ANALYSIS OF OPEN SPACES IN ZONE-D, NEW DELHI, INDIA

DISSERTATION-MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, NEW DELHI

DECEMBER 2012

 

In Indian context, it is necessary to understand the use and functioning of urban open spaces before one can begin to formulate realistic policies for the design of new open space to fulfill changing requirements arousing out of population growth, density of development and social and climatological needs. This study is an attempt to systematically examine OPEN SPACES in a major city, with a view to understand their present use and functioning. Knowledge acquired will be helpful in preparing policies for designing urban open spaces to suit Indian conditions and specific local requirements.

The dissertation “Assessment of Open Spaces in Master Plan Zone: Case Study of Zone-D” brings out a detailed research about the hierarchy and distribution of open spaces in Zone-D. It is revealed that the existing open spaces at higher level hierarchy i.e. at Regional, City and District level are much more than the required. However at the lower level hierarchy i.e. at Community and Neighborhood level, open spaces are deficient for the existing population. The reason for this being Zone-D was planned prior to Master Planning of Delhi therefore there was no systematic distribution of open spaces at that time. When Master Plans (1962) came into existence, there were formulations of guidelines about the hierarchy and distribution pattern of open spaces. This distribution was difficult to be superimposed on the existing distribution of open spaces in Zone-D. Therefore till date the open spaces are more than the required not only for the existing population but also for the projected population for 2021.