupled with limited supply of land, inefficient
functioning of urban land market and high degree of land speculation has cumulatively
contributed to the limited supply of green spaces in the cities and towns. Prevailing
economic considerations, and market forces remain largely responsible for lack of such
spaces in the urban areas.
Way Forward
Planning for Green Spaces;Cities, known for their complexties, remain difficult to
decipher and undestand.Cities are more than buildings and people.Cities are full of
dualities and contradictions. They contain both order and chaos; showcasing beauty
and ugliness; housing rich and poor; promoting prosperity and poverty , never static,
always evoloving and devolving and remain places of happenings. Full of people,
activities, institutions and vehicles, cities are choking, short of fresh air and healthy
environs,due to paucity and acute shortage of open and green spaces.Vehicular
pollution is killing environs, ecology, people and cities.Occupying limited space and
limited proportion of land, open spaces always remain at premium in urban context.
With growing cities, green and open spaces become more relevant and valuable and
attraction for inhabitants. Globally,most “liveable” /famous cities are known by the
parks, open spaces, gardens, play grounds and public spaces they house. Hyde Park
in London, Central Park in New York; Pinjore Garden- Kalka; Shalimar/Tulip Garden-
Srinagar; Rose/Rock Garden Chandigarh; Budha Jayanti Park- Delhi are few of the
examples of green spaces, which have put these cities and towns on the global map
of tourism and eminence.
Urban green spaces play critical role in mitigation /adaptation of majority of prevailing
urban ills. Due to their inherent and distinct aesthetic characteristics and functionality,
green spaces tend to serve cultural; economic and environmental purposes in urban
context involving; preserving biodiversity and nature conservation; reducing stress;
promoting physical activities and facilitating social contacts, besides maintaining and
8. increasing property values through cleaner, greener, and safer environment.
Neighborhood devoid of adequate and appropriate open spaces negatively impact
residents, promoting a sense of insecurity and increasing perceptions of crime. Due
to large number and range of environmental services offered, urban green spaces can
be considered vital, promoting public good and creating a direct relationship with the
quality of life of urban dwellers. Urban green spaces also provide opportunities for
social interactions, helping reduce social isolation, generate social capital, promoting
greater personal resilience and wellbeing. Considering the role and importance of
green spaces in promoting and defining human health and community well -being,
public health component must be included and made integral part of urban planning
and development processes and tools used for urban planning and development.
In addition to making value addition to cities and communities, green and open
spaces are known for their numerous intangible benefits in terms of, creating positive
attitudes; making people active, happy and healthy; promoting socialisation besides
promoting and preserving bio-diversity , which unfortunately remain poorly
understood/appreciated and poorly evidenced. Considering enormous value they
hold for ecology, environment, people and communities, urban green spaces should
be seen as an essential and integral part of urban infrastructure and not an add-on,
nice to have or a luxury for urban areas. Better tools and methodologies are needed
for evaluating and doing a cost-benefit analysis of parks and open spaces, for
understanding the services they render to the urbanites, communities,
neighbourhood, environment, bio-diversity and cities. Making adequate and
qualitative provision of open spaces in the urban settlements needs objective analysis
and evaluation, so that benefits accruing to urban settlements due to making
appropriate provision of open spaces in the urban areas on the prescribed norms and
standards, should be clearly understood and appreciated, in order to make them
integral and essential part of city planning, designing, development and management
frame-work. Understanding the context, role and importance of urban green spaces
in reshaping, redefining, reinventing, innovating and repositioning of the existing and
future cities and making them healthy and happy places to live, will remain critical.
Making provision of adequate open spaces, using urban planning as the potent lever
and effective tool, will always remain relevant and valuable.
Looking objectively, strategies for providing open spaces in urban areas must revolve
around;
Promoting /conservation and making value addition to existing green space in
cities.
Providing green spaces, open spaces, play grounds and public spaces on
prescribed norms, as integral part of city planning and development process
9. • Creating a well-defined hierarchy of open spaces in the urban and regional
context
• Defining precisely norms and standards to be adopted for providing open
spaces, at all levels of cities and urban planning and development.
