Spaces Vol 1 Is 6
ANALYSIS Text & Images: Ar. Sarosh Pradhan, SPA KATHMANDU VALLEY a vision with the outer ring road We often forget the hills surrounding us – when we get busy developing our little plots, our little boxes, our infrastructure – our valley. Perhaps the lack of a cohesive vision blurs the potentials of a valley, which still boasts of seven world heritage sites and erodes off a unique identity, which we should develop further. It may be worthwhile to step back a little and reflect on the uniqueness of Kathmandu before we try giving any solutions to a growing metropolitan city. Climatically a haven, the landscape of the Valley is an enchanting feature. The organic development of the city so far has superseded any strong master plan. The inner cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur have stood out in terms of character, scale and the uniqueness of a culture having historical roots. But what about the present happenings – does it have any reflection of that uniqueness…or is it just trying to arrive at a common minimum denominator for survival?…of solving functional equations. It is without argument that the city grows – and should be treated as dynamic. The process of growth of a city can be nurtured just like the growth of a little baby to adulthood. Basic understandings, with room for maturity and greater potentials need to be kept in mind while suggesting any new venture. The Outer Ring Road could be one such spark which could infuse an awareness of planning with broader issues in mind. The Outer Ring Road could become a catalyst to change and used as a planning tool for positive development and awakening of Kathmandu Valley to the 21 st century. IMPORTANCE OF A WELL PLANNED ROAD Cities are designed with the traffic in mind. The order and movement patterns within a city reflect, to a certain extent, the quality of life. If you look at our inner city - the pedestrian comes to our mind; which in turn reflects the scale of the built environment. But, put in fast moving cars and trucks (travelling slowly) within the inner city presently – an image of saturated chaos grows louder. Thus as the Kathmandu metropolis expands Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. - Warren Buffet (which is invariable with all major cities), it is urgent to have certain broad planning principles in place. This in turn would pave the way for a broader understanding of planning, services and infrastructure which are critical for a healthy development. A good road is a lifeline for transportation from one end to another. It increases the scope of transaction of arriving at new places for development with the added value of focus of new destinations. Above: Saturated chaos. Below: Past townscapes of Kathmandu – lessons we could learn from the past identity / character and concepts. 90 SEP-OCT 2005 SPACES
Kathmandu Patan Bhaktapur ZONE A: Satellite Business Centres The areas where high growths are likely to occur are the junctions between the ORR and radial roads which could be prime spots for business and commercial buildings, thereby decongesting the inner city area. ZONE B: Government Offices / Buildings The road project along with the government could formulate a long-term plan of focusing on a Government Buildings Zone on a strategic location of the road project. Above: Kathmandu Valley overview with the proposed Outer Ring Road SETTING NEW STANDARDS The Outer Ring Road is a circular concept of connection – but along with it, we need to give room for setting new standards. New standards of road construction, new standards of fitting in services infrastructure, new standards of road intersections, new standards for signage, new standards of better planned integrated neighbourhoods. Chobar (Bagmati River Gorge) Proposed Outer Ring Road Existing Ring Road Radial Link Roads The zoning is expressed as an exploration of a vision keeping in mind the distinct natural identity and character Kathmandu has. The townscape imagined would try to get a fresh approach with a larger functional requirement priority in place, yet trying to retain its unique character and environment, arriving at some vision of planned urban growth – with a refreshing identity – diffusing the fears of Kathmandu Valley becoming an urban sprawl. ZONE C: Institutions / Schools Colleges There needs to be an environment to learn and space to grow and imbibe knowledge. Thus with the Education Ministry making certain by-laws to upgrade the requirements of these institutions, along with the road project, could zone out areas that already exist such as the one in Kirtipur area and give a focus on the developments of quality educational establishments to grow. ZONE D: Recreation Zones Presently there is a serious lack of recreational areas and are limited to movie theatres and restaurants. An exhibition ground, which can take in planned vehicular movement, a stadium, parks, zoos are some of the basic RADIAL ROADS The urban growth within a specified region between the Inner - Outer ring roads need to be focused. Specialized zones should be developed where specific activities would be encouraged. Proper combination would allow for an optimised growth till the time that a target density is achieved. Subsequently, the growth areas will need to be expanded and a new development focus area can be delineated. ZONING The importance of zoning is relevant from the point of view of establishing certain character – in places where the road would pass. As the road is built, it is evident that land value would change. Thus it is with a certain overall view that land value could be developed and zoned. SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 91
- Page 39 and 40: This view is in fact one of the key
- Page 41 and 42: Traditionally, hotels and resorts h
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- Page 45 and 46: axis’s - rather, structures occur
- Page 47 and 48: unavoidable in most Pokhara images.
