SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, NEW DELHI

THE WALLED CITY AND ITS URBAN FORM

MITALI GUPTA
4th year, section A
A/2453/2012
Guide : Prof. Dr. LEON A MORENAS
Co-ordinator : Prof. Dr. JAYA KUMAR
13/11/2015

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INTRODUCTION

Cities that do not rebuild themselves continuously, die.

-

Le Corbusier

The city has changed. The image of the city has changed. Over the past 50 years, Indian
urbanscape has faced a plethora of new determinants which have succeeded in changing the
way we perceive our city. The city has faced new challenges of population, growth and change
due to the extensive pressure of globalization.
Shahjahanabad has suffered a long years of plunder and pandemonium, with loss of records and
histories, and the remains of the urban fabric of city speaks out as an evidence for the same. The
massive wall, which enclosed the city was first built of stone and mud in 1651 and promptly, got
collapsed during the rain. Also, it wasnt constructed at the first place to protect the city. (Blake,
1991)
Delhi is a city of many cities: imagined, lived, and controlled, the landscape has been
recreated, rebuilt and made meaningful by the daily acts of inhabiting as well as planned
interventions. (Hosagrahar, 2005)
"Traditionalism", and colonial "Modernism" which evolved out of architectural upheavals of
industrial revolutions in the eighteenth and nineteenth century (Hosagrahar, 2005). The city that
was plundered, redefined and controlled over a long period but still retains an over whelming
and enigmatic historical and symbolic character, which flourishes even today, with the long
lasting socio cultural patterns imbued in peoples life styles. The urban image includes various
street experiences commercial hoardings being intercepted by public or religious buildings. The
pressure inside Delhi and particularly the walled city to accommodate growth after India got
independence has been tremendous. There has been continuous exploitation of the built

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infrastructure for the commercial activities. Delhi has failed to grow as a unified whole- it is an
agglomeration of few unrelated and related parts, each with widening disparities.
The cultural landscape of Delhi presents an example of syncretism between customary ways of building
and inhabiting, imposed social and spatial forms emerging from Europes modernity, and the cultural
chaos of modernity and colonialism. (Hosagrahar, 2005)

The city conjures strong image of human settlement at both neighborhood and individual level,
presenting a cohesive pattern satisfying social and climatic needs of the inhabitants. Study of
Shahjahanabad may provide insight into the spatial and perceptual factors that influence the
urban fabric and could provide guidelines to make required developments in future.
Today, the traditional core of the city, which was once recognized as Dilli "The heart and soul of
the body", is caught in chaos, with familiar forms and meanings thrown in question. The walled
city has lost its significance as a core and the associated landscapes have become the
unanticipated versions of architectural negotiations - the urbanism which is not truly modernistic
but rationalized versions of "indigenous modernity" (Hosagrahar, 2005).

During my present research, I would like to deal in detail with the city development and evolution
that occurred in Shahjahanabad and would make a detailed survey of urban qualities of the
delineated study areas.
RESEARCH QUESTION
What are the tools to study urban form and how is it significant in the context of Shahjahanabad
How has old city faced the odds of urbanism during the course of time and what are its reaction
for the same? How can it inform the guidelines of redevelopment in future for the old city?
The research will be a broad study of the walled city of Shahjahanabad and will establish
historical, spatial and urban context. The research will look on the concept of urban form and
examine its physical manifestations with regard to all pervasive social order that imposes itself
whenever humans cohabit. The study will attempt to break down the components of the city and
study the logic, the governing force behind them.

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A city is largely formed by many works of architecture put together or being in chaos .
(Spreiregen, 1965)
This map shows built up area of Delhi, over the last four decades at intervals of about 10 years,
on the data provided by the German Space Agency DLR-DFD. The 4 different layers get darker as
the density increases. The white areas are unpopulated zones where natural terrain like river or
mountains may exist. Delhis 1947 independence boundaries covered 19 times the area of Old
Delhi (Shahjahanabad) and Lutyens New Delhi. Today, the built-up areas of both have spilled
over these historic boundaries, with Delhi showing high levels of new development in the
neighboring states to the south and east of the traditional city boundary.

Urban Growth maps based on data provided by DLR-DFD, as cited: Taubenbck H, Esch T, Felbier A, Wiesner M,
Roth A & Dech S (2012): Monitoring of mega cities from space. In: Remote Sensing of Environment, vol. 117, pp.
162-176.

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METHODOLOGY
1. Participant Observation and immersive learning
2. Conduct survey
To identify the user perception of possible development of the city
To identify similar dimensions but also includes questions about community
participation in future redevelopment of the walled city.
3. Literature survey and compilation of data
4. Applying the tools to case study
5. Inferences and analysis
FRAMEWORK
DEVELOP HYPOTHESIS, BACKGROUND
INFORMATION ABOUT SHAHJAHANABAD

WORK OF
GOVERNMENT
AGENCY(MCD) LIKE
WILSON SURVEY
SHEETS ON
SETTLEMENT

LITERATURE REVIEW
`

WORK OF INDIAN AGENCIES LIKE

INTACH, ASI ON SHAHJAHANABAD

WORK OF SCHOLARS
PUBLISHED AND
UNPUBLISHED

CASE STUDIES

IDENTIFY ISSUES

EVOLVING METHODOLOGY FROM

CASE STUDIES AND LITERATURE
STUDY

DELINEATION OF ACTION AREA

PRIMARY DATA COLLECTIONSITE

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

STUDY
PARTICIANT OBSERVATION
Visual SURVEY
INTERVIEWS
Mapping down the readings

ANALYSIS OF DATA

INFERENCE FROM THE

STUDY
AND CONCLUSIONS

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SHAHJAHANABAD, THE WALLED CITY

Chapter 1

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TIMELINE OF THE WALLED CITY

TIME

POPULATION

1648-1660

60000.