• Ensuring equitable distribution of open areas, covering all inhabitants and
minimizing concentration of open spaces in the city.
• Actively involving residents and communities in planning, designing,
development and maintenance of open spaces by making green spaces
community-led programme rather than government led agenda.
• Promoting and celebrating green spaces, by organizing competitions and
dedicated festivals like Rose/chrysanthemum Festival etc. besides
recognizing and awarding best planned and maintained individual gardens
at residential/ institutional level, on periodic basis.
• Preserving, protecting and promoting all existing vegetation , flora and
fauna.
• Promoting sustainable landscaping by using native species/ plants for
achieving economy in the development of adequate tree cover besides
ensuring the survival and growth of trees and saving water and energy to
the tune of 20-30%..
• Promoting Xeri-scaping to minimize consumption of precious water resource
in the landscaping of green spaces.
• Involving educational institutions / campuses having large area, for tree
plantation and creating green/landscaped area within the
institutions/campus.
• Involving and making children and students active partner in greening cities,
and for increasing and making addition to the inventory of green spaces in
the cities.
• Making environment/ ecology, integral part of education/study curricula at
school and higher level of education and creating awareness about role
/importance of green spaces at individual/community level to make addition
and improve the availability of green spaces in the city.
Defining Hierarchy of Open Spaces; In order to ensure the availability of green
spaces beyond physical barrier and making it accessible to the poorest of the poor
citizens of any settlement, it will be critical to define the levels of physical planning
adopted for human settlement and also the fabric of open spaces to be provided
at each level of such planning. Accordingly, open spaces need to be planned in a
well- defined hierarchy involving; open spaces at regional level; specialized open
spaces like, zoo, botanical gardens; open spaces at city level; sub- city level;
district level; neighbourhood level and open spaces at local/ housing cluster
level. However, considering the large variations adopted in defining various levels
10. of planning in master
plans/development plans, depending
upon the size, location, structure and
physiography of different cities,
options of providing open spaces shall
have to be at variance. However,
efforts shall be required to be made
to cover the entire city and all the local
residents and communities, within the
framework of green spaces. In order to
follow the hierarchy of green spaces, it
will be critical that the system of open spaces should be made integral part of the
Master plans/Development plans evolved for the city, clearing defining the area to
be used for open spaces, green spaces, play grounds, and public spaces. In
addition, detailed policy framework and guidelines need to be defined in the Master
Plans/Development plans, for creating such open spaces while working out the
local area plans, on prescribed norms and standards. In fact, a section dedicated
to the public open/green spaces need to be included as integral part of the
Master/Development plans. Chandigarh evolved its master plan following a
dedicated system of providing green belts , to link entire city with the Shivalik
range of hills, located in the north. Tianjin Eco-City planned extensive green
(vegetation) and blue (water) networks to provide quality living /working
environment. Green network comprising of green lung at the core and eco-
corridors emanating from the lung to the other parts of city are the hallmarks of
Tianjin eco-city. Water bodies created in the city are interlinked and interwoven to
enhance ecology and provide attractive environment and space for recreation,
with a wastewater pond rehabilitated /transformed into a clean and beautiful lake,
spread over an area of 2.5 sqkms.
Valuing People Perception; Urban green spaces hold different social meanings
and understandings for different user groups due to variety of social interactions.
Accordingly, green spaces in cities and towns are used in a variety of ways,
depending upon social and physical factors involving accessibility , facilities,
attractiveness, location, size and security. These determinants are known for their
complexities, interconnectivity, and variance. Accordingly, it is important, vital and
critical, to understand the needs of local residents and the manner, green spaces
may be used. In order to enable urban development to serve and match the local
needs and values besides bridging the gap between vision and ground reality,
public engagement in the planning and design process would be critical for
understanding the needs of the community. Greening of cities, when carried out
without appropriate consultation, study and analysis, may prove to be
11. counterproductive and emerge as a liability rather than an asset for the community
and the city, where such spaces are provided. The manner in which people use
and appreciate green spaces, assume importance for rational and logical
planning and placing of green spaces.
