Modern-Vernacular Fusion: A Case of Wada Architecture in Pune

The city of Pune is widely known for its cultural and institutional diversity. It is the second-largest city in Maharashtra state, after Mumbai, and eighth-most populous city of the country. The city offers variants of architecture styles co-existing efficiently and one of these is Wada architecture. This article highlights the importance of traditional Wada culture and its adaptation to the new trends of Pune.

Poona settlement originated in 937 BCE, as a part of Rashtrakuta dynasty. It has been under the rule of several emperors. The most impactful and transformative period for this settlement was sixteenth century onwards, during the rule of Maratha dynasty. That’s when Wada culture was introduced to the region. A Wada can be described as the smallest unit of a neighbourhood planning system. It demarcates the residential structures. This building concept originated in parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra to combat with harsh climatic conditions that prevail in the region. A typical Wada is designed to accommodate three zones which are public, semi-public and private. These zones are bound together with provision of a courtyard which serves two purposes – buffer and passive cooling promotion. Usually, a Wada comprises of two courtyards providing ample space for cross-ventilation and natural light to all the rooms.

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Chandlai Lake – An Urban Hope

The beautiful Chandlai lake is located on urban-rural fringe of Jaipur. It appears to view after 1-2 km drive on taking right detour from Shivdaspura village on Jaipur-Tonk road. As one approaches the lake, there is a decline in temperature and increasing sensation of cold. In the haze of winter mornings the horizon looks lost beyond the Lake Island, which falls midway between the waters giving illusion of an endless sea. Looking at the lost horizon one feels like going out on a boar to explore and search it down. Continue reading “Chandlai Lake – An Urban Hope”

Abode of Scavengers

Urban centres generate huge bulks of waste, management of which is a global concern. The lives of those tackling with this menace are often overlooked in front of magnitude of the dumps. Seen here is a boy managing trash in an urban region of central African country of Nicaragua.

Bhanpur Landfill Site Bhopal

Black and white constructs plethora of metaphors in mind. ‘Landfill gulls’, hawks and stench, mark their territory over the skies of Bhanpur Landfill. This area signifies and marks the decaying rotten side of the city. An unplanned unscientific dumping of waste spread across 57.80 acres, has been continuously exploited for more than four decades.

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Ignorance Of Bus Based Public Transport In Delhi

Overcrowding is a major issue in public buses.

Buses used to be the preferred means of commute in many Indian cities because of their practicality, wider reach, availability, cost-effectiveness and less intensive infrastructure. In city of Delhi the bus services started decent, well managed and efficient. The state run Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) grew to cover the entire city under its 657 designated routes. Continue reading “Ignorance Of Bus Based Public Transport In Delhi”

Urban Renewal for Affordable Housing

High-rise densification of Hongkong to manage population in a small band of land.

Plot-level redevelopment and in-situ redevelopment of squatter settlements:

The problem of urban housing has always been an inevitable outcome of growing urbanization. In trying to cope with it cities have typically grown physically in a horizontal sprawl with largely low-rise, low-density urban forces necessitating extension of lines of transportation and services beyond reasonable limits. In case of developing countries these have developed as high density congested areas Continue reading “Urban Renewal for Affordable Housing”

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