REMARKS

The fort served as the main seat for administration. Areas around
Fatehpuri Masjid, Jama Masjid and outside the fort walls towards the
southwest were developed
1661-1700
One and a half lakh
Chandni Chowk acquired its essential character of a trading centre. Faiz
bazaar established the linkage between Dilly Gate of the walled city and
dilly gate of the fort
1701-1737
Rose to 2 lakh
Commercial areas started to encroach inner residential areas and
Chowk. The built up areas expanded in all directions
1738-1800
Built up area expanded all over except the areas in between Lahori gate
of the red fort and Kashmiri gate of the city wall and northwest of the
city wall
1801-1812
The cantonment was built near Daryaganj towards southern side of
Delhi gate of the fort and a military colony was established. Bunglows
for officers, hospitals and church came up in the between the east city
wall and faiz bazaar part of their administrative activities were shifted
to Kashmere Gate area.
1813-1873
2.5 lakh
Introduction of railways caused more demolition and a further
displacement of population. The town hall was constructed in place of
of Begum Ki Sarai and Victoria tower erected in front of it. Elgin road
suitable for automobile was constructed linking Faiz Bazaar and
Chandni chowk, which destroyed the coherence maintained between
the two main focal points of the Mughal city.
1874-1911
The administrative activities shifted from Shahjahanabad to civil lines.
The fort lost its functional importance and grandeur. The city extended
towards west. By 1911, a solid wedge of main line and siding
constructed north-south down the western line of the walled city near
Ajmeri Gate. The capital of India shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. An
entirely new capital was chosen at Raisana, south of Shahjahanabad.
1912-1921
Around 3 lakh
The total area covered by the metropolitan Delhi in 1921 was 66
sq.miles. New Delhi followed the garden city concept and civil lines
extensively developed. Thai area of Daryaganj previously occupied by
the Europeans was largely abandoned. The cantonment was shifted
outside the walled city.
1922-1941
Luteyns New Delhi was laid out towards the south, occupied some 32
Sq.miles. The old city in the context of its overcrowding densely
populated areas had poor health conditions. The old undeveloped
intra-mural cantonment were the barriers to contain population to the
rear of Jama Masjid.
1942-1951
3.8 lakh
India acquires its independence in 1947, which followed by partition.
Refuges started coming to Delhi and within two months the city had to
accept an additional population of five lakhs.
1951 -1961
4.2 lakh
The subsequent growth of the industries and commerce begin to attract
people from neighboring rural areas . The large estate and houses were
divided and subdivided without proper plan in order to accommodate
increasing trade and commerce, industry and population.
Shahjahanabad continued to function as the central business district.
SOURCE (Mahajan, Shared image of the walled city, 2000)

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SOURCE : author, information (Blake, 1991)

Plan of Delhi 1857 Source : " Plan of the city of Delhi", from the Illustrated London News, 1857

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Historical background
Shahjahanabad with the growing importance as a central business center for the metropolitan
Delhi was manifested by the functional and structural changes restricted to mainly a bulk of
buildings on the both sides of Chandni Chowk and changes in transportation routes linking Jama
Masjid and Delhi Gate, Mori gate and Kashmere Gate. Physical transformations took place only
in the areas which were used for the wholesale markets and warehouses. Changes in scale, type
and intensity of activities mixes, helped by the low rental value of the spaces in Shahjahanabad,
the city proved to be incapable of adopt such changes because of its limited network, services
and utilities. Citys urban situation became complex day by day. With the growth of economic
activities, the employment also changed. Hence the demographic, social and cultural landscape
of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) has undergone a profound change. (Mahajan, Shared image of the
walled city, 2000)
The Mughal's had enjoyed a powerful reign in India after the battle of Panipat, when Babur
started his empire in North India capturing Delhi and Agra, defeating Lodis in 1526. The Mughal
Empire then made Agra its capital and eventually in 1639, Shahjahan shifted it to Shahjahanabad.
Stephen Blake talks about the concept of sovereign cities with patrimonial bureaucratic
emperors. Like many emperors of other Asian cities, Shahjahan's ambition with the city was to
absorb state into household and to rule the empire as one great patriarchal domain.
In such cities where the people were bound socially, culturally and economically, however the
emperor remained the pivot of the empire, and the most power stays in the imperial palacefortress. The city was the kingdom in miniature, while the imperial fort was city in miniature.
Blake has written enthralling details on the Imperial capital. He elucidates about city morphology,
social structure of Shahjahanabad, its economy and its culture.