Rationalizing Size; The availability of green spaces in urban areas, in adequate
quantity and quality, remains most critical for making optimum use of such
spaces. Use of green spaces is found to be positively linked with the size of green
space. The size of the urban green space invariably dictates the manner in which
space will be used by the community and the users. Larger sized green spaces
remain more active and productive due to variety of uses to which these spaces
can be put. Larger spaces may be more likely to be used for active purposes
including doing physical activity, playing games, socializing, resting, doing yogas,
walking, running, holding events, functions etc., while smaller spaces remain
largely passive, used essentially for socializing, resting, gossiping and restitution.
Minimum size of green space to be recognized as open spaces has been
mandated to be 500 sqm by the URPDFI guidelines. However, size, shape and
extent of the green spaces will largely depend upon/ dictated by the planning
framework and planning concept/philosophy, adopted by the planner for defining
the contours of the neighborhood. It will also depend upon the extent of area
planned and planning norms prescribed by the competent authority. It has been
observed that extent of green spaces remains positively co-related to the area of
the neighborhood/township being planned. Land use pattern defined in the
planning is known to be major determinants of extent of green spaces provided.
Ensuring Accessibility; Most critical component dictating the use of green
spaces remains; easy, unobstructed and universal accessibility to such spaces.
If green spaces do not have appropriate level of accessibility, such spaces will
always remain marginalized ,facing neglect, abuse and misuse. Accessibility to
site is largely dictated by the location in the context of overall planning; physical
distances (of residential areas and users), from the green space and available
means of approach . Frequent users of green spaces are known to be persons
living in close proximity to a green space, within a distance of less than 0.5 km or
5 minutes’ walk. Crossing major roads are considered major
impediment/roadblock to accessibility to such spaces. Accordingly, green spaces
should be planned and placed in such a manner that accessing it does not involve
any crossing over a major traffic artery/road. Availability of unobstructed pedestrian
pathways and cycle tracks, connecting residential area with green spaces, remain
the most preferred choice of the users in the urban areas. For promoting higher
order of usability, all green spaces should be made universally accessible to all the
residents including , physically challenged, senior citizens, children and women ,
in order to ensure that no inhabitant is deprived of the benefits of green spaces
12. created in the neighbourhood/city. In large number of cases where new townships
are created, land developed for green space remains accessible only to the local
residents to the exclusion of other communities and neighbourhoods. Restricting
accessibility despite availability, is seen a major threat to usability and promoting
inequities in accessing the available urban green spaces. In order to promote
universal visibility, accessibility and usability of green spaces pan city , concept of
gated communities would need review, revision and redefinition with regard to
accessing green spces and public amenities, provided in the area for the outside
residents.. Pattern of physically planning , typology of layout plans adopted for
positioning green spaces within the planned areas remain crucial for ensuring their
accessibility. Green spaces provided facing the housing blocks are found to have
high order of accessibility, whereas remotely located green spaces are avoided by
the residents, despite their positivities. Providing unhindered and universal
accessibility, invariably remains valuable and leads to greater use of available
urban green space.
Promoting Quality ; The quality of infrastructure , elements and characteristics
used in the planning, designing and development of the green spaces are known
to considerably impact the usability of such spaces in the urban areas. Well
planned, well defined , well developed green spaces, having features which
facilitate physical activities, doing physical exercises in groups, having space for
yoga, meditation; space for sitting and socialising; covered shelter for protection
from sun and rain; adequate arrangement of lighting and options for walking and
running besides providing a perception of safety and security, remain most active
and have proved to be users-friendly. Such spaces have invariably been found to
have large number of users. Fencing provided with well -defined entries/exits, for
securing the green spaces, are also useful in giving distinct identity to green
spaces and stopping the entry of unwanted animals and trespassing into these
spaces. Study made in Australia has
concluded that the quality of the green
space was important for de-stressing the
users. Studies have also shown the positive
impact of making environmental features
integral part of the green spaces, to promote
awareness and influence the behavioral
changes of the users for making value
addition to such spaces.