- Page 49 and 50: Resort has 61 standard rooms, all o
- Page 51 and 52: CRAFTS DRIFTING T O W A R D S FAME
- Page 53 and 54: is?” No need to guess, it clearly
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- Page 57 and 58: HOTEL WITH A HISTORY Nov/Dec 2004 T
- Page 59 and 60: JOURNEY THROUGH S P A C E S FLAUNTI
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- Page 63 and 64: INTERIOR Text: Sonia Gupta The wall
- Page 65 and 66: colour all around. These lights are
- Page 67 and 68: Sonia Text: A.B. Shrestha Sonia’s
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- Page 71 and 72: ARCHITECT ROBERT WEISE: Text: Kai W
- Page 73 and 74: PROFILE§ Above: Royal Palace propo
- Page 75 and 76: palace and framed it with a ‘Nepa
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- Page 79 and 80: About one and a half kilometres fro
- Page 81 and 82: Above: One is treated to such a sig
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- Page 85 and 86: - all with attached bathrooms - con
- Page 87 and 88: a bypass road for Greater Kathmandu
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- Page 93 and 94: Quality output calls for quality in
- Page 95 and 96: ACCESS BOON FOR HOUSING COLONIES Ma
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- Page 99 and 100: Picture framing is an art by itself
- Page 101 and 102: SURFACE PREPARATION 7. Newly plaste
- Page 103 and 104: complementary of the background col
- Page 105 and 106: TRANSITIONAL HICCUPS Courtesy: Dr.
- Page 107 and 108: Oak Tree Celebrating The Grand open
Kathmandu<br />
Patan<br />
Bhaktapur<br />
ZONE A: Satellite Business Centres<br />
The areas where high growths are likely<br />
to occur are the junctions between the<br />
ORR and radial roads which could be<br />
prime spots for business and commercial<br />
buildings, thereby decongesting the inner<br />
city area.<br />
ZONE B: Government Offices / Buildings<br />
The road project along with the<br />
government could formulate a long-term<br />
plan of focusing on a Government<br />
Buildings Zone on a strategic location of<br />
the road project.<br />
Above: Kathmandu Valley overview<br />
with the proposed Outer Ring Road<br />
SETTING NEW STANDARDS<br />
The Outer Ring Road is a circular<br />
concept of connection – but along with<br />
it, we need to give room for setting new<br />
standards. New standards of road<br />
construction, new standards of fitting in<br />
services infrastructure, new standards of<br />
road intersections, new standards for<br />
signage, new standards of better planned<br />
integrated neighbourhoods.<br />
Chobar (Bagmati River Gorge)<br />
Proposed Outer Ring Road<br />
Existing Ring Road<br />
Radial Link Roads<br />
The zoning is expressed as an exploration<br />
of a vision keeping in mind the distinct<br />
natural identity and character<br />
Kathmandu has. The townscape imagined<br />
would try to get a fresh approach with a<br />
larger functional requirement priority in<br />
place, yet trying to retain its unique<br />
character and environment, arriving at<br />
some vision of planned urban growth –<br />
with a refreshing identity – diffusing the<br />
fears of Kathmandu Valley becoming an<br />
urban sprawl.<br />
ZONE C: Institutions / Schools Colleges<br />
There needs to be an environment to<br />
learn and space to grow and imbibe<br />
knowledge. Thus with the Education<br />
Ministry making certain by-laws to<br />
upgrade the requirements of these<br />
institutions, along with the road project,<br />
could zone out areas that already exist<br />
such as the one in Kirtipur area and give<br />
a focus on the developments of quality<br />
educational establishments to grow.<br />
ZONE D: Recreation Zones<br />
Presently there is a serious lack of<br />
recreational areas and are limited to<br />
movie theatres and restaurants. An<br />
exhibition ground, which can take in<br />
planned vehicular movement, a stadium,<br />
parks, zoos are some of the basic<br />
RADIAL ROADS<br />
The urban growth within a specified<br />
region between the Inner - Outer ring<br />
roads need to be focused. Specialized<br />
zones should be developed where<br />
specific activities would be encouraged.<br />
Proper combination would allow for an<br />
optimised growth till the time that a target<br />
density is achieved. Subsequently, the<br />
growth areas will need to be expanded<br />
and a new development focus area can<br />
be delineated.<br />
ZONING<br />
The importance of zoning is relevant<br />
from the point of view of establishing<br />
certain character – in places where the<br />
road would pass. As the road is built, it is<br />
evident that land value would change.<br />
Thus it is with a certain overall view that<br />
land value could be developed and zoned.<br />
SPACES SEP-OCT 2005 91
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