The city plan was designed as an axis mundi for the empire while the imperial palace fortress set
the example for the rest of the city. Socially, the city was a "vast extension of household" (Blake,
1991) where the people were bounded with patron- client relationship" in a top down

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stratification. All the economic processes were dominated by the wealthy elite households. Blake
also illuminates details about the working of Mughal court.
The planning of the walled city shows the sole power of the emperor. However, such cities also
thrived and retained by "their distinctive style and character" (Blake, 1991). Blake talks about
the period , from invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 to the mutiny and exile of Bahadur Shah in 1857,
there were great changes, however, the city continued to flourish with busy commercial markets
and culture continued to thrive. Blake has written a fascinating monograph on the fascinating
walled city of Shahjahanabad and winds up with the comparison with other south Asian cities
like Istambul, Isfahan, Tokyo, and Peking, with patrimonial bureaucratic empires (Blake, 1991).

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MORPHOLOGY
QILA MUBARK (RED FORT)
The palace fortress of Shahjahan, called Qila Mubarkwas one of the two most important
buildings in the city. The layout of the fort was drawn on a formal geometrical plan actually an
irregular octagon with two long sides on east and west. (Blake, 1991) It had two gates. A large
moat surrounded the fort, separating it from the city. A covered bazaar ran from the forecourt
to the Lahori Gate. This bazaar was 70 feet long, two stories high and had a section cut from the
roof in the middle. The building arrangement as well as the distribution and segregation of person
illustrate the mixed domestic- official character of patrimonial bureaucratic rule. (Blake, 1991)

(Blake, 1991)

1.LahoriGate
2.Covered bazzar

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3.NaqqarKhanah(Drum Room)
4.DaulatKhanah-i-khas-o-am (Hall of Ordinary Audience)
5.AsadBurj(Lion Tower)
6.JahanaraBegums mansion
7.ImtiazMahal(Distinguished Palace)
8.Jharokah-i-Darshan(Balcony of Audience)
9.DaulatKhana-I-Khas(Hall of Special Audience)
10.Hammam(bath)
11.MotiMasjid (Pearl Mosque)
12.Shah burj(Kings Tower)
13.Hayat BakshGarden (Life-giving Garden)
14.MahtabBaghGarden (MoonlighGarden)
15.AkbarabadiGate
16.SlimagarhGate

Streets , bazaars, chowk.

The walled city, was called so because it was surrounded by a thick wall and a moat. The access
from one side to another was through the gates. Another indigenous feature was the chowks,
which were formed at the junction of two or more streets. There was usually a religious building
located at the chowk with small shops and vendors. Various communities for communal activities
used it. It was usually a brightly lit open space (Fonseca)

Street elevation, Naughar Lane,Kinari Bazaar

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Source: author

Street sections
Source: author
STREETS

The major circulation paths were the two major axis formed. One between the Lahori gate and
the fort, cutting between Chandni Chowk and getting extended to Fatehpuri masjid. And the
second was between Delhi Gate of the fort to the Delhi Gate od the city running through Faiz
Bazaar.

Author edited on
http://newton.uor.edu/facultyfolder/rebecca_brown/old/arth100/empire/Mughals/delhimapB.html

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BAZAARS
These bazaars were the important markers (landmarks) which soon spread along the network of
Fatehpuri Masjid, Jama Masjid and Kalan Masjid. A certain level of bipolarity existed between
rich and poor which molded a distinct spatial structure of Shahjahanabad. The ordinary citizens
and the merchant class clustered around the boundary "Walls" of Shahjahanabad, a move which
reflected the social standing of Royal palaces in the center of the city. The level of bipolarity
created by the inner royal palaces and the outer peripheral common public clearly demarcated a
physical circumference until when it was given a shape in the late seventeenth century to build
high walls of Shahjahanabad. (Blake, 1991)

1. CHANDNI CHOWK BAZAAR

The largest and richest street stretched from the Lahori Gate of the fort to the Fatehpuri Masjid.
This street was 40 yards wide and 1520 yards long and had 1560 shops. There were trees on
either side providing shade and were watered by the paradise canal (faiz canal) flowing through
the centre of the street.

Author edited on
ttp://newton.uor.edu/facultyfolder/rebecca_brown/old/arth100/empire/Mughals/delhimapB.html

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2. FAIZ BAZAAR

The other major bazaar in the city was the Faiz bazaar, which stretched from the Akbardani gate
of the fort to the Akbardani gate of the City. At the head of the bazaar, stood the Ashat Panahi
Mosque.
STREETSCAPES

Author edited on
<http://www.intachdelhichapter.org/shahjahanabad_urban_design_proposal.php>

The initial planning of the city was purely based on two main thoroughfares, which provided
visual experience to the commuters. The Chandni Chowk road and the street running north
south. From these primary streets emerged secondary streets which intersected each other at
chowks. The roads of Shahjahanabad were intended for pedestrian traffic or slow moving animal

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driven carriages. Due to intrusion of all types of auto vehicles, the old grace and charm of the
street has been ruined. (Jagmohan, 1975)
The streetscapes play a very crucial role in Shahjahanabad. It not only a big platform for
interaction but also provides various opportunities at every time of the day. They play an
important role when it come about the safety, the human contact and also to assimilate children
on the roads. Street In the cities serve many purpose besides carrying vehicles, sidewalks pedestrian parts of the street serve many purpose besides carrying pedestrians."
Jane Jacob. It is an abstraction and a vital organ for the city, also making it either safe or unsafe
for its passerby. The streets are designed in such a way to bring more people out, too increase
more nodes of interaction. In Shahjahanabad, the streets are safer and hence make the locality
safer to walk through. It is an unconscious effort of its own resident to keep an eye on the street.
The quality which makes it safer is due to the clear demarcation between private and public
space. Also, there has to be constant eye on the street, which one can easily absorb while
experiencing the streets in Shahjahanabad. Jane Jacob talks about how it makes a street safer
with just a simple feeling of ownership by the person working on the street.