Adding trees has its own context in the green
spaces because trees are known to provide
distinct advantages in not only producing oxygen, essential for human living, but
also provide valuable shade and natural cooling during the hot summers besides
13. improving the aesthetics of green spaces. Difference of temperature between area
under sunlight and shade has been found to be approximately 2-2.5 degree
Celsius. As per studies made, every human being , on an average breathes about
9.5 tonnes of air on annual basis. Oxygen only makes up about 23 % of air by
mass. For making available the oxygen needed by an individual roughly, seven /
eight fully matured trees are required at the local level. In addition, a single tree,
on an average, offers a cooling effect in atmosphere equivalent to about 5 air-
conditioners and accordingly trees in the urban context help cities to overcome the
problem of heat island, and urban warming. Trees, by lowering down the local
temperature, help in reducing energy consumption and decarbonizing the cities
by minimizing the consumption of energy involved in cooling buildings. Making
open spaces more qualitative will remain crucial for ensuring the optimum benefits
and usability of such spaces. Accordingly, it should form integral part of planning
and development strategies of green spaces .
Safety and Security; Perception of adequate security, and safety are other
important features regulating the use of green spaces and impacting the user’s
perception and understanding of usability of such spaces. Rundown and
unprotected open spaces ,having undefined ownership, may often be associated
with illegal activities including gambling, homelessness as well as crime and
vandalism. Such activities invariably lead to large number of users avoiding green
spaces, especially women , children and elders. Physical location also
considerably impact the perception of security of the users, because studies have
concluded that green spaces created in remote areas, away from the residential
and activity areas, are invariably avoided due to sense of insecurity attached to
them. Accordingly, while positioning, planning and developing green spaces,
elements of visibility must be integrated to promote sense of security and safety
among users.
Social Context; In addition to the quality and characteristics of the parks, social
factors also play critical role in determining the usability of parks. It has been
observed that neighbourhoods lacking feelings of social cohesion has invariably
led to less use of parks and open spaces due to segregation of population in
different ethnic groups. in this context ethnic minorities are seen to be major losers.
Prevailing socio-cultural fabric of the neighborhoods may lead to less use of green
spaces by ethnic minorities. Adequate care has to be taken for protecting existing
residents against adverse consequences caused by higher property values, while
launching initiatives to create green space in deprived neighborhoods to make
them healthier and more attractive, which may lead to displacement of the local
residents, for whose benefit, the initiatives are designed and launched.
Location; Location of green spaces remains one of the most critical factors in
determining the usability of green spaces. Studies made has revealed that green
14. spaces, provided in a distant corner of neighbourhood, have invariably been found
to have less acceptability by the community and are generally avoided by the
users. These spaces invariably face neglect and large scale misuse, abuse and
encroachments. Green spaces provided within a cluster, enclosed by the houses,
are the one which remain most preferred destination for the users. In addition to
being used for majority of the time, such spaces are known to be most safe and
secure, well-kept and are subjected to least encroachment, misuse and illegal
activities. Green spaces provided at the back of houses are invariably treated like
backyards by such houses and are seen more as a dumping ground rather than
an area for recreation and physical activity. In addition, illegal entries are found to
be created by such houses, to get easy access to the green spaces. Tendency of
encroaching green spaces and treating green spaces as extension of the individual
houses are also observed in majority of such cases. Green spaces provided on
the side of the houses are invariably treated as an extension of the corner house
and is enclosed and protected as private green space. Considering these facts, it
will be vital to consider the location of the green spaces during the planning of the
residential neighbourhoods. Planners must have intimate knowledge of positioning
of such spaces so that they are not encroached, misused and abused. Studies
need to be undertaken with regard to optimum size and location of green spaces
to be provided at various levels in order to promote their optimum use. Visibility of
such spaces should remain the most critical and vital factor and guiding principal
for locating green spaces in the neighbourhood. In addition, distribution of open
spaces based on equity should also be built into the process of planning. Green
spaces should not remain concentrated in few residential pockets and should be
divided into different areas so as to cover entire population. High density housing
cluster should have larger proportion of open spaces, whereas larger sized plots,
having low density, should have lesser proportion of such spaces, due to large
availability of open spces within the individual house. Basis of distribution of green
spaces should be the density, number of households and population housed in
the area and not the area occupied by the number of houses. Local level
authorities must ensure that quality parks and green spaces are located in close
proximity to people, regardless of where they live.