In Shahjahanabad, the streets behave no less than the sidewalks, which Jane Jacob explains with
respect to the American Cities. Jacob says that is what appeals to the people about city life -they
do not have to worry about the people, butting into their private lives. This is one purpose which
sidewalks in other cities, but streets in Shahjahanabad caters- that it allows people to have the
contact that they desire as human with people they dont necessarily know yet they still maintain
their private lives.
Shahjahanabad lacks the provision of open play areas to children, but alternately provides much
safer streets for them to be in. This is because the shop owner on the street keeps an eye on the
ongoing activities. Also Jacob talks about how this interaction on the street is vital in rearing child.
This not only makes the child more aware but also makes them more responsible for themselves
and also for their fellow mates. Being in an atmosphere of mixture of adults, children learn from
all types of people. This is only possible in places where a mixing of residential and commercial
use could take place and Shahjahanabad is undoubtedly the best example one could talk about.

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MOHALLAS
The living quarters are embedded in a complex texture with their norms relating not only to
economic necessities but also to manifold social interweaving. The residents of the city were
primarily identified through their Mohalla.

Plan showing the various open courtyard in the city. There is a gradation of public/ private spaces
from the internal courtyards to the market (Hosagrahar, 2005)
These Mohalla were formed on the basis of common occupation and/or caste. They could refer
to the language, religion or origins of its residents. The local representatives of these
groups/caste built their buildings and aligned the streets in a functional manner. A Katra was a
part of Mohalla. The Katra is a market with houses and storage rooms, enclosed by a wall and
accessible though a Gate. Kucha and Gali implied linear streets or entities. A Chatta is formed
when a residential building forms an overhang on the street. Each Mohalla had an enclosed space
created between residential and commercial buildings having entry to a Katra made through a gate.

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The Mohallas were homogenous unit within the city. The Mohalla had a system of interior
courtyards, which were not visible from the spine but were used by the people. It was like an
introverted garden city, where the open space was shared by a community and not by the public.
The Mohalla created a system of security envelopes, the resident travelled initially from the most
private interior space (the courtyard) to the land outside his door, the second degree of privacy
to the main bazaar (public). (Hosagrahar, 2005)
The Galis were the semi private space while the Havelis or the courtyard houses were the most private
areas secluded from the world. The mohalla was usually named after the most influential Haveli owner.

HAVELIS
The same walls that now form the rickety paan shops and dirt gowdowns once supported
sprawling mansions and the lovely Delhi courtyard houses known as Havelis. The Haveli was a
world within a world, self-contained and totally hidden from the view of the casual
passerby.(Dalrymple, 1993),
The grand mansions of the princely men were called Havelis. Their plans were modeled after the
Qila Mubark (the palace fortress of Shahjahan). Havelis used to consist of interconnected
apartments, courtyards, pillared halls, gardens and ponds. These Havelis also included
accommodation for the owner's household men and the artisans who worked under him. All the
men under his patronage used to stay around the Haveli. The Haveli was like a mini city in itself.
There were over 100 Grand Havelis in the city.

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Haveli Khazanchi , 19th century

A ceremonial gate (1) led to a pillared courtyard, which was the mens courtyard. (2) The other
courtyard supported women and had no direct entrance from the street. (3)
Source (Hosagrahar, 2005)

The climatic condition of hot and arid regions was extremely hostile. The temperature are high
during the day and often at night. With scorching glare of the sun and the land being dry , winds
being hot and dry are no source of relief. The designs of the houses in Shahjahanabad have
overcome very successfully and have created comfortable environment to live in. The solution
relied on the study of patterns of sun and wind. The architectural innovations took place to make
effective use of energy by the experience and traditions of the earlier settlements.
The Islamic style of settlements included compacted huddled up houses which shade each other
and also do not let much area exposed to the sun. The houses were designed introverted, having
courtyard typology which not only provided an open interactive area in the house but also played
a major role in controlling the micro climate, usually containing elements like water and green
plants. The court remained cool due to stack effect and being enclosed was devoid of dust. There
were fewer punctures on the outside walls on upper floors which were treated with intricate
screens of stone or wood sometimes. The walls were thick to have keep the heat out and were
light painted to reflect the sun's heat. Distinct element on the roof tops could also be found

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known as 'Bagdir' or the wind catchers. These structures were placed in the direction of the
breeze.(Majumdar, 1989)

Wind catchers on the terrace bringing in the breeze without bringing in sun glare
Source: Majumdar, 1989

Not only the houses were designed passively but also the streets quite well responded to the hot
and arid climate. The huddling together of the building provided shade to the streets and
thoroughfares.
Yamuna has been an attraction since long for most of the rulers for its fertile land. It provides a
social and cultural landscape to the city. The walled city was developed near it due to the same
reasons. But what does Shahjahanabad give back to the river Yamuna? How does it reflect the
river front? The proposed master plan for Shahjahanabad treats Yamuna river front as an
ecological edge which can offer a vital city space for the congested Shahjahanabad.