Usability; Detailed studies made has revealed that green spaces are not being
used by same category of people during the day. The age group of users has been
found to be at variance during different hours of the day. Variations of age groups
using green spaces have also been observed during different seasons of the year.
During morning and evening, most of the users belong to the age group which are
employed during the day or running their own business. These users include both
men and women and members of such families. Few of them also use these
spaces in the evening. Housewives are seen to be major users in the late hour
15. of the morning and the evening. Children preferably use these spaces in the
morning and evening ,where facilities for playing games are available. Providing
swings, rides and other children-focused games, have been found to increase the
usability of green spaces by attracting more children in the parks. Further, creating
open gyms, have found favour with large number of users , which value the role
and importance of exercises to remain healthy. Provision of these infrastructures
have increased the intensity and duration of utilization of the green spaces. Senior
citizens/retirees favour morning and afternoon times for relaxing or socializing.
Mornings are preferred times for activities like running, walking, doing yoga and
physical exercises whereas evenings are generally dedicated to passive activities
of relaxing, sitting and socializing. During winter, most preferred time remains
during the availability of sun in the day and during summers, morning and
evenings are the preferred time for using green spaces. Providing options for the
shaded spaces also help promote the use of green spaces during the summers
and rainy times. Accordingly, keeping in view the user’s fabric, choices,
preferences and age groups, green spaces need to be, rationally and innovatively,
planned ,designed and developed, for ensuring their optimum utilization.
Land; Non-availability of adequate land, at appropriate places in appropriate
quantity and at appropriate price, remains the biggest roadblock in creating
qualitative and making available appropriate level of open spaces in the urban
areas. Green spaces in urban areas, remain under threat inan environment ,where
such spaces are limited and there exists relative shortage of housing and land for
development. Cost of land and lack of understanding on the part of the users and
city authorities, remains the major roadblock in providing such spaces in urban
areas. In order to define and identify areas for creating green spaces, land
suitability analysis of the area to be planned, must be carried out in detail.
Identifying the area which needs to be conserved/preserved; areas unfit for human
habitation; areas subjected to legal infirmities for urban development and areas
fit/ripe for urban development ,will remain valuable for optimizing the available land
and for evolving rational plans. Areas identified as unsuitable and subjected to
legal infirmities for urban development including areas available along the major
highways and around water bodies should be earmarked and used for planning
and development of green spaces. Earmarking, sourcing, planning and developing
all existing and available low-lying areas/areas should be effectively developed
and used as open spaces/parks/recreation. . Entire stretches of land, coming
under High-Tension Electrical lines and land earmarked as, ‘no-construction zone’,
due to statutory provisions, need to be used exclusively for developing green belts
in the city. Areas identified to be preserved and protected should also be
supplemented with creating green spaces.
16. Preparing inventory of available open spaces for safeguarding such spaces
from being encroached, misused and abused would always remain important. All
water bodies should be supported with green spaces to make value addition and
protected from all possible human interventions and encroachments. Similar
options must be exercised in promoting and preserving areas around/within
heritage, existing in the city. Making optimum use of large areas available along
the transportation network for plantation, greening and creating network of green
spaces ,will help in creating large pool of such spaces in the city. Removing all
existing encroachments, on designated open/greenspaces and developing such
areas as green areas, and greening large vacant/unbuilt area available with the
existing local level institutions will help in making large additions to such spaces.
Promoting City forests (developing high intensity/density green cover in cities) on
large scale, will not only add green
spaces but will also bring back lost
flora, fauna and bio-diversity into the
city. Bringing all parking areas under
the aegis of tree plantation can go a
long way in creating large green cover
in the cities. Potential of green roofs
and green walls also needs to be
explored for making addition to
vocabulary of green spaces by
converting large unused and abused
spaces in the city.
Traffic island, traffic rotaries, underpasses, over-bridges and fly-overs, created in
the urban areas to rationalize and regulate flow of traffic, offer valuable space/
opportunities to make addition to green spaces in the cities. Chandigarh Municipal
Corporation, has exploited the potential of such spces to create large volume of
beautiful open spaces without incurring any cost. Looking objectively, cities
contain/offer lot of opportunities, which remain untapped, unexplored, for sourcing
land for making additions to green spaces.
Financing; Urban green spaces remain resource and cost-intensive not only in
sourcing land but also planning, designing and developing them. Looking at the
lie-cycle cost of the green spaces, it has been concluded that green spaces involve
lot of resources for maintaining them, in terms of manpower, equipment, water
charges, cost of periodic additions and alterations etc., , which makes their
maintenance highly cost-intensive. Limited availability of financial resources with
urban local bodies coupled with low priority accorded to the green spaces, finding
adequate resources for greening cities always remain a distant dream. In the
17. absence of a robust scientific basis of the health benefits, it becomes all the more
difficult to make a strong case for allocating scarce public resources for urban
green spaces.
Resource constraints and reductions in public spending invariably
disproportionately impact the urban green space, since they have to compete with
other public services that have higher priority. Due to limited availability of funds,
most of the urban areas remain deficient in the availability of green spaces. It is
said , as against the prescribed norms of 9 sqm, Indian cities have availability of
only 2.7sqm of green space ,on per capita basis. In order to bridge this gap, large
allocation of resources will be essential. However, there exists numerous options
for raising resources for providing and maintaining urban green spaces. Best
option to maintain and develop the green spaces will be to make local residents’
active partner by involving them in the planning, developing and maintaining green
spaces falling within their complexes. Resident Welfare Association and Co-
operative societies need to be roped in for this purpose. Many urban local bodies,
plan and develop the green spaces and then hand over to the Resident Welfare
Associations for maintenance and upkeep by paying them charges based on the
pre-defined area based norms. This helps in reducing the maintenance cost of
green spaces. Involving corporate sectors in planning , developing and
maintenance of green spaces, can help local authorities in meeting the entire cost
of such spaces by merely giving them the advertisement rights to showcase and
display their industries in the green spaces. In addition, levying Internal
Development Charges(IDC) and External Development Charges( EDC), which
include charges for landscaping of the licensed area, provide adequate resources
for not only developing green areas within the sanctioned township, but also
making available resources for city level landscaping and developing green
spaces/belts/playgrounds, on the proportionate basis. It has been observed that
planned development remains the best option for sourcing land and making
available adequate financial resources for the development of green spaces in the
cities. Accordingly, for developing appropriate level of green spaces, cities must
opt for and promote planned development. In addition, to using land as the
resource for developing green spaces, Government of India has also launched a
scheme for greening and making value addition to the cities and towns. Atal
Mission of Rejuvenation of Urban Transformation (AMRUT), includes green
spaces as a major and important component of cities. Sources made available
under the Mission can be made use of for planning and development of green
spaces in the city. In addition, all the urban local bodies, development authorities,
Housing Boards, Improvement Trusts, Industrial Development Authorities etc.,
engaged in real estate development should be asked to earmark dedicated funds
18. for the development of green spaces
and landscaping the city, where they
are operating.