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" The river front in Delhi has been remained a relatively neglected part of its urban areas. Its recreational
and

visual

potentialities

have

yet

to

Shahjahanabad and Yamuna front Development

Source: Adapted from DUAC, "Imagining Delhi"

be

realized''

(Land

and

Building

Deptt)

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URBAN FORM AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

Chapter 3

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Like music and painting and architecture, cities should be described and discussed for their form
and appearance and so should have precise vocabulary. The urban form can be studied in clarity
and helps in discussing the effects of various actions and policies that effect the city in terms of
its building parks streets and places. (spreiregen, 1965)
What is an urban form? An urban form can be called as urban pattern, with regular or irregular
geometry formed by routes, open spaces and buildings. (Eisner). Urban Design emerged
sometime in the 1960s. Its exact origins are yet to be determined though. Post war rampant
urban development across the world found almost everywhere looking like everywhere elsebanal, monotonous and humdrum. The need for attractive, identifiable , memorable urban space
evoking a sense of place became strikingly visible.
'A New Theory of urban Design " attempts to change the focus of urban design from aesthetics
of the finished product to the process of creating it. The author explains about the "wholeness in
a city which comes with it by being organic in such cities self-determined and inward-governed.
Such patterns could also be seen in good paintings and poems during the time of their creation.
(Alexander, 1987)

The idea of growing whole has to do with four features which author says, are lacking in today's
modern practice of urban development. These features are
1. The process of growth as a whole is bit by bit which author calls it as piecemeal.
2. It is unpredictable, but today, the process does not have any sense of unpredictability, it
creates an artificial kind of wholeness.
3. The process is coherent. All the parts are whole and together they wholly make it
surprising and complex.
4. The process of growing whole full of feelings. It reaches to the user and could connect
with them.

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The first of the three sections in the book treats the theory as an attempt to merge feelings and
intellect in the design of new urban spatial patterns. The idea of wholeness is expressed by a
single line overriding rule: "Every new act of constructionmust create a continuous structure of
wholes around itself" (Alexander, 1987). This is achieved through an unfaltering loyalty to the
wholeness of the urban fabric. A building is seen as an increment of larger context. The authors
have suggested 7 rules dealing with the organic growth of wholes, visions, public spaces, roads,
building layout and construction, and formation of centers push the urban process for achieving
wholeness.
The first rule of piecemeal growth defines the small size increments. It says "the idea of piecemeal
growth is specified exactly enough so that we can guarantee a mixed flow of small, medium and
large projects in about equal quantities" (Alexander, 1987). The second rule talks about the
growth of the larger wholes. It says "Every building increment must help to form one larger whole
in the city, which is both larger and significant than itself" Rule three says that "every project
must be experienced, and then expressed" (Alexander, 1987). The visions must have a strong
quality to be able to communicate. Rule four says "Every building must create coherent and wellshaped public space next it" (Alexander, 1987). By this the author tries to say that positive urban
space is important to create for the users. There should be well shaped pedestrian space, well
shaped buildings, and well-designed vehicular access to the building and intermediate parks or
open spaces in these buildings. The fifth rule talks about circulation, day light, open spaces,
movement within the building to be coherent with the positioning of the building in the
neighborhood. Rule six says that the construction details from the column bays, to the door and
window, need to be a whole and unified. The last rule talk about the formation of the centers. A
centre is whole in itself and that it must create a system of centers around it.
The final part of the book is the evaluation of the theory and the experiment conducted in which
the author looks carefully at the success and faults or problems in their process and theory.
Through their experiment they could conclude that the city which they created has the positive
character and structure like the old cities had. There is an organic, personal and human touch
which is present in the beautiful cities of the past. The author says that the cities are relaxed,

P a g e | 24

comfortable and informal. But the project couldnt came out at unified in a whole. The physical
character of the city and the buildings, and large scale structures came out to be weird.
The authors explain through their work that, the wholeness could only be generated through
urban process and it occurs when large urban structure and its communal spaces spring from
individual projects. (Alexander, 1987)
The city is perceived by components like people, movement, circulation, time, mood, colors,
taste, touch, smell, light and sound. All these parameters are coherent and need to be perceived
together to sensitize the need and goals of a city. (Alexander, 1987)
1. Movement, Circulation and Time: Time is a major factor, either to commute to a store or
to work. The pedestrian movement is the most sensitive to handle which strongly
depends on the vehicular circulation in the city.
2. Sound: The location of industries, traffics, factories hampers a quality of a clean and
maintained city. It is important to buffer them (with each other or with the residential
space) to minimize the noise level.
3. Unity: unity with respect to scale and character/ grain of nearby areas, structures, streets,
landscaping and open spaces.
4. Light and colour: well lit and bright areas feel safer to the residents.
5. Taste, smell and touch (Alexander, 1987)
Some tools suggested by Eisner to study urban forms are Site and surrounding, Historical
background : the historical relevance of the area ,Street structure and community structure: road
network ,Open built structure: built-unbuilt structure( nolli's plan ), physicality and building form
,Activity pattern - built use and markets, Demographics, Infrastructure

and community:

community mapping, social and religious infrastructure, Location and connectivity, Physical
transformation : adaptive reuse, re-densification , typology transformation of buildings ,Open
spaces : can include congregation spaces and Morphology. An urban context is a unique cultural
artifact produced in response to climate, geography, history and belief. Urban identity is the
human cognition (by all of its members) of this artifact.

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According to Kevin Lynch, each person constructs his own mental picture of the parts of the city
in physical relationship to one another. The collective mental picture- the image of the city is
largely formed by many works of architecture seen together. Author classifies the contents of
city form into five elements, Pathways, Districts, Edges, Landmarks and Nodes.
In order to have an imageable city, the elements have to be put in an order that can be greatly
achieved by planning the connecting paths alone. The key lines of the path should have some
unique features to it and some special use or activity along their margins to render importance
to them over other connecting channels. It could have a particular lighting pattern, smells,
sounds, etc. The line of motion should have clarity of direction.
An average observer is confused by succession of turnings or by gradual ambiguous turns in the
path that leads to major directional shifts. Essentially a path should always have well defined
turns close to 90 degrees or many slight turns which yet never loses its basic direction.
According to the author, there should be a hierarchy in the streets as well while some streets
could be made to look separate from others by rendering them with different materials others
could be given same materials and made to look like one whole. Such hierarchy is essential for a
complete and efficient city image. A path should have a sense of direction and irreversibility.
Observers prefer paths that they could identify with the destination toward which it goes.
As monotonous nature is never accepted by observers it is always better to add some drama,
visual or physical, to the path as it creates interest and helps in making it easier for the observer
to perceive the path better as it makes it a more experiential element of a city. This issue is
addressed by author as adding "kinesthetic" quality to the path as it impresses the observers.
It is crucial to have a clear and powerful distinction of an edge in cases of many structures as this
is what lays the foundation for a structure's existence at a particular place. For example: a
business center alongside a road needs to have lateral visibility so it could be seen by the people
travelling on the path along the structure otherwise the structure will not be seen by the
observers and hence that business center gets lesser footfall. To study and analyze the city, one
has to diagnose the components of the city. A good urban design survey discloses a no. of specific

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ideas for improving correcting or replacing parts of the city. Circulation is the backbone of urban
form, as it deeply affects the well being or malaise of a city and its people. In surveying the local
streets, it is important to examine the pedestrian movement and the vehicular movement.
Sometimes they could at conflict and sometimes could be with each other or aiding one another.
A city can be analyzed by studying its settlement map. An example to study early city form of
Coga Zanbil, Iran is -

Since the site is heavily contoured, we can conclude that it is on a mound/hilltop. The multiple
enclosures tell us that there is either high level of stratification in the society or sophisticated.
Strategies for defense are adopted. There is an architectural focal point directing us to a central
governance system or a religious center. There are 3 levels of enclosures. There are a few built
up scattered in the 2nd and the 3rd Tier Whereas the 1st only consists of a singular huge

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geometrical building. It is most probable that the building which sits at the middle is a
religious/similar building with a scope of a good refuge. It can be called a typology of a fort.

Some of the basic organizational ideas for planned communities are so widely accepted that the
people have ceased to think of them as design solutions and have given them the status of basic
assumption. Ebenezer Howard, in 1898 had put forward the concept of self contained, planned
community with its growth help to an optimal size.

Diagram from Garden Cities of Tomorrow by

Ebenezer Horward showing his satellite city
and green belt concept.

Paul D Srpeiregen, in his book, Urban Design :the architecture of Towns and Cities suggests
nineteen tools of visual survey to study the Urban form of any city, town etc. They are
topography, microclimate, shape, pattern, routes, districts, landmarks and nodes, open spaces,
vistas, magnets generators and linkages, activity structure, visual experience, orientation,
signage, points of conflict, historic districts , community structure, places needing clarifying
design elements and lastly areas of preservation, remodeling and complete overhaul.
Pattern of land use and division must be extracted from overall terrain and topographical
conditions of the place. The curvilinear streets usually have a sense of confinement and thus are
suitable for intimate groups of houses. The straight streets could be the connecters and feeders
to such curved streets. Another example can be derived from Greek settlements, where the
designers places their building to relate faraway vistas to nearby temples , keeping all in clear,
visible relationship. The Acropolis was placed at higher terrain and was a sacred place, whereas
the agora was an urban enclosure.

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CASE STUDY AND INFERENCES

Chapter 4

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Chandni Chowk is one of the bustling streets which is an evidence of urbanization in Delhi.
Shahjahanabad was planned initially with two main thoroughfares. This 1.3 km long road being
one of them, started from Lahori Gate of Red Fort to Fatehpuri Mosque. This thoroughfare has
survived the odds of urbanization, and has eventually transformed itself according to the rulers
and designers over the years. It has been a boulevard since the beginning and is being
continuously deteriorating over the past fifty tears. It is important to study the urban form the
street and its significance, and therefore analyze the issues that devalue citys significance.
A secondary case study has also been delineated on a macro scale and will be studied according
to the tools suggested by Spreiregen. The area chosen is Ballimaran , surrounded by the
boulevard,chandni chowk and two secondary roads. The area has Fatehpuri Masjid in its
precincts, which is placed on the western side of Chandni chowk road. (Blake, 1991).
The latter part of the research explains about these tools along with their application on the main
boulevard of the walled city. The inferences have been noted down and analysis is done on the
same.