Singapore Experiment with Green Spaces
-Vertical Gardens
For overcoming the limitations of availability
of adequate land, imposed by being an
island country, Singapore is experimenting
with number of options to increase the green
footprints in the city. One of the innovative
options used, is to create vertical gardens in
area reclaimed from the sea, known as,
‘Garden By the Bay’. Spread over an area of
250 acres, the Garden is ,a nature
park located in the Central
Region of Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. Garden has been developed as
the part of the nation's plans to transform Singapore from a "Garden City" to a "City in a
Garden", with the sole aim of raising the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in
the city. Gardens is intended to be Singapore's premier urban outdoor recreation space
and a national icon, containing number of green options including conservatories; flower
dome; cloud forest; children garden; horticulture themed gardens; bayfront plaza and
floral fantasy. In addition to creating green spaces at the ground level and various other
elements; garden includes number of Super Trees created in the garden. Super trees,
are high-tech tree like structures, ranging in height from 80-160 feet, with trunks acting
as vertical gardens laced with more than 1,50,000 living plants and having provision of
sourcing solar energy, for a night show organized in the garden besides shading and
working as environmental engines for the gardens.Super trees are home to number of
exotic ferns, vines, orchids, having vast collection of other plants. Trees are fitted with
environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees: photovoltaic
cells that harness solar energy, used for lighting, similar to how trees photosynthesize
the solar energy, and collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays,
similar to how trees absorb rainwater for growth. The Super trees also showcase air
intake and exhaust functions as part of the conservatories' cooling systems. Garden serve
dual purpose for the city, involving leisure, entertainment and de-stressing residents,
visitors, tourists besides providing the benefit of large number of trees/green spaces for
decarbonizing and promoting green spaces in the city. In addition, Singapore has also
modified its building regulations, providing for compensating the entire quantum of green
space, occupied by the built environment within the building designed, in the shape of
terrace gardens/ roof gardens. This provision has helped the city in minimizing the impact
19. of buildings on the reduction of green spaces. In addition, it has also made value addition
to the buildings in reducing their carbon footprints and providing all the benefits of green
roof besides creating captive open spaces for the residents of group housing which could
be used on 24x7 basis.
Green Roofs
Considering the role and importance,
green roofs and green walls are fast
emerging as an option to create large
volume of green spaces in an otherwise
dense and congested localities. Gardens
planted on rooftops ,maximise limited green spaces and curtail greenhouse gas
emissions. Green roofs are being known and valued, as alternate open spaces, created
within the individual residence for captive and community use, offering numerous
physical, social, economic and environmental benefits, not only to the built environment,
people and communities but also to the city, climate and human livability. These benefits
include; creating new frontier of humane and sustainable urban planning; decreasing
stormwater runoff ; reducing air pollution; Increasing oxygen production; improving air-
quality; purifying air; encouraging biodiversity, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions,
removing air particulates; reducing carbon-footprints ; improving property value and
marketability; promoting economy, generating employment; promoting community
gardening projects, adding up greenery, creating visually pleasing green elements;
improving aesthetics in building and neighborhood; impacting living, working and
promoting well-being of people through green environment; promoting relaxation and
reducing stress; making people happy, heathy and more productive; promoting
optimum utilization of unused space; making addition of a new amenity space within
building; reducing and slowing stormwater runoff and avoid flooding in the urban
environment. Green roofs in neighborhoods, not only increase city’s attractiveness but
also promote better quality of life and create healthier/ sustainable spaces. Green roofs
also act as CO2 sink with each 100 sqm of green roof; reducing greenhouse gases @
1.8 tons per year; producing oxygen needed by 100 people in a year; removing pollution
emitted by 15 cars in a year; reducing ambient temperature of cities by 1°C; minimising
urban heat island /harmful city smog; preventing evolution of harmful ozone
layer; retaining 40% of rainwater ;delaying water discharge by 18 minutes during intense
rain and preventing collapse of urban drainage systems.
Conclusion
20. World is passing through an era of unsatiated consumerism, led by industrialization,
urbanization, liberalization and globalization, adversely impacting human health- both
physical and mental. Bringing out ground realities and status of prevailing poor human
health, WHO states that globally, large proportion of urban population is suffering from
variety of problems including mental ill-health, obesity, social isolation, health
inequalities, stresses and strains besides environmental degradation. Report calls upon
nations and communities to find appropriate and equitable solutions to address these
health and environment related problems on priority and urgent basis. Based on the
detailed and systematic review of the published evidence on green-space interventions;
ranging from smaller green spaces to larger interlinked spaces, WHO report has
concluded that, green spaces have been found to play critical, vital and key role in
addressing issues related to human health and environment. In addition, open spaces
help reduce illness, obesity and stress with positive outcomes, ensuring health, social
and environmental benefits on sustained basis, for entire range of urban population
including population comprising lowest rung of socio-economic pyramid. Report also
states that, providing adequate, quantitative and qualitative, open spaces within our urban
areas assumes importance. In addition, preserving, enhancing and promoting existing
green spaces will remain vital to augment and increase the availability of such spaces.
Looking at their genesis and operation, green-spaces have been found to yield maximum
dividends only when physical and social contexts are appropriately integrated and
dovetailed at the local level. This places priority on the need of involving communities and
users in the siting, planning and designing of green spaces. Sufficient time and resources
accordingly need to be devoted during planning and designing such spaces, by engaging
with both users and beneficiaries. Fostering multidisciplinary approach, based on
collaboration with all the stakeholders, would be critical for creating successful green
spaces. Adopting a bottom-up approach and emphasizing community engagement have
invariably led to positive outcomes. Having public engagement embedded from the start,
invariably ensures that local community’s needs were well understood and appreciated.
The design options evolved must respond to the identified needs of community and
stakeholders. Juxtaposing local understanding and good practices ,can help in evolving
evidence-based design that would cater to all local contexts. Such an approach of working
at local level has helped in creating local ownership of green spaces. While siting the
open spaces it must be ensured that parks and green spaces are located based on
equity and in close proximity to the community, with priority going to
neighborhoods/communities found deficient in green spaces. Planning for proper
maintenance and regular improvements of green spaces and parks should invariably form
integral part of planning and development process. It must be understood and
appreciated that urban green-space interventions always remain long-term investments
and accordingly, need to be integrated with long term development strategies and
21. planning frameworks, including Master plans/ Development plans, transport policies,
sustainability and biodiversity strategies. For ensuring adequate provision of green
spaces on sustained basis and on prescribed norms and standards, prevailing
development control regulations building bye-laws, zoning regulations must be
appropriately, reviewed, revised and redefined to include appropriate provisions for green
spaces, green streets, sidewalk planters, or other greening strategies. For having
appropriate level of green spaces, these spaces should be included and made integral
part of the urban infrastructure and should be adequately reflected in the Infrastructure
plans evolved at the local level. Urban spaces should be made integral part of all policies
and plans evolved for creating healthy environment, including green spaces and public
spaces for promoting leisure and recreation.
Looking at the multiplicity of usages, multiplicity of purposes served and large number of
benefits accruing, it becomes critical that cities would need to be made more clean,
green and eco-friendly by providing quality green spaces. Providing quality green spaces
at prescribed norms, as an integral part of urban infrastructure and long term planning,
development , management process, can help and ensure making cities; more livable,
sustainable, safe, inclusive, resilient, happy and healthy places to live in and work with.
Bibliography;
Lee ACK; Jordan HC Jordan, Horsley J ; Value of urban green spaces in
promoting healthy living and wellbeing: prospects for planning;
Slater JS, Richard MS; Christiana; Jeanette G; US Public Health Response
to COVID-19 and Chronic Disease special supplement, and Mental Health - a
Global Public Health Issue
Gupta JK; Building Carbon Neutral Cities Through Green Roofs; unpublished
paper; September 2021
Wikipedia; Garden By the Bay;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardens_by_the_Bay
McCarthy J, Sánchez E; 6WaysGreenRoofsProtectCitiesFromClimateChange--
From fighting heat waves to stopping floods
Davis C; 4 Reasons Green Roofs Do A Building Good; July 13, 2015
Rosenzweig, et.; Green Roofs in the New York Metropolitan Region,
Research Report,"
Note; All images are sourced through Google, which are gratefully and
sincerely acknowledged and appreciated with gratitude. Images are not
being used for any commercial purpose but used for academic/research
purposes and for illustration to make the text clear.
22. Author;---
Ar Jit Kumar Gupta
#344/40-a, Chandigarh-160036
Former, Director, College of Architecture IET Bhaddal (Pb)
mail-jit.kumar1944@gmail.com