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ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

Chapter 5

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There seems to be clear preference for designing the open areas towards the north of Chandni
Chowk, possibly due the availability of flat land compared to the rest of the area. Char Bagh was
placed on the less dense part of the city, to provide leisure and vista (visual treat) to the more
elite class of the city. Thus, the southern part of the city was densely populated with no open
recreational spaces worth mentioning. The Chandni Chowk Street has a clear vista to Fatehpuri
Masjid, settling on a little higher terrain which makes it a landmark in the city. This clearly traces
the concept of planning of the city in the beginning.
The gardens were laid on the north mainly because of desire for a refuge against mid-summer
heat, wind and dust. These leisure areas were complimented with elements like canal, trees,
flowers fountains and pavilions, designed for the sole purpose of pushing uncomfortable reality
of hot and dusty environment out of the mind. (Blake, 1991)
The city was designed in bow shape with Chandni Chowk road as arm and the north-south
roads connecting Kashmiri gate and Akbarabadi gate as the string. However, while planning, the
river became a protection barrier to the city and hence the city grew towards the west. The fed
fort becomes the heart at the junction. (Blake, 1991) The shape of the city, could be otherwise
seemed as a radio centric but the force of the river crashes the middle and disrupts the planning.
It could have grown like a ring in case of radio centric shape, which Delhi is witnessing now.
However, Mughal planning of cities have generally been near a water body.
To ensure a stable , year round supply of water, citites in Mughal
India were located near or on rivers. (Blake, 1991)
In case of Fatehpuri Sikri, Akbar decided to transform the barren
ridge into a city called sikri overlooking the cooling vista of then
existed broad lake. (Mehta, 2014)

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The two main thoroughfares running east west and north south
were the beginning of the city planning. The secondary streets
like Nai sarak, Dariba Kalan, Kinari Bazaar etc branched out of it
and met each other at chowk, which marked the emergence of
tertiary streets. The main street can be said as the resultant of
the interior of the city. At the micro level, the activities occurring
inside the Katra result in the activities occurring on the main
street in a larger frame. The existence of such a large building
housing State Bank of India, right on the main road is only due to
the extensive commercialization deep inside the city.

Due to increased population and urbanization, the poor migrates to the city in search of
employment. With no place of shelter, they had to resort on sleeping on the roads during night.
This resulted in emergence of Rain Basera night shelters for homeless people which exists near
the fountain Chowk.

Rain Basera- night Shelters for homeless people

The buildings abut each other and form a continuous edge of built fabric along the linear bazaar.
The area has a chaotic mix of buildings in terms of age, height , building typology and
maintenance. These buildings are completely commercialized on the main boulevard whereas
on secondary streets , they seem to have mixed land use pattern of commercial activities on the
ground floor and residential on the upper floors with un differentiated faade. These shops do
not allow internal customer access, the selling space being a high platform open to the street.

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The residential courtyard house is sporadically present. The faade is differentiated with the
ground floor faade elaborately carved with stone pilasters and arched doorway. The upper floor
is differentiated by a projecting balcony. The interface with the street is articulated by a narrow
threshold. The building heights vary between 2 to 5 stories with majority of buildings 4 storied.
National Commission of Urbanization (NCU) has recommended the Low Rise High Density
topology as being the most economically viable. Raymond Vernon, in a study of New York city
pointed out that the practice of building high density, high rise public housing may result to fault
in a crowded area. However very high densities in cities increase congestion and hence favour
high rise construction. The dilemma is obvious.
The bustling markets and congested chandni chowk road are in complete contrasts to the open
spaces, luxurious parks and green lawns. Unlike other parts of the capital, where children rush
out in the evening to play, in chandni chowk there are merely any space for children to unleash
their energies. The open spaces that existed during the Mughal period have now been converted
to parking spaces or have been locked.

The city lacks open spaces. The only existing have

been converted to parking , in Subhash Maidan which
was earlier used as Ramlila Ground. Groups of people
could be seen around the open air staircases in the
parking lot and enjoying recreational activities
(playing cards, etc) or discussing about political issues.
Even the underground parking doesnt prove to be a
relief for the visitors. Being a dingy space, it becomes
an escape for petty criminals and hence visitors feel
unsafe to park their vehicles.

The main thoroughfare has two way moving traffic along with heavy pedestrian movement. After
surveying the current condition, the findings clearly indicate that the pedestrian facilities are
awfully lacking at the junctions as well as the main boulevard. The T junction at Red Fort is a
major urban interaction where such congestion creates a chaos.

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Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines clearly state that the basic aim of providing pedestrian
facilities should reduce pedestrian conflicts with vehicular traffic to the minimum and
pedestrians are not forced to walk in unsafe or congested circumstances. (Mittal, 2010)
The sidewalks needs to be widened with proper lanes assigned for moving vehicles as well. The
sidewalks will require barrier free movement for pedestrians. The traffic hence needs to be
segregated on a macro scale with segregated lanes for moving and non moving traffic. Signage
for better communication has to be there with modern signal systems. Additional features on
the streets like efficient lighting design ,, landscaping and street furniture would further
harmonize the street.
The signages have mere existence. On
the bustling main boulevard with
commercialized sides, no Stopping No
Standing sign merely makes any sense
to any of the commuter.

The study indicates that the area lacks some conventional urban quality determinants such as
high degree of governmental planning control, modern service infrastructure and convenient
vehicular access. Such an organically grown settlement form increases the difficulty and the cost
of providing a service infrastructure , not only creates problem of law and order , also prevents
easy vehicular movement and hence rapidly deteriorates into a slum in the absence of planning
control.
In cases like Shahjahanabad, which are historic cities getting hampered by rapid urbanization and
associated with increased density, congestion and having intense socio-cultural and economic
interface , one has to start with redevelopment in such scenarios. However starting ahead with
schemes of streetscaping, pedestrian friendly designs, rehabilitation, de-centralization etc

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doesnt prove to be the solutions. The solutions lie in the planning framework of such policies.
The projects proposed for redevelopment should prove to be as a catalyst for conservation and
revitalization.
The increase in population and commercialization has to be catered to be in harmony with the
other stakeholders like pedestrians, hawkers, rikshaws etc.
There is a friction between the activities on the streets with the landuse and traffic, like in case
of a girls secondary school in dharampur, where the streets are narrow and commercial activities
take place on the ground floor, the area in front of school doesnt respond to the required
substantial pedestrian area.On the main street, the friction between the different modes of
transport stand out clearly. Pedestrian and hawkers (Non Moving Vehicle) are forced to use the
roads which are meant for moving vehicle.
All this can be resolved by better transport planning for the main road along with better signage
system for clarity of communication. Signage have to be easily interpreted and understood by all.
Delhi government is working on an ongoing project of redevelopment which aims at taking
remedial measure to decongest the current mixed traffic congestion taking care of economic
feasibility.
(http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT_Shahjahanabad/doit_shahjahanabad/home/ongoi
ng+projects/redevelopment+of+chandni+chowk)
Delhi already has 21% of its land surface for roads, which is the maximum % of road space in any
mega city. (INTACH Delhi Chapter, 2009). If the cars get prioritized, the city skyline will have
extensive networks of flyovers only and the city will be taken over by motor vehicles. The need
of the hour is to return the city to its people.
Some proposals for redevelopment strategies for such historic urban core can be as following.

The city needs to be integrated. The components and elements have to be designed to
cater all its stake holders.

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Traffic becomes congestion, hence segregation of transport can resolve some issues. The
pedestrian lanes with wide sidewalks can be assigned separately whereas there can be
different lanes for moving and nonmoving traffic. Spreiregen suggests, in case of
pedestrian and vehicular conflicts, the vehicular terminals could be designed below with
pedestrian walkways above, as in the city of Hook, England.

The central areas/ plazas should be designed to accommodate pedestrians.

The T or cross junctions could be improved for efficient flow of traffic.

The hawkers can be assigned separate lanes where they do not encroach pedestrian or
vehicular lanes.

The multifunction of Chandni Chowk as a market street, a gathering place for the public
and a ceremonial axis for festive have to be considered and retained.
((http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT_Shahjahanabad/doit_shahjahanabad/ho
me/ongoing+projects/redevelopment+of+chandni+chowk)

The streets furniture lights, dustbins, benches etc. along with trees on the roads can
enhance pedestrian friendly sidewalks.

Sometimes an active city too requires places of repose. In the bustling streets could be a
serene fountain with benches and trees whereas on macro level, it requires open land
and green lawns which function as its lungs.

The basic framework of Shahjahanabad has it own merits and demerits. A survey conducted by
government of 20 colonies laid out in 1948 to 1952, revealed that the colonies can accommodate
1 lakh displaced persons and hence requires tremendous amount of investments. If the layout
had been modeled on Shahjahanabad patter, the cost would have been one-third. (Jagmohan,
1975)
While the urban form does not meet the requirements of modern town planning, it has its own
peculiar socio-economic setup which stands out as a major merit of its own. It is less expensive
and takes up less area. The services do have to spread over large areas and serves as the ideal
situation of cities providing place of work near the place of residences.

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Delhi is a city of many cities: imagined, lived, and controlled, the landscape has been recreated,
rebuilt and made meaningful by the daily acts of inhabiting as well as planned interventions.
(Hosagrahar, 2005)
There has to be a strategized process of physical and socio-economic change through alteration,
deterioration, rehabilitation, renovation. The stake holders have to be integrated in
redevelopment. The streets have to respond back to institutional areas as well and to be provided
setbacks for public activities. The designing frameworks should include participatory planning. In
fact, according to 74th Amendment of constitution of India, people who are the true building
block of any city, should be engaged in planning of their own future cities.

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REFERENCES
Chapter 6

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Alexander, C. (1987). A New Theory of Urban Design. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Blake, S. P. (1991). Shahjahanabad: The Sovereign City in Mughal India, 1963-1739. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.

EISNER, S. (n.d.). urban design . In S. EISNER, The Urban Pattern (p. chapter 43).

Hosagrahar, j. (2005). Indigenous Modernities- Negotiating Architecture and Urbanism. Routledge Taylor
& Fransis Group.
Jacob, J (1961).The Death and Life of Great American Cities.
Jagmohan. (1975). Rebuilding Shahjahanabad: The Walled City of Delhi.
Barnett, J (1982). An Introduction to Urban Design.New York
Lynch, K. A. (1960). The Image of the city. MIT Press.

Mahajan, M. (2000). Shared image of the walled city. Thesis-urban Design. India: School of Planning and
Architecture.(unpublished)
Mehta, J (2014) Embodied Vision: Interpreting the Architecture of Fatehpur Sikri, November 2014.

Mittal,N. (2010) Pedestrian safety at urban intersections in Delhi, India. Indian Journal of
Transport Management, April-June 2010.
Spreiregen, P. D. (1965). Urban Design: The Architecture of Town and Cities. New York, San Francisco,
Toronto,London, Sydney: McGraw-Hill Book